Quantcast

How long have you left your bikes unlocked?

  • Come enter the Ridemonkey Secret Santa!

    We're kicking off the 2024 Secret Santa! Exchange gifts with other monkeys - from beer and snacks, to bike gear, to custom machined holiday decorations and tools by our more talented members, there's something for everyone.

    Click here for details and to learn how to participate.

sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Going back into my office, I realized that I left my Seven Ti road bike unlocked on my car rack. I wasn't too paniced, because there is good security around my office, but I did run out there to grab it.

I left my bike unlocked for about 2 hours. What is the longest you left a bike unlocked in a risky area?
 
stevew

stevew

resident influencer
Sep 21, 2001
41,165
10,103
I always crammed my bike in the car.

Whether it was my sh!t cannondale crammed my 65 beetle or stuffing my pitboss in the back of my Jetta.

The only time I used the roof rack on my passat was moving out here.
 
manhattanprjkt83

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,660
1,237
Nilbog
stevew said:
I always crammed my bike in the car.

Whether it was my sh!t cannondale crammed my 65 beetle or stuffing my pitboss in the back of my Jetta.

The only time I used the roof rack on my passat was moving out here.
Click to expand...
that is a great idea if you hate your car...My bike would thrash my car, i use a yakima viper locked most of the time, but if i am going to be away for any amount of time i use an additional lock around the crossbar/frame.
 
J

JRB

Guest
I can leave one cable locked here all day. I have left them on the roof all night at home with nothing locked. Stupid, but it turned out ok. I try to lock it at all times now.
 
Da Peach

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,781
5,220
North Van
Funny you should mention this topic...

I left my sweet ride unlocked in front of a neighborhood cafe unlocked (semi-accidentally) for 6 hours. (duh, a little distracted...)

Rebuilt a bit of my faith in society...not gonna go tempting fate again any time soon of course...
 
stevew

stevew

resident influencer
Sep 21, 2001
41,165
10,103
manhattanprjkt83 said:
that is a great idea if you hate your car...My bike would thrash my car, i use a yakima viper locked most of the time, but if i am going to be away for any amount of time i use an additional lock around the crossbar/frame.
Click to expand...
I used the Jetta to take show dogs to the vet/airport daily. Throwing a bike in the back seat didn't hurt it anymore.....
 
Trainwreck

Trainwreck

Turbo Monkey
Aug 10, 2005
1,585
0
Med. to Well-Done in Phx
If I'm out with a bike (like the Margarita Ride) it is unlocked but within reach- there would be at least ten others sitting there to choose from as well, if in transit it's always locked in the camper shell of the truck. If I stop anywhere it's always in sight.

I did get up one morning to find that SOMEONE left the garage door open all night. All the bikes were still hanging there and nothing was disturbed. Walking into my garage in the dark would be sort of a death sentence in itself.
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
88,815
27,031
media blackout
left my bike unlocked outside of the O one night while drunkenly devouring the fries and drinking a yuengling 32oz'er. was inside a good hour. when i came out, saw some dude on the ground with my bike about 15 feet from where i had left it. i just started laughing at him (as did the 3 other people i was with) walked over, saw he had managed to cut himself up pretty badly (both arms and legs). so instead of beating the piss out of him like he deserved (i was too drunk for a real fight anyways), i just gave him a good swift kick to the ribs, picked up my bike and rode away, still laughing. gotta love track bikes :thumb:
 
Secret Squirrel

Secret Squirrel

There is no Justice!
Dec 21, 2004
8,150
1
Up sh*t creek, without a paddle
jonKranked said:
left my bike unlocked outside of the O one night while drunkenly devouring the fries and drinking a yuengling 32oz'er. was inside a good hour. when i came out, saw some dude on the ground with my bike about 15 feet from where i had left it. i just started laughing at him (as did the 3 other people i was with) walked over, saw he had managed to cut himself up pretty badly (both arms and legs). so instead of beating the piss out of him like he deserved (i was too drunk for a real fight anyways), i just gave him a good swift kick to the ribs, picked up my bike and rode away, still laughing. gotta love track bikes :thumb:
Click to expand...
Nothin' like the 'fixie eject' button....saw a guy jack a messengers bike here in Seattle...started going down a hill right as the messenger came out....The messenger didn't look too worried, right about that time the light turned red and the stealer tried to stop...but there weren't any brakes, and he suddenly realized he needed to keep pedalling a little to late....*boom* instant carnage in the intersection....dude was messed....A severe wipeout.

I don't leave my bikes unlocked anywhere anymore...'specially after my old ones were jacked out of my locked garage...now there's even more security features in there...:redhot:
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
88,815
27,031
media blackout
haha yea none of the messengers i know really lock up their bikes, although they all carry u-locks...

there's one guy in pgh that messengers on a pursuit track frame.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
On that note, undoing the rear QR is a good way to prevent the ride-off. The back wheel will pop out on the first pedal stroke and almost no thief will check for it.
 
jdcamb

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
20,050
8,769
Nowhere Man!
I will freelock my Romeo at the grocery store or the bank. But for the most part I lock both bikes to something fixed all the time. Good habit to learn for most peeps.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
morethanjake543 said:
You might have your bike, but your derailleur will be horribly disfigured.

FOR FOREVER!
Click to expand...
I beg to differ. While I have not caught anyone stealing my bike, I have forgot to retighten the QR, and there was no damage done to me or the bike.

On the other hand, I rather buy a new rd than a replacement bike.
 
stiksandstones

stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
I left my old race trailers unlocked 2 times over the years...nothing happened thankfully...in addition, I have left my bikes in front of markets on a few occasions and was always lucky-but I used to get free ones and thought like a cool guy. I carry lock now ;)
 
w00dy

w00dy

In heaven there is no beer
Jun 18, 2004
3,417
52
that's why we drink it here
Who was it that said they crank down their disc brake pads and shift into a high gear when they don't have a lock. Somebody on here said it and I've stolen the idea a couple times.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,735
1,819
chez moi
If I was just dipping in someplace for a soda or whatever, I used to clamp down my old Hope C2 brakes to make sure the wheels couldn't turn. On my SS commuter, I'd just unhook the canti brakes...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom