12/13/12 2:25 PM

I went to put my bike on the hitch rack and low and behold I have no rack. I do wonder if it just fell off or if it was stolen. Guess I'll get a locking clevis pin this time.

12/13/12 2:33 PM

I'd make a senior moment remark if I was no so affeared it will bite me, if not already bitten...

12/13/12 2:36 PM

Think Dan, where is the last place you put your rack...

12/13/12 2:38 PM

I actually went through that thought process, since I do take it off from time to time. Alas I can't remember taking it off, and I can't find it. Some meth head probably sold it for scrap.

12/13/12 3:05 PM

Suddenly, I'm surprised that these thefts don't happen more often.

I used to sell these things when I could buy wholesale from the late GT/Riteway, and some are pretty expensive to not be protected against theft.
I don't recall seeing too many come up for sale on Craigslist fwiw.

Be glad that your bikes weren't on it at the time.

12/13/12 4:35 PM

Yep, a locking clevis pin was the first thing I bought for my hitch rack. Without one they all but have a "Take One" sign on them.

Same with roof racks, locks for the towers and for the bike fork holders are an essential accesory.

12/14/12 3:32 AM

Craigslist.com?

12/14/12 4:35 AM

.org you mean ?

12/14/12 2:23 PM

Years ago I was driving back with some friends from competing in a track meet in Sydney, and while passing Lake George the bike carrier came adrift from the trailer hitch it was mounted on. At highway speed that resulted in three rather bent track bikes and a lot of bad language.

12/14/12 11:21 PM

If it's a 2 inch receiver with a biggish pin hole and you have some ground clearance a big u-lock like a Kryptonite will fit as a pin.

12/15/12 8:15 AM

Another option, depends on the rack:

We usually lock our bike to the car's tow loop with a cable lock. So whne we took the bike off, we just loop the cable around the rack. It won't stop a determined thief, who can simply cut the cable. But it does stop someone without a bolt cutter.

This is the first time I've heard someone losing their rack to thef. I heard about thef of bikes a lot but rack is rare. It's a pretty big and bulky object. I struggle putting it on and taking it off. So the thief might have help and REALLY want the rack!

12/15/12 8:16 AM

You don't need a Kryptonite. Any trailer or boat dealer or hitch installer sells locking clevis pins in sizes to fit 1-1/4" and 2" drawbars and they are smaller, lighter and a lot less expensice than a Kryptonite lock.

12/15/12 8:33 AM

I bought a rack that came with a clevis pin lock and a cable lock for the bikes that stores neatly in the arms. Now if I can remember where I put those keys...

12/15/12 9:07 AM

It seems like using a Kryptonite and a crowbar would provide enough leverage to break the pin.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for slowing the thief down / dampening the incentive.

The tow loop is good for restaurant breaks, but it reminds me of looping a hardened lock through ornamental ironwork. The next morning the iron was bent apart and the bike and lock were gone.

I really liked that bike too, sniff. "After twenty years he still mourns." (Mr. Bojangles, and it's more like 30!)

12/15/12 3:34 PM

Of course a determined thief can get anything with effort. I suggested a Kryptonite lock because some of us have old ones hanging around anyway, and it's a useful stopgap if you don't have a locking pin handy at the moment. Any good locking pin will keep a quick thief from getting it off quickly, which is the main purpose.

12/15/12 11:55 PM

They've got bike motion alarms on Ebay, and even ones with remote pocket buzzer. Might be good enough for a dash into Denny's.
Fairly small, cheap, durable, light and loud.
I've bought a few for myself and others, one (a $9 version) of which interrupted a walk-off attempt at a coffee shop.

12/16/12 3:13 PM

I have sometimes thought about mounting an (empty) shotgun shell under the saddle, obvious, pointed up, with some wires disappearing into the frame.