It took three weeks before someone tried to nick my main bike after I got it. I tried to make my spare bike (http://lethargic-man.dreamwidth.org/318460.html) look less nickable, and someone still tried to make off with the front wheel the first time I went out in the evening with it, before discovering it was locked to the frame. (I discovered when I found the quick-release lever open halfway home: I had checked it was closed before initially setting out.)
Shiny new bikes are nice, but attract magpies: Make sure you've got good locks, preferably a high-security D-lock and a chain long enough to go through both wheels, the frame, and around a lamppost.
Yes, I have a beastly D-lock for it (ergonomically speaking I much prefer chains; but they are less secure). I suspect I should get a second for securing the front wheel.
I did take the precaution of not having quick release wheels.
Yes, quick-release also means quick-nick... unless you've got the quick-release spindles bluepork has: they only open when they're upside-down. When the bike is locked, it can't be turned over, so the wheels can't be removed. Cunning, eh?
Ah, not having a choice is annoying. I had all the choices; which at times was a little overwhelming (what? there are different sorts of peddle? what kind? well, er, the cheap kind?)
A friend of mine has the Abus Bordo Granit for his moderately-high-end bike. It looks like a sensible compromise: less rigid than a D-lock, but more secure than a chain.
Admittedly I'm aware that, in security engineering, there's a huge gulf between "looks more secure" and "is more secure". Though I'm then also aware that "looks more secure to a potential bike thief" may be enough to stop your bike straying.
Actually my top priority in bike-lock technology is that I need to have a 'sold secure gold rated' lock in order to keep my insurance company happy. (and that one isn't; although some chains are they are really very heavy chains)... I'm not really convinced that these locks are genuinely better than other locks, but they surely can't be worse?
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 08:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 08:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 09:19 pm (UTC)And a new lock?
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Date: 2012-08-21 08:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-20 09:39 pm (UTC)shiny!
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Date: 2012-08-21 08:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 10:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 09:09 am (UTC)Shiny new bikes are nice, but attract magpies: Make sure you've got good locks, preferably a high-security D-lock and a chain long enough to go through both wheels, the frame, and around a lamppost.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 09:43 am (UTC)I did take the precaution of not having quick release wheels.
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Date: 2012-08-21 09:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 09:52 am (UTC)I don't really have any use for QR; the wheels come off only rarely and having to use the hex key isn't exactly a hardship.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 09:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 10:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 12:18 pm (UTC)Admittedly I'm aware that, in security engineering, there's a huge gulf between "looks more secure" and "is more secure". Though I'm then also aware that "looks more secure to a potential bike thief" may be enough to stop your bike straying.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 12:28 pm (UTC)