I was just going through a few draft emails still hanging around in my inbox… from 2008 and I came across an unsent email to Thule regarding the theft of my bike (mentioned somewhere in my blog – search for Thule and you might find it). I guess the answer was short and sweet and I’ll paste it below.
I just wanted to reiterate that the lock on the bike rack is purely a deterrent to theft rather than an actual lock. A physical deterrent at best since the people stealing my bike didn’t even need to pick the lock to get the bike out. So to cyclists out there, never leave you bike unattended on top of your car (and I’ve seen a few).
And for Thule – unsympathetic bunch who need to make sure the message is passed on to customers. So again, cyclists, just think twice before buying Thule products – Rhino is the other popular roof/bike rack company in Australia.
To: info@thule.com.au
Subject: Thule Web Enquiry (Milton Lai)
Importance: High
Hi, I\’ve got 2 ProRide 591\’s the aero bars, and the locks. I had gone
mountain biking today with a friend and following this, we went into town
for a quick stop off. I left both bikes in the racks, only to come back 15
minutes later with my bike (the more expensive one) ripped out of the rack
and stolen. I\’ve since reported this to the police. I was wondering what
Thule might be able to do about this? Thank you Milton
On 14/02/2008, at 10:14 AM, Adrian Van Bellen wrote:
Hello Milton,
You might have to report this to your insurance company.
There’s nothing we can do about this.
Thank you
Adrian van Bellen
THULE CAR RACK SYSTEMS
42 Dickson Avenue
Artarmon NSW 2064
Australia
Tel: +61(0)2 -9439 2526
Fax: +61(0)2 -9439 1002
www.thule.com.au
The unsent email dated the 14th February 2008
Hi Adrian,
Thanks for your reply.
I bought the whole set up, simply because I could “lock” my bike in the racks.
At no time was I ever told that this is just a deterrent tool.
I understand if the thieves had cut off the locking arm, but they didn’t. They ripped the bike off the “locked” rack.
“Lockable – bike to bike carrier, bike carrier to load carrier” – from your website.
To me, the racks did not serve its purpose in which case, I was sold items which didn’t suit the use advertised.
Thanks
Milton
Just putting it out there so that I can save someone some grief down the track.
Written by Milton Lai