rumrunn6

I once had a landlord take my 4Runner truck topper from the backyard. he never said a thing to me. I called him & then he admitted it. said he didn't know who's it was. filed a small claims suit & we settled for half the value toward next month's rent. it was an extra top that I didn't need, so I came out ahead. future Wifey was pissed that she still had to come up with her half of the rent ...

Caliper

Get more creative on your bike storage. In college, I lived in a two person dorm. It had a bunk bed, two desks, two closets, a mini fridge and just enough floor space for two guys to not run into each other while studying. If you tripped getting out of bed, you'd hit your head on the desk...
I put my bike in the corner, nose up, on the rear wheel. I used a pencil through the rear wheel against the chainstay to stop the rear wheel from rolling out. It tucked between the side of the desk and the wall, taking up very little room.

tdonline

I keep all 3 of my bikes in my apartment building's foyer. Since it's a foyer, there's nothing to do but lean the bikes against the wall and lock them to each other or themselves. I share the foyer with only 2 other tenants and we all seem to be here a lot. I work from home at least 4 days a week and one tenant is retired. The other tenant is new and I don't know her story but she's home a lot (we have paper thin walls...). She's upstairs and keeps her bike right outside her door...on a trainer. I haven't heard any indoor riding yet.

It's been 12 years, knock on wood. Of course, all it would take is one little incident and those bikes would be gone. I take my chances as all the perimeter space is spoken for. If management ever puts its foot down, the likely solution would be to get rid of the dining table and push the sofa away from the wall and park the bikes there. When the weather warms up, I'll try to sell my oldest bike. I'm sentimental about it but space is a premium.

2cam16

Wow that sucks! Sorry to hear.

SHBR

It clearly wasn't a removal, otherwise all the bikes would be gone, especially the ones with flat tires.

The lack of reading comprehension from some posters here is astounding.

Bikesplendor

You can also find ways of holding the bike up flat against the ceiling. Saves floor space. Pedal wrench comes in handy.

avole

SHBR

Have you worked for government?

I did, and I would never call their use of taxpayer funds efficient.

If it was, there would be no need for government.

eja_ bottecchia

BrocLuno

Time for a new dream, and one that comes with good fake Wall-Mart stickers on the down-tube so they'll walk by and not even look twice.

Nice splatter graffiti paints helps too

SHBR

Duct tape, lots of surface rust, hose clamps, scratches, and dents are also quite effective.

Smart thieves will be looking at the parts, so consider component selection carefully.

avole

greatscott

Geez, that does suck, and bike you custom built means you had a lot of thought and effort to get the bike way you wanted it, that's even worse. Sorry about your loss. I do agree with others you should have insurance, and renters insurance isn't all the expensive, I think it's around $150 a year with $250 deductible for the minimal content coverage which I think is $10,000. If you do get renters insurance in the future make sure you fully understand how a bike is covered and what the locking up rules are to keep it from being stolen. Another thing, is if you get renters insurance some companies offer a separate policy you can add for just the bicycle, yes it does cost something, not sure what it costs, but it eliminates the deductible for the bike. The only issue with insurance is cost of it vs cost of the bike, if the bike is worth say $1,000 if after say the third year of coverage the bike is stolen you, you've paid $450 for the insurance plus the $250 deductible so the total out of pocket expense is $700, you only gained $300, but if it happens in the fourth year you gain nothing! So you do have weigh that expense factor out. Having said that it may be wise to get renters insurance anyways in case of fire all your stuff gets burned, and you have to live someplace else for awhile so those living expenses for i think 30 days is covered.

If buying insurance is too expensive for you then I like the Walmart idea. but I wouldn't get stickers that say Walmart because Walmart doesn't sell any bikes with Walmart on it so people will know that, so I would take a picture of what the Huffy brand decals look like on a Huffy bike and have vinyl transfers made to look just like the Huffy decals, but then you have to go through the hassle of removing the original decals.

fietsbob

A big market for folding bikes is small apartment dwellers ...

acidfast7

Yes, in the US and Germany and I found it OK. Not more waste than any other large organisation. Also, I'm always in the top 10% or higher of income earners and I'm still OK with it as it tends to benefit society as whole. I guess I'm a socialist at heart, perhaps that why I like the EU so much.

jade408

I wish, but no. There were signs up about the theft and being more diligent about keeping the gate closed. The HOA hasn't gotten back to me on more details. The staircase I park in isn't the main one, and the bike didn't impede entry and exit. The only time I needed to move was when the rail was repainted. Repair people/service workers access the staircase with no issues.

jade408

I have renters insurance, I forgot the amount of my deductible and the cap. Waiting to talk to my agent. I need to do a final tally, but my bike was worth maybe $2000 or more. I had recently added a Nitto Rack. I need to dig up the receipts for the modifications from the initial build. I likely don't have all, but I hopefully have some.

avole

That's excellent news. By the way, a tip which was passed on by the police in Paris when I had a burglary was to photocopy every receipt you have, and give those to the insurance people. If insurance companies are as they are here, original receipts often go missing and aren't paid out. I only got about 75% back, but, by a lucky chance, years later found a camera I had claimed on, which makes it a little under the full amount.

mrglassonbike

Sorry to hear about the theft. I hope everything works out for you Jade.

