Lock your bikes!

[dragonpilot]

On Monday morning I hid the newbies' bikes (2) that were unlocked. Imagine their annoyance when they discovered their bike had been "stolen."

I later returned the bikes after an appropriate amount of teeth-gnashing.

Was I an asshat for doing this?...probably. Did they keep their bikes locked after that? Yes.

[Savannah]

You did them a favor.

[theCryptofishist]

I'm with Savannah. And I think the burn has a tradition of people teaching those kind of lessons in that kind of way. No coddling...

[Super Evil Brian]

I don't condone bike theft, but if one makes it easy for someone to steal a bike, it's difficult to feel bad.

I doubt bike thieves are walking around with lock-breaking tools and carting off bikes. It's probably someone needing a ride, seeing an unlocked bike and solving their transportation problem.

Or, maybe hippies dropping their bike where they are to chase after a sparkly thing and having no idea where their bike is.

I lock mine (even if just a "free lock") and keep it near something like a light post or a specific side of an art thing. I would often lock it in front of Media Mecca, which I used as a starting point often.

[Super Evil Brian]

On Monday morning I hid the newbies' bikes (2) that were unlocked. Imagine their annoyance when they discovered their bike had been "stolen."

I later returned the bikes after an appropriate amount of teeth-gnashing.

Was I an asshat for doing this?...probably. Did they keep their bikes locked after that? Yes.

Some need to learn the hard way.

I ride a bike regularly (I sold my car. Again) and it's second nature to lock my bike.

[Super Evil Brian]

A cable lock is usually enough, but plenty of people have reported cut locks.

The cheaper cable locks (under $100) cut like butter with a 14" cutter.
The more costly ones may be more resistant.

i do not use a cable lock with my good bike.

Cable locks are good for secondary locks, like through a seat, frame and rear wheel, while a good U-lock or proper chain are good for the front wheel and frame. I has a flimsy, vinyl-coated cable lock for my bike on the bike rack when I went in for some lunch or something on the way to BRC, but I brought my bike in when I stopped in a motel.

The Knog cable locks are no ordinary cable locks and are quite sturdy.

I doubt people are cutting locks on the playa. It seems unlikely but certainly not impossible. How many camps have tools that can also be used to cut locks?

[gyre]

There are reports of serious locks cut on the playa.
There are people there only to steal, like everywhere else.

[Super Evil Brian]

There are reports of serious locks cut on the playa.
There are people there only to steal, like everywhere else.

Well, in a group of 50,000+ a few are going to be criminals.

[gyre]

Recreational areas attract criminals, just as college campuses do.
It isn't a new problem.

[Martiansky]

There are reports of serious locks cut on the playa.
There are people there only to steal, like everywhere else.

This just bums me out......and makes me mad!
This is why we cant have nice things!!

Oh, are seats stolen often? I just found a decent one on clearance and put it on my bike.
Do I need some sort of lock or tether to make sure that doesnt disappear?

[mytripod]

Lock it or lose it. I love my bike. It is not a rental or a beater. It is my beloved. I lock it with double locks when not riding around the playa. I love people, but with 50,000 of them, there are indeed those who will steal because they can. Even if your bike is a beater, it's your ride. Don't let opportunity knock on your bike.

[Savannah]

There are reports of serious locks cut on the playa.
There are people there only to steal, like everywhere else.

This just bums me out......and makes me mad!
This is why we cant have nice things!!

Oh, are seats stolen often? I just found a decent one on clearance and put it on my bike.
Do I need some sort of lock or tether to make sure that doesnt disappear?

One doesn't generally hear of seats being stolen, no. Anything could happen, but it's much less likely. What happens is that some entitled drunken jackass stumbles out of a rave it took him 30 minutes to walk to, and decides he's too effed up to face getting back home without help. Inhibitions down, he steals transport. The seat alone would not generally be the biggest temptation . . . unless it's some fancy 200 hundred dollar seat I've never heard of, which I'm sure exists somewhere (and could be disguised with something fluffy).

[gyre]

There are locks and security hardware, but seat theft is about like anywhere.
Rare.

Hate to say it, but the sprung seat and shock I want is about $200.
Doesn't look like much unless you know the comfortable ones.
I hope to buy used.

Search security hardware/fasteners for some interesting options.

[BBadger]

We brought bikes one year and my friend's bike didn't have a seat because we thought we could find one on the way but didn't. Despite lacking a seat, there were benefits because people would see him riding around without the seat and invite him in for a beer. Strangely enough, while there was little incentive to steal a seatless bike like that, somebody did attempt to steal that bike before we caught the thief.

So lock your damn bikes up, even the seatless variety!

[Shambala]

I bring an inexpensive cable bike lock and really try to use it whenever I stop. I added some brass tarp grommets to my backpack and run the cable through the grommets to keep that secure as well. There is really nothing of value in the backpack, but I would hate to lose it. The funky backpack also makes it easy to spot the bike from a distance when I can't find it.