Hello,
I brought my near-decade-old mountain bike with me to my college campus this past summer, along with a cable lock to secure it. Unfortunately, I made the stupid mistake of leaving my bike secured to a bike rack behind my dorm building one night (although I was sure I secured it properly by putting the cable through the front tire, frame, and bike rack). The next day I went to take it to class and realized it had been stolen, lock and all.
Almost 3 months later, I decided to buy a new bike to ride at college, and I want to make sure I educate myself as much as possible to prevent this bike's theft. This is what I've learned so far:
-Whenever I'm not riding it, it will either be in my dorm room or locked outside a building on a bike rack (except outside my dorm).
-So far I plan to use a U-lock going through the rear wheel, frame and bike rack, and a cable lock to go through the front tire, frame, and bike rack.
-The seat has a quick-release latch so I plan to just take it with me when I need to leave my bike outside (during a class, for example). I know there are cable locks for quick release seats, but I'd feel better just having it with me.
-The front wheel also has a quick-release lever, but the cable lock will go through it.
-It isn't feasible for me to bring the bike with me indoors to my classes, since many of them are in small classrooms or aren't on the first floor.
-I've also read that it's best to try to lock your bike to a rack with many other bikes to reduce the risk of it "standing out" and being a subject of theft.
Aside from what I've mentioned above, can anyone give advice on what else I can do to prevent my bike's theft (in part or in full)? I'm especially wary since my bike was stolen once so I'd like to do whatever I can to prevent it from happening again.
Thanks!
I brought my near-decade-old mountain bike with me to my college campus this past summer, along with a cable lock to secure it. Unfortunately, I made the stupid mistake of leaving my bike secured to a bike rack behind my dorm building one night (although I was sure I secured it properly by putting the cable through the front tire, frame, and bike rack). The next day I went to take it to class and realized it had been stolen, lock and all.
Almost 3 months later, I decided to buy a new bike to ride at college, and I want to make sure I educate myself as much as possible to prevent this bike's theft. This is what I've learned so far:
-Whenever I'm not riding it, it will either be in my dorm room or locked outside a building on a bike rack (except outside my dorm).
-So far I plan to use a U-lock going through the rear wheel, frame and bike rack, and a cable lock to go through the front tire, frame, and bike rack.
-The seat has a quick-release latch so I plan to just take it with me when I need to leave my bike outside (during a class, for example). I know there are cable locks for quick release seats, but I'd feel better just having it with me.
-The front wheel also has a quick-release lever, but the cable lock will go through it.
-It isn't feasible for me to bring the bike with me indoors to my classes, since many of them are in small classrooms or aren't on the first floor.
-I've also read that it's best to try to lock your bike to a rack with many other bikes to reduce the risk of it "standing out" and being a subject of theft.
Aside from what I've mentioned above, can anyone give advice on what else I can do to prevent my bike's theft (in part or in full)? I'm especially wary since my bike was stolen once so I'd like to do whatever I can to prevent it from happening again.
Thanks!