ColonelSanders

I am genuinely sorry to hear that you have had your bike stolen.


But I am also going to be the jerk that says you need to up your security if you are going to have a bike parked in the sort of location that you did.


As a simple solution for a lock that you would leave on the rails where you have locked your bike, if you had the below attached, it is unlikely they would have stolen your bike.


https://www.westechrigging.com/chain...-padlocks.html


A 3 foot piece of this chain(with chafe sleeve) and hardened padlock is $129, the 2 foot package is $112.


The Pewag security chain has achieved legendary status, due to being bolt cutter proof and taking between 90 to 120+ secs to cut through, depending on whether you have a quality angle grinder and disc on it. (Imagine the noise going on for 90 to 120 secs)


If you get an appropriate length chain, you could wrap it around two rails, so that it doesn't just become easier to cut a rail.

greatscott

That is good news! most renters policies are $250 deductible because they are usually minimal content coverage between 10,000 to 100,000 in coverage and the cost of the insurance is not a major expense, major content coverage above 75,000 (yes there is some overlapping between 75 and 100) would see more in the 500 deductible range. Make sure you have the police report, the insurance company will want a copy of if.

tcs

To re-emphasize this point, locking up at home or (if the buildings & grounds crew aren't jerks) at work every day, the lock doesn't have to be something you can conveniently carry with you. You can use massive chains & locks. Lock to the best thing you can, but if your security equipment becomes harder to cut than what you have to lock to then the thief has to carry away a bike with a massive chain or a couple of whopping U-locks on it - not impossible, but a huge deterrent to stealing that particular bike.

Duragrouch

Bike storage in small space:
- Ceiling hook, hang from rear wheel. Only works if ceiling is the right height for it. Make sure hook goes into a wood stud and not just drywall, and drill correct size for hook threads so you don't split stud. Hooks are dirt cheap at any home improvement or hardware store.
- If ceiling too tall or bike hangs too low, use "kayak lift", often used at bike shops. Two pulleys attached to ceiling, hooks extend down to handlebars and seat, you pull on line and it lifts both, then line is secure either by spring cleat at one pulley (changing line angle secures or releases, like window blinds), or cleat at ground level. Kayak lifts used to be expensive, close to $100, now they are less than $10 at places like Harbor Freight. Again, make sure screwed to wood studs behind ceiling layer.
- Get a folding bike. 20" wheel ones are very compact but still allow a derailleur system to provide enough high gear without an internal hub. There is now also the Helix bike, titanium, made in Canada, folds as compact as a Brompton but has 24" wheels. I have a 20" wheel folder for those rare times I need to, but most of the time I don't fold it because it's already significantly shorter than a standard bike, which is especially helpful in elevators. However it is a heavy bike, 28 lbs stripped, plus racks and panniers front and rear, so carrying up stairs is difficult. A folder also allows you to carry inside in businesses where they would not allow a standard bike. I fold mine to carry into library, NEVER leave chained outside. Would be easier if had little casters for rolling folded like a Brompton. Also opens possibility for cheap transport when traveling. I love my folder.

Daytriker

Trinx Z5 in it's assembled state.
One of my goals has been to find a bike or trike that was suitable for flying with without it riding like one of those circus bikes. This too requires as small a space as possible having to fit within airline, train or bus requirements. Having tried various clown bikes & trikes that almost filled the bill I knew I needed at the very least 20 inch wheels. Bromptons & the like don't cut it for me with their minimal gearing & 16 inch wheels as I am over 200 lbs. I may have found a solution though in a solid frame, 20 inch wheel, good gearing, aluminum frame that is sold in Asian countries. A Trinx Z5.

Trinx Z5 in it's assembled state.
With a little disassembly I have taken this twice on a train here in Thailand. Once was 'First Class' which surprisingly was a little more difficult to find a stowage area than the second class initial trip. It worked. The bike in it's present state could be easily stored in a closet or behind a bedroom door without much interference at all. To make this more like a folding bike & quicker & easier to pack I will be installing a folding handlebar stem & removable pedals. Then as far as I can tell with the front wheel removed it shouldn't be very much bigger than a folded bike.

Daytriker

Tenth Post - NOW Can I upload my Photo?