Someone at my workplace had a bad time last weekend. Their bike in the top right of the picture no longer has a front wheel. Sad face!
Not sure if you can tell from the photo, but they were only using a cable lock that was not looped through the tires. Also, their tires are quick release tires. Basically, with a setup like that it’s only a matter of time. All the same, I am pretty surprised about the fact that it happened there because it’s seems like a pretty nice part of town.
In general you at least want a thick U-lock that is large enough to get include one of your tires in it. My U-lock isn’t big enough to go around the tire, though. Bonus points if you lock it with the key hole facing down, and make it tight enough that robbers can’t slip anything between the U-lock to wedge it open. After that, you want at least a cable running through both of your tires and affixed to the lock. Additional bonus points for changing location everyday, so robbers can’t scout and plan for your bike, as well as choosing a place in plain view, although pedestrians usually don’t stop bike thieves anyway.
It’s sad but the whole motivation is to make your bike less appealing so a thief will take some one else’s bike, under the assumption that the crime is one of opportunity and not personally motivated.
