The Chainlink

Someone ALMOST got away with my bolted front tire..and I rode on it-not secured

I locked up my bike to a rack on Erie, at the corner of Lake Shore Drive while I went in for a quick doctor's appointment yesterday morning. I was only gone for about an hour and I didn't notice anything amiss with my bike and rode it back to work. When I got back to the Sears Tower, I hopped off my bike and positioned if next to the bike rack here. As I lifted the front of my bike, the "bolted" front tire rolled away as my jaw hit the floor!

Good thing I didn't do any bunny-hops over the potholes on Wells. Good thing I don't know how to jump curbs! Because I would have BIT IT hard if the wheel had come off while I was riding.

I must have come out to the rack right before they got it off. I wonder if there was a look-out who saw me with helmet in hand. Judging by marks on the pegs, it looks like they used vice grips and/or a wrench. The funny thing is that I was going to walk back the way I came in (through the building), but decided that since it was so nice out I went to the nearest exit and walked outside the building (in view of the bike rack).

So the point to this post is that bolted tires are not enough to deter thieves (duh, you might say)...getting an additional cable lock for your tires is a good idea. And if you don't, try to remember to keep an eye on your system and be sensitive to changes in how it rides, because you might not be as lucky as I was!

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Permalink Reply by joe on May 13, 2009 at 1:02pm
that does suck. there are nuts that u can buy that require special wrenches as well. so u cant use a regular pair of tools.
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on May 13, 2009 at 1:20pm
Check out Pit-Lock. http://www.pitlock.com/pitlocksrange/index.html

They're not cheap.

Remember to lock up your front wheel otherwise!
Permalink Reply by Lindsay on May 13, 2009 at 1:26pm
Thanks guys, I'll look into it! Or just see what my bike shop has...
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on May 13, 2009 at 1:31pm
...and I forgot about Zefal anti-theft skewers - they have to be upside down to disengage the wheel:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NOECEC

....but once you finish swapping out your axles you may have spend as much as a new u-lock or even a Pitlock setup.

Lindsay said:
Thanks guys, I'll look into it! Or just see what my bike shop has...
Permalink Reply by Karlis Kandero on May 13, 2009 at 1:53pm
My rear wheel was stolen yesterday right in front of my job. This was a recently built up backup-bike, and I hadn't yet secured the quick release lever to the chainstay the easiest way I know how, with a simple hose clamp.

http://www.qsradio.com/Hose%20Clamps.JPG

They take a few minutes to remove, as the hell-bound bike thief must slowly undo the collar with a screwdriver.
Permalink Reply by S on May 13, 2009 at 11:27pm
M.A.R.K. said:
In the apartment.. Where it belongs.. I'd probably sleep with it under my pillow like a gun if I ever owned a bike that expensive.
move over wife, make room for bike.

Sort of like this?

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on May 14, 2009 at 8:01am
Hmmmm.....I'd rather get some.


S said:
M.A.R.K. said:
In the apartment.. Where it belongs.. I'd probably sleep with it under my pillow like a gun if I ever owned a bike that expensive.
move over wife, make room for bike.

Sort of like this?

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