Bicycle Stolen Last Night

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I should post a picture of my bike lock... It's completely out of the question they get that one open.

Go ahead and post, but no, it is never out of the question that a lock can be removed. Professionals can get any lock off. That said, I have no idea how professional the better thieves here are.

The big U shaped ones are frozen with a canned freon spray that doctors use to freeze tissue and then cracked with a sledgehammer. It takes about 3 minutes.

depends on the lock. its nowhere as easy as some portray it. My little bro has a bike shop in the states and we used a few cans of R134a ($20 each) to try to freeze and break a few locks. It doesn't work well at all on a padlock. For U style locks its not easy as you have to hit it really hard against a hard surface. if the lock is wrapped around a tree or non rigid pole and lets say you put a piece of steel between the pole or tree then there is too much give to shatter it... Go to slow and its not cold enough and have to use more expensive coolant. It's tricky, easy to waste money and get a frostbite burn.

Some U Kryptonite U locks from a few years ago had a design flaw that allowed it to be picked using the plastic inner sleeve from a bic pen. I have seen it done but could not get the hang of it myself.

Best idea is to try to keep it under visual or lock it up where there is a security guard stationed and slip him a few baht to keep an eye on it...

[Ulysses G.]

depends on the lock. its nowhere as easy as some portray it. My little bro has a bike shop in the states and we used a few cans of R134a ($20 each) to try to freeze and break a few locks. It doesn't work well at all on a padlock. For U style locks its not easy as you have to hit it really hard against a hard surface. if the lock is wrapped around a tree or non rigid pole and lets say you put a piece of steel between the pole or tree then there is too much give to shatter it... Go to slow and its not cold enough and have to use more expensive coolant. It's tricky, easy to waste money and get a frostbite burn.

Thanks. That is good to know. People make it sound easy, but this is not something done quickly in public. Do you think that good cable locks - like a Kryptonite cable lock - can be easily cut with a bolt cutter or opened otherwise?

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

depends on the lock. its nowhere as easy as some portray it. My little bro has a bike shop in the states and we used a few cans of R134a ($20 each) to try to freeze and break a few locks. It doesn't work well at all on a padlock. For U style locks its not easy as you have to hit it really hard against a hard surface. if the lock is wrapped around a tree or non rigid pole and lets say you put a piece of steel between the pole or tree then there is too much give to shatter it... Go to slow and its not cold enough and have to use more expensive coolant. It's tricky, easy to waste money and get a frostbite burn.

Thanks. That is good to know. People make it sound easy, but this is not something done quickly in public. Do you think that good cable locks - like a Kryptonite cable lock - can be easily cut with a bolt cutter or opened otherwise?

The cable/chain style locks are pretty good. Those are the ones with a big square chain links and a kevlar like outer sleeve to cause it to slip when trying to chop or saw it. Those types have meaty padlocks which are not easy to defeat. .. the thinner woven style locks ones are okay because when trying to cut them the cable frays and frays.. those types usually don't have as good of locks though and could be smashed or cut with a power tool.

There are thieves in Portland/Amsterdam etc for example that use cordless high speed cutters with diamond blades. they can cut most anything but it makes quite a racket and lots of sparks.

Most decent locks will buy you some time. The better the lock then more time. Just avoid the stupid things like locking over a short pole where the entire bike and lock can be lifted over or the classic just locking the rear wheel and the thief takes the rest of the bike and leaves the wheel. I have lost count of how many flawed lock jobs I have seen over the years... There is a reason this town is full of security guards. Just traveling a few hundred yards can usually find some lonely guard with nothing to do who could use a few extra baht to watch your prized steed.

[Fantasteak]

I'm sorry our friends child gas has lost their bicycle. I'm just wondering if that reward is so generous that someone may steal another similar bicycle in order to collect it. Best of luck.

Frankly, I don't really think anyone would do something so stupid for 2000bht

You wanna bet on that? 2000 baht maybe?

[blue eyes]

There is NO lock which a good bike thief cannot defeat in a matter of seconds. A good thief.

. . . . .

If ya lock your bike, take the tire ( tyres ) either front or rear, if you have quick releases, and the seat as well.

With a view to correcting any misunderstanding on the part of the bicycling public, I suggest that it is both more effective and much, much easier to take the entire wheel, complete with tyre, rather than the tyre alone.

Exactly.

I should have put it that way..

I'm the short one....

Looks to me that they should ride the bikes a bit more then stand around for photos.Little chunky are we?

[gpdjohn]

There is NO lock which a good bike thief cannot defeat in a matter of seconds. A good thief.

. . . . .

If ya lock your bike, take the tire ( tyres ) either front or rear, if you have quick releases, and the seat as well.

With a view to correcting any misunderstanding on the part of the bicycling public, I suggest that it is both more effective and much, much easier to take the entire wheel, complete with tyre, rather than the tyre alone.

Exactly.

I should have put it that way..

I'm the short one....

Looks to me that they should ride the bikes a bit more then stand around for photos.Little chunky are we?

