Locks that work

GA2G... out of interest, what's your chosen lock set-up?

GRPSuperdeals U-lock for attaching frame and rear wheel to object, and a simple cable for the front wheel. I won't carry 2 locks of 2-3kgs each. I haven't superglued a ballbearing into my saddle, as I keep an eye on my bike, and hardly leave it outdoors. If I were to leave it outdooors more, my security would be increased proportionately.

Does anyone have anything bad to say about the Squire Urban Paramount?

I'm not sure if the Squire Urban locks both bars to the base. The OnGuard Bulldog Mini is also a 13mm lock, but DOES lock both bars separately into the base.

I can't recommend a round (ie. non-squared) 13mm bar, but of the two, the OnGuard Bulldog would be superior to the Squire Urban.

just realised the insane amount of refbacks this thread has

just realised the insane amount of refbacks this thread has

Databases and on-topic security discussions seem to be a bit useful to others.

didn't know where to put this really, but I wanted to vent a bit, quite angry

someone tried to nick my bike today. It's not even a nice bike (the lock was the most I'd ever spent on it), it was 'hidden' in an underground car park. Luckily they must have had shit cutters or got disturbed, because they only cut through the outer metal tubes of my cable lock, didn't even scratch the inner cable. I'm 90% through building quite a nice bike and I'm wondering if it's worth finishing it. Of course I was going to spend quite a lot on a decent D lock when i started commuting on it but this kind of thing really makes me sad. My friend from work had a 36 hour old Langster stolen from round the corner about 2 weeks ago. Bastards.

It was a £40 magnum 'bicycle gold' rated cable, looks pretty heavy duty. It looks like it worked to an extent in any case, and I'm so happy they didn't manage to get it for whatever reason. I've been thinking about locks lately anyway (funny how it happens like this), looks like I've got a good few pages of reading up here to do!

[U][/U]

D lock and cable lock will solve the problem.

didn't know where to put this really, but I wanted to vent a bit, quite angry

someone tried to nick my bike today. It's not even a nice bike (the lock was the most I'd ever spent on it), it was 'hidden' in an underground car park. Luckily they must have had shit cutters or got disturbed, because they only cut through the outer metal tubes of my cable lock, didn't even scratch the inner cable. I'm 90% through building quite a nice bike and I'm wondering if it's worth finishing it. Of course I was going to spend quite a lot on a decent D lock when i started commuting on it but this kind of thing really makes me sad. My friend from work had a 36 hour old Langster stolen from round the corner about 2 weeks ago. Bastards.

It was a £40 magnum 'bicycle gold' rated cable, looks pretty heavy duty. It looks like it worked to an extent in any case, and I'm so happy they didn't manage to get it for whatever reason. I've been thinking about locks lately anyway (funny how it happens like this), looks like I've got a good few pages of reading up here to do!

*[/U]

If you want faith in your lock, steer clear of [U]ANY* cable locks as your main lock!
I personally use a Krypto Mini NY Fagheddaboutit.
I dont really lock for long periods of time, and usually keep an eye out.

i'd probably use a cable extension for the front wheel, if i was locking for longer periods.

The fact it was hidden in an underground car park is a goldmine to the theft, no one will disturb them and even a shit bike is worth the effort.

As said, I think this is a 50/50 problem.

Half of it is using a cable lock as anything other than a front wheel holder - I use a Kryto Fahg (as main), even though my bike is quite crappy just because of how annoyed I'd be if it got nicked.

The other half is where you lock it, I'd always go for somewhere busy & preferably with lots of other bikes.

I've had a little look but can't seem to find it; is there an official "how to lock your bike" thread? I know a lot of conversations have happened regarding where/how, but maybe it's worth someone in the know compiling all the discussions?

*Dear Lock Fans,
*
I am seeking a locking solution for light touring.

Usage:

• Overnight outside tent underneath tarpaulin
  
• General locking outside of shops etc.
  
  

My current inventory:

• Kryptonite Mini Evolution D-lock
  
• Abus Sinus 46 D-lock
  
• Abus Steel-O-Chain 810
  
• Xena XZZ6 alarm lock
  
  

I need to decide on the lightest option that gives me plenty of options. I'm thinking about using the Abus D-lock in combination with some lightweight Abus cable locks for additional security, but none of these are that strong. The Mini D is not really big enough and the Abus chain too heavy.

I'd be interested to hear what 'locking setups' other people use for touring duties.

Cheers

The fact it was hidden in an underground car park is a goldmine to the theft, no one will disturb them and even a shit bike is worth the effort.

I guess I just thought no-one would go down there. I reckon someone saw me go in and waited for me to come out before trying to nick it. I've used it for a year with no problem, my manager parks his bike down there (it's much better than mine) and nothing happened to him for the whole year either. I also thought no-one would nick a 25 year old mountain bike with loads of paint chips and a rusted rack. What goes through these dickheads' brains?

