Bringing your bike inside stores
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,685
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2659 Post(s)
Liked 3,224 Times
in
1,841 Posts
The latest it's-all-about-me thing I see there is the line of cars parked in the fire lane along the front of the store, with the driver waiting behind the wheel with the engine idling while the shopper goes in to shop.
I never see anyone wheeling a bike around the store. But that's a Baltimore city store. Maybe the practice of wheeling bikes in the aisles is a suburban thing, where supermarkets tend to have wider aisles.
Likes For choddo:
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 1,453
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 700 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times
in
352 Posts
No. I take my worst bike and I lock it up outside. Can’t imagine trying to do anything useful in a supermarket while being hamstrung by carting that thing around.
Likes For choddo:
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,874
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4642 Post(s)
Liked 5,175 Times
in
3,200 Posts
We get this too and also parking alone in the family spaces specifically reserved for parents with babies and small children. They even make a point of taking up the spaces nearest the store entrance. They have no shame.
Likes For PeteHski:
#30
Rider. Wanderer. Creator.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 863
Bikes: Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, Cinelli Hobootleg, Zizzo Liberte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 436 Post(s)
Liked 914 Times
in
431 Posts
If I'm just popping into a shop for some coffee or boba for a couple of minutes I'll do this. The Hiplok is basically a re-usable zip tie with a steel core. It's a simple theft deterrent that fits in my jersey pocket.
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/1500x2000/pxl_20230806_145512948_ac8184b3d427ad65bd3e1ab94c76a1e500250c81.jpg)
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Posts: 932
Bikes: Time Scylon, Lynskey R350, Ritchey Breakaway, Ritchey Double Switchback, Lynskey Ridgeline, ICAN Fatbike
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 485 Post(s)
Liked 570 Times
in
323 Posts
I do if there is no place to lock it up. I've never had anyone tell me not to. Mostly if I need to pick up something on my way home from work.
Also, in the winter here I suspect that most people question my sanity. Or it's the upper Midwest thing of don't talk to strangers, and I do look a bit strange.
Also, in the winter here I suspect that most people question my sanity. Or it's the upper Midwest thing of don't talk to strangers, and I do look a bit strange.
Likes For DangerousDanR:
#32
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,835
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9685 Post(s)
Liked 6,421 Times
in
3,519 Posts
I always take my car to the store. I have yet to be asked to leave it outside.
Likes For Mojo31:
#33
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,206
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2315 Post(s)
Liked 3,548 Times
in
1,870 Posts
One of the things that struck me about UK grocery stores, at least when I was living in Cambridge, was how densely packed everything was, with almost no room to maneuver. People were always ramming their shopping 'trollies' into one another. There was clearly no physical possibility of bringing a bike inside.
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,162
Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1027 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
448 Posts
Hey guys, do you bring your bike inside stores when shopping? Do you think this is frowned upon/a dick move? Recently a cop outside of a Mexican market I went into told me to take the bike outside. I used to leave bikes outside usually, but I got a nice one and I don’t want it to get stollen.
posted in road cycling because roadies hate locks
posted in road cycling because roadies hate locks
Regardless if you leave it unlocked at sight or not, I can guarantee you that if someone rushes on your bike then gets on the saddle and start pedaling, you will not be able to catch up that person on foot and especially not with road shoes in your feet.
#35
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,275
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13039 Post(s)
Liked 7,967 Times
in
4,238 Posts
Put in high gear before you stop and they'll never get away!
Likes For LesterOfPuppets:
#36
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 45,275
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13039 Post(s)
Liked 7,967 Times
in
4,238 Posts
One of the things that struck me about UK grocery stores, at least when I was living in Cambridge, was how densely packed everything was, with almost no room to maneuver. People were always ramming their shopping 'trollies' into one another. There was clearly no physical possibility of bringing a bike inside.
And at Trader Joes here in the USA, I can't imagine rolling a bike in Trader Joe's.
Likes For LesterOfPuppets:
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,053
Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1287 Post(s)
Liked 1,419 Times
in
720 Posts
The bold matches the question I was pondering, coupled with the other thread of his on carrying bags from the handlebars...
Why? Why take a full on, high dollar road machine, essentially a race bike - to the market??? Stopping on a ride to refuel is one thing - but a full on shopping trip?
Get a thrift store Huffy and park it outside.
Why? Why take a full on, high dollar road machine, essentially a race bike - to the market??? Stopping on a ride to refuel is one thing - but a full on shopping trip?
