bike security while sleeping

[10speed]

My worst fear is stealth camping somewhere and waking up to discover my bike is gone and I am in the middle of nowhere without a bike.

Does this fear ever cross your mind and what have you done to prevent such a thing?

I will bring a 6' cable lock. What else might I need? and how do I set it up?

Thank You Touring Pros!

[Tourista829]

I use a cable loop and lock from Saris, the same people that make the car racks. It is 8ft long, 10mm steel braid and fairly light. You can lock it without a key. (two feet can make a difference)  I always find a tree or something to lock the bike to. One of my bikes also has a rear built in lock that prevents one from riding the bike. If there is room, in your tent you can remove the front wheel. Someone should come up with a smaller vestibule that attaches to the tent so you can lay the locked bike down, on a tarp, and it looks like part of the tent. 

[Galloper]

I saw a rape alarm a while ago which had a pull cord.   If you secure that to the frame and attach the cord to a loop around a tree or bush, anyone moving it is going to set it off.   It was quite small but very loud.   Not sure where you'd get one but would at least warn you.

[rvklassen]

I saw a rape alarm a while ago which had a pull cord.   If you secure that to the frame and attach the cord to a loop around a tree or bush, anyone moving it is going to set it off.   It was quite small but very loud.   Not sure where you'd get one but would at least warn you.

Just don't trip on the cord when you get up in the night

Seriously though, I did see somewhere a bike alarm that just makes noise when the bike is moved.  A quick search revealed this:
http://www.sourcingmap.com/keyless-security-bicycle-bike-lock-alarm-annunciator-p-43709.html

Not endorsing it, there were other similar options out there.

[10speed]

great idea. I had no idea that a "bike alarm" existed, however nothing surprises me anymore.

found this guy, that a few cyclist seemed to be happy with and are endorsing:

http://www.inventions4you.com/

I may just blow the $$$ and try it.

[fiddler4060]

I've heard of people running one of their rain fly lines from the tent through the bike before securing it to a tent stake. I guess the idea is that if someone messes with the bike it will rustle the tent (or knock it down?!), thus waking you up to catch the perpetrator. Haven't tried it.

[bktourer1]

clamp a small padlock around the rear derail'r.

[johnsondasw]

I set up near a place where my bike can be locked with a 6 foot cable lock.  In 30 years, I've never really worried about it with that setup.

[10speed]

clamp a small padlock around the rear derail'r.

clever, simple, and effective.

good post.


did I mention cheap?

[10speed]

Out of curiousity, how many of you pull your bag/panniers into your tent when you sleep?

This is something I plan on doing.

[rvklassen]

Out of curiousity, how many of you pull your bag/panniers into your tent when you sleep?

This is something I plan on doing.

They generally go in the vestibule, but NEVER the pannier/bag with food.  That is (preferably) hung from a tree.  In bear country, you want to be sure you never have food in your tent.  When not in bear country, you want to avoid getting the scent into the tent so that next time you are in bear country, it doesn't smell like you do have food in your tent.  Unless you're never in bear country, and never will be.

[staehpj1]

Out of curiousity, how many of you pull your bag/panniers into your tent when you sleep?

This is something I plan on doing.

Not me.

[mucknort]

I saw a rape alarm a while ago which had a pull cord.   If you secure that to the frame and attach the cord to a loop around a tree or bush, anyone moving it is going to set it off.   It was quite small but very loud.   Not sure where you'd get one but would at least warn you.

http://www.amazon.com/StreetWise-Personal-Alarm/dp/B0019I1TKM

[geegee]

In the odd times that I've been worried and there is no tree to secure the bike to, I lay the bike on the ground with one of the wheels partly underneath the tent so I can feel its presence, and then I peg the tent fly through the frame. With a cable lock through the wheels, there would be no way anyone could run off with the bike without disturbing me from my sleep.

[bogiesan]

Suggest you carry a combination lock; too easy to lose a key.
Putting a lock through the rear mech will not stop anyone from carrying off the bike.

david boise ID