Calling UCL students - bike security

Two threads started in one day. I need a rest.

I know there's a fair few of the great undernourished, over-educated types on here known as students and I think a few from UCL. Well guess what?!?!?

I'm joining your ranks on Monday as a mature (arf!) student.

So riddle me this: can you recommend anywhere to leave and/or not leave my bike around campus? I'm going to be in Chandler House

Normally I have the luxury of leaving my bike in my office but I'm now going to have to expose it to the elements and robbers. I have locks, I will have a saddle-protecting chain-in-an-inner-tube thing, I have insurance, I not have prime location.

There's a covered rack in the South Quad, out the front of the print room cafe - keeps most of the rain off, and because it's outside the cafe, it's fairly busy which I think acts as a deterrent. There's also a fenced-in set of stands by the archaelogy building near Gordon Square, and round the corner by SSEES on Taviton Street.

In terms of where not to lock, personally, I just leave my bike locked to whichever bike rack's most convenient (krypto & cable) but my bike's not so sexy and there are nicer bikes with shittier locks nearby, but YMMV and maybe you're riding something really stealable...

Obviously, look out for the shifty sorts around Euston/Kings Cross, and only lock up near Grays Inn Road if you've no other option and you'll be fine.

...actually, having a bit of a think about that, if you're based in Chandler House, IDK what the stands are like around there, but the ones in the Brunswick Centre, in front of Waitrose, are more likely to be covered by CCTV/security types. The streets between Judd St/Euston Rd are a bit more sketchy, owing to the number of hostels, low level of foot traffic, etc.

May not be close enough for you, but there's gazillions of bike racks outside SOAS, there are always loads of people milling around there, and your bike will not be the easiest to steal if you lock it with anything more than a shoelace.

Here:
http://goo.gl/maps/Ky4j7

(not covered though)

hey congrats, i'm a mature student over in physics, but i get to put my bike in my office. There is a courtyard between the klb and slade where a couple have been lifted in a couple of years.

I would favour on street rather than hidden away, the quieter places aren't well monitored.

I used to vary place to avoid specific target using various stands outside SOAS as mentioned and the stands in Brunswick Centre by Carluccio as that's continuously populated

I would go for the Brunswick Centre... but if you're really worried what lemonade said about SOAS is so true. I have no problem leaving my nice bike there because you could steal about 20 other bikes in the time it would take to get through my weakest lock.

I'll be starting at UCL on Monday too, as an LLM student! Good thread.

Does anyone know if UCL have a cycling club?

Marchmont street...in front of the health food shop is where i keep mine...i wouldnt leave it on judd street (based on the one account of a friend's saddle getting swiped) brunswick centre is a good shout...or alternatively closest would be in front of the school of pharmacy building, monitored n plenty of people always about....
Good luck!

Welcome to UCL, I'm a postdoc there. I keep my bike in the office, as bike parking is so shit around campus.

I'm pretty sure there's a cycling club. Check the UCLU website

OT but Rollapaluza at UCL next week Thursday and Friday 27th and 28th, 9.30 - 4pm at UCL Quad....see you there.

winston.. coming to Kings at all?

@winston- see you there, i've never had a go at the roller racing!

winston.. coming to Kings at all?
if we're booked we come!

I'd go for the British Library during the day - just on the other side of Euston Rd, and there's security guards watching the bikes for most of the time. Wouldn't say it was totally theft-proof, however!

So many advices)!

I'm gonna mix it up then. Someone gave me a nice tip by PM so I'm gonna try that first ;)

While we're on the subject of security, there's a nice ladies' Peugeot abandoned outside Anthropology on Taviton St, slowly being stripped of parts - saddle, seatpost and front wheel gone, the remainder locked up with one of those abus folding locks. I know stealing's wrong, but it's breaking my heart walking past it like this, and I'm sure if you had the tools, it'd be easy to liberate and restore to its former glory...

I've just finished a course at Birkbeck and locked in the area between SOAS/Birkbeck/Senate House for four years without any issues. Bit of a walk from Chandler House though.

In terms of Brunswick, I've only ever really been comfortable leaving my bike at the stands right outside the Waitrose as there is so much activity there along with the ATM and its CCTV.

Starting at SOAS this week. Thanks for the advice and the thread. Worried that I won't be able to get a rack spot in SOAS often so good to know what's around Bloomsbury.

Does anybody have problems with leaving chains/u-locks attached to the posts long term?

You younglings are all reappearing and wandering in the streets without looking...

Stand in the road thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Starting at SOAS this week. Thanks for the advice and the thread. Worried that I won't be able to get a rack spot in SOAS often so good to know what's around Bloomsbury.

Does anybody have problems with leaving chains/u-locks attached to the posts long term?

I've always been able to find a spot at SOAS even when it's most busy, there really are a lot of stands and there's other stuff you could lock to securely if you're really stuck anyway. There shouldn't be any problems with leaving a lock either but there are often a lot of bikes packed in tightly so leave it somewhere fairly easy to reach...

Another decent parking spot in the area is the courtyard inside the Quaker's building opposite Euston Station. They have security in the reception area but they never asked for any ID etc when I have gone in and locked there. We had some classes there when I was at Birkbeck.

The covered area by south junction is safe, alongside the cloisters. though I always left my bike outside the bloomsbury theatre, never had a problem.

So what's the craic about this roller racing? A few of my office mates are keen to give it a go. Can a bunch of us do it at about 11:30?