How safe is parking a bike in Dublin?

quozl

Heya all,

I'm very new to cycling so I've no experience of locking up bikes in the city-centre (or anywhere else).

I've got a trek 7.5fx hybrid - about 1000 euro value - via the BTW scheme.

I've got a Kryptonite New York lock (big one, not the mini). This was about the best reviewed one I could find.

Would you guys leave a (to me anyway) nice bike locked with that in the city centre? Assuming I've locked it sanely enough - sheldon brown method, or through the seat stays and back wheel, to something solid that it can't be lifted off, lock isn't on the ground, try and leave little space inside the lock for tools, etc etc.

Would you leave it for a few hours on Jervis street, Parnell street, Stephen's Green, Rathmines village like that?

How paranoid do I need to be?

I've got a kryptonite evolution mini-chain, which I'm leaving in work so that I can lock my bike with both locks when leaving it outside on the bike rack every day in work. Should I be using both locks all the time? That'd be a bit of a pain but if it's the sensible thing to do.

Honestly, I've no idea what's careful enough and what's too careful. Help please!

Colonel Panic

Jervis St or Parnell St? Maybe not. It'd prob be okay in Rathmines for a couple of hours. Around Copan or in front of Swan Cinema seem okay. In the city center, I usually leave mind in the Drury St carpark although it's not a €1000 bike but a €600 3 year old hybrid, well maintained but definitely used.

Joxer_S

Colonel Panic wrote: »

Jervis St or Parnell St? Maybe not.

With that lock I'd have no problem leaving it there, they are busy areas most of the time, definitely not overnight on the street though. In general I try not to lock my bike outside overnight anywhere, a deserted area in a "good" area is far worse than a busy "bad" place.

Planet X

You could find the rest of the bike stripped of nice parts though.......

Slydice

I'd recommend a second lock so you can make sure you have both wheels locked.

I got a Kryptonite which came with a flex that looks like the one in this picture:

Darkglasses

I'd feel safe enough locking my bike in TCD front square. I think a few bikes get robbed out of Trinity every year, but considering that there's probably thousands and thousands of bikes locked up there over the course of a year, those are pretty good odds. Pick somewhere touristy to lock it, rather than a quiet alley or car park.

Qualitymark

Before you lock a bicycle in Dublin, look at the Stolen Bikes thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056226324&page=71

which is now on page 71.

To me, locking a bike worth €1,000 in Dublin city centre is a bit like locking up a €1,000 note on O'Connell Street. Worse, if you lost, say, a ring worth €1,000 the Gardaí might be interested; with bicycles, they seem to regard stealing as a risk you take (shrug).

deandean

Well I have a city bike valued at about 800 and I have been locking it up in the city centre for the past 6 years or so, anywhere from the top of grafton street to parnell st. I use a big abus U lock through the frame and back wheel. No lock on the front wheel. Front wheel is bolted on there is no quick release. Bike has never been damaged and I still have it. Maybe I am just lucky.

You need common sense as well as a good lock. The bike stand outside cycleways parnell st has served me well

Zyzz

If a good thief wants a bike, he'll get it..no matter the 'gold rating' on the lock! As someone has already mentioned, have a look at the size of the stolen bikes thread..some of the best locks have been used, in some cases more than one yet still has been stolen!

If you value your bike, or its a fairly big investment for you I wouldn't advise locking it up in town! If you can bring it inside or something similar..go with that!

reallyunique

I've locked some pretty expensive MTBs in town over the last ten years or so and have never had one stolen (Kryptonite & cable). I used to lock up just beside the GPO, now I use Drury St.

A lot of the bikes on the "Stolen Bikes" thread seem to have been taken from apartment buildings, sheds etc. I had two bikes taken on me from locked garages but never from the street.

The best thing to do seems to be to lock it amongst a group of bikes, they'll usually go for the easy pickings/poorly locked bikes first. Park in well lit areas with lots of pedestrian traffic. Combine U lock and separate cable lock. Avoid scummy areas. Don't leave it overnight.

There are no guarantees and no lock is 100% secure. You can be unlucky and lose it on your first day or it might never be taken. Lock it sensibly, in a reasonable location and you move the odds in your favour.
Good luck!

pelevin

If youse just let me know where you want to park it and if youse just give me a fiver I'll keep a good eye on it for you.

dewindygap

I've been following this thread with great interest now for a long time and it never fails to amaze me how unsympathetic people can be to others' loss. The truth of the matter is, regardless how you lock your bike in Dublin, or where you lock it ( even in Drury St.), what lock or how expensive it costs, if the thieves want it they will get it.
I wont leave my bike out of my sight in Dublin, sad to say, otherwise I just won't park it.
Regarding attempts to foil what is obviously big business (and I tend to disbelieve the general consensus that the majority of bike thefts are random acts, altho no doubt many are), if anybody watched the Prime Time exposé on charity clothing thefts, if the Gardaí made the same efforts as the RTÉ crew did many of these culprits (and I am convinced it is organized gangs) would be behind bars.

dewindygap

Darn, meant to post this in Stolen Bike thread.

josip

Darkglasses wrote: »

I'd feel safe enough locking my bike in TCD front square. I think a few bikes get robbed out of Trinity every year, but considering that there's probably thousands and thousands of bikes locked up there over the course of a year, those are pretty good odds. Pick somewhere touristy to lock it, rather than a quiet alley or car park.

I left my very ordinary mountain bike locked overnight in Front Square years ago. Quick release wheels and saddle all locked up. The next night I got the feeling there was something wrong with it as I was unlocking it and clipping things back on. Only when I went to ride off on it, did I cop that they'd nicked the handlebars (not quick release). Bought new handlebars and 3 weeks later they robbed the whole bike during the daytime from another bike rack. Since then, only bike parks for me.

quozl

Thanks for the opinions, they're much appreciated.

I've just finished reading all 70+ pages of the stolen bike thread and I think I'll risk the bike in town but with both the new York u lock and the evolution mini chain.

I'll also pay the 80 quid for insurance.

unfortunately the bike is way less useful to me if I can't use it commuting so I figure I'll have to take the risk :-)

Darkglasses

josip wrote: »

I left my very ordinary mountain bike locked overnight in Front Square years ago. Quick release wheels and saddle all locked up. The next night I got the feeling there was something wrong with it as I was unlocking it and clipping things back on. Only when I went to ride off on it, did I cop that they'd nicked the handlebars (not quick release). Bought new handlebars and 3 weeks later they robbed the whole bike during the daytime from another bike rack. Since then, only bike parks for me.

Sorry to hear it Josip. Unfortunately some bikes do get robbed from Trinners, but it's a fairly low number considering the amount of bikes locked there. Late at night the place does get very quiet indeed.