Ways not to lock your bike

Mechamorgan, DPF, don't ever go to places like Switzerland and Denmark. It's comedy lock fiesta over there.

Massive Fail!

This woman failed to lock both the frame and wheels using her D-lock. I was amazed that somehow she had even missed the aerospoke! The spok was just secured with allen bolt skewer, so it would take no time to undo and put back together to cycle away on.

I waited for a bit to see if she would come back to advise her on locking, but she didn't return for a while I'm guessing.

Also very slack chain.

Edit: This was just outside On Your Bike! at London Bridge, and parked in front of a sign advertising secure bike parking.

Kept seeing this woman on this bike a while ago when my commute took me down Tooley street- she never looked very happy whilst riding, maybe she's trying to get rid of it with her comedy lock technique?

A two for one outside Sainsbury's. Notice how difficult it must have been to fail to thread the liquorice through the chain, brake cable or rack.

1 Attachment

That chain reminds me of the plastic links you used to get in toy handcuffs when I was a kid.

not the worst locking in this thread.. spotted at college. i dont lock my bike up to those racks as you could easily chop through them with a hacksaw

yes that is a QR front wheel aswell

It's only a beater but still pretty bad.

It's only a beater but still pretty bad.

Is that not Sheldon Browns bike?

It's only a beater but still pretty bad.

That's a perfectly safe way to lock a bike, many people on here, me included, do it. It's reffered to as the Sheldon Brown method, you cant take the wheel out of the frame, so it is the same as locking the frame

Yep, +1 to that way of locking. Better done with a smaller lock, but apart from that it's perfick.

Disclaimer - some people disagree with this and say that cutting through a rim (twice) is easier than cutting through a lock and so it is a fail. Whatever.

Disclaimer - some people disagree with this and say that cutting through a rim (twice) is easier than cutting through a lock and so it is a fail. Whatever.

From Mr. Brown:

Some will object that felons might cut the rear rim and tire to remove the lock. Believe me, this just doesn't happen in the real world. First, this would be a lot of work to steal a frame without a useable rear wheel, the most expensive part of a bike, after the frame. Second, cutting the rear rim is much harder than you might think. Since the rim is under substantial compression due to the tension on the spokes, it would pinch a hacksaw blade tight as soon as it cut partway through. Then there are the wire beads of the tire, also difficult to cut.

There was talk a couple of years ago about getting an old wheel and trying to cut through it (at East drinks), but it never happened. I'd still like to see someone try, as I to, from time to time, lock my bike this way.

It's only a beater but still pretty bad.

locking fail claim fail

Yes a massive lock just 'around' the seat... it's been there all day, fuck knows how

Just went past that, it's still there, still locked like that

I always try to fit the frame into the lock.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9fLtdZyX-A&feature=PlayList&p=DC8D99692ECF3D05&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=25"]YouTube-
Sheldon brown locking method potential flaw[/ame]

^ ha!

I like it when he nervously looks back at the camera and runs back out of shot.

30 seconds to steal a bike with a hack saw is a FAIL

hahaha

Using the 'Sheldon Brown method' is daft when there's clearly enough room to fit the frame in the lock as well...

^this. I still haven't got a fahg and use a pair of evo minis at the moment. 9 times out of 10 I can lock frame and back wheel to railings/sheffield stands with the front wheel to the frame and usually railing as well.
Sloppy locking when you own decent locks is a fail

I use the sheldon method a lot, since there is no way I can get a mini evo round a signpost pole, frame and rim. It just about fits around pole and rim, on it's own. Similar story with a sheffield stand.

That video is pretty scary mind.

he's definately done that before.

And that was a MTB rim.
Sheldon is (was) never wrong. :(

Hahaha - you learn something new everyday on this forum. When I get my Mini Evo I might start using that locking technique for quick stops.

When I get my Mini Evo I might start using that locking technique for quick stops.

after watching that video i might start NOT using that technique!

That's a perfectly safe way to lock a bike, many people on here, me included, do it. It's reffered to as the Sheldon Brown method, you cant take the wheel out of the frame, so it is the same as locking the frame

This is not true. It is an extremely easy method to defeat.

Yep, +1 to that way of locking. Better done with a smaller lock, but apart from that it's perfick.

Disclaimer - some people disagree with this and say that cutting through a rim (twice) is easier than cutting through a lock and so it is a fail. Whatever.

Would you say "whatever", when you come back one day to find your bike gone? A good lock is 16mm at least of circular steel to cut through. If a thief has the equipment to cut through a u-lock, imagine how easy a rim would be? Simply hacksaw or knife-cut through the tyre and tube, and snip the rim with a boltcropper. Job done in seconds.

......30 seconds to steal a bike with a hack saw is a FAIL

If he used a sharp pair of industrial scissors and a boltcropper, it could be done in maybe 10 seconds.......maybe less if a real pro.

Using the 'Sheldon Brown method' is daft when there's clearly enough room to fit the frame in the lock as well...

Agreed.

.....Sloppy locking when you own decent locks is a fail

Agreed.

I use the sheldon method a lot, since there is no way I can get a mini evo round a signpost pole, frame and rim. It just about fits around pole and rim, on it's own. Similar story with a sheffield stand.

That video is pretty scary mind.

If you justify locking up your bike in a way that suits the locks, then thats just strange. Normally, a lock is bought with a strategic need in mind. If you have bought locks that restrict you to only locking in a certain way, then the lock is calling the shots........as the bike thief will later.

And that was a MTB rim.
Sheldon is (was) never wrong. :(

Considering that an MTB rim is designed to be much stronger than a road rim, imagine the rapidity with which a thief could extract a bike from the Sheldon Method?

When I get my Mini Evo I might start using that locking technique for quick stops.

Quick stops are fine.

after watching that video i might start NOT using that technique!

Better safe, than sorry. Your call.

Here is the Sheldon Method used in an extremely intelligent way. Note how the base of the lock is the part most exposed to attack........its the strongest part. Also, the owner has carefully placed their bike alongside a big heavy bike, so access to the lock from the other side is not so easy. And lastly, the Sheldon Method can only work well if the gap in the lock is very small....AND the bike is shielded from easy attack. Locking next to another bike is smart, as otherwise, the rim would be easily attacked from either side. Keeping the bike in a place like is pictured, keeps the chances of attack low.....as no thief wants an audience.

That said, I can never recommend the Sheldon Method for locking a bike in London. Its just not secure enough. Better even (for weight saving) to have one full-sized u-lock - for securing the rear wheel and frame, then Pitlock the front wheel and saddle, and use a cable through the front wheel (as a deterrent).

That whole post could have been kept to simply the last 3 lines, without quoting everyone else who has ever mentioned locks on this thread.