Solo bikepacking, securing your bike

[geotrouvetout67]

When you travel as light as possible, say racing the TD, yet you must stop to refuel in towns and you are solo, how do you secure your bike? Or just pray no junky is in the area for a quick grab?

When I leave my bike on the car rack, it literally has 15 lbs of Kryptonite locks and cables on it and the rack is secured by two systems to the car. If otherwise I can't secure the bike well enough, I leave it home.

When bikepacking and traveling light, one can't carry a 5lbs New York chain so how do you do deal with this problem?

[dkoloko]

When traveling, I carry a lightweight lock, actually a gun cabinet lock. Haven't had any incidents.

[BikeliciousBabe]

I don't travel light yet still carry only a relatively light cable combination lock to deter crimes of opportunity. I actually use it sometimes. I'm not one of those people who think there is a thief lurking behind every tree or lamp post waiting to snatch my bike.

I've twice crossed paths with participants in the Great Divide race. They, like myself, left their bikes unattended and unlocked outside a restaurant in a tiny MT town. Did they do that in Butte? Doubt it. I wouldn't. And there are alternatives, like placing your bike where you can see it while you dine or whatever. I have also brought mine into grocery stores after asking if I feel I am in a place that might pose more than the most minimalist of threats.

What are you going to do if you stay at a campground with other people? I rarely use my lock when I camp. I'm headed out on Friday for two nights. I am familiar with the place I will be camping. Don't think I have ever locked the bike there.

[BikePacker]

I have a light cable which has a motion detection alarm.
The motion detection can be enabled or not.

[geotrouvetout67]

I have a light cable which has a motion detection alarm.
The motion detection can be enabled or not.

I was thinking about a motion alarm too, light and cheap

[hikerjer]

I almost always lock my bike although it's only with a light cable lock. I mean it only takes a thief two seconds to throw a bike in the back of a pickup truck and take off.  A cable will deter thefts of opportunity but nothing will really stop a dedicated professional bike thief other than keeping it in sight all the time.

[staehpj1]

What I do depends to some extent on where I am.  Much of the time I don't worry too much or take many precautions.  I am mostly in rural small town America for most of my touring and my bike isn't usually far out of my sight.  I usually do carry a cheap light cable lock (it weighs a few ounces).

I assess the risk and take precautions according to where I am.  In some places I just don't leave my bike unattended at all.  If that means wheeling it up and down the aisles of a supermarket so be it.  Other places I don't bother locking at all.  Bigger towns and cities are the worst, especially bike friendly ones since they are likely to have bike thieves.

I tend to take some comfort in riding a bike and using gear that I can afford to replace in a pinch if it should ever go missing and accept that there is always some risk.  I figure there is a chance that could happen at some point.  I take enough care that I don't expect it to, but not enough to kid myself that it is impossible.

[John Nelson]

If you really want to travel so light that you will take no lock at all, then you can use a combination of things:

• As many have said, keep it in sight as much as possible. Bring it inside with you whenever you enter any building. That includes restaurants and grocery stores. You can even walk up and down the grocery store aisles with your bike. Only take it back outside if challenged. Park it in front of the window and conduct your business as rapidly as possible.
• When camping, lean it against your tent some place where you can see it from inside the tent. Run a tent line through it. Tie the laces of your shoes through the spokes. Not full-proof of course, but you do the best you can.
• Lock your brakes on. Run a bungee cord through the wheel. Balance something on your bike that will make noise when it falls off. None of this is full-proof, but it may slow the thief down a bit.
• Help little old ladies across the street, save turtles in the road, give money to the homeless. Maintain good karma.
• Tolerate risk. Have faith in mankind.
• Keep bus fare home on your body.

[ray b]

When bikepacking and traveling light, one can't carry a 5lbs New York chain so how do you do deal with this problem?

