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...while we wait



The Illinois Association of Realtors is due to release its July sales statistics next week. I'm staring at the computer waiting, with my hands over my eyes but peeking through my fingers. Can anyone say train wreck?

Its getting hard to post on a real estate blog like this one this summer without whimpering or whining or bemoaning the state of the market. Instead, I've been spending a bit time on the bike lately and reading the occasional blog. Sure I like my work and all, but hey - there are worse things than actually taking time to enjoy the really terrific weather we have been blessed with.

Riding the bike is terrific on many different levels. Having your bike stolen is not. So as a public service, I would like to refer you to an important reference point: The Chicago Stolen Bike Registry; and a couple of irreverent ones: Bike Snob NYC and a wacky U-Tube vid.

In the words of its creators, the bike registry exists:
  • To provide a public forum for the distribution of information about stolen bicycles, in the hope that bicycles can be returned to their owners, and that resale of listed stolen bicycles will be more difficult.
  • To provide analysis of bicycle theft data, in the form of statistics and maps, to identify high risk factors for bicycle theft.
Read a couple of entries and you will be unable to avoid learning from the mistakes of others.

Bike snob is just flat-out funny. OK, maybe you need to be a bit of a cycling dork to really appreciate these musings, but I do not necessarily think that I am such a dork and it tickles me just the same. Whatever your own dork factor, have a look - particularly Today's installment. Here is a photo of an "as yet un-stolen bike" that is just crying out to be pilfered:


Notice how the only part of the bike actually locked to the rack is that crappy front quick-release wheel. Flip the switch and take the frame. Could you make it any easier to give the bike away? Again, a few minutes of effort may well spare you the need to enter your own mishap into that stolen bike database.

And lest any of you think that bike theft requires a special skill set, dark-of-night stealth, or bike owner/operator error, check out this video from the Neistat Brothers of New York City. Yikes!




For the record, I employ both a two-lock strategy and keep my bike even dirtier than that new york snob (its not that i am competitive - which i am, it is just so much easier to spritz more chain lube onto the drive train than it is clean the dang thing).

Whatever and however you secure your ride, the main thing is that you take the time to do it right. It beats walking.
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