I’ve noticed that there isn't a single thread like this one on this entire forum. So, here we are—whether this serves as a starting point for a debate or just a way to dissect a specific case, I suppose. Even when you stumble upon a real-world example, it immediately serves as a reminder that we are living in a complete circus. While plenty of people refuse to admit it, the harsh reality remains that when you add everything up, America is nothing more than a total clown show.
So, what’s even worth saying at this point? It feels like there isn't a single decent cycling program on American television, if you look at how the mainstream media handles it. As far back as I can remember, we’ve never actually had a high-quality show dedicated to cycling here in the States. When I talk about a good cycling program, I mean something that actually offers practical advice and real-world examples to help out riders who are still learning the ropes. If you have a show that claims to be about cycling, but it’s really just a collection of random race news interrupted by endless commercials—where the only "advice" you get is a pitch for some supplement or nothing at all—then you can't honestly call that a cycling show. A mix of minimal news and heavy advertising isn't serious programming; it’s just garbage.
Calling PBS a public broadcaster is a bit of a joke, though there’s really no point in wasting my energy arguing about it because you'll just end up frustrated for nothing. It’s enough to look at one specific issue, even if it has nothing to do with cycling, to see the pattern. In an era defined by information technology, where having basic digital literacy is practically mandatory, it’s telling that PBS shows absolutely zero interest in producing any kind of tech-focused programming. Once you realize that, it becomes painfully obvious where cycling fits into the hierarchy; it’s relegated to the bottom of the pile on a quasi-public station that functions more like a government-run corporation, and we all know exactly how those state-run entities operate. Beyond that, we have a handful of other minor players in the market—things like YouTube (which used to be Fox), some local news stations, or CNN—that basically cover the metro area. When you look at the rest of the country, you see countless small, local stations that are barely scraping by as it is. Given the lack of funding, you can't honestly expect any of these smaller local outfits to produce high-quality cycling shows, or anything of substance for that matter.
When it comes to the commercial networks around here—specifically FOX, FOX Sports, and the big mainstream channels—you really shouldn't expect any high-quality cycling programming. They simply do whatever serves their bottom line, pushing whatever content generates the most profit. You’ll find educational shows featuring actual useful advice on these stations only in extremely rare instances, if they even exist at all. So, my final takeaway is pretty simple: when it comes to cycling and related topics, traditional American television media scores exactly zero points.
Given how pervasive and powerful the internet has become as a medium, you’d think the digital landscape here in America would be more advanced or useful. Unfortunately, that's far from the reality, as much of what you find is just a flood of aggressive advertising and other mindless nonsense. Even when you dig deeper, there is a distinct lack of actual, practical advice or any clear, precise recommendations, especially when it comes to properly securing a bike against theft.
To kick things off, here is a prime example of how absolutely not to produce a segment on cycling issues; at this point, it’s less tragic and more just plain ridiculous. I’m talking about a recording from a local news station broadcast back on July 16, 2013. This particular segment was part of a two-and-a-half-hour block called Z1 Zoom, which covered various topics as any typical summer afternoon program would. However, they carved out nearly twenty minutes specifically to debate the massive issue of bike theft. If you actually sit down and watch the show—or even just look at its underlying concept and the way the guests were handled—it is enough to make you lose your mind. Honestly, what possible value could an uninformed viewer get out of this? When you weigh everything up, the whole thing was a complete and utter disaster. Below is a list of the most glaring blunders and sheer nonsense featured in this segment dedicated to bike theft. So, there you have it: twenty minutes of airtime wasted on the serious problem of stolen bikes.
Aside from a fair amount of mindless, aimless rambling, that show didn't actually offer a single piece of precise or practical advice that you could actually use..😉
I just watched this video on YouTube, and honestly, there isn't much to add beyond the fact that it hits on some pretty fundamental points. It’s straightforward, though I suspect some people might find the delivery a bit blunt. Still, it lays out the situation clearly enough for anyone actually paying attention.1.
What kind of bike lock should you absolutely avoid using if you actually want to keep your ride? Everyone’s just sitting there in total silence like they’ve got nothing to say, even though I’m sure the guests realize exactly how easy and fast it is to snatch a bike that's only secured with a cable lock. To be honest, nobody on that show even bothered to mention cable locks; they just spent the whole time rambling about phantom codes and padlocks without offering a single concrete answer or a real explanation.
2.
What kind of bike lock should people actually be using? I mean, you really need to mention a specific example of protection—like an actual model or something. And once again, nobody is saying a single word about cables or chains. It’s completely silent on the subject. As for the U-Lock, I can only assume people think we're talking about some kind of handheld massager.