Get a thrift store Huffy and park it outside.
not everyone has the space or time for a large fleet, and i’d rather lock my carbon road bike up in front of a busy shop than ride a beater for a climbing ride at lunch.
i would never bring a bike inside a grocery store, small market, etc. there are a few restaurants i know of that mostly do take out and have a little empty space to lean a bike against the wall just inside.
__________________
![](https://veloviewer.com/SigImage/4f56090/2/5/I/s/jlnizznmij.png)
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,685
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2659 Post(s)
Liked 3,224 Times
in
1,841 Posts
I don't bring my bicycle inside stores unless it's a LBS. I never leave my bike unwatched in fact. If it's an emergency, I ask someone to look after it while I quickly go do whatever I have to do inside.
Regardless if you leave it unlocked at sight or not, I can guarantee you that if someone rushes on your bike then gets on the saddle and start pedaling, you will not be able to catch up that person on foot and especially not with road shoes in your feet.
Regardless if you leave it unlocked at sight or not, I can guarantee you that if someone rushes on your bike then gets on the saddle and start pedaling, you will not be able to catch up that person on foot and especially not with road shoes in your feet.
My technique is to hook the straps of my helmet around the tire and rim of the front wheel and the down tube. Or just the wheel, but hooking the straps around both the wheel and the down tube might look a little more lock-like to the casual would-be thief.
Last edited by Trakhak; 12-06-23 at 10:52 AM.
Likes For Trakhak:
#39
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,935
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3814 Post(s)
Liked 5,831 Times
in
2,947 Posts
Likes For shelbyfv:
#40
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,266
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 561 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22769 Post(s)
Liked 9,169 Times
in
4,253 Posts
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 8,173
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7163 Post(s)
Liked 11,367 Times
in
4,858 Posts
I always ask if it’s ok to bring my bike in, and did it just last week at a coffee shop and they were cool with it. I have taken my bike into banks, hardware stores, coffee shops, card/gift stores and was refused at a gas mart. Is it a dick move? If you don’t ask first, then perhaps.
Likes For Koyote:
#42
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,835
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9685 Post(s)
Liked 6,421 Times
in
3,519 Posts
#43
-------
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Tejas
Posts: 12,835
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9685 Post(s)
Liked 6,421 Times
in
3,519 Posts
I imagine a bunch of us have evolved quick fixes for slowing potential thieves, such as LesterOfPuppets's trick of leaving the bike in the highest gear. A friend of mine says that when he stops in, e.g., a convenience store, he unships the chain from the chainrings.
My technique is to hook the straps of my helmet around the tire and rim of the front wheel and the down tube. Or just the wheel, but hooking the straps around both the wheel and the down tube might look a little more lock-like to the casual would-be thief.
My technique is to hook the straps of my helmet around the tire and rim of the front wheel and the down tube. Or just the wheel, but hooking the straps around both the wheel and the down tube might look a little more lock-like to the casual would-be thief.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,685
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2659 Post(s)
Liked 3,224 Times
in
1,841 Posts
My fallback rationalization is that few thieves would be interested in anything that isn't an e-bike these days.
#45
Behind EVERYone!!!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Burlington ON, Canada
Posts: 6,022
Bikes: 2010 Specialized Tricross Comp 105 Double
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
30 Posts
If a store won't let me bring my bike in, I won't shop there.
That is why I quit my gym.
Mind you, this is totally based on where I used to live....ni bike racks and poorly lit at night. Police also did not care about bike theft.
That is why I quit my gym.
Mind you, this is totally based on where I used to live....ni bike racks and poorly lit at night. Police also did not care about bike theft.
Last edited by baj32161; 12-06-23 at 03:10 PM.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 7,001
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 807 Post(s)
Liked 1,881 Times
in
1,069 Posts
I only do this if I am on my road bike for a quick stop for water as I wont have a lock... otherwise no.
#48
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,032
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2748 Post(s)
Liked 493 Times
in
357 Posts
Once as a kid I undid my front quick release and moved the wheel mostly out of the dropouts to booby trap it, and then ended up getting myself!
I normally leave it in the front of the store. I usually go to a store after work to get something or other to eat
I normally leave it in the front of the store. I usually go to a store after work to get something or other to eat
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,685
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2659 Post(s)
Liked 3,224 Times
in
1,841 Posts
#50
Senior Member
The drive through line was a huge problem with banks in the days before ATM machines. Banks would tend to have Saturday am hours that were drive through only and it was hit and miss as to whether or not they'd serve you on a bike. When you got paid by paper check at the end of the day on Friday that Saturday drive through line was your only option for getting any cash. On occasion I had to prevail on the kindness of strangers to allow me to sit in their car to carry out the transaction while my bike was leaning on the pole between lanes.