I am planning a trip from Anchorage! Alaska to Colorado this summer and am trying to figure out the best way to keep my soft luggage from being stolen from my Wee when away from the bike. I use an older version of the Giant Loop Great Basin bag with a large mouth dry bag on the rear rack. Was thinking of just wrapping a large bike cable around it all till tight then lock it up with a good padlock. It would kinda look like something from the Stone Ages, anyone got any better ideas ? Thanks.
I have the Giant Loop siskiyou panniers on my trip from California to Argentina and I got a couple feet of 1/16 coated wire rope from Home Depot. I looped it through the straps on the panniers and through my pannier rack. It's not the most secure thing but I haven't had any problems in 4 months so far. It was a cheap option to. I feel comfortable leaving the bike unattended at borders, in towns to run errands (for short periods), in hotel parking lots, or at tourist sites where I stop for an hour or so. I also have the pacsafe around my Giant Loop dry bag.
Also a very good option is to hide the bike with a cover. Black, with no logo on it. Easy to put on, cost a few. I have soft bags too and I choose a pacsafe for the big bag across the back seat, and just a wire rope around the straps of the soft bags on the side. But I will not put any things of value in them (water jerican, rain suit and boots, pharmacy, things I need all the time etc..). All things of value go either on the big bag on the back or inside hard panniers (or with me all the time). But to be honest, if anyone wants to steal something.. he will ! Avoid big cities or park the bike in a safe place if you have to, and trust people.
I've travelled extensively through Australia and Asia with soft bags. Never lost a thing. Looking at some hard cases at a HU gathering the other day, they looked a more tempting and easier target than the soft bags. Just pack your dirty underwear on top.... that'll stop 'em
Thanks, at least mentally I will be able to relax. Will see how the Kanulock works by wrapping it tight several times around my dry bag and giant loop bag and go thru the center ring on it, as well as the rear rack. Then cover it with a bike cover and lay my dirty underwire on top of that, Kanulock http://kanulock.com/online_store_us.html
I will be giving this thing a try. http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Control-Anti-theft-Audible-Security/dp/B008AB70A4
Rather sexist there ay Don't take anything worth stealing. I don't carry items that can't be replaced along the way, so they are of lesser value to me and others. Don't get me wrong, my gear is some quality stuff but if I lose it it's not life changing or trip ending. I could see concern if you were in a poorer third world country with loosing parts of your kit but usually it isn't a real problem. Keep your electronics, meds, cards and cash on you in a bum bag or back pack, the rest of it should survive just being stowed away. A bike cover is a plus from prying eyes. PacSafe can be piece of mind if you need it. Good Karma helps..................
I dont know about overseas, not having done any touring over there but here in the states I just dont worry about it. I am on the road about 2 months out of the year and have never had anything stolen from the bike. It used to be a worry till I met an old guy some years ago in a restaurant who had left all of his stuff, helmet, bags, coat, gps unlocked on the bike. When I asked him about he just said "Its karma man. anyone who really needs my stuff can have it, anyone who steals it will get whats coming, but I've never had anything go missing" So, now like the old guy, I don't worry about it. 'Course, I don't carry much worth stealing anyway
That was actually my first thought when I read the OP. It might be a possibility in some of the biggest CO cities, but doesn't seem likely. Personally, I keep valuables in a locking top box, and don't worry about clothes in the soft saddlebags. This is coming from someone who disc locks both wheels and locks the helmet to the bike.
The only place I was ever worried about anything was Oakland California, and it was my life, not my stuff that I was concerned about. Thieves have to ask themselves, do they want to risk being confronted by the person that rides a bike like that?
California to Seward AK round trip via Dawson City, 21 days and not a problem with the bags, I take the valuables in a small bag and the rest stays with the bike.
While sleeping i use on of this mini Alarm Systems to be shure nobody can steel anything without waking me up: http://www.amazon.de/Elro-SC07-Mini...ords=fenster+alarmanlage&tag=adventuretrav-21
I agree with a bike cover. out of sight and that stop some of opportunity type theft by 50% or more. Pack safe it good to. Taking Valuables with you and making gps etc hard to just up and walk away with. As someone else said if you can afford to lose it then don't bring it. As for someone stealing your bike and kit all at once a cheap phone tucked away with software prey etc will help you trace it thorough the cell phone GPS. Some software allows you to set it up that if it moves x feet from x spot it texts you.
When I first started touring, I was was super paranoid about things getting lifted from my bike. I have Ortlieb panniers, a 42L hiking backpack as my tail bag and a tank bag. But, as time wore on I realized that really day to day, nobody is going to go explore your bags as you wander into into a store or coffee shop, as long as you park smartly. Interestingly, park it where there's a lot of foot traffic in and out and you can see the bike from inside the store. Having lots of people around is quite the deterrent to thieves. Also, don't ride at night. When I'm stopping for the night at a cheap grungy motel, I usually bring my bags in. If I'm staying with someone and it's a nice neighborhood, I usually just leave it strapped to the bike. I've got a disc lock and a cable lock around someplace to lock the bike up at night. If it's someplace really sketchy but I'm parking to go take a piss or eat, I'll often just bring my tank bag in, which has the easy to filch valuables.