The Chainlink

Milkcrate alternatives and odds of bike getting stolen

I love my milkcrate.  It carries all kinds of things for me--including my groceries and a commuting backpack--and I don't have to bring it with me when I get somewhere.
 
 
However, I've decided it's time to move on from my hybrid to a road bike.  In my "next bike" dreams, I've always wanted a road bike with a high top tube because that would make carrying the bike (which I do regularly) much easier.  Now that it's hit me that the reality of a high top tube means nixing my milkcrate (because I can't get on if I have both), I'm not so sure.
 
 
The best alternative to my milkcrate that I've thought of so far would be a combination of a collapsible side basket and using my rack with bungee cords.  At this point, I think my biggest hangup is that the collapsible side baskets I've seen (which isn't many) are so narrow.  You can't fit more than a paper shopping bag, and they definitely won't fit my reusable grocery bag.
 
 
At some point I have to make the choice about what's more important to me (high top tube vs. milkcrate), but I wondered what ideas other people have about this.
 
 
I did not realize how much I love my milkcrate until I started contemplating not having it!
 
 
Also, when I was looking at a used roadbike, the guy selling it told me he thought it would be more of a target for being stolen.  We're talking a used Raleigh Road bike that was less old than my 20 year old Raleigh hybrid.  What do you think about that?
 
 
My theory is that if someone REALLY wants to steal any given bike, they'll do it, and I can live with that fact of life.  Beyond that, the most I can do is make sure my bike and the things on my bike are harder to steal than some of the other bike options on the street.  Again, let's say we're talking about a used Raleigh road bike in Chicago, do you really think the chances of it getting stolen would go up that much from my current Raleigh hybrid?  There are so many factors involved in making a blanket statement like that, but the comment spooked me.
 
 
Then again, the guy also lives in the burbs, so I'm not sure I should take him seriously on that sort of a comment anyway.
 
 
Thanks for your thoughts!

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Permalink Reply by yai danche on December 1, 2012 at 3:49pm

i doubt having a milk crate makes it more steal-worthy, considering most people steal milk crates.  of course my crate is on a bike that's almost 50 years old and still has the working bikes co-op sticker on it.  also i think having it makes the bike pretty clunky( harder to boost over a fence/throw into a pick up truck).  also other people tend to not lock up next to you because the crate gets in the way.  

Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on December 1, 2012 at 5:10pm

A soda crate is a much better option than a milk crate IMO. It'll fit your back pack or messenger bag very well, it's a larger platform than a milk crate so it'll carry more, and it's much easier to swing your leg over. You will have to bungie things well (such as grocery bags), but it has enough of sides that things wont scoot off if secured properly.

If you're concerned about swinging your leg over when fully loaded step off of the curb when you're on the sidewalk and the bike is in the street. The extra 6+ inches of curb is more than enough to mount when loaded.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on December 1, 2012 at 5:25pm

To the theft question-- There are some professional thieves who hit mostly the loop and north side who prefer "nice" road bikes. So, all things being even, if you have two bikes locked with a quality U-lock side by side along a main street and these guys happen to pass by that day, the "nice" road bike is going to have a very slightly increased chance of being 'chosen' over the hybrid. Nothing against the Raleigh but I don't think it's what they're interested in... so I would not consider it significantly more likely to be stolen.

Permalink Reply by Will on December 1, 2012 at 6:47pm

Yeah, having a horizontal top tube is not really much of an issue when using a crate, unless it's REALLY loaded with stuff, in which case, you probably have too much stuff in it, anyway.


Regarding the road v. hybrid question, any bike is a target, but sure, the nicer the bike (and road bikes usually trump hybrids), the more interesting the target. That said, I would never let that stop me from riding the bike I want to ride. All my bikes are nice (not bragging, just saying I don't have a $150 beater bike) but I do have a bike that I don't mind locking up anywhere, anytime. It would still suck if something happened to it, but my bikes are insured.

One last thought: If you carry your bike a lot, consider a cyclocross bike, they are made to be shouldered for carrying. True road bikes usually have the rear brake routed across the underside of the top tube, and they're not that comfortable to shoulder. Cyclocross cables are routed along the top of the top tube, and the top tube is often shaped to be comfortable on the shoulder.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on December 1, 2012 at 7:38pm

Also a hipster solution would be to get a top tube sleeve.  Soma makes some and there are plenty of customized ones on Etsy.com.  Also, you can still sling a bike over your shoulder even without the flat top tube.  Just rest the nose of the saddle on your shoulder and use the same hand to grip the handlebars.  It's not very comfortable considering most saddles have metal rails on the underside, but I don't have any experience with a top tube to say how comfortable that is to sling over your shoulder.  

Will V. said:

Yeah, having a horizontal top tube is not really much of an issue when using a crate, unless it's REALLY loaded with stuff, in which case, you probably have too much stuff in it, anyway.


