Bikes and Security March 27, 2014, 12:42:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145501The bike rack thread got me thinking about an event that just happened to us.We have been full timing for over 5 years now and spend a lot of time boondocking. We have always carried a couple of expensive road bikes. This past November we sold them and bought two new full suspension mountain bikes with 29" wheels made by Giant and Specialized.We carried them on a steel hitch rack with the rack locked to the car. We used two heavy duty locks, one to secure the bikes together and one to secure them to the rack. However, life has been too good and we had gotten complacent because we had never had trouble. We were locking both bikes together and not securing them to the rack. Two days ago they were stolen while we slept. Both bikes and the lock gone. I guess it was a little awkward carrying two bikes to their truck or whatever they were in but they did and will have all the time they need to remove the lock.You can read about the theft and the insurance response, which was excellent, here, if you care to. http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot.com/It is covered in the last two posts.I realize that the security is only as good as the weakest link and that a determined thief can steal most anything. Currently I am researching the best way to protect them when we replace them. There are chains that can't be cut with bolt cutters but they can be cut with grinders, of course that makes noise and takes a bit more time.We used to carry our bikes inside a mini-van until we hit the road but unfortunately that is too heavy to tow.So, just some food for thought, and I am open to suggestions on how to secure them in the future.Jim C
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #1 – March 27, 2014, 03:29:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145502Yakima big daddy racks have a built in cable lock system that locks your bike to the hitch, but thin cable. Reese now makes a hitch lock/10 ft cable combo. Locks rack to hitch mount, thread cable through bikes, attach eyelets to hitch lock and lock it up. Will fit 5/16 and 1/2 inch hitch pin size. Available at most Walmarts. Maybe used to lock up other things while camping.
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #2 – March 27, 2014, 07:24:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145503Jim, that is a bummer about your bikes being stolen, but sounds like a very positive insurance claim experience. I use a cable to secure the bikes. It is a regular long (I'd guess about 6 ft.) plastic coated bike lock cable that has small loops on each end. I put the cable around the outside bike and then thread the cable through the loop (at this point one tube of the bike frame is collared by the cable). Next, I run the cable through the frame of the second bike (no attachment points just through the center of the frame). Finally, I padlock the other looped end to the safety chain attachment points on the vehicle hitch. I think we all know that if someone really wants one of the bikes and has enough time that no system is going to stop them. The thing I like about this system is that the bikes are secured to the frame of the vehicle and you can leave the system in place when you travel because the cable won't damage the bikes (like a chain or other metal lock systems might).Enjoy the new bikes!Rob Adams SOB
Bikes and Security Reply #3 – March 27, 2014, 07:41:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145504I'll tell you what system we use. We have cheap bikes. Nobody wants them. Works pretty well for us. Tom
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #4 – March 28, 2014, 07:21:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145510If they're really bad bikes, you may come back to the car one day and find a third one there. 8-)From: Tom Johnston To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 4:41 PM Subject: [LD] Bikes and Security
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #5 – March 28, 2014, 08:54:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145512joel-wiley, "If they're really bad bikes, you may come back to the car one day and find a third one there. 8-)"Where is the "Like" button.
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #6 – March 28, 2014, 09:01:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145513I was wondering if you meant that the bicycles were re-creating, that someone would have added a unit of their own as a donation, or if it is like a tumbleweed or snowball that picks up things as it goes along. Or maybe some deeper meaning involving time, space, and velocity.Virtual hugs,Judie http://dorrieanne.wordpress.com
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #7 – March 29, 2014, 12:26:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145516Having experienced a bike theft off the rack on the back of the RV, I can say that just about ANY of the security devices can be overcome by a determined thief.I had my 15yr old Mt. Bike stolen off the back in the middle of the night with me IN bed, right next to the rear [IB]. I heard the noise of them cutting the thumb sized covered woven steel cable that I had wrapped around the frame, over the rack, around the frame again... they ripped it off the securing straps, and bungee cords I also secured it with...took them less time then it took me to get up, throw on a nightie, and get out the door...they were GONE, just that fast. This was in Woodland, CA., and I was parked in a driveway a few feet from the sidewalk...they had obviously scoped out the situation before the theft.Luckily, two days later as I walked thru the public park, lo and behold, there was my dear bike, albeit spray painted a dull primer grey parked next to some people at a bench!! I knew it immediately, called the police, but it had vanished by the time they got there. After they left, I approached a lady who had been sitting there and appealed to her that *I knew* it was my bike...she had bought it from 'some guy' for $50...I offered to repay her, and she led me to it, and gave it back. I now have a HEAVY rigid metal "U" shaped locking device that clamps around the bike frame and the upright bike rack...as well as a back-up steel cable double-wrapping it. I don't know how heavy a bold cutter one would need to sever than "U" clamp, but I *think* it would take one larger than most thieves would have...I know the cable can be cut by one as it is the same as the one I had originally..the heaviest I could find...but it ought to slow them down enough for me and Junah [my attack Dobe..ha!] to get out and accost them in the act...I hope!Now, does anyone know how to remove grey primer from metallic midnight blue paint?? Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire "CHERRYOTTE" our litte red home on wheels "Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."--- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com
Re: Bikes and Security Reply #8 – March 29, 2014, 01:57:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 145517Gini, is there ANY calamity that you have not endured in your travels? You should write a book. (-:Chris
Topic: Bikes and Security (Read 7 times)
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Topic: Bikes and Security (Read 7 times)
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