Keeping a commuter bike safe

[bikermouse848]

So, with the recent developments around fuel prices getting a little crazy, I have been thinking more and more about bike commuting.

I love riding bikes, but have only ever done it recreationally, and then your rides always end somewhere where it is safe to park your bike (bike shop, coffee shop, friends house, guest house etc). But if one takes seriously to bike commuting, how do you keep a bike safe? What are those that are already commuting doing in this regard?
 

I work from home, so it’s not so much about getting to the office and back, I’m thinking more along the lines of running basic errands, popping to the shops for groceries etc. My thinking is to build up a bit of a utility bike with a nice big box on the back for loading groceries and so on. Maybe even do a hub drive e-bike conversion on it to make it a bit easier and less sweaty, so I could also use it to pop to a coffee shop for meetings and so on as well. So even though it would be worth a lot less than my dual sus mtb, it’s still going to be worth a few rand, and being a bike, it’s pretty easy to steal. Clearly bike locks are needed, but they are also only there for show and not worth much from a security point of view.

so for now, I’m thinking your options are a bit limited, but off the top of my head:

1. Give the bike some sort of insane lumo paint job (which will also potentially make it “safer”) that makes it easily recognisable and impossible to sell?
2. Only go to shops etc where you know it’s safe and you can keep an eye on it from inside the store. (but that kind of defeats the object of using the bike in place or the car)

3. Insure it well (insuring a backyard resprayed custom built commuter bike might be tricky, and also, the schlep of replacing it every time it gets stolen is a pain. Insurance is a given, but doesn’t really deal with the issue of securing the bike)

4. Fit a tracking device, and remember to keep it charged. (but how to conceal it) - are AirTags a viable solution hidden in a seat-tube.

[bikermouse848]

So, no thoughts on this? No one here bike commuting on the regular that can offer some pointers?

[ChrisF]

5 hours ago, bikermouse848 said:

So, no thoughts on this? No one here bike commuting on the regular that can offer some pointers?

 

I have tried the commute to the shops thing ....

 

The local Spar has a trolley rail (closed loop) where you can lock the bike.

 

Issues:

- knocks from trolleys..

- scuff marks on the bike

- all loose items must be off the bike ... tools, water bottle, lights.

 

May explain why only a few bikes use this.

 

 

Local pharmacy has zero option for cyclists.

 

 

 

Pity ....

[KatjieStewels]

As a regular bicycle commuter.

I use a 1980's Tour de Suisse steel bike. I converted it to single speed for simplicity, but that might not be a good idea if you have serious climbs on your commuting route. 

In terms of safety on the road:
- Use a garmin Varia paired with my watch (don't have to worry about a cycling computer)
- plenty of reflectors

- lights front and rear

In terms of safety off the road, i.e. parked:

- It's an old bike with no visibly expensive components (thieves actually look at this according to my neighbour that recently retired from the police).

- U Lock

- Remove the varia and anything I don't want to lose.

An old bike can be amazing if properly maintained.

I have a motorcycle and a motorcycle license as well, but I just love riding the old bicycle regardless of fuel prices. I hope this helps. 

To me the golden rule (as someone from Stellenbosch, arguably the mecca of getting your bike stolen), make the bicycle as unattractive as possible for malicious third parties.

[KatjieStewels]

Oh yeah, keep recovery kit on hand in a backpack as well, just the basics. 

[Dexter-morgan]

I recently converted a Silverback Sola 4 into a commuter, I use a draw-string bag to lug the cable lock with, just can not buy bread, it tends to squash, otherwise, its very easy to quickly pop out to the shops, I invested in Maxis Rambler tyres to make it tube less, I also take it on morning rides with the group, with the state of our roads it is advisable, this is my 2c, also a newbi, when it comes to commuting.

[bikermouse848]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

I have tried the commute to the shops thing ....

 

The local Spar has a trolley rail (closed loop) where you can lock the bike.

 

Issues:

- knocks from trolleys..

