alarm seemed handier than strong lock, after all bike theft aren't that bad in certain countries, like France for instance.
a decent small chain/u-lock and alarm should be enough, not sure about the other country thought.
When compared to london anywhere seems alright, but I think theft in urban parts of france is really bad. Apparantly if you park a car with the parcel shelf in place it WILL be smashed into. You have to show your boot is empty and you have no car stereo or the thieves will get in there. European capitals, rome & paris etc are full of pick pockets too. I dont know about bikes, but its got to be pretty bad too. Not out in the country though of course, but neither would it be in the UK.
When compared to london anywhere seems alright, but I think theft in urban parts of france is really bad. Apparantly if you park a car with the parcel shelf in place it WILL be smashed into. You have to show your boot is empty and you have no car stereo or the thieves will get in there. European capitals, rome & paris etc are full of pick pockets too. I dont know about bikes, but its got to be pretty bad too. Not out in the country though of course, but neither would it be in the UK.