Maybe a little, it's not like riding like Lance Armstrong. Wearing amost 35 lbs of gear dosen't help either..level 4 ballistic vest, ammo, weapon, cuffs, radio, M26, and a nice heavy jacket.

Always seemed to catch the 120 lb tweeker on a full sprint...

[el jefe]

It's not just the cost of the bike - it's the bike itself! We cyclists become very attached to our bikes. You want to borrow my car? OK, here are the keys. You want to borrow one of my bikes? NO!

My oldest bike here is about 15 years old and we have covered thousands of miles together. Can I replace it? Of course I can, will cost me about 300,000Baht, that bike fits me like a well worn pair of shoes - would a new bike give me the same enjoyment? Possibly but possibly not!

Mr Hippo, I know you have a Trek 7200 hybrid based on this thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=186991

What bike do you have that will cost 300,000 baht to replace?

I know it's possible to spend $10,000, or even $15,000 on a bike, but if it's 15 years old I think you have a couple of extra zeros in that figure.

And a bike is just a bike. It's an inanimate object. I have a 90,000 baht bike. while I was out of the country I allowed a friend to borrow it so a friend of his could use it. This is someone I've never met, but I know my friend would be responsible for any damage. it's just a bike.

[mr_hippo]

What bike do you have that will cost 300,000 baht to replace?

I know it's possible to spend $10,000, or even $15,000 on a bike, but if it's 15 years old I think you have a couple of extra zeros in that figure.

And a bike is just a bike. It's an inanimate object. I have a 90,000 baht bike. while I was out of the country I allowed a friend to borrow it so a friend of his could use it. This is someone I've never met, but I know my friend would be responsible for any damage. it's just a bike.

Frame specially built with my choice of angles. wheels built by a specialised wheel builder about 10 years ago and cost over £400. My estimate had been on today's equivalent components. If you wanted to replace a 15 year old car with today's equivalent, how much more would you expect to spend? I am not talking about replacing it with the same components but with today's equivalent - yes, they have been improved and are better but so will a new car be compared to its 15 year old counterpart. I am talking about replacement and not market value of a 15 year old bike.

You say "And a bike is just a bike...", it takes me at least 300 miles to set a bike up for me! It varies from bike to bike - in fact if you go to a Toyota dealer and test drive a Yaris and then order one, your Yaris may be different to the one you tested but its the same car. If you set up a bike properly then it will fit you like a well tailored suit but then go for a ride on the same model and you will feel the difference!

Edited May 23, 2008 by mr_hippo

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

What bike do you have that will cost 300,000 baht to replace?

I know it's possible to spend $10,000, or even $15,000 on a bike, but if it's 15 years old I think you have a couple of extra zeros in that figure.

And a bike is just a bike. It's an inanimate object. I have a 90,000 baht bike. while I was out of the country I allowed a friend to borrow it so a friend of his could use it. This is someone I've never met, but I know my friend would be responsible for any damage. it's just a bike.

Frame specially built with my choice of angles. wheels built by a specialised wheel builder about 10 years ago and cost over £400. My estimate had been on today's equivalent components. If you wanted to replace a 15 year old car with today's equivalent, how much more would you expect to spend? I am not talking about replacing it with the same components but with today's equivalent - yes, they have been improved and are better but so will a new car be compared to its 15 year old counterpart. I am talking about replacement and not market value of a 15 year old bike.

You say "And a bike is just a bike...", it takes me at least 300 miles to set a bike up for me! It varies from bike to bike - in fact if you go to a Toyota dealer and test drive a Yaris and then order one, your Yaris may be different to the one you tested but its the same car. If you set up a bike properly then it will fit you like a well tailored suit but then go for a ride on the same model and you will feel the difference!

let's post some bike photos.

This is my Thailand bike. 10 years old and about 50K km's on it. 10.8 kg. Moots YBB Titanium soft tail. Shimano XTR/XT. Mavic wheels, Marzocchi Atom 80 shock with front Avid BB7 brake. Not cutting edge but durable and versatile. On a really good ebay day it might pull a whopping 50k baht.

Edited May 24, 2008 by CobraSnakeNecktie

[mr_hippo]

You are talking about what your bike would sell for now - I am talking about replacing one with similar specs and that's a big difference!

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

You are talking about what your bike would sell for now - I am talking about replacing one with similar specs and that's a big difference!

yeah I am aware of the concept of resale versus replacement. I just thought it might be interesting to see other peoples bikes. Feel free to post your bikes and comments on their parts packages and value or whatever your comfortable with. It seems like every thread these days on TV turns into some sort of verbal fistfight. Lets just talk about the thing we have passion about and that is bicycles.

[mr_hippo]

Road bike 25" frame, Campag mixed groupset, 53/39 chainset, 11-24 block. Campag Omega rims with DT Swiss stainless spokes - over 100,000 miles and never been trued but still in true. The frame was repainted a few years ago at ProBike.

The new Trek 7200 - standard apart from 700x32 tyres. Now fitted with 115db AirZound. MIght get fitted with drops in the near future.

