What is the best theft proof bike?

[cwah]

Hey there,

I'm so sick of getting stolen again and again. I'm not rich and I spend a lot of money on my bikes, and for some reason the money disappear with the thieves....

Now I need to commute to my temporary work place where bike can't be parked inside the building. I work in central London, so I need to chain it somewhere, in London, the whole day. EVERY DAYS.

So, what would be the bike thieve would never want to steal? I would of course convert it to electric. But the key part is that it would remain on the same place again and again... Maybe overnight sometimes for several days/weeks as I often have to go back to Paris.

Any ideas?

 

[Zebb]

Dont think anything is theft proof, I would consider a tracker on a expensive bike, it sits down the seat tube. You would have to investigate costs though. Sorry to hear about your bike.!

 

[John F]

Hey there,

I'm so sick of getting stolen again and again. I'm not rich and I spend a lot of money on my bikes, and for some reason the money disappear with the thieves....

Now I need to commute to my temporary work place where bike can't be parked inside the building. I work in central London, so I need to chain it somewhere, in London, the whole day. EVERY DAYS.

So, what would be the bike thieve would never want to steal? I would of course convert it to electric. But the key part is that it would remain on the same place again and again... Maybe overnight sometimes for several days/weeks as I often have to go back to Paris.

Any ideas?

Someone on this forum said that the ladies/Dutch step through type is unattractive to thieves. It would be interesting to see some figures on this as that's what I have (Woosh Santana CDL)

 

[Deleted member 4366]

What about making a lightweight foldable Brompton that you can carry into the office like Jerry does?

 

[Alan Quay]

Hand paint it, very roughly. Perhaps in green.

 

[cwah]

Zebb, I have very bad experience with police. They literally don't care about robbery. I was expected to wait for weeks before they might start investigating... while I have everything in hand to find the thief.

I fear that even with a GPS tracker and localized thief, police would just tell me they don't have enough resources and have more important issues to solve. And would tell me they might only start investigating after few weeks/months...

So GPS tracker would at best be for me to find the thief but I don't want to go there with weapons to solve myself the problem...........

 

[cwah]

What about making a lightweight foldable Brompton that you can carry into the office like Jerry does?

I can do that but I would be the only one on the building to do that. And I'd get various comments. I'm very new to the company and I don't want people to make comments about that.

Maybe later I would get a brompton to the office (I've of course already considered that), but for now I just want to be like everyone else

 

[cwah]

Hand paint it, very roughly. Perhaps in green.

I've already considered that... Making it like a rusty bike. Like rust paint colour lol
But would that be enough?

 

[trex]

the only solution is Boris bike. You cannot leave any bike in the street over night. It will be dismantled. My daughter left a £50 bike chained to a lamp post. On the second night, the bike vanished, just the lock remained.

 

[cwah]

can i buy a boris bike?

or steal one from its place and lock it?

 

[trex]

you need to rent a bike shed, about £3/week.
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/100007/housing/836/information_on_council_garages_and_store_sheds

 

[SRS]

I can do that but I would be the only one on the building to do that. And I'd get various comments. I'm very new to the company and I don't want people to make comments about that.

Maybe later I would get a brompton to the office (I've of course already considered that), but for now I just want to be like everyone else

Do not assume that the comments would be negatives.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hey there,

I'm so sick of getting stolen again and again. I'm not rich and I spend a lot of money on my bikes, and for some reason the money disappear with the thieves....

Now I need to commute to my temporary work place where bike can't be parked inside the building. I work in central London, so I need to chain it somewhere, in London, the whole day. EVERY DAYS.

So, what would be the bike thieve would never want to steal? I would of course convert it to electric. But the key part is that it would remain on the same place again and again... Maybe overnight sometimes for several days/weeks as I often have to go back to Paris.

Any ideas?

Thinking laterally, how about one of these?

 

[cwah]

you need to rent a bike shed, about £3/week.
Wandsworth Council - Information on council garages and store sheds - Information on council garages and store sheds

is there shed to rent in central london? when I say central it's like leicester square or piccadilly circus. Looks like shed in south west london available

 

[cwah]

SRS, I don't know if comments are going to be positive or negative. It could be positive. but I don't want to take the risk yet.

John, that's what I'm doing now, and what I'd like to avoid

 

[Cyclezee]

Thinking laterally, how about one of these?
View attachment 7610

and another reason for the above

 

[trex]

is there shed to rent in central london? when I say central it's like leicester square or piccadilly circus. Looks like shed in south west london available

rent a shed near where you live to keep the bike at night or when you are in Paris.

 

[Clockwise]

I wouldn't leave any bike anywhere outside overnight. It's hard to think of a bike rack that doesn't have a frame that's been stripped of every single part chained up, have even seen bikes that had crashes/buckled wheels then got chained up by the owner and stripped down days later.

Luck and a decent lock, brompton and taking it inside with you if you can.

rent a shed near where you live to keep the bike at night or when you are in Paris.

I wouldn't bother with this. The only bike I personally had stolen was inside a shed(a concrete one with a metal front door and wooden inner door) if anything it just gave them more cover to saw away at the locks.

 

[los monty]

You could buy cheap electric folder from Woosh or Tesco's for around £500 and a carry/storage bag for £25. Not only is it neatly stored in your office you could also take it back to Paris with you (Eurostar train or Eurolines coach).
Later build one of your specials and do the same with it.

 

[patpatbut]

Hi Cwah

I still think brompton is a good option as you are in London. You probably know how often you see people riding it to work.

Just wondering what is the risk of bringing it inside?

Pat