Do Nice Bike Get Knicked?

Seth, if your worried about bike theft, then best not to spend too much cash on a bike for everyday duties. Maybe a nice wheelset, but keep the bob jackson or mercian frame only and ride it when/if, you go back to austin.
London has a bad reputation, but if you lock up using the locks suggested in ga2g's locks that work thread, being in east london and all won't make it any easier for you.
Personally get a bike that rides well, but you (know this is a bit of an oxymoron) haven't invested too much in, that you can ride and not worry about it. Nothing worse than wanting to ride somewhere to do whatever then being scared to lock the bike up because your worried about it going missing...

hope this helps

Thanks for the insight. Sucks you can't even ride a nice bike out of fear. I lived in London a couple summers ago and some kids stole my Brompton from the inside a church foyer in Islington. The cops were half ass and didn't give a shit. They seemed afraid of the kids actually. They need GUNS!

Anyway, how do vintage bikes sit in the mix. Say an old holdworth or carlton? What are some other tips or attractions to avoid? Nice paintwork, etc..