Cool pic hcs....
99% of people will not steal your bike. maybe even 99.995%. But all it takes is that .005 percent to FFFF your day, or week, or how long it takes you to hitch a ride home and all the misery that entails, including not having your bike, and knowing some lazy creep somewhere is riding it "like he stole it."
Here is the diff.....
In daily commuting, locking the bike is essential, anybody seeing your usual route, times and habits could plot a theft and getaway.
But this subject is long range traveling. Nobody, including YOU, know which way you are going or when you are coming. Sort of like a MB.bikeninja.
I have a cable dangling on the front of the basket, the key in my billfold, and anytime I wish, I can lock' er down. 20% of the time, I may lock it up, but nothing elaborate.
I also have a quick release on the saddle, when I stop for a 3 hour tour, I leave the saddle on a shelf at the cash register, or hide it in the azalea bush, then I have double double MB.ninja security, would baffle any halfwit pedestrian.
Because, this is no longer a 30 pound bike, but with everything loaded, probably approaches 80-90 pounds, all lashed together with zip ties and bungie cords. It takes ME 5 minutes to get up to speed.
It will not pedal away easily in high gear, it takes practice to get confidence in the stability. A thief would get knocked over on the first whoooooooosh by a Wal Mart truck.
So, if you park the bike in view of the window, act like the next best thing to a blimp pilot, answer the same questions you've heard before, your blimp won't float away.
Quick getaways are difficult, you could probably chase the thief afoot and whack him with a ninji stick within 100 yards.
Run out of breath? Hop in the cab and say "follow that bike" , and the capture will happen right after the driver gives him a heart attack horn blast.
Hopefully folks who read this never panic on a 2-5 day journey, the thief may think it is a bike, but it is a packed mule, and mules kick back, especially when a stranger take the leads.
Take my word for it, car theft is easier and quicker than a mule kickin'.