Carrying a lock

I'm wondering how you guys carry a lock with you when you ride into areas where a lock is necessary? In the city, folks wear these enormous chains around their bodies like a sash and use them to lock the bikes to trees, street signs, etc.

But here in the burbs, such a gigantic chain isn't necessary. So I have just a regular chain w/ lock. When I wrap it under the seat, it annoys my thighs. If I try to wrap it on the cross bar, it slides around.

I feel like maybe I have the wrong kind of lock or maybe I'm just experiencing a total brain failure regarding how to carry this dern thing comfortably.

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Originally Posted by LadyinWhite

I'm wondering how you guys carry a lock with you when you ride into areas where a lock is necessary? In the city, folks wear these enormous chains around their bodies like a sash and use them to lock the bikes to trees, street signs, etc.

But here in the burbs, such a gigantic chain isn't necessary. So I have just a regular chain w/ lock. When I wrap it under the seat, it annoys my thighs. If I try to wrap it on the cross bar, it slides around.

I feel like maybe I have the wrong kind of lock or maybe I'm just experiencing a total brain failure regarding how to carry this dern thing comfortably.

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I always carry a small "latte lock" in the pack behind my seat. I have a bike that has no place for a rear rack so i am very limited as to what i can carry.
I have already seen how easy it is to cut these cable locks, so i would never leave my bike anywhere for more than a few minutes using it.
If I am staying somewhere longer (like for example last sunday i rode to a park and did a 2 1/2 mile walk there) i left my bike for an hour, i took my latte lock and another very heavy cable lock (I carried it in my camel back) and locked my bike with both of those locks.

so, rear rack bag, seat post bag, camel back (water holding backpack) all those are good places to put your lock.

I have a u-lock/cable lock combo. Very heavy. I carry it in my pannier on my commuter bike.

Haven't figured out yet how to carry it on my go-fast bike. Probably wrap my belt-pack straps around it and carry it (the u-lock only) on my waist.

You can buy brackets to hold a u-lock in the front triangle of your bike frame. They take up the space of one of your water bottles, though.

City bike: Inexpensive, heavy, bulky hybrid (but pretty). I have a u-lock (the new type, not the one with a circular keyhole you can open with a bic pen) that's pretty good quality, however I have no illusions: if someone wants the bike, it will be stolen, lock or not. Most u-locks take only seconds to break with the proper tools. I'm fairly sure chains are the same. The bike is pink. Maybe not too popular with male thieves, but I know there are female thieves. It's also unique (the company made only one of that color) and maybe a good bike thieves would realize that and not steal it to avoid problems. But I don't "expect" the bike to be there when I walk out. Some day, it will be gone. I heard from friends working in downtown Montreal that older road bikes of good quality were much less likely to get stolen than a brand new $100 Canadian Tire (think: Target) bike. Harder to resell, I guess...

I carry the lock in a back pack if going for a long distance or slipped between the rear rack and the wheel if just for a few kilometers. The thingie to attach it to my bike didn't work, my tubes are too big. :(

Road bike: Nothing fancy but very good components and wheels. Has never been locked (except when camping over night during a bike tour, on a guarded camping lot). I only stop if I'm with other people and one person will be watching for it while I go order inside the café (or the other way around), or I leave it outside at cafes that are organized for cyclists, but again, with a group. We will tangle bikes and helmet straps together just to make it impossible to just lift a bike and go, and sit accross the window, close to the door.

If I'm on my own, with my road bike, I'm unlikely to stop anywhere I need to leave my bike outside... Even in the suburbs.

It depends where I am gong. At work, I just leave a kryptonite NYC lock on the bike rack, and lock it when I arrive. Those suckers are heavy, but after my last bike was stolen I was told also the most thief proof. I was told cable locks are next to useless, as they can be cut so easily. So, unless I am willing to carry a NYC kryptonite U-lock (say in a handlebar bag), I just don't leave it unattended. At rest stops on club rides we take turns wathcing the bikes. If we stop for lunch after, we eat at an outdoor cafe next to the bikes, stuff like that.

Someone did a video study where in they locked up their own bike and then "stole" it, by cutting off the various types of locks that they used to lock it up with. They cut off or othewise opened every type of lock out there with out being stopped or caught..... They even opened a light pole, plugged a saw into an outlet in there and chopped off one of those big chain locks and no one said boo. Soooo I figure that I may as well only carry an honest person lock - all it does is keep those teetering on the edge honest. (this was after I saw a one homeless guy walk up with a bike to another homeless guy downtown - Guy one - I didn't know you had a bike, Guy two - startled look- Where did I get this??). I would never leave my racing bike alone anywere - locked up or not, but my rain bike and my Marin get locked up with a cable lock and I tend to not leave them anywhere for too long. If I were a commuter and regularly had to leave the bike somewhere all day I think I wouldn't feel safe unless I were able to bring the bike inside - like at the animal shelter I volunteer at they let me put it in the mail room.

I'm pretty much with Eden on this one - I figure there really isn't much I could do to stop somebody stealing my bike if they really wanted to. I use a cable lock on my commuter/errands bike (when leaving it outside shops and stuff - I am allowed to keep it in my office at work). But I do so in the knowledge that it will only stop the really opportunistic thief who would see an unlocked bike and run off with it.

I try to avoid leaving my good bikes (my mountain bike or my road bike) unattended. When BF and I ride together one of us will mind the bikes if we need to go into a shop or whatever - and we will try and eat at outdoor cafes where we can have the bikes next to us. Sometimes when I am riding alone I leave my bike unlocked if I need to stop at a restroom - but I try to avoid it (and I make it quick:) )

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Originally Posted by kiwi girl

.... Sometimes when I am riding alone I leave my bike unlocked if I need to stop at a restroom - but I try to avoid it (and I make it quick:) )

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a week or two after I got my race bike I was out alone and I really, really needed to pee - I actually took the bike in with me..... (at least there wasn't anyone else in there to wonder what the heck I was up to)

I teach at a Univ and when I ride to campus, I bring my bike into my office or into the classroom. Was thinking of locking it outside but looks like there is no good solution except perhaps leaving the lock attached to the rack itself. I'm going to give that some thought. (thanks for that tip, the more I think about it, it may be exactly the solution)

Like Eden, I have taken my bike right into the restroom with me. I felt a little silly but I knew coming out and finding my bike gone would have felt a lot worse.

Other times I need to lock are for quick errands into town. I decided to solve that problem by moving the rack off my bike (it looked a little silly there anyway) and put it on the princess' MTB bike. Now I can just take her bike into town and not worry about locking it. It's a nice little raleigh but not really anything to sweat losing.

T.

I carried one in my jersey pocket today. Worked just fine.

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Originally Posted by LadyinWhite

I teach at a Univ and when I ride to campus, I bring my bike into my office or into the classroom. Was thinking of locking it outside but looks like there is no good solution except perhaps leaving the lock attached to the rack itself. I'm going to give that some thought. (thanks for that tip, the more I think about it, it may be exactly the solution)
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If you are allowed to bring it indoors and store it in your office, that is always the safest best. Mine was stolen while locked to a bike rack at the university I teach at, but they have a no bikes indoor rule even though I have a private office I could store it in....... I also bring it into the restroom with me if I am out riding alone......... Also, be aware, lleaving a locked bike overnight also increases probablity of theft (my daughter lost one this way at school...).

I keep a heavy chain lock at work in the bike lock up. Works great. Unless I forget my keys... Besides there are a hell of a lot nicer bikes than my roadie (including a Full Carbon Issac) and they are still there in the afternoons. I have no quams placing either the road bike or the hybrid in there. (the fact it's hospital staff key coded area makes me feel safer too)

As for the rest of the time I don't really need to lock up my bike. I take a quick spin down to the post office where it's all glass and can see my baby from the counter or line up. And both pools closest to me have Tri racks so there's no need to lock em up. The cafeterias I go to after group rides have plenty of spots to store bikes so I'm not too concerned.

I never carry a lock, I will not leave my bike in a rack.

However, if I did carry a lock, I would put it in my seat bag, in my back pocket, or in a back pack.
The thought of a lock rubbing on the purty paint work and arring or marking it is too much for my cycling 'vanity'.

If I'm riding my good expensive bikes; I do not lock them. I either make sure I can take them inside with me; or I do not ride them. If I'm running errands, etc., commuting, etc., where I need to leave my bike somewhere, I take my older less nice bike and a cable lock with a regular keyed lock. I usually leave this lock set up at work on the bike rack so I don't have to carry the weight in, but if I'm carrying it, i.e. forgot to leave it at work; used it to go somewhere else after work, etc., I carry it in my backpack. Usually, when I'm on these commute, errand trips, I am out for something other than just riding my bike - so I have the backpack for carrying groceries, clothes to work, etc., etc.

I could in pinch probably fit the cable lock and lock in a jersey pocket if I had to; that is most jersey pockets - but not some of the wimpy jersey pockets sometimes found in women's jerseys (but that is another subject).

I'm with you, Raven. I don't carry a lock and would hate to have to.

I live in a VERY rural area and our stopping spots are country stores dotted all around. We lean our bikes up against a picnic table or tree or whatever's available. One of us always keeps an eye on the bikes, but in all the years I have lived here I have not known anyone to have any trouble.

That said.....this guy was in my neighborhood last Friday.....:eek:

http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=6030695

Well - since I only have the one bike, it's the one I ride. LOL!!

I'd hate to lose it. In fact I'd be heartbroken. That being said, it's not that great of a bike so I can't imagine anyone bothering. I think a solid chain & lock (not a cheapie from walmart but a city one) left on the bike rack will work for me. These chains are way too heavy to carry in any sort of pocket or seat bag and I don't wear a camel or back pack of any kind. No need to really, nothing to carry. Well except a chain and thus we are back to the beginning. :D

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

T.

I always have a backpack, at the very least a camelback with a bit of storage space. That's where the lock goes when I'm on the bike and in motion. I never trust the thieves to skip my bike because it's grungy or cheap or the neighborhood where I'm riding is safe. You would not believe how grungy and peculiar my first bike was when it got stolen -- rusty old 50's Schwinn one-speed, painted shrieking green with orange pasted-on flowers. And this was in a town with about twice as many bikes as inhabitants, so there were tens of thousands of better bikes to steal and pretty much nobody ever locked back then (1969). Still ... it got stolen, never to be recovered. :( My very first bike that I bought with my own savings at age 9.

Even in Madison County I *might* lock things up just to take temptation away from those Jenkins boys or MOselys or whoever :) [I'm remembering names... *not* making statements about families!! There are so many Jenkins' and Moseleys ... some of them must be 12 year old kiddos who might be tempted...) Around here when we ride out to the little towns we just lean, tho' a few folks have locks and use 'em. I tend to use my kickstand and put my big old bike in front of a newer one.
IN town, as in campus... well, I try not to park on campus. Bikes get swiped, stuff gets swiped off bikes, etc. Out at teh community college it's not so bad - twice I have forgotten to lock the bike at all. ONce (in four years) I've had a computer swiped off my bike.
I carry my lock in my big fat saddle bags or backpack. Of course, on the Gazelle the lock is built in... you can't ride it without the "key in the ignition."

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

I always carry a small "latte lock" in the pack behind my seat. .

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What is a latte lock?

Pooks

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Originally Posted by pooks

What is a latte lock?

Pooks

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a little cable lock that is enough to lock up your bike while you run into the coffe shop for a latte.....

I wonder if that's what I have. A cable with a combination lock on it. The combi-lock is a long bar and you twist the numbers to the right sequence.

sounds like you have the same type I have pooks. I don't know if you all can see in my avatar pic, but I wrap the lock around the head and top tube on my Navigator and that's where it stays. I've been known to take the bike into the vestibule at Kroger's and lock it right up to the freebie magazine/flyers rack while I pick up a few groceries etc. I alway make sure it's wrapped around the frame AND the handlebars though to make it a little more complicated for an HONEST person http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...Navigatora.jpg well, doggonit, I'm trying to insert a photo and it won't open the pic for some reason, but if you click on the link it's a bit of a closer look.
Gotta be careful with the combo bar locks though, there's a little button so you can CHANGE your combo and if you accidently click that I've had to have a lock CUT OFF because I did that and get a new cable lock that bites and is embarassing to have happen (at least I was right in the same shopping area as my LBS) :o

I also just have a cable lock with a number combination thingy on it. The cable is tripple layered kevlar so theoretically should take some time to cut through, and it is fairly heavy. But I just throw it in my bag (or attach to the outside of my bag) when I take it along. If I am going somewhere where I need to lock my bike up, I will generally also have a bag with me of some sort. Otherwise I guess I'd wrap it around by waist. At work I leave the bike in my office. When I'm at Uni, I bring the lock (and every other day I forget the lock, realize half way there and have to turn around). So far I've been lucky. No stolen bike even the day when I didn't lock the lock properly and realized 10 hours later when I was about to head home. I do strip everything else off the bike though such as lights or computer. And I make sure the lock goes through both wheels and the frame and the bike rack.

I carry a U-lock in a side pannier and also have pit locks (I believe they're called) on each wheel. They lock the wheels and open with a key. The U-lock definitely adds to the bike's weight but it adds at least a little sense of security.

I have three locks:

A Kryptonite cable lock - it's a little heavier cable than what I've seen described as a latte lock, and uses a key instead of a combo.

An armored cable lock - this thing actually has some sort of metal covering over the cable. It weighs an effing ton, and the key looks a lot like my house key.

A U-lock of the new variet that isn't pickable with a ball point pen.

I never use all these locks at once (that would be just plain silly); in fact, most of the time I have just the regular cable lock. It lives on my seat post, and