- scuff marks on the bike

- all loose items must be off the bike ... tools, water bottle, lights.

 

May explain why only a few bikes use this.

 

 

Local pharmacy has zero option for cyclists.

 

 

 

Pity ....

Fortunately I’m not going to be too concerned about scuff marks on this bike. This is the main reason I want to set up a dedicated commuter bike. 

44 minutes ago, Armandt_R said:

As a regular bicycle commuter.

I use a 1980's Tour de Suisse steel bike. I converted it to single speed for simplicity, but that might not be a good idea if you have serious climbs on your commuting route. 

In terms of safety on the road:
- Use a garmin Varia paired with my watch (don't have to worry about a cycling computer)
- plenty of reflectors

- lights front and rear

In terms of safety off the road, i.e. parked:

- It's an old bike with no visibly expensive components (thieves actually look at this according to my neighbour that recently retired from the police).

- U Lock

- Remove the varia and anything I don't want to lose.

An old bike can be amazing if properly maintained.

I have a motorcycle and a motorcycle license as well, but I just love riding the old bicycle regardless of fuel prices. I hope this helps. 

To me the golden rule (as someone from Stellenbosch, arguably the mecca of getting your bike stolen), make the bicycle as unattractive as possible for malicious third parties.

Great to hear this. I will be commuting in Somerset west and occasionally in stellies, so this puts my mind at ease. I am really keen on doing an ebike conversion to keep the sweat levels down, but worried that ups the desirability factor for the would be thieves a little too much.

 

as for buying bread, I’m going to be fitting a proper box/basket to the back of the bike, so should avoid the squishing issues

[ChrisF]

Speak to Mark or Andre at Mark's Workshop in Bellville about a hub.drive ebike conversion 👍

[DIPSLICK]

8 hours ago, bikermouse848 said:

So, no thoughts on this? No one here bike commuting on the regular that can offer some pointers?

I can`t give you the answers but I can point out from experience,

No matter how "loud/reflective" you make the bike it does not stop thieves(my martini colored niner was stolen) and quickly spotted, they could not be bothered EVEN THOUGH IT STOOD OUT

placing a tracker on a bike, unless you have a death wish or you got swat on speed dial, when that tracker lights up in the middle of shack town are you going to risk your life for a cheap run around, you could say you will wait for it to move,,,,ok you pull the dude over he says he bought it from XYZ FOR R1000

your word against his,,still you manage to magically pull a cop out your hat, are you going to go through all that abuse for A) profiling a "thief" as you did not see HIM steal the bike after all "he paid for it"

 

lights are a must front and back, I use the white front red rear Usb charging ones, that flash, bang for your buck that makes you most visible

where ever you want to shop, drive their one day walk around chat to the owners of different shops, most shops have rear "storage areas" I am sure one of them will not have an issue if you offer them a coke for parking fees

nothing is safe T.I.A  

[bikermouse848]

Starting to think this might just be more trouble than it’s worth.

 

I’m going to give it a try next week, without making any mods to the bike, and see how it goes, based on that I will make a call as to whether a hub drive conversion and fitting panniers, baskets etc is even worth the effort.

sometimes it really sucks living here…

[The Ouzo]

Shopping centres (in general) dont give a f... about bikes. How many have you seen with any bike parking facilities lately.

A couple of years back they were building the new Leroy Merlin near me, they posted on facebook about how many parking bays they were making for cars, I replied asking them to please make some parking space for bicycles. Their reply, You are welcome to use any of the x amount of parking bays we have made available, where x was the amount of car bays they just bragged about.

[Danger Dassie]

Basic rigid alloy bike, 1x 7 or similiar with thru axle or allen key closed QR. Sticker bomb the frame and use a U lock or decent chain. You can lock it to any immovable object, as long as it's the frame. Also keep an errand bag on the bike. I have an old 30L Karrimor that does the job just fine.
No need to overthink it, keep it simple. 