Regarding the road v. hybrid question, any bike is a target, but sure, the nicer the bike (and road bikes usually trump hybrids), the more interesting the target. That said, I would never let that stop me from riding the bike I want to ride. All my bikes are nice (not bragging, just saying I don't have a $150 beater bike) but I do have a bike that I don't mind locking up anywhere, anytime. It would still suck if something happened to it, but my bikes are insured.

One last thought: If you carry your bike a lot, consider a cyclocross bike, they are made to be shouldered for carrying. True road bikes usually have the rear brake routed across the underside of the top tube, and they're not that comfortable to shoulder. Cyclocross cables are routed along the top of the top tube, and the top tube is often shaped to be comfortable on the shoulder.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 1, 2012 at 8:56pm

When you switch to a road bike your handlebars will probably be lower. You can mount your bike like this and keep your basket:

Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on December 1, 2012 at 11:42pm

??????

Then again, the guy also lives in the burbs, so I'm not sure I should take him seriously on that sort of a comment anyway.
Does his zip code make him stupid? 
Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 2, 2012 at 8:35am

Thanks...I'll definitely have to look into a soda crate.

Bikefreeek said:

A soda crate is a much better option than a milk crate IMO. It'll fit your back pack or messenger bag very well, it's a larger platform than a milk crate so it'll carry more, and it's much easier to swing your leg over. You will have to bungie things well (such as grocery bags), but it has enough of sides that things wont scoot off if secured properly.

If you're concerned about swinging your leg over when fully loaded step off of the curb when you're on the sidewalk and the bike is in the street. The extra 6+ inches of curb is more than enough to mount when loaded.

Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 2, 2012 at 8:37am

That's what I've currently been doing with my hybrid.  It's doable and not a big deal, but I certainly envy the bar sometimes.

yai danche said:

Also a hipster solution would be to get a top tube sleeve.  Soma makes some and there are plenty of customized ones on Etsy.com.  Also, you can still sling a bike over your shoulder even without the flat top tube.  Just rest the nose of the saddle on your shoulder and use the same hand to grip the handlebars.  It's not very comfortable considering most saddles have metal rails on the underside, but I don't have any experience with a top tube to say how comfortable that is to sling over your shoulder.  

Will V. said:

Yeah, having a horizontal top tube is not really much of an issue when using a crate, unless it's REALLY loaded with stuff, in which case, you probably have too much stuff in it, anyway.


Regarding the road v. hybrid question, any bike is a target, but sure, the nicer the bike (and road bikes usually trump hybrids), the more interesting the target. That said, I would never let that stop me from riding the bike I want to ride. All my bikes are nice (not bragging, just saying I don't have a $150 beater bike) but I do have a bike that I don't mind locking up anywhere, anytime. It would still suck if something happened to it, but my bikes are insured.

One last thought: If you carry your bike a lot, consider a cyclocross bike, they are made to be shouldered for carrying. True road bikes usually have the rear brake routed across the underside of the top tube, and they're not that comfortable to shoulder. Cyclocross cables are routed along the top of the top tube, and the top tube is often shaped to be comfortable on the shoulder.

Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 2, 2012 at 8:39am

Definitely something to consider, but that looks like it involves more coordination than I may be capable of and longer legs than I have.  I promise to give it a try!

Kelvin Mulcky said:

When you switch to a road bike your handlebars will probably be lower. You can mount your bike like this and keep your basket:

Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 2, 2012 at 8:41am

Certainly not, but it makes me hesitant to trust him as an authority as to what it's like as a cyclist in the city.

Juan Primo said:

??????

Then again, the guy also lives in the burbs, so I'm not sure I should take him seriously on that sort of a comment anyway.
Does his zip code make him stupid? 
Permalink Reply by Mollie on December 2, 2012 at 9:01am

A horizontal tube plus a crate would be an issue for me because I'm short, and I know my legs can't make it over the crate.  

Having two bikes is also an option, but I don't really have space for two, and I very much prefer to cover most needs with one bike.  

Thanks for your thoughts on the cyclocross!  I'll keep it in mind.

Will V. said:

Yeah, having a horizontal top tube is not really much of an issue when using a crate, unless it's REALLY loaded with stuff, in which case, you probably have too much stuff in it, anyway.


Regarding the road v. hybrid question, any bike is a target, but sure, the nicer the bike (and road bikes usually trump hybrids), the more interesting the target. That said, I would never let that stop me from riding the bike I want to ride. All my bikes are nice (not bragging, just saying I don't have a $150 beater bike) but I do have a bike that I don't mind locking up anywhere, anytime. It would still suck if something happened to it, but my bikes are insured.

One last thought: If you carry your bike a lot, consider a cyclocross bike, they are made to be shouldered for carrying. True road bikes usually have the rear brake routed across the underside of the top tube, and they're not that comfortable to shoulder. Cyclocross cables are routed along the top of the top tube, and the top tube is often shaped to be comfortable on the shoulder.

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