The Chainlink

Do you guys purposely "ugly up" your rides?

Just wondering, I see a ton of non-descript bikes locked up everywhere. I like the gunmetal/brushed aluminum paintiob on my Giant OCR, and I know it makes my ride more of a target, but I can't bring myself to ugly it up! My mom bought a beautiful dining table once, then she covered it up under a drab looking tablecloth to "protect" it even if she could no longer look at it. Do you guys do the same with your bikes, like make them ugly but knowing that underneath they are beautiful?

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Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on October 23, 2009 at 1:46pm
i put stickers all over my bike, like subaru drivers. i love personalizing it...not uglifying it. :)
Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 23, 2009 at 4:41pm

(i love this comic!)
Permalink Reply by mattbikes1 on October 24, 2009 at 3:43am
No, I just lock mine up tight when I am not on it.
Permalink Reply by Jackie on October 24, 2009 at 3:11pm
My bike, and my brother's bike are pretty distinct. I just lock my bike up properly*, and bring it inside while home.

*My definition of locking it up properly means: Only to bike rack, using a u-lock through the frame and wheel and a cable through the other wheel. I've had a wheel stolen before, and so I take as many precautions as I can.

Though my brother's bike is beautiful - it is too distinct for anyone to get away with stealing it, then riding it around. So if someone were to strip down the bike for the components to resell it - to be able to try and get away with it better - then I'd say you'd still have to worry, even if you "ugly up" your ride. Those are just my quick, scatter brained thoughts on the matter.
Permalink Reply by Jackie on October 24, 2009 at 3:18pm
What do you do if you ride your bike to a show (concert), or a movie, you don't really have a choice but to lock it up outside, and not be able to see it? (Not taking a stab at you, just curious - because these are the times that I am most paranoid about my bike being stolen).

Ammo said:
I love my babies too much to ugly them up. When I lock them up they are near my front door at work. Which I always, or a coworker has an eye on them. I don't like to go out and leave them where I can't see them.
Permalink Reply by Eric R on October 24, 2009 at 5:15pm
Thieves like shiny objects. My first bike was shiny and was stolen, now the two bikes I have are rougher looking, but have decent components. Also, the two Kyrptonite U-locks and one cable lock (for the saddles) I use when locking them up at night keep the thieves at bay.
Permalink Reply by roofis lee king on October 24, 2009 at 7:07pm
i think even ugly bikes are pretty in their own way
Permalink Reply by Tim M Hovey on October 24, 2009 at 8:04pm
ugly bikes are very pretty. one of my favorite rigs is welded from supertherm steel, and rather than having it cleaned up and painted, i had the builder just give it a wipedown and then a matte clear powedercoat. over the years the coat has chipped a little so its rusted a touch in spots. i think its gorgeous.

but no, i certainly wouldn't put a bunch of stickers or wrap a frame in tape or something, frankly i think that looks ridiculous.
Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on October 24, 2009 at 10:23pm
I prefer a combination of proper locking technique, and being able to look out the window at work and see my bike.

And i don't see it so much as "uglying" as much as I just see the bikes as reflections or extensions of their owners. I like to see how they match up to the owners.
Permalink Reply by Sara Gmitter on October 25, 2009 at 11:06pm
Riding my bike through 5 years worth of Chicago winters has done a pretty sufficient job of uglifying it. I definitely worry about locking it up outside a lot less than I did when I first got it. I've also cheerfully gaff taped any rips in the fabric cover of my seat w/ the added bonus of making it less appealing to walk off with. All of that being said I'd agree that locking it up well (in a well lit, non secluded area) is ultimately the best way to decrease your target factor. Doesn't matter how temptingly attractive your bike looks if there's no opportunity to bust your lock and walk off with it.
Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on October 27, 2009 at 11:08am
I sort of have w/ my bianchi hybrid because it was pretty cheap and probably won't have much resale value in the future anyway- lots of stickers, and even then someone still tried to steal it! But I have tried to take better care of my schwinn continental because of its sentimental value- used to be my dad's, I rode on the back of it when I was little, and it even has a registration tag on it from Los Angeles from the same month/ year I was born.

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