feijai

Could you elaborate?

randya

I used an armored cable with my stridas, but a U lock or chain would work equally well. You can lock both the back wheel and frame with the bike 'open', or fold the bike and lock both wheels together (to a fixed object). I locked it this way outside many times in Barcelona, where I was not allowed to bring the bike into many places, including the Picasso Museum. Never had a problem.

folder fanatic

This is how I think of a expensive (and even a cheapie) bike of any kind now of it's increased value to others. Ask yourself if you will be comfortable leaving your wallet, purse, briefcase, laptop, cellphone/mobile and other portable electronic gadgets, money, credit/debit cards, jewelry and the like out in full public view without your hands on it or on your person? Would you be lulled into "locking it up" because someone told you to or you were too lazy to carry it (or roll in this case) around with you.

It never ceases to amaze me how people check their good sense at the door when it comes to bikes of any type. Unless you are a billionaire or at least a millionaire, you cannot afford to throw money away (and believe me, the rich can be real tightwads too). That is what happens when a bike disappears no matter what the circumstances led up to the theft. Everything you listed is nice and sound advice that the nice honest hard working people follow-and the thieves flaunt and take advantage of. So....I make it a point to take the bike everywhere with me-even in the restroom (if the disabled can take their similarly expensive wheelchairs, walkers, & canes in, so the bike can go there too. Those same devices have been stolen too when other users left them outside!) I have had bus drivers tell me not to put my folder on the front rack but to bring it on board (folding bikes are permitted)-there have been instances where the bikes were grabbed off the "safe" racks or forgotten if the bus is late and off schedule.

You have a folding bike. It comes with it's own security feature built into it's design. Don't be afraid to use it. If you cannot for any reason, leave it at home. By the way, the tikit comes with it own slipcover. Use it whenever you feel uncomfortable about exposing others to your "naked" bike. I always leave home with one of my "homemade" bags.

srad

The cover is great, even though I would only use it maybe once every couple of months. It turns the tikit into an oddly shaped object with a convenient carrying handle. It looks like some kind of exotic musical instrument. Think of if it as "evening wear" for your bike - a little bit black. a little bit shiny, a little bit stretchy

snafu21

Don't forget to upgrade everything which has a tubular lock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6StN...eature=related

tkehler

Not ALL U-locks. Kryptonite recalled theirs and fixed the problem. That Youtube vid is two years old, though there are no doubt older U-Locks around...

tkehler

I hate it when college students fund their education by a life of (bike) crime ;-

tkehler

I never let any of my three ti bikes out of my sight for very long when I'm riding one of them. If I have to pop into a store, I lock the one I'm on very well (Kryptonite U-Lock) and check on it every few minutes. And I know the area well, as well as the clientele.

Re: your daughter, good luck with keeping her in sight once she's 16 (or so...

snafu21

It was 2004. After the great Kryptonite/Bic fiasco Kryptonite recalled and replaced tens of thousands of their U-locks which had axial pin cylinders. A lot of manufacturers didn't; a walk around my LBS showed that three out of six of the cable and U-locks on sale there today still have axial-pin 7 tumbler Bic-tastic keyways.

It doesn't matter much, a portable angle grinder will get through a lock in minutes, an electronic lock-pick in eight seconds. The Bic thing must have been a huge embarrassment though.

"The lock's flaw was apparently first publicized in 1992 in the United Kingdom. The BBC even covered it, but the news apparently didn't resurface until a dozen years later." -Wired

Here's where you get any new bike you want for $139

bhkyte

I like Birdies............ exactly which shop do you leave it outside unlocked !

brommie

This is no advise . . . But sometimes you have to make a decision . . . so we decided to leave two Bromptons unguarded but with a chain lock.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/plooifiets/3041240893/

vik 

As a Tikit owner I can tell you that the best security feature of the Tikit is it's uber fast fold. It's so fast and easy there is never any reason to leave the bike outside. If you are concerned about bikes being allowed in the building [even folded ones] then cover the Tikit with the showercap cover that should be attached to your frame and then carry it in like a bag of shopping or a suitcase.

I have never been denied even in buildings where there is a clearly stated no bikes policy.

Once inside I will often leave my Tikit with building security. They are always interested in odd packages and once they see it's a folded bike I'll even do a demo for them of how it works. I've never been turned away and most security guards act like I made their day! I'll also leave the Tikit at a customer service desk if the store has one. I've never been turned away. If there is no convenient place to leave my Tikit I'll just roll it along with me. I'll park it in a corner if I am staying in one area of a building. The only hassle I've had is all the people who want to ask me questions about it. I've done 2 - 3 demos while in a store for less than 30mins!

As other posters have noted you should get some good insurance on any bike. I shopped around and for no extra cost I got full coverage of all my bikes up to the value of my policy with the only limit being $5K per bike....which covers any bike I own.

Brimstone

Did you consider folding the bikes and running the chain through all the wheels?

tassajara007

I use an 11 foot long 5/16" cable I got from home depot. Formed loops at the end with these crimp things and a hydraulic press, and a simple padlock. I'll run the cable through both tires, the rails of the seat, and the frame. When I actually put the padlock on, I put the loop around a rear spoke and the chain. Not much good to a thief if he has to smash away at the spokes and the chain to get the bike freed... heh

randya

cable locks are the easiest to cut. I used to use one. finally had one cut on a bike I also had a U-Lock on, stopped using them after that.

vik 

+ 1 I had a bike stolen when a thief cut a cable lock I used to secure it....sad part was the bike was 8' to my right as I was eating on a patio...I'd never use a cable lock for more than a dash into a 7-11.

Don't lock it - fold it and take it in!

lucille

Ugh! I soooo hate bike thieves! My hubby had a bike stolen from a locked cage, that you need a passcard to get into, with security camera pointing at it. But, he felt safe and used a cable lock and since the racks were full, just locked it to the fence, inside the cage. How they got the bike out, we'll never know, but they did. Two weeks before we were going on a cycling holiday...grrrrr.....

Brimstone

What about a link plate lock?

https://www.amazon.com/Abus-Bordo-Com...f=pd_sbs_sg_14

brommie

I don't think the chain would be long enough. I usually run the chain through the triangle under the seatpost and then around the lamppost for example.
But the chain is very heavy so I'm looking for another solution.
Maybe I've found something but want to know if somebody here has any experience with it before spending money . . .
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?645732-Locking-the-bike