Bicycle Security

[Shipper]

You are on a tour and camping, are you worried about bicycle security?  If so, how does one go about securing your bike from would be thieves?

May the wind be at your back.

[ATSFfan]

I recently completed the Southern Tier tour and was concerned as well about security. I took a 6' cable lock with me, but probably used it only 10 times during my trip; there were a few campgrounds that I was concerned about the other "campers" nearby. I don't believe I ever locked my bike up when I was in a cafe or store; my feeling was that "Who'd want a 60 lb touring bike anyway?" However, I did try to keep an eye on it at all times, just for peace of mind.

[pmspirito]

I lock my bike everywhere I go.  Everywhere.  I once read that one of two things must be on your bike at all times.  Your butt or your Krytonite lock. I can't imagine being in the middle of the boonies and coming out of a convienence store and the bike is gone......

[PAdkins]

I don't usually carry a lock these days. I keep a close eye on it all the time though. I used to be a messenger in San Fran and I locked it all the time there. But on a big trip, especially out in the boonies, I do not feel like I'm likely to have anyone take my bike. I guess that could be partly because I've never had one stolen, but on the other hand, even with not locking my bike everywhere, I haven't got my bike stolen.
My advise is to carry a very light weight lock when touring, use it in the bigger towns and surely in the big cities, but even then, don't take your eyes off of it.

Paul Adkins

[RussellSeaton]

Worried?  Yes.  Can I do much about it?  Not really.  I always carry a self coiling cable and padlock and use it sometimes.  I'm more worried about my bags being lifted off the bike and stolen rather than the whole bike.  Can't really do much to protect the bags and their contents.  I do take my handlebar bag with me when leaving the bike.  I hear some panniers have attachemnt methods that only work if you know the secret.

Back in 1992 I toured loaded in Europe.  One day I parked my fully loaded bike, with panniers, in front of a museum in Munich, Germany.  I used my cable lock.  I spent several hours inside.  The bike and bags were just fine when I returned.  I did about the same when I toured the Neuschwenstein castle in Bavaria.  No problems.

[dano]

On my recent trip I really only locked it up if I was going to be out of sight for a while.I was more worried about someone getting into my bags.But sometimes I got some help from people like a Wal-Mart greeter who kept an eye on it while getting some stuff.At one camp site I was worried about some kids roaming around in the night so I rigged up a noise maker out of cans.But really using common sense I never had any problems.

[DaveB]

Campers often tie their bike into the guy ropes of their tent at night.  That way if anyone tries to take the bike, it jiggles the tent and wakes them up.  

[JayH]

Just finishing a 850 mile trip from NJ to New Brunswick, CA and although I did bring a cable lock, I never used it. I don't feel unsafe in anywhere but the major cities and as mentioned before, who wants to lug away a 70lb touring bike?  Just leave it in the big ring and any average joe is going to ignore it.  

Jay

[pmspirito]

Thanks to DaveB for the great tip to tie the bike to the tent guy line.

[DaveB]

Just finishing a 850 mile trip from NJ to New Brunswick, CA

I just have to ask.  How do you get from New Jersey to California in only 850 miles? ;0

[JayH]

Train?  

I guess that should be CAN. as in Canada.

Jay

[Peaks]

We just finished the Northern Tier.  We used cable bike locks perhaps 8 to 10 times.  Common sense told us when to lock up.  Most of the time, we just put our bikes in a promnate spot, such as by the entrance to a supermarkt, and never had any problems.  Also, never locked up bikes in small towns, and never had problems.  

[Blackberry]

I've toured all over America and Europe.  I lock my bike from
time to time when it seems prudent to do so.  The rest of the
time I figure who the hell wants to steal a bicycle piled high
with what looks like a homeless person's dirty laundry.  In 20
years of bike touring this philosophy had served me well.

[jharte]

I have also toured quite a bit in the United States. I recently carried my cable lock on a 430 ride across MO. I never used it. I do carry quite a bid of stuff and also think "who would want to steal, or even RIDE this monster!" I suppose it's better safe than sorry.

Touring...Therapy for the soul.

[bktourer1]

I use a cable lock most of the time and take my bar bag with me.  I use a padlock around the crank at night.  A small bell (found at a tackle shop) hooked up to the chain will ring if anyone tries to move the bike at night.