Ways not to lock your bike

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).