Quote Originally Posted by Irulan View Post
It depends on the quality of the rack. If it's a strap on type rack I would either park where you can keep an eye on the bike 100% of the time, or run a lock through the frame and the bumper or towing eyelet if you have one. If you can do neither, I'd take the bike off and either put it in the car or chain it to something substantial.

If you have a rack that is securely mounted to the car, (Locking towers, locked to the hitch) then I'd just cable it through the frame and wheels and hitch. I will use multiple cables sometimes just to make it more complex. Just remember that anyone with a good bolt cutter can cut through most cables.
Yep. I have a lot of biker friends who have had their locked bikes stolen. I even had a friend that his locked biked was stolen because someone cut through the tree that it was tied to. I have had friends with bikes stolen out of their back seat of their locked car at their house. Many TE members have had bikes stolen from their garages.

You just do your best to keep your eye on it/eat at restaurants with outdoor patios.

Have I locked my bike on to my bike rack and left it. Yes, but only if there was no other option.