BIKE SECURITY
BICYCLE COMMUTER GUY BLOG
BIKE SECURITY
I don’t use a lock on my bike mainly because my bike is never out of my line of sight, until it is in a secure place.
Last night after work I took a forty mile overnight ride on my favourite bike with a heavy back pack. I stopped at a corner store for refreshment. It was a small store and I put my bike in the rack and went inside. There was another person inside the store who left and looked at the bike rack . I watched this person pick it up bike and try to ride off with it.
I ran out of the store after him heavy pack, cycle shoes and all and yelling and chased him until he fell from the bike (having clip pedals slowed his get away). He crashed the bike and protectively covered himself for the beating he as expecting (but that did not happen). I just yelled a little let him go and checked on the bike for damage (there was none). I was lucky but very angry! I wend back into the store with my bike (at the store owners request) finalized my purchase and rode another ten miles to my destination.
I was very lucky!
I could have lost my favourite bike, got into a fist fight with a low life (and maybe some of his friends), which I would have probably lost and been stranded 30 miles from home, I was very lucky!
So my advise on bike security is never let your bike out of eye sight! If you can’t bring your bike into a store or a restaurant find another place to spend your money. Also always be in control of your temper getting in a fight with a low life is never going to have positive out come!
Crazy story! You totally did the right thing. I’m always nervous about having my bike out of an arms reach but I’ve never had an issue like this before. Glad you got the bike back undamaged.
What a close call Marty! Glad it turned out not horrible, and good for you for not decking the guy. Guessing it was your Trek?
No way!!! The vision of you running in bike shoes..
Mad man in Lycra gunna lay a beat down!!
Should have called the cops…theft over 5k. That’s big boy time.
I carry a very light combination-cable-kryptonite in my fanny pack.
Certainly won’t stop a “pro” bike thief but does beat teenagers and low-lifes.
Good story. I still would have given the asshole a couple swift kicks. How will he learn otherwise? Glad it worked out. If I am leaving my bike to go into a shop where I don’t have complete visibility I take the chain off the front chainring. Just takes a second and it definitely slows a thief down.
It would nice to think the person taking your bike was in need but the common and sad reality is that he likely would have sold your $10,000 bike for a few hits of coke. Mercy might make you feel better but is probably wasted on the receiver of your beneficence.
Happy cycling. Thx for the story.
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