[Sepia]

I have been using my bike for the exact purpose the OP needs.

Speak to shop owner about bike parking.  I have made arrangements with various shops but I am stuck with shopping centres.  As Ouzo says, they just dont give a damn.

Purchased a lock (only a deterant) and use both panniers depending on how big the shopping is.  I use a dedicated bike bag for bread, eggs, chocolates and other delicate goods. Park in a highly visible place and make fiends with the guard, doorman or Covid sprayer. I Have lights on my panniers and a  Varia so cannot do more except remove this and the Garmin when tied up.  I also avoid black as it seems to make you invisible to motorists against the backdrop of the tar. Aldura safety visibility reflective jacket at all times, also water repellant and wind resistant as I cycle in all weather.  Dont care what I look like to others as it is my life out there and I am not a fashion cyclist.  I have done 5000kms over the past 4 months (not only shopping!!!) so all cant be bad ecept my car battery (new but now poked)

Fitted a mid mount electric motor which is really fantastic for this purpose and would not have it any other way.  Using Ramblers and cheapie 38 tyres which do the job, even in the rain and under load.

Happy days.

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Sepia

[Hairy]

On 3/16/2022 at 1:02 PM, bikermouse848 said:

So, with the recent developments around fuel prices getting a little crazy, I have been thinking more and more about bike commuting.

I love riding bikes, but have only ever done it recreationally, and then your rides always end somewhere where it is safe to park your bike (bike shop, coffee shop, friends house, guest house etc). But if one takes seriously to bike commuting, how do you keep a bike safe? What are those that are already commuting doing in this regard?
 

I work from home, so it’s not so much about getting to the office and back, I’m thinking more along the lines of running basic errands, popping to the shops for groceries etc. My thinking is to build up a bit of a utility bike with a nice big box on the back for loading groceries and so on. Maybe even do a hub drive e-bike conversion on it to make it a bit easier and less sweaty, so I could also use it to pop to a coffee shop for meetings and so on as well. So even though it would be worth a lot less than my dual sus mtb, it’s still going to be worth a few rand, and being a bike, it’s pretty easy to steal. Clearly bike locks are needed, but they are also only there for show and not worth much from a security point of view.

so for now, I’m thinking your options are a bit limited, but off the top of my head:

1. Give the bike some sort of insane lumo paint job (which will also potentially make it “safer”) that makes it easily recognisable and impossible to sell?
2. Only go to shops etc where you know it’s safe and you can keep an eye on it from inside the store. (but that kind of defeats the object of using the bike in place or the car)

3. Insure it well (insuring a backyard resprayed custom built commuter bike might be tricky, and also, the schlep of replacing it every time it gets stolen is a pain. Insurance is a given, but doesn’t really deal with the issue of securing the bike)

4. Fit a tracking device, and remember to keep it charged. (but how to conceal it) - are AirTags a viable solution hidden in a seat-tube.

Get the biggest and meanest bike lock system you can and park/lock the bike in plain sight of people and always ask security to keep an eye on it if they can.

[Hairy]

4 hours ago, bikermouse848 said:

Starting to think this might just be more trouble than it’s worth.

 

I’m going to give it a try next week, without making any mods to the bike, and see how it goes, based on that I will make a call as to whether a hub drive conversion and fitting panniers, baskets etc is even worth the effort.

sometimes it really sucks living here…

could be worse .... you could live in a country where it is too flipping cold or snowed under that you could not cycle in winter at all.

[Sepia]

4 hours ago, bikermouse848 said:

Starting to think this might just be more trouble than it’s worth.

 

I’m going to give it a try next week, without making any mods to the bike, and see how it goes, based on that I will make a call as to whether a hub drive conversion and fitting panniers, baskets etc is even worth the effort.

sometimes it really sucks living here…

It gets easier as you go along, believe me.  It is like commuting....way of life.

As Danger Dassie said, dont overthink it, just get on with it.  New fuel increase will pay the bike off earlier now.