Hangtownmatt

Do I detect a bit of reverse beater-bike snobbery and a lack of ability to see outside of one's own box in a few of these posts? Not everyone rides their bicycle from home to the grocery store, hardware store, etc. I for instance, commute on my bicycle partway and dirve my car part way. I live out in the country and work in the city. Am I supposed to ride my beater 35 miles RT so that I can lock it up outside? I think not. Often times comming home I'll need to stop at Safeway, Home Depot and other businesses. Whether I'm on the cycling or driving portion of the commute I always bring my bicycle in. If I have to leave it locked up outside or on my car I won't do business there ... or I'll shop at another time. I've had very few issues, but I do use common sense. For instance, I've had my bike in Starbuck's and Karen's Bakery, but not during their rush hours. Yesterday, after reading this thread, I rode to my local True Value Hardware. I've only been in there a couple times with my bicycle so I asked the owner if they had a policy against bringing bikes into the store. He said, "Absolutely not, As long as you are wearing a shirt you are welcomed to shop."

Matt

Looigi

Well...the OP was about bringing the bike in to a store, not prancing around in your kit. I assume if you're out on a ride and need to stop to buy some drinks, a snack or whatever, you're not going to have clothes to change in to so will be going into the establishment in your kit and cycling shoes (since shirt & shoes are the usual requirement, assuming of course you're wearing pants). If you are embarrassed about this or think other patrons may find it objectionable, so be it. I'm not and don't. Bringing the bike in is a separate issue. I'm not embarrassed or shy about that either.

daihard 

IMO, that should be the case. A bicycle doesn't take as much space as a shopping cart.

J.C. Koto

Get yourself one o' these bad boys and you'll never need to park your bike outside the store again:



Problem solved!

Darth Lefty 

By the usual 10-20% cost of lock rule, you should budget $1500 for a lock. Perhaps a nice car would be good, then you could lock your bike up inside it.

Orchestra

Hey now! I said I went to Safeway! If I could afford a luxury hybrid like that I would be shopping at Whole Foods. Oh to dream...

Hangtownmatt

Looigi - Not sure if you were responding to me or not, but if so I think you missed my point. And if you were responding to me ... where did I say I wore a kit and cycling shoes. I don't. This is a perfect example of one's ability to not see out of one's own box. That's assuming you were talikg to me.

jdon

I thought it was about Whole Foods. Just take your bike in. If you have a good sweat going, they will welcome your stink as you will fit right in.

Phil_gretz

My wife and I ride with another couple for weekday evening meals at the Whole Foods close to the OP. I am the one who schlepps the various locks and whatnot to enable the others to not worry about their bikes once we've arrived. We use the provided bike racks. Our bikes combined would be less than $7500, though.

Generally, it's safe enough to lock the bike at WF and go in for 45 minutes or so.

Admission of guilt here, as I would not bring my bike inside regularly, but have on occasion when I'm not carrying a lock. I set it aside in a portion of the cafe where it's not in anyone's way. I'm not aware of offending anyone or causing any disturbance in having brought it in.

Dave Horne

I don't know why you guys don't buy those ring locks that are permanently mounted on the frame. (I've given my views on this before ... sorry.)

Phil_gretz

You don't know why? Think about it for a while...then come up with your five most likely reasons. I'd venture to guess that they'll cover 99% of the objections to that type of lock mechansm. Give it a try, you'll surprise yourself!

Little Darwin

Well, not if it is by itself, but remember that people push a shopping cart from behind, a bicycle is usually pushed from beside, and not too close, or you hit your shins on the pedals...

I don't have a high value bike, but I have had to stop and go into stores a couple of times without my lock, and I considered paying a kid a couple of bucks to watch my bike, but with my luck, I would get the honest looking kid who would just say to himself, "$2 and a bike... what a great day!" So I just leave my bike, and deal with the anxiety that I may be walking instead of riding after I leave the store. So far I have been lucky.

Looigi

Not specifically . I was referring to situations that I find myself in where I may want to bring the bike into an business establish, which would be on a road ride.

deeth82

I typically lock my man-servant to the front of the bike while entering Whole Foods. He has been trained on how to fight hand-to-hand whilst wearing a bike on his back, and the system works flawlessly!

Dave Horne

I've had two bikes stolen from me in the last 20 years. The first bike was standing on my front porch at my previous address and was locked only with a ring lock. It was also insured _because_ it had a ring lock and I could provide both keys. There's a slightly different mentality over here regarding bike insurance; all bike stores work with large insurance companies to provide insurance.

The second bike was stolen in a much larger city and was also locked with only the ring lock. Had that bike been attached to something else, it would not have been stolen. I freely admit that.

A ring lock is always attached to the bike and does add much weight to the bike. If someone steals that bike they will have to pick it up and either carry it or throw it in a truck. One would hope that would attract attention.

My current bike cost €4300+ and of course has a ring lock as it's required for my insurance. I also have an Abus U lock which doesn't always travel with me. It adds substantial weight and I only use it when I think the bike might be in a questionable place. On the other hand, my bike is insured for complete replacement from the dealer so I don't really worry that much about bringing the Abus U lock.

If someone wants to steal your bike, they will, regardless of the locks. My father-in-law would always say, opportunity makes the thief. A ring lock might make someone think twice ... and most ring locks allow you to plug in a chain into that lock for additional protection.

Condorita

Silly me: I always have a lock with me.

alaskanb3arcub

Heh... that Shopping Bike was made by someone from my hometown...

cw_

Bahahaha! That's awesome.

I usually bring my bike in any place I go to (usually just places I run in and run out real fast). No ones ever told me anything. Just get looks here and there. I've heard many stories of peoples bikes getting stolen, especially with locks attached to them. Rather be safe then sorry.

prathmann

This seems to be an excellent answer to your question as to why most here don't use ring locks. I always use a lock that attaches the bike/wheels to a relatively unmovable object and have had no bikes stolen in the last 20 years. Nor have I paid for any extra insurance (or had the insurance cost included in the bike price if provided by the bike dealer). The lock I use most frequently is also lighter than a ring lock (and can be dispensed with entirely on rides where I know I won't be locking up the bike).

daihard 

Which lock do you use that's lighter than a ring lock? I'd love to buy one myself.

prathmann

As I said, it's the one I use 'most frequently' - it's not the one I use when locking up for extended periods or in questionable areas. For quick convenience store stops in areas I consider pretty safe I use a very light, but rather insecure cable lock. If more protection is called for I supplement it with a U-lock that's unfortunately far heavier than a ring lock. But I feel that even a thin cable lock securing the bike to a sturdy pipe or rack is better than a ring lock by itself where the bike can quickly be tossed in a pickup and be gone. Conditions may well be different in the Netherlands where 1) I saw far fewer pickups and 2) people would probably view such an act with more suspicion.

Dave Horne

The nice thing about the ring lock, it's _always_ on the bike, you never forget to bring it.

Most ring locks allow you to insert an additional lock that plugs into that ring lock.

Having said that ... again, my bike is insured for full replacement so I really only concern myself with always locking the bike with the ring lock. As long as I can provide the two keys that came with that lock, the insurance makes good.

Dave Horne

I posted this on facebook but don't recall if I posted this here. (If I did, sorry.)

daihard 

Where does a ring lock normally go on a bike? I've seen pictures where a ring lock is attached to the seat tube with an attachment. Is that typical?

Dave Horne

daihard, this video should make everything clear.


All the bikes I've owned here have the lock mounted as you see in that video