I Was Only Away For A Second!

While I was walking through town today, I saw a guy ride up & park his bike outside a shop before popping inside. He was just nipping in to pick something up, so didn’t bother to lock it:

This is a mistake that people frequently make (just the once though . . .), which leads to the inevitable sign in the shop window . . .

STOLEN BIKE!

(A photo of the missing bike goes here)

Last Friday, I nipped inside this shop for just a second. Sadly, my faith in the honesty of people round here was rewarded by my bike being stolen. It was my pride and joy etc, etc

I was tempted to grab the guy’s bike and take it just around the corner that this shop is located on. But cyclists can get funny about having their bikes stolen – funny as in psychopathic.

What’s the answer to this sort of problem? Probably to get something like an Axa Defender fitted to your bike – it’s a cheep, but surprisingly effective immobiliser for just such situations:

True, the thief could carry your bike off, but at least that should slow them down enough for you to vent the full wrath of a cyclist robbed on them!

Filed under: Bike Security, Bike locking strategy, Photographs, Unlocked Bike

4 Responses to “ I Was Only Away For A Second! ”

  1. Andy in Germany on October 30, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    I have one of those on the Bakfiets, which has the added advantage that it’s such a weight no-one could pick it up and walk off with it.

  2. townmouse on October 30, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Guilty as charged! (leaving the bike unlocked, not stealing them). What I want, though, is something that works at the press of a button on a key fob, just like you have on a car…

  3. nmanhica on October 31, 2009 at 1:16 am

    My…your posts are so fun to read! I can’t imagine how I would fare without my bike! I definitely lock mine!!

  4. 2whls3spds on November 1, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    That is the same lock I use on my Redline R530, I use the optional chain to keep someone from hoisting the bike.

    Aaron