It’s electric-assisted, goes 50 to 60 miles on a single charge and I can lift it. Another Trek — Domane+ AL5.
But I’m afraid to ride it anywhere — at least anywhere where it might get stolen, as my last bike was. So I ride it when I know I will not get off of it or if I know there is a bike rack I can chain it to. Which leaves out Edmonds College.
Not that chains do much good. I picked out a complicated bike lock, sections of steel that fold up into something I can carry on the bike. That might be enough weight that I cannot do what I am doing in the photo above. The bike locks at the store ranged from cables a Chihuahua could bite through to chains heavy enough to drag Marley to the ground, and way too expensive for Scrooge to buy. Andy, who was a great help, said that professional bike thieves (there are such people?) carry all the tools they need to cut through anything.
So I am staying on my bike.
I have ridden thru homeless camps for years now and the sophistication in bike “collection” has improved greatly. It’s common sense that bikes would greatly help people with no car. They have bike repair racks and parts boxes and everything except lighting. So I think there is a greater danger than say 5 years ago. If they have the time after scouting out a possible bike to steal, there is no chance to stop it. Around schools it is especially risky at the beginning of the quarters, when new students come on to campus with cell phones not tucked in, purses hanging loosely, and bikes locked up but vulnerable.
New bike looks good. I getting closer to electric every year.
I probably should not have been surprised as I recall thieves breaking into a bike cage The Seattle Times built to store bikes for those who got to work on two wheels. The cage had chain link fence wrapped around steel posts with a door locked by padlock. No problem for the bike thieves. However, Jeff, the bicycle rider and repairer, went looking for the bikes. He found them in the old Seattle Times building next door. It had been abandoned by the Times before we moved across the street. The inside of the building was still standing then before it was ripped down with only the front and side wall facades left for historic preservation. Maybe. But back to my story. . . Down in the basement, there was a repair shop set up for all the bikes, including some from the Times bike cage.