3.
The show didn't even bother providing any actual bike locks as visual aids, which means an uninformed viewer is left completely guessing about what gear looks like, what’s worth buying, and what’s just a waste of money. Now, some people might argue that they can't explicitly advertise certain brands, but honestly, that’s a non-issue; you could easily just cover up a company logo with some tape and call it a day. Whoever produced or organized this segment clearly had no idea how to run a program like this, where the whole point should be helping the average person by offering precise, practical advice. It would have been much smarter if they had spent their time actually preparing something useful instead of just producing a foggy, half-baked mess.They’ve got this girl on the show complaining about how someone swiped her bike because she didn't bother to lock it, which is just great. Then, the same girl claims a friend of hers had a bike stolen right in front of a coffee shop—she basically just sat down for a drink and when she looked up, the bike was gone, amazing. The only thing she mentions is using a U-Lock, though she also says her friend had a bike snatched right off a balcony within two hours despite it being secured with both a U-Lock and a chain, and I’d bet anything on it. $1667 That bike wasn't secured with a U-Lock or chained to a metal fence, which should have been an immediate giveaway to any casual observer. To someone who doesn't know better, it’s obvious that even using a U-Lock—though nobody bothered to explain what one actually is or what it looks like, unless you think it's some kind of vibrator—doesn't offer much in terms of real protection. From the perspective of an uninformed onlooker or a potential buyer, seeing those two vague mentions of some strange, unknown "U-Lock" just makes it clear the security was subpar.
One guest claims that people around town are just riding cheap bikes that aren't worth much. $333,
Look, we all know they’re cutting corners behind the scenes, so let's not pretend otherwise. If you're trying to conclude that a bike is actually cheap, maybe you should start by looking at whether the cable is even worth anything. $50 Or maybe just go with a U-Lock—if you even know what that actually is? $40 And yet, there isn't a single response in sight.Some clumsy guy from the mobile bike repair service just told me something incredibly stupid.
Every single combination can be cracked eventually; it’s really just a matter of how much time someone is willing to sit there and grind through it. At the end of the day, any lock is vulnerable if you give them enough time to figure out the right method. What exactly was the poet trying to convey with that "scorching sun" line? Honestly, I can't wrap my head around how that bit of poetic flair is supposed to provide any actual value to an uninformed viewer watching the broadcast.
The moderator keeps asking what exactly we can even protect, but when it comes to providing a straight answer or a precise recommendation for a specific bike lock model, everyone just stays dead silent.
Some clumsy guest in a white shirt—who happens to be a Department of Justice employee, an absolute expert if you believe that, apparently—says exactly this, or at least this is what the transcript shows:
Security basically boils down to categories. You have protection that lasts a few minutes, then ten minutes, and then more. When we talk about home security, we usually deal with three distinct levels: no protection at all, something that buys you ten minutes, and then the high-end stuff used in professional offices—though I have no idea what kind of offices those would be these days. It’s the exact same logic for bicycles. There is plenty of high-quality protection out there, specifically systems using heavy metal plates. These aren't easily cut with bolt cutters or filed down; sure, someone could do it if they were willing to put in the time, but most people hitting a public space aren't looking to work that hard. Essentially, if people are going to steal vehicles, they're going to target spots where there isn't a Master Lock or an alarm system in place. For crying out loud, what was that poet actually trying to say?
9. The host asks how much extra cash someone should really shell out for decent bike security. Some clumsy guy from a mobile repair service answers her by saying,
"Well, you're looking at somewhere from about $67 up to maybe 500-$200 for those better locks we'll just call the 'secure' ones." Fine, so apparently I can just buy a cheap cable lock for $100, wrap it around my $1667 bike, and call it a day—suddenly I've got a perfectly secured ride. Bottom line is, an uninformed viewer has absolutely no clue what to actually buy, which is the worst part; honestly, instead of making this show, they should have gone fishing for sturgeon in the Mississippi. In the end, an uneducated customer or viewer is probably just going to grab a cable lock for $67 because, well, what else? A cable is easy to use, and if a U-Lock—which sounds more like a toy than a tool—is actually supposed to be for bikes, then it's probably too expensive and impractical, which explains why they barely even mentioned it on the program.
10. To wrap things up, some Department of Justice official in a white button-down says,
"I would recommend that citizens don't be so afraid; don't take this as a sign that you need to sell your bikes just to afford high-quality protection." But how is anyone supposed to secure their bikes properly if you haven't provided a single concrete or precise recommendation—other than that vague suggestion to spend 200-$200 without ever specifying an actual model of lock???