Greetings. Is it worth getting a decent single-speed to ride in London?

Firstly 'hello' all. I'm getting back into cycling after a very long break, about 13 years to be precise. And was thinking about treating myself to a nice single-speed steely with sexy lugs. But I was reading the stolen thread on this forum and was shocked to see how many bikes get nicked. What's the best way to secure your bike, is there a lock out there that's really worth investing in? Is it really worth having a tasty bike in London, aren't you always thinking 'what if' when you lock it up and walk away?

firstly welcome, I've ridden in london all my life and no matter the cost of the bike, you always get "the fear" when you lock it up, but if someone really wants your bike they'll have it, no matter how much it costs. Best thing is buy/build a bike, ride it and manage "the fear" as best you can.
all of the above depends on what you'll be using the bike for, where it'll be locked up (inside/outside) etc. also its good to have nore than one bike, so as many on here have done, have the good bike and the beater, so you can chop and change.

2 bikes is a good start - nice and beater
good lock can help but if you leave a bike all day then it doesn't make a difference
try and leave your bike in a safe place - indoors, company car parks

my opinion - don't buy a nice bike for everyday riding it will probably disappear

Put mudguards on your bike, thieves can't even SEE bikes with mudguards on (unless they've got condor written on them).

Written on the mudguards or the bike? I have a Pista with mudguards and am now confizzled about its vizibility...

And hello VanUden! My tenpenneth: depends where you're locking your bike. Off street and secure will be safe - other than that you always run the risk of getting it nicked.

yeah, get the bike you want. sexy, steel. you won't need any gears for london. get a big fuck-off lock or two. keep bike indoors whenever you can. enjoy riding again. forget about fear.

i've had stacks of bikes nicked, nice ones and beaters, probably averaging about one every two years for my bike riding life. its still cheaper than running a car or taking public transport.

cheaper, healthier (mental & physical), better all round.

insurance.

a lock is a deterrent......

RPM insurance.

you selling?

1 bike is good.... a " hack" bike, known on this forum, which appears to be dominated by Americans or Americanophiles, as a "beater"...

If you're not keen on that, get a good bike and make it look like a "hack" bike.

hope this helps

Get a Gazelle

have you got any?

Definitely should get a bike its much nicer getting into work and around town than catching the tube or bus and a lot faster. I've had two bikes nicked in the last 8 months, one of them at the weekend, but I'm not going to let those bastards stop me from getting another. You just learn from you mistakes. At the moment its not working out cheaper but what the hell. c'est la vie

aidan [quote]RPM insurance.

you selling?[/quote]

yeah, best to pay up.

you never know what might happen..

know what I mean?

RPM [quote]aidan [quote]RPM insurance.

you selling?[/quote]

yeah, best to pay up.

you never know what might happen..

know what I mean?[/quote]
are you coming on to me?

are you female?

if you want me to be...

I wish you were more like your sister

ha!.....you've never met her!

you don't know that....

Buy a twatster.. all the cool people ride them now..

hippy Buy a twatster.. all the cool fat people ride them now..

what Jonny said ^^^.

Leave 1 x big lock & chain at home, 1 x big lock & chain at work (if poss). Carry a mini d-lock around with you for pub stops. I spend most time on my commuting bike & don't want that to be a crap one - so I lock up, insure & keeps fingers crossed...