Lance Armstrong – why not use two locks?

As the owner of two very much treasured hand-built bikes, I am distressed to hear that Lance Armstrong, seven-times winner of the Tour de France and great cancer survivor, has had his bike stolen.

In terms of omens, I fear it ill behoves any of us to risk blogging about this. I have actually only had two major bike thefts in my life – one at Liverpool university 39 years ago, the other about 15 years ago, in which a bike I particularly disagreed with miraculously left my possession somewhere in Camden.

My overall sense is that bike theft is opportunistic, although I am well aware there are bike hoovers around who use spanners, hammers and ice spray.

I have a particularly light bike, but my lock, I think, now weighs more than my bike does. It’s an enormous motorbike lock. Were I more svelte, I would wear it round my middle like those Lycra-clad messengers that pass me at 40mph.

In the end, it is the continuing absence of anything like enough bike furniture in the street that is the biggest problem. Bikes look much better anchored to these things and, generally speaking, I think it’s harder to nick them from them.

I’m a great believer in two locks. I’m also a believer in not blogging about it because I don’t want mine nicked as a result. So I’m stopping there.