I'm thinking about a mini fahg, just wondering how versatile it is? is it big enough to go round a lamp post or sign post, or does it basically lock your rear wheel and frame to a railing? the railings near my work are old and I think i read that thieves can snap old railings, and that's why they banned people locking bikes to railings near whitehall. Or something.

i'd probably use a cable extension for the front wheel, if i was locking for longer periods.

they're usually like spaghetti though, I'd rather use quick release on front and put both wheels and frame through a D

At Superprecise, Clefty might be a good person to advise. I'm PMing her this post. She went camping with MOC and used an alarm lock and another lock.

I think the Mini Evo is a bit short to lock to anything else, along with the frame and rear wheel. I'd suggest a bigger lock. I don't know what you'll be riding, but if you alarm the bike at night, and when in pubs, or out shopping/sightseeing in towns, then maybe undoing the front wheel, and attaching it to the rear, so that both are locked together and through the frame with one lock? Requires a quick release or Pitlock-type lock for the front though.

When I went camping in NL I only had the mini evo and the xena with me, I set the bike up outside the tent upside down, initially I had the xena on the chain ring - but after I realised that 'this was not london my friend' and lost my paranoia after a couple of days, I left it freelocked upside down with the mini evo outside the tent - sometimes for the whole day - admittedly I was at a festival full of geeks (which are generally well behaved).
It depends where you're touring Josh - but I honestly found that all I needed was the mini evo for locking up outside pubs/shops etc and the alarm when I couldn't lock to anything solid. I also have a pitlock on both the front wheel and the seatpost.

Plastic Pedals, mini fag can go around a chainstay and a couple of spokes, and fix to the smaller sort of street furniture, like the posts that hold those small plates for describing parking rules. I use it as primary lock for well lit and busy areas, and as secondary when I'm leaving it for a few hours and have my Xena 210. Between them there's 5kg of lock, but I'm tired of having my bike nicked, so I hope this stops it.

Given how specialised the metal used for these locks are, I can't imagine that railing metal is anything other than warm cheese by comparison. I wouldn't trust a railing.

When I went camping in NL I only had the mini evo and the xena with me, I set the bike up outside the tent upside down, initially I had the xena on the chain ring - but after I realised that 'this was not london my friend' and lost my paranoia after a couple of days, I left it freelocked upside down with the mini evo outside the tent - sometimes for the whole day - admittedly I was at a festival full of geeks (which are generally well behaved).
It depends where you're touring Josh - but I honestly found that all I needed was the mini evo for locking up outside pubs/shops etc and the alarm when I couldn't lock to anything solid. I also have a pitlock on both the front wheel and the seatpost.

I took the same pair (mini evo D and Xena Warrior Princess alarm lock) out with me last weekend and found it to be too small to lock around anything. My road bike doesn't have *tight clearances *that make a mini d-lock useful.

I thought maybe a full-on large d-lock and some cable extensions might do it? Trying to avoid spending the old pretty polly though...

No chain which you can carry is a deterrent for thieves - Having had a lot of experience with Motorcycle theft, i use an Almax III chain, which is the toughest out there, but i doubt i could ride 500 meters with it.

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/

Cables, chains and similar are a complete waste of time - double d-locking is the only secure method.

got a fahg mini today, well impressed. its not even that heavy! bit of a pain to use as its a very tight fit, but i got the rear rim and a stay in it, and squeezed it onto a signpost. i took my front wheel into work with me. i am much more optimistic about commuting on my new bike next week. ed you mentioned something aboit cutting some rubber out, how much more space did you get?

got a fahg mini today, well impressed. its not even that heavy! bit of a pain to use as its a very tight fit, but i got the rear rim and a stay in it, and squeezed it onto a signpost. i took my front wheel into work with me. i am much more optimistic about commuting on my new bike next week. ed you mentioned something aboit cutting some rubber out, how much more space did you get?

I reckon it would only get you an extra 2-3mm, cutting the rubber off, and plus you'd be more prone to scratching your frame with bare metal, no?

got a fahg mini today, well impressed. its not even that heavy! bit of a pain to use as its a very tight fit, but i got the rear rim and a stay in it, and squeezed it onto a signpost. i took my front wheel into work with me. i am much more optimistic about commuting on my new bike next week. ed you mentioned something aboit cutting some rubber out, how much more space did you get?

I reckon it would only get you an extra 2-3mm, cutting the rubber off, and plus you'd be more prone to scratching your frame with bare metal, no?

Not a very good idea to cut the rubber off.

http://static.lfgss.com/attachments/25154d1274514663-terrible-advice.jpg

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ok guess ill leave it on then! thanks guys

I have just ordered these two locks off of Amazon

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini U-Lock. £49.90

OnGuard Bulldog Mini with 120cm auxilary cable. £20.37

Will give a review when they arrive. I think its a great deal especially on the fahg.

Also free postage

This is potentially very interesting if you are intending on attacking both locks with bolt croppers, angle grinders etc and posting up th e results.

This is completely fucking uninteresting