Cold Iron's photostream  

Martin's old commuter bike was worn out, and he wanted a new one. After thinking about it for a couple of days, he decided on this 21" Trek Sawyer. Stock except for tires (we installed Michelin City 700 X 47's) and pedals (Odyssey Twisted).

This was a big purchase for Martin, and all of us at Tip Top urged him to invest in good locks, and to use them properly.

I came to work a few days ago, and saw his handsome 29er locked up in front of the shop. That's a Kryptonite Evolution Mini-9 on the front wheel, and an Abus Granit-X Plus through the frame and rear wheel.

It put a smile on my face. Martin's new bike won't be stolen any time soon.

El Tonto Grande got new brake pads today.

I work worked with this guy at Tip Top Bike Shop. May 14 was his last day, and I'm gonna miss him. A lot.

'Bay Area Rapid Transit' (BART) is an efficient, fast, and easy-to-use public transit system. I use it all the time, and almost always with my bike.

I NEVER lock my bike at BART stations. If I ride to BART, I ALWAYS bring my bike on the train with me. This photo is why.

I have, over the years, sold countless replacement wheels, seat/seatposts, and bikes to victims of bike theft. A huge percentage of said theft takes place at BART stations. Tip Top is only 8 blocks away from MacArthur BART, so it's the station I use if I need to take a train after work. I see broken locks and bikes with missing parts there all the time.

Most above-ground (and many underground) stations have bike racks, with space for dozens of bikes. These racks have been nothing less than a buffet for bike thieves. The racks are secure and sturdy. To the uninformed cyclist, they appear very safe. Most learn the hard way how unsafe the racks truly are. I hear their stories firsthand, and it's usually heartbreaking.

This has been going on for years, and BART Police has finally admitted there is a problem. They are making an effort to inform cyclists who use the racks on how to effectively secure their bicycles.