>>>As a matter of fact back in the 80s, in Brighton, I used to shoot around town in one of those "sit-up-and-beg" bikes, with the basket. I used to pull up at greengrocers and fill my basket from the street. Made of cast iron or something, it weighed more than the moon but DID have 3 Sturmey-Archer gears. Believe it or not, it was actually pinched from being chained to the railings of my flat.
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>>Reminds me of when I commuted by train to work. There was a place to lock up your bike and many people used it. One of the bikes was chained through the frame, with a good strong lock. All parts except the frame were removed - the saddle, stem, crank, etc.
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>>I felt sorry for the commuter who had left his bike at the train station. When he got off of the train after work he would discover what I had seen. It took time to strip the bike and it was out in the open for everyone to see.
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>There are a lot of bikes here and I often see that. That's why so many bikes have quick-release wheels and saddles, etc. Seems to me they're more trouble that they're worth - imagine the junk next to your desk.

How true. But it takes effort to remove a crank and gears and the stem and handlebars.