The bike shuffle

Due to a series of unfortunate incidents (finding my bike lying in the road or standing up with the snapped off bits tucked under the cover) I've taken to parking my bike between 50-70 degrees to the kerb. It seems to reduce the chances of people knocking it over by accident. When its deliberate there's not much you can do.

Whilst my sv has escaped being parked on it hasn't escaped being shuffled when people want to park so move your bike. Maybe i'm being unreasonable but I don't like it. I leave my bike covered with a chain on but am rarely near enough to a lampost to lock it to that. I had a longer chain but that got nicked (why steal a chain? ). This morning the rear wheel was on top of the chain destabilising my bike and the cover was caught up under the front wheel. so it was a right pain to take it off. I've thought of putting honey on the cover as a preventative measure but that'll be a bit nasty for me taking it on and off. Has anyone got any ideas?

mary

To help stop it being knocked over try wedging a bit of wood on the right hand side as a sort of side stand, stops it getting knocked over (unless brute force is used).

Completely agree with you though on people moving/messing about with your bike.

I'd buy a disc lock alarm... just the scare them a bit when they try to move the bike.
Or go to maplins and buy a 'bike alarm' that rigs up to your horn, if it detects movement then it make the horn sound. You just need to wire in a switch to turn it off when your using the bike. I think they are only about 5 quid.

Aye, some sort of alarm. My installed alarm beeps a few warnings if you try and move it, that might be enough to deter some people. Ultimately not much you can do if you need to park it up a lot. I take the car in that case

Here you go... linky

[SoulKiss]

Initial gut reaction is to say that you are wholly right and someone shouldnt be touching your bike.

Then I remember the number of times that I pull up at bike bays which see full, but have scooters SO badly parked that once I have shuffled them around a bit there is plenty of room for me.

So as a shuffler I an in a dilema......

Stuff it, they are only scooters - fit that alarm :P

Originally Posted by Grinch

I'd buy a disc lock alarm... just the scare them a bit when they try to move the bike.
Or go to maplins and buy a 'bike alarm' that rigs up to your horn, if it detects movement then it make the horn sound. You just need to wire in a switch to turn it off when your using the bike. I think they are only about 5 quid.

You can get small alarms that work off a standard 9v battery which will fit under the seat and can be triggered by motion. M&P or MPS or Busters used to sell them a while back, might still do...

I came back to my Gixer Thou in a central London bike park to find a battered Peugeot Speedfight leaning up against it, luckily for the owner he hadn't scratched my bike. Had a quick look at the scooter and there wasn't a stand on the thing, so I just lobbed it on its side in the road and rode away.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

I came back to my Gixer Thou in a central London bike park to find a battered Peugeot Speedfight leaning up against it, luckily for the owner he hadn't scratched my bike. Had a quick look at the scooter and there wasn't a stand on the thing, so I just lobbed it on its side in the road and rode away.

smooth.

Fantastic - thanks for the advice guys. I particularly like the Maplin alarm what with it being £4. I think it would be enough to deter people. I appreciate that in bike bays it can be frustrating when space is so limited but its because its the road outside my house I'd like to have a bit of peace of mind.

I live opposite a hospital so there's always loads of parking going on, the residents are much more considerate and don't tend to park against the bike because they know me.

I'll hold off the honey and go for the alarm- it might even stop drunk people sitting on it on their way home from the pub which would be lovely.
thanks again
mary