Trek 3900

[Ajarn]

I'm sorry our friends child gas has lost their bicycle. I'm just wondering if that reward is so generous that someone may steal another similar bicycle in order to collect it. Best of luck.

Frankly, I don't really think anyone would do something so stupid for 2000bht

You wanna bet on that? 2000 baht maybe?

You mean if he calls, I pay 2000 baht,

But if he doesn't call, you pay me 2000 baht?

Sure, no problem. PM me if you are not shittin...

Edited May 24, 2008 by Ajarn

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Road bike 25" frame, Campag mixed groupset, 53/39 chainset, 11-24 block. Campag Omega rims with DT Swiss stainless spokes - over 100,000 miles and never been trued but still in true. The frame was repainted a few years ago at ProBike.

The new Trek 7200 - standard apart from 700x32 tyres. Now fitted with 115db AirZound. MIght get fitted with drops in the near future.

Trek 3900

nice touch with the air horn! I imagine blasting it at a pesky dog might get them to jump or even evacuate their bowels. I might have to pick one of those up.

Edited May 24, 2008 by CobraSnakeNecktie

[gpdjohn]

My bike is better than your bike!

'71 Sting Ray

Yeah.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

My bike is better than your bike!

'71 Sting Ray

Yeah.

who else has some bike pictures? How about El Jefe or some of the others. No more 3 speed banana seats bikes please. That was like reliving a bad dream.

[Ajarn]

A couple of my favorite bikes include this one with square wheels....

And this one ..

A weird Bicycle that can be steered both from front and rear and you sit on it sideways.

The bicycles have been in the production for the past many decades and they haven?t evolved in terms of design and shape radically but Michael Killian has other big ideas. He is the owner and the inventor of a sideways bike. He recently patented his bike.

For balancing you use your back and front balance not the sideways balancing that you use in conventional bicycle.

The bike has front and rear steering system which makes it more maneuverable than the conventional single steer bicycles.

Killian <http://www.sidewaysbike.com/>

[gpdjohn]

My bike is better than your bike!

'71 Sting Ray

Yeah.

who else has some bike pictures? How about El Jefe or some of the others. No more 3 speed banana seats bikes please. That was like reliving a bad dream.

Gosh, I feel hurt...

Even had a sissy bar and a banana seat...

and in pink too...

[mr_hippo]

My god...and ya say I'm alittle chunky...

It was not me who called you 'chunky' - I never pass personal remarks about other people. I think it was blueeyes (post 37)who said that. As for my weight - it's coming off slowly. I very rarely use salt in my diet.

[gpdjohn]

I am truely sorry for my post.

Could a moderator please remove my last post.

My apoligies.

I think it's fantastic that you ride.

[mcgriffith]

No worries...post removed.

But hey you don't look chunky at all....just "prosperous" as my dear Mum would say upon seeing me for the first time in a while....

[el jefe]

What bike do you have that will cost 300,000 baht to replace?

I know it's possible to spend $10,000, or even $15,000 on a bike, but if it's 15 years old I think you have a couple of extra zeros in that figure.

And a bike is just a bike. It's an inanimate object. I have a 90,000 baht bike. while I was out of the country I allowed a friend to borrow it so a friend of his could use it. This is someone I've never met, but I know my friend would be responsible for any damage. it's just a bike.

Frame specially built with my choice of angles. wheels built by a specialised wheel builder about 10 years ago and cost over £400. My estimate had been on today's equivalent components. If you wanted to replace a 15 year old car with today's equivalent, how much more would you expect to spend? I am not talking about replacing it with the same components but with today's equivalent - yes, they have been improved and are better but so will a new car be compared to its 15 year old counterpart. I am talking about replacement and not market value of a 15 year old bike.

You say "And a bike is just a bike...", it takes me at least 300 miles to set a bike up for me! It varies from bike to bike - in fact if you go to a Toyota dealer and test drive a Yaris and then order one, your Yaris may be different to the one you tested but its the same car. If you set up a bike properly then it will fit you like a well tailored suit but then go for a ride on the same model and you will feel the difference!

let's post some bike photos.

This is my Thailand bike. 10 years old and about 50K km's on it. 10.8 kg. Moots YBB Titanium soft tail. Shimano XTR/XT. Mavic wheels, Marzocchi Atom 80 shock with front Avid BB7 brake. Not cutting edge but durable and versatile. On a really good ebay day it might pull a whopping 50k baht.

CSN,

Nice bike.

I race on a Specialized S-Works Roubaix and a Litespeed Ultimate. I've also got a 30+ year old classic steel Olmo among my bikes. My mountain bike though is a POS. (Sorry, I don't have any digital photos to post.) With top of the line Ksyriums, DuraAce 10 speed, carbon bars, etc on my race bikes, my replacement cost would still be under 200,000baht. As you probably know, most of the very expensive parts that would bring the price up are up are ultra-light carbon components (like 40 gram saddles) often limited to lightweight riders.

I'll be back in CM in a couple of weeks. I do most of my riding on the road though. If you'd like to join me someday, let me know.

[bino]

Sorry to post a question that is on-topic, but was there a happy ending to the OP? Was the bicycle recovered?