Ever since Matthew Lee had his racing bike nicked while racing the Great Divide route (thankfully with GPS unit still attached), I've carried a small cable lock for use in the cities and camp sites. I have a couple of super lightweight versions of different lengths. Here's one sold by Adventure Cycling.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/equipment/sp/kryptonite-r-2-retractable-combo-cable-lock/

[geotrouvetout67]

When bikepacking and traveling light, one can't carry a 5lbs New York chain so how do you do deal with this problem?

Ever since Matthew Lee had his racing bike nicked while racing the Great Divide route (thankfully with GPS unit still attached), I've carried a small cable lock for use in the cities and camp sites. I have a couple of super lightweight versions of different lengths. Here's one sold by Adventure Cycling.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/equipment/sp/kryptonite-r-2-retractable-combo-cable-lock/

. Wow, never knew he had his bike stolen but given the increased popularity of the race and the GDMBR in general, some smart asses would probably keep an eye out for a quick grab.

[ray b]

Ever since Matthew Lee had his racing bike nicked while racing the Great Divide route (thankfully with GPS unit still attached)...

.
Wow, never knew he had his bike stolen but given the increased popularity of the race and the GDMBR in general, some smart asses would probably keep an eye out for a quick grab.

Part of the folklore and featured in the 2010 video Ride the Divide - During the 2008 race, Matt had his bike stolen I believe from a McDonalds by someone who saw an opportunity, but probably couldn't handle the pedals and the loaded, 3 legged rig (featuring a Cannondale single fork up-front). Thanks to his race GPS, it was found by police abandoned beside the road a short distance away.

(And FWIW, I'll add that Abus makes similar locks to the Kryptonite above.)

[agruntgrunt]

If your bike is loaded chances are someone is not going to pick it up and throw it in the back of a truck.
Other options:
use black(less noticeable) velcro to lock brake levers to bar
use velcro apply brakes and wrap the velcro around the brakes and wheel
when you stop shift to the highest gear, yea it's a bitch when you have to get started.
remove back wheel quick release, if someone tries to ride off the rear wheel will come off,
yea your derailer might get bent or broke but you will still have your bike and hopefully the
would be thief receives some painful injuries.

[froze]

I would use a simple 7 foot long 12mm thick securing cable (these have loops on both ends, they cost about $15.

https://www.amazon.com/Lumintrail-Heavy-Duty-Security-Coated-Braided/dp/B01K02R9N8/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=security%2Bcable&qid=1584982285&sr=8-7&th=1&psc=1

Then go with a simple combination lock, not a key lock because you could lose the key while touring, such as the Master Lock 178D that cost only $10.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-178D-Combination-Padlock/dp/B0009V1WMA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl1&tag=lckn-20&linkId=5321f3d45a436782bf134e49d88093a7&linkCode=w61&imprToken=badCwxT4pGV9Qkuv91g3NA&slotNum=7

You don't want too thin of a cable, or what's called a wire, those can be cut with a pocket knife, but a thicker cable most druggies, or an opportunist won't be carrying around something better than knife, plus the cable is flexible to lock the the bike to almost anything, and it can be neatly rolled to fit in your pannier or backpack, the whole thing will weigh less than 2 pounds.

But do not buy those cables with the attached tube shaped combination locks, those are all poor quality locks, I opened my daughters in less than 30 seconds without tools.

[wildtoad]

If I will pass through more developed (i.e., crowded) campgrounds or towns along the way, I usually bring a slightly thicker cable lock; relatively short and not that heavy duty, so relatively light weight.  If I will be more remote w/ just a few stops in slightly developed areas, then I bring the thin, super light cable lock that I use for downhill skis. 

Both locks are, of course, used in combination w/ situational awareness. And, generally, I do what I can to keep my bike as close as possible. 

If I will be away from my bike for any amount of time, I always take the really important stuff w/ me (e.g., what's in my handlebar bag). A good idea to have very easily detachable bag that's easy to carry (on hip, shoulder, whatever). 

This approach has worked very well for me.