lesson learned - don't buy cheap locks...

gkerr4

no - not a theft as you are probably thinking.

went into town after work - thought I'd take the bike - easier in traffic, easier to park - plus there are bike racks right outside the store I was going.

got the tickets I needed - back to the bike - key in lock - twist - key shears

cheap locks are cheap cos their keys are made of cheese!


Blackpool isn't a high theft cycle area really - there just plain aren't any bikes plus i generally never leave the bike anywhere - i would never leave the roubaix anywhere - just the langster and perhaps my 15 yr old MTB. So I got a re-enforced cable lock from aldi last time they had cycle stuff in. Visibly it's a decent deterrent as it is fairly big looking and looks tough even if it isn't really.

anyway - que frantic calling to friends for bolt cutters - ended up with the wife driving in with the spare key and my long nosed pliers - which thankfully worked after a bit of fiddling around

The lock still works with the spare key - but needs to go in the bin as I wouldn't trust it again

i must spend more than £3 on a lock
i must spend more than £3 on a lock
i must spend more than £3 on a lock
i must spend more than £3 on a lock
i must spend more than £3 on a lock
......

geoff_ss

I once locked my bike up and then realised I hadn't brought the key (it was a simple wire lock that locked just by pushing together). I went into the ironmongers, bought a junior hacksaw and sawed the lock in half. I tried to look as suspicious as possible; it was a busy street in the middle of the day and no-one took a blind bit of notice.

Now I keep the key in the lock just in case there isn't a tool shop handy

Geoff

redvee

Done the locking bike with no key but luckily was outside the local newsagent so only 100 yards home. Had lock, had bike why should I go home first? But no key

krakow

I have two old U-locks on which the locking chambers have seized up in unopenable positions. Thankfully, both locks died long slow deaths, so that the eventual giving up the ghost was well anticipated and occurred when they were off the bike. Copious amounts of WD40 didn't help at the time, but I still haven't brought myself to throw them away. They were both relatively cheap no-name locks, probably bought from Halfords at the time.

TheBoyBilly

Interesting to note that GKerr4 thinks that a Specialized Langster (one of my bikes as well) is less likely to theft than a Roubaix. I have to say that wouldn't necessarily be the case around where I work (Central London) where s/s bikes are much sought after. A bike thief will go after any decent bike that is not well locked up.

redddraggon

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Interesting to note that GKerr4 thinks that a Specialized Langster (one of my bikes as well) is less likely to theft than a Roubaix. I have to say that wouldn't necessarily be the case around where I work (Central London) where s/s bikes are much sought after. A bike thief will go after any decent bike that is not well locked up.

I'd rather nick a classy looking S-works Roubaix with loads of carbon bling, over a "rusty looking" langster any day.

TheBoyBilly

Oi ! And it's Poo-coloured, thank you

il_principe

redddraggon wrote:

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Interesting to note that GKerr4 thinks that a Specialized Langster (one of my bikes as well) is less likely to theft than a Roubaix. I have to say that wouldn't necessarily be the case around where I work (Central London) where s/s bikes are much sought after. A bike thief will go after any decent bike that is not well locked up.

I'd rather nick a classy looking S-works Roubaix with loads of carbon bling, over a "rusty looking" langster any day.

Thief is still more likely to go for the Roubaix - £1500 bike over a £500 one... I ride S/S in London, one of the many reasons for doing so is that it is less attractive to thieves. Having said that, I ride a Pearson not a wrongster...

gkerr4

jashburnham wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Interesting to note that GKerr4 thinks that a Specialized Langster (one of my bikes as well) is less likely to theft than a Roubaix. I have to say that wouldn't necessarily be the case around where I work (Central London) where s/s bikes are much sought after. A bike thief will go after any decent bike that is not well locked up.

I'd rather nick a classy looking S-works Roubaix with loads of carbon bling, over a "rusty looking" langster any day.

Thief is still more likely to go for the Roubaix - £1500 bike over a £500 one... I ride S/S in London, one of the many reasons for doing so is that it is less attractive to thieves. Having said that, I ride a Pearson not a wrongster...

actually - my "s-works - carbon centaur - eurus - built it myself - roubaix" is closer to £2500...

anyway - around here no-one knows what a 'fixie' is let alone a langster. I had to drive 30 miles to get to my closest specialized dealer and even he had never seen one.

that said, I did notice a lot of kids with skateboards and BMX's eyeing it up as I locked it up / waited for my wife to come with tools to help me 'steal' it - so perhaps there is a cultural influence seeping into the north west.

anyway - less of the 'wrongster' - in many ways, the langster is my favourite bike - it is so much fun. and a great otp fixed in my opinion..

gkerr4

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Oi ! And it's Poo-coloured, thank you

mine is poo-coloured too

it's a much maligned colour of langster

here it is - complete with poo-coloured charge spoon saddle - just awaiting the bar tape to match!

il_principe

Here's my s/s, great aren't they!

TheBoyBilly

Love the colour of that Pearson Touche I don't get on with the stock saddle on my Langster either, more BodyAgony than BodyGeometry, but my Brooks is much better, finally. Not so sure about your bar tape though Mr Kerr, either that which is on the bike or the tape you are going to get? I hope the dye doesn't come off, lol

Bill

gkerr4

it currently has some s-works bars from a transition tri-bike that I picked up for a song at a bike shop - they came pre-taped with cable outers which fitted and everything. The tape is the s-works gel tape with the bar phat insert underneath and is very comfy - they are looking a bit grubby at the minute though.

i want the charge bar tape that matches the seat - wiggle do it here:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... Bar%20Tape

The aero-bars make a massive difference to the way the langster feels - i really like them - they have cane creek TT levers in the ends that I got from ribble for £6 - here's a few more pics:




and while I am picture tarting - here's a nice picture of the aforementioned roubaix in all it's splendour down the prom the other night... sweet!