Cycling UK Forum

Hi,
I live in a flat in southampton uk. I have had two bikes stolen in the last 2 months. They were locked in the cycle sheds outside the southamptoin rail station.
The first had a thin lock which the thief cut through.
The second was locked with a D lock , but i forgot to lock the frame to the bike stand, and so they nicked the frame and left me the locked up weels.
Do you know where to lock bikes up in southampton that is safe?

flyback wrote:Hi,
I live in a flat in southampton uk. I have had two bikes stolen in the last 2 months. They were locked in the cycle sheds outside the southamptoin rail station.
The first had a thin lock which the thief cut through.
The second was locked with a D lock , but i forgot to lock the frame to the bike stand, and so they nicked the frame and left me the locked up weels.
Do you know where to lock bikes up in southampton that is safe?

Bad luck, remember that theft is a generic human emotional process. Everyone's a thief at an existential level, it's merely that the majority are conditioned by due process not to steal as a matter of course. I stole and ate a loose cherry at Lidls yesterday, prior to reaching the checkout . I wouldn't steal a bike

Learn from your mistakes. I left my bike at a country station on Friday; Abus Gold Standard D lock, frame to sheffield stand, tightly wrapped cable lock front wheel to frame, tightly wrapped cable lock rear wheel to sheffield stand, all removable items removed (Nb. Didn't bother with the saddle, as I wouldn't anticipate any problems at the station in question and the train was pulling in). Oh yeah and I took my cheapest bike to the station.

If I only have one lock I put it through the rear triangle and wheel. If I were leaving it overnight in a city centre I might well remove the front wheel too and lock it to the rear.

http://www.802bikeguy.com/2011/07/the-m ... -strategy/

I’ve had a couple of bikes nicked in Southampton. The simple answer is to keep it in sight. The police couldn’t care less, the thieves know it.

if you want to leave a bike locked up in or near any railway station on a regular basis I would suggest what you need is 'a station bike'. This would be one that doesn't look worth stealing; the older and scabbier the better. It doesn't have to be actually bad to ride, just to look as if it might be. If it is has no removable parts that are attractive to thieves and it is locked up really well (with the best locks you can afford) then most thieves will simply move on to easier prey.

Another alternative is to use a folding bike. It can then be taken with you/ secured indoors at the other end of your journey.

cheers

Another good tip is to lock it somewhere other than a station facility. The thieves know that the owners of the vast majority of those bike will not be back for some considerable time so they can chose exactly the right time and tools for the job.
I run a bike repair workshop in the city and openly encourage people to contact me if their bike is stolen so I can keep an eye out. I often phone through the ID of bikes to the police if I think the machine and owner don't look like a match.

Some great advice on here flyback, particularly locking through rear triangle and rear wheel. In london i also use a cheap light u lock (bit of a bluff but it is an extra lock and better than a cable) from decathlon. Don't give up on your cycling. Have never had a bike nicked, there are plenty better looking (if not riding) bikes for folk to nick than mine. And not as well locked. Once saw THREE bikes in a stand fastened to the sheffield stand with light cables. All had d locks but they had been used to join the loops in the ends of the cables. Talk about weakest link!