Important Omission on Folding Bikes - Page 10 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-17-2004, 07:53 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:

> I agree that nothing would make my Dahon theft-proof, but I still think that
> research into really lightweight, ingenious anti-theft devices that break
> with the ball-and-chain model is far from finished and would benefit all
> bikers.
>
> One upgrade that I have found available for Dahon and may consider is a set
> of pedals which, instead of folding inwards towards the bike, are simply
> removed when the bike is at station. They are said to be easy to snap back
> in again when back in motion. This does mean walking around with a set of
> muddy pedals in my handbag, and of course it still doesn't prevent someone
> carting off my bike in the back of a car. But it could be a short term
> deterrent to thiefs who would want to ride off with it.

I have a thin cable lock for times when I need to be away from the bike
for only a minute, or for when I'm inside a cafe but the bike is parked
outside, and visible. It's very light, and not very secure, but it at
least lets me lock the bike to something stationary.

I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.

12-17-2004, 07:53 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:

> I agree that nothing would make my Dahon theft-proof, but I still think that
> research into really lightweight, ingenious anti-theft devices that break
> with the ball-and-chain model is far from finished and would benefit all
> bikers.
>
> One upgrade that I have found available for Dahon and may consider is a set
> of pedals which, instead of folding inwards towards the bike, are simply
> removed when the bike is at station. They are said to be easy to snap back
> in again when back in motion. This does mean walking around with a set of
> muddy pedals in my handbag, and of course it still doesn't prevent someone
> carting off my bike in the back of a car. But it could be a short term
> deterrent to thiefs who would want to ride off with it.

I have a thin cable lock for times when I need to be away from the bike
for only a minute, or for when I'm inside a cafe but the bike is parked
outside, and visible. It's very light, and not very secure, but it at
least lets me lock the bike to something stationary.

I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.

12-17-2004, 07:53 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli wrote:

> I agree that nothing would make my Dahon theft-proof, but I still think that
> research into really lightweight, ingenious anti-theft devices that break
> with the ball-and-chain model is far from finished and would benefit all
> bikers.
>
> One upgrade that I have found available for Dahon and may consider is a set
> of pedals which, instead of folding inwards towards the bike, are simply
> removed when the bike is at station. They are said to be easy to snap back
> in again when back in motion. This does mean walking around with a set of
> muddy pedals in my handbag, and of course it still doesn't prevent someone
> carting off my bike in the back of a car. But it could be a short term
> deterrent to thiefs who would want to ride off with it.

I have a thin cable lock for times when I need to be away from the bike
for only a minute, or for when I'm inside a cafe but the bike is parked
outside, and visible. It's very light, and not very secure, but it at
least lets me lock the bike to something stationary.

I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.

12-17-2004, 08:19 AM

Ian Jelf wrote:

>> Once you start to consider what a thief with a truck can do, you might as
>> well give up. I once heard of a theft where a flatbed truck was used to
>> haul away a rack with all the bikes locked to it. (Could be an urban
>> legent, but it's possible.)
>
>
> Was that in Saint Giles' in Oxford by any chance? I've been told that
> it happened there in the late 1980s.

A similar incident happened allegedly at Birmingham around 1990. The
thieves drove up in a box van. At the main gate they claimed to be
delivering to the Guild of Students, and were let in (you could say
anything to the guards there and they'd let you in). They drove round
the corner, and in full view of the gate guards and umpteen hundred
students passing in and out of the Guild (ie, the Union), used bolt
cutters to empty the railings and bike racks, loaded them all inside,
and drove out again unchallenged.

R.

12-17-2004, 08:19 AM

Ian Jelf wrote:

>> Once you start to consider what a thief with a truck can do, you might as
>> well give up. I once heard of a theft where a flatbed truck was used to
>> haul away a rack with all the bikes locked to it. (Could be an urban
>> legent, but it's possible.)
>
>
> Was that in Saint Giles' in Oxford by any chance? I've been told that
> it happened there in the late 1980s.

A similar incident happened allegedly at Birmingham around 1990. The
thieves drove up in a box van. At the main gate they claimed to be
delivering to the Guild of Students, and were let in (you could say
anything to the guards there and they'd let you in). They drove round
the corner, and in full view of the gate guards and umpteen hundred
students passing in and out of the Guild (ie, the Union), used bolt
cutters to empty the railings and bike racks, loaded them all inside,
and drove out again unchallenged.

R.

12-17-2004, 08:19 AM

Ian Jelf wrote:

>> Once you start to consider what a thief with a truck can do, you might as
>> well give up. I once heard of a theft where a flatbed truck was used to
>> haul away a rack with all the bikes locked to it. (Could be an urban
>> legent, but it's possible.)
>
>
> Was that in Saint Giles' in Oxford by any chance? I've been told that
> it happened there in the late 1980s.

A similar incident happened allegedly at Birmingham around 1990. The
thieves drove up in a box van. At the main gate they claimed to be
delivering to the Guild of Students, and were let in (you could say
anything to the guards there and they'd let you in). They drove round
the corner, and in full view of the gate guards and umpteen hundred
students passing in and out of the Guild (ie, the Union), used bolt
cutters to empty the railings and bike racks, loaded them all inside,
and drove out again unchallenged.

R.

12-17-2004, 08:19 AM

Ian Jelf wrote:

>> Once you start to consider what a thief with a truck can do, you might as
>> well give up. I once heard of a theft where a flatbed truck was used to
>> haul away a rack with all the bikes locked to it. (Could be an urban
>> legent, but it's possible.)
>
>
> Was that in Saint Giles' in Oxford by any chance? I've been told that
> it happened there in the late 1980s.

A similar incident happened allegedly at Birmingham around 1990. The
thieves drove up in a box van. At the main gate they claimed to be
delivering to the Guild of Students, and were let in (you could say
anything to the guards there and they'd let you in). They drove round
the corner, and in full view of the gate guards and umpteen hundred
students passing in and out of the Guild (ie, the Union), used bolt
cutters to empty the railings and bike racks, loaded them all inside,
and drove out again unchallenged.

R.

12-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
[snip]
>
> I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
> but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.
>

Or, indeed, SPD fittings if you are brave enough to take a hacksaw to
the removable pedals - see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Peter
--

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
[snip]
>
> I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
> but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.
>

Or, indeed, SPD fittings if you are brave enough to take a hacksaw to
the removable pedals - see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Peter
--

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

12-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
[snip]
>
> I'm probably going to get the removeable pedals for my Dahon Speed TR,
> but mainly because I want pedals that can use toe clips & straps.
>

Or, indeed, SPD fittings if you are brave enough to take a hacksaw to
the removable pedals - see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Peter
--

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]