Two bike messengers chased a bike thief through the streets of Los Angeles before recovering the stolen bicycle Monday. The owner walked out of his workplace to find his $500 bicycle missing. He walked back inside to report it, authorities said, but the messengers were already chasing the thief. The couriers pedaled through downtown on street and sidewalks for five blocks before grabbing the thief's shirt and pulling him to the ground.

The man left the bike and took off on foot. Police are still looking for the thief. Police say bike theft grew 29 percent last year, throwing off the overall drop in crime for the city. Police say the reason might be the growing number of people using bikes to travel around in neighborhoods.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

Bicycle lights attached to the wheel are not new, but they are powered by friction with the spinning wheel. The new Magtenlight does not rely on contact with the spinning wheel. The Magtenlight is in the center of the wheel, while 28 magnets are attached to the bike's spokes. When these magnets pass by the light in the center, the power generated will light it up without friction or physical contact.

When you're at a traffic light, this power can't be generated, but the light also has a small battery that stores extra power for about four minutes. The lack of friction can increase the life of the light, because it will not get worn down as quickly. This new magnetic system is also more environmentally friendly than the other options. If you ride at night, you should always use a light for safety. Consider your options and find the light that best suits you. Whatever you choose, remember to lock up your bike to protect it from potential thieves.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

Many riders are opting to get back to the basics with fixed-gear bicycles, or "fixies." These simple bikes have no gears or brakes, so pedaling and braking are directly linked to the feet. Since the only parts to get worn out are the tires and chain, fixies are incredibly durable and low-maintenance. The rider cannot coast, because the rear wheel is directly connected with the pedals. A rider must either stop pedaling and skid to a stop or pedal slower and slower until stopped.

Advertisements, movies and celebrities have elevated the unique bicycle to pop culture status. Fans say they feel more control on a fixie than on a regular bike, but the amount of leg power required makes it challenging. It rose to popularity in California partly because of a group that rode fixies from Huntington Beach to San Diego.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

If you forget to lock up your bike and someone steals it, it's important to know how to describe your bike to authorities. Take a picture of your bicycle to show police, which will help in the initial search. Write a detailed description as well, and remember to include the make, model and serial number. You can also engrave your bike with a unique identification number or some other identifying mark that would set it apart from other bikes.

Always use a bicycle lock, and never leave your bicycle unattended. At home, the safest option is to store your bike indoors so it's out of sight. This should protect your investment, but if you do forget to use a lock and it's stolen, having identifying information for your bike will help authorities locate it and return it to you as soon as possible.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

A group of nine mechanical engineering students at Yale University designed bicycles with spokeless back wheels for a semester-long class project. Time and money constraints kept the students from making both wheels spokeless. A student said they focused on the rear wheel because it would be more difficult than the front wheel.

The frame holds the wheel in place while also driving the bicycle forward. The design does not improve the riding experience or make it easier, but it makes a unique bike. One student envisioned placing a motor or a storage basket in the space created inside the wheel.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

The Portland City Council approved an ambitious bicycle project last week, starting with $20 million of funding from the city in the next 30 days. Officials hope that in 20 years, 25 percent of travel in the city will be by bike. The plan hinges on building 700 miles of bikeways throughout the city. Currently, more than six percent of Portland residents ride a bicycle daily, a Census Bureau survey said, but about 18 percent bike to work occasionally.

Officials are still contemplating the source of the initial $20 million, but they are confident the funding will come through. Proponents of the plan say it's more risky to not begin the initiative, because Portland's livability and environmental goals must be met. They also want to have a plan in place to ask for federal and state funding.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

Chicago recently built a bike station in Millennium Park designed to encourage bicycle use in downtown Chicago. The center includes showers and lockers, secure bicycle parking, bicycle rentals and bicycle repair. They also offer guided tours and camps.

They hope to encourage Chicago residents to stay fit and save money by commuting to work on bikes. Since bikes are earth-friendly, they hope to reduce the amount of pollution in the city as well. They also state that biking saves time in that the search for a parking space as well as a trip to the gym are eliminated.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

With the exceptionally cold weather sweeping the country in these first weeks of February, your bicycle might not be your first choice of traveling methods. It is important to keep your investment locked up while not using it, because thieves could take advantage of the weather and steal bikes when they know people won't miss them for a while.

Secure your bicycle to a nearby stationary object using a lock that can withstand frigid temperatures without eroding or cracking. Leave the bike in a place you will see or walk past on a regular basis so you can keep an eye on it. With proper caution, you can return to riding your bicycle as soon as the cold weather blows through.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

Two men were arrested in LA Jan. 25 who are believed to be at the heart of a downtown bike theft ring.

Tracking Craigslist, detectives found a bike listed on Craigslist that was recently stolen. After using this twice to meet up with people in the bike ring, they found a motel room with more bikes and bolt cutters inside. The two men they arrested were also bleaching money for counterfeiting $100 bills. In addition to finding the bike equipment and tools used for counterfeiting the money, they also found evidence of heroin use.

Police believe these two men are part of just one of the several rings working the downtown LA area.

 Protect your bicycle from theives by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.

A $700 bicycle was stolen at a Singapore train station within two hours of leaving it there.

A Singapore executive recently ordered the bike online because it can't be found in Singapore.

The owner returned the next day and caught a man messing with several bikes in the same station. He caught the man and held him until the police arrived.

Bike theft went up significantly in Singapore in 2009. It made the news last month when the bicycle of an English cyclist, biking from London to Sydney on $7,800, was stolen.

Protect your bicycle from thieves by securing it with a bike lock. Start protecting your investment today by purchasing a quality bike lock.