New commuter bike dilemma

[Tania]

I have the same concern and the answer I’ve received in the past is “your bike likely will get stolen, get over it.”

So I rarely lock it up outside anywhere. Kinda defeats the purpose but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. If I can’t bring it inside, I don’t bike there.

[rcannon100]

Yup.

Street parking ~> beater bike.

Nice bike ~> secure parking.

There is a saying the bike thieves should never be underestimated ~ they will steal anything.

[Arlingtonrider]

When I come into town on my good bike and plan to hang out somewhere where I can’t see my bike, I often park in my work building and take bikeshare from there.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

Here’s everything I know:
If you have to park your bike out of sight in even a semi public area for multiple hours, your objective is to make your bike harder to steal/disassemble than the other bikes around it. An A+ locking method involves 2 U type locks, one through each wheel/triangle, and a cable/chain of some kind connecting everything, with 2 or all of them attached to different parts of a securely constructed rack or fence or whatever. Unless the thief has a hell of a lot of undisturbed time on their hands they’re probably gonna see that and pass it over for an easier target. Obviously you don’t want to carry all that around with you everywhere, and it still doesn’t guarantee you protection, so what you wind up doing depends on the situation.

Wire cables of any kind will only prevent opportunistic thieves from walking off with your bike, they can be cut in seconds by anyone who has brought even a small pair of wire cutters, so they should really only be used for temporary stuff.

Don’t lock your bike to something only through the front tire, cause that also just takes a few seconds to remove and throw the rest in a van or wheelie away.

[streetsmarts]

@Arlingtonrider 144450 wrote:

When I come into town on my good bike and plan to hang out somewhere where I can’t see my bike, I often park in my work building and take bikeshare from there.

That is a fabulous idea!! thanks!!

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[streetsmarts]

Thanks all.

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[lordofthemark]

@streetsmarts 144444 wrote:

So im new at this bike commuting thing. I like it.
and im riding my 10 yr old mountain bike that I bought new in Florida (really!! And Ive never been mountain biking).
I’d like to get a new or newer bike. Mostly because they’re so much lighter and so I can go on longer rides in and out of town. I dont want to go fast, just faster.
Anyway…with this old bike I’m happy to stop at the grocery store or for dinner on the way home and just lock it up outside. (Have only done this in Old Town so far). I worry that if I buy a snazzy new commuter bike, I’ll be so worried about it being stolen that I won’t feel free to just ride anywhere, or go to dinner or happy hour on it after work, ride into DC on weekends etc. Oh I should say I work in DC , where our bldg has a great locked cage for bikes. Id feel ok with a nicer bike there, but not out and about.
I can’t be the only one with this dilemma… help?

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Are you thinking a high end road bike just to go somewhat faster than on a beater MTB? Because there is a middle ground. Two and a half years ago I upgraded (!) to a $500 aluminum hybrid. I generally lock it with a cable lock in “nice places” and with a standard u-lock in DC (but not overnight, and not at metro stations) So far, so good (keneinahara). Not to be mean to my friends, but my bike is probably protected by the large number of better bikes locked up in public.

[gibby]

@rcannon100 144449 wrote:

Yup.

Street parking ~> beater bike.

Nice bike ~> secure parking.

There is a saying the bike thieves should never be underestimated ~ they will steal anything.

Follows along with Rule #12 about how many bikes one should own. :rolleyes:

Replacing those fat nubby mountain bike tires with something more friendly on roads may help make that ride a little easier until you add the nice sleek road bike to your inventory.
The only bike theft I’ve had in 20+ years here was when I left a decent hybrid locked up with a crappy cable lock at a metro station.

[Crickey7]

Basic flat bar road bikes start pretty cheap, and will be so much lighter and faster than what you’re riding. I’d split the baby and buy the best bike that would not make me break down into tears if it got stolen.

[streetsmarts]

Oh no no no! Even if i just buy a $800 or 900 commuter or hybrid… i just dont want it to get stolen because i get comfortable enough to ride to the movies or dinner after work on it. I guess as they say… if i ride it i just have to get over it. Id love to buy a used commuter / hybrid but im new enough not to know how to tell a good one from a bad one.

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[streetsmarts]

Splitting the baby sounds like a good idea.

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[gibby]

@streetsmarts 144462 wrote:

… Id love to buy a used commuter / hybrid but im new enough not to know how to tell a good one from a bad one.

If you’re in the Alexandria area, check out Velocity on Mt Vernon Ave. They always have lots of used bikes parked out front. They’re good people.
I got a 30 year old Fuji road bike in near mint condition and a clunker commuter for less than you’re looking to spend.

[streetsmarts]

^ thats what i wanted to hear. Will check em out!

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[Crickey7]

Or you could ask to be seated by the window at dinner.

[rcannon100]

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