Do Nice Bike Get Knicked?

Despite the risks, you shouldn't let the fear of theft stand in your way of owning a good bike. If we all tried to avoid risks all the time, we'd never leave the house. You may well be walking and get mugged, let alone bike crime. It's your right to have a quality bike of your own choosing. I think it's sensible to use this only for decent rides, when you'll either be on it or have it in your sight at all times, and have a basic bike for dicking around on, going to the shops, pub etc. If you ride your good bike in this way, less often, you'll look forward to it more too.

positive advice .. Thank you

I before E except after C

ha, i'm careless on the web

They know.

Bastards

Get your self a regular bike / bring one over with you. Save up for a Mercian / whatever while you're here, build up the parts over time, get just before you leave, ship home when, ride in peace in Safesvile, USA.

Howsabout not living in East London. It's bike theft and ironic 'taches wall to wall.

Go elsewhere - bike safe(er)(ish).

I like East London, it's got character err.. something like that. Agreed, no 'taches though.

How familiar are you with London? I've lived everywhere apart from South, and much prefer over Ladbroke Grove in the West where I am now to the rest. I like over Hackney way, enjoyed living there, but there's more than just East to consider - although it is handier for Goldsmiths. Consider all your options and have a good look around, see where feels most comfortable. Good luck with it all.

Character = bikes being nicked = good tales to tell back in Tx about lundun and bikes being nicked :- Priceless.

Mind you, you did ask.. we offered an opinion...

Do you know where to post in the Stolen Bikes thread.?

How familiar are you with London? I've lived everywhere apart from South, and much prefer over Ladbroke Grove in the West where I am now to the rest. I like over Hackney way, enjoyed living there, but there's more than just East to consider - although it is handier for Goldsmiths. Consider all your options and have a good look around, see where feels most comfortable. Good luck with it all.

I'm fairly familiar, but I'm kinda stuck at least along the Eastern Line so I can get to and from school.

Character = bikes being nicked = good tales to tell back in Tx about lundun and bikes being nicked :- Priceless.

Mind you, you did ask.. we offered an opinion...

Do you know where to post in the Stolen Bikes thread.?

Ha, I think I can find it.

Seth, man, for God's sake, whatever you do do not ride a bike in London! The average life expectancy of a London cyclist is less than 30 days. East London is known as 'little Baghdad' though now that Iraq is free and at peace you would be safer in big Baghdad.
What you must do is find a nice apartment, preferably underground, anywhere but East London (Paris would be good) and never leave it!
You're young, you have your whole life ahead of you. Why throw it away by riding a bike in London? Even if you don't get killed on the bike you are sure to be killed off it. Probably by one of the few British police officers who does have a gun. Or in a freak Kansas style tornado.
Please, I am begging you: stay away. Stay in Texas. Hang out at the George Bush Memorial library - it's got to be pretty much deserted in there, you'll be safe.

I got a lot less attention riding my lovely 1963 mercian conversion than my stickered generic track frame I ride now.
As said before. Get something that's nice to ride but not too flashy, carbon bits are nice but attract a lot of attention.
Just be sensible with your locking, krypt fagh mini for rear wheel and frame and another decent lock for the front wheel and frame and you should be fine. Just avoid places like outside tube stations and streets like oxford street, or all of Peckam. Also lock next to someone with a worse lock than you.

Ive not rode in London before (do my riding out of the city) but I have driven around London lots and lots. It's a jungle out there and I've seen cyclists come croppers several times. My advice indeed dont cycle and dont leave a cycle so basically do all your cycling outside the city.

Don't cycle in London? Fuck me, what are you doing on Lfgss?

Ive not rode in London before (do my riding out of the city) but I have driven around London lots and lots. It's a jungle out there and I've seen cyclists come croppers several times. My advice indeed dont cycle and dont leave a cycle so basically do all your cycling outside the city.
= rubbish!

my advice is don't be an idiot

I like East London, it's got character err.. something like that. Agreed, no 'taches though.

What? You'll have a bike! Fuck the East London Line.

my advice is don't be an idiot

Quoted.

Seth come to any drinks and see the greatest bunch of idiots you can meet. You'll laugh at the people, cry at the beer prices and end up doing the most things that people see as completly idiotic. But hey you will have a great time and have some great stories.

What? You'll have a bike! Fuck public transport.

Corrected.

I'm from Austin as well, nothing much to add other than have fun, and another suggestion to move west.

South or north also exist as drinks.

Since no one has answered the OP's actual question of 'Do Nice Bikes get Knicked?' I have to tell you son that no, only the dirty ones get knicked. Then they get smeared. Sometimes suspenders are involved, sometimes a whip. It's also something best done in the privacy of your own east london abode. Moustaches definitely help, especially if you are filming it.

Seth, bikes get robbed all over London the majority of which were probably not locked up with a good enough lock of were worth £600+ or flash/fashionable looking and therefore will be targeted by bike thieves.
My bike of choice for around town in a good enough 631 winter trainer with a good but not flashy pair of wheels (low flange hubs/open pros) with a bodge together groupset. It also has m/guards as any bike with these always look a bit more naff. I'm neither finacially or emotionally to it but rides well an therefore use it all the time and I'm not affraid to lock it up using good lock/s.

Also as mentioned above when you get to London head to one of the compass beers and talk with some folk about their experiences.

make sure your bike dosnt look to flashy, like it wouldnt sell on for much and looks abit old, using stickers, bad paint job ect...

then 2 hench D-locks maybe, england has alot of CCTV around so try lock your bike infront of some cameras and a lit up public area

aslong as your not like me and leeve them in the same place every night where people know they will be and i wount be, mine got nicked from my garrage last night! :( good side was it was my mountain bike and bmx that i dont use as often as my fixed gear and TT i keep inside my room

Thanks for the all the replies ..

Of course I know bikes get stolen in London, some little fuckers in Islington stole my brand new brompton last time was there. I guess I was just mainly asking for lock up suggestions, city experience/wisdom, etc.. Drinks will be had.

And btw Austin is Completely Different than the rest of the state, you all should give it a try if you visit the States. Cheers

Buy the best bike you can, buy the best locks you can and hire a burly man who cant touch his back to watch you steed.

On returning to where parked you will find said man beaten and your bike whisked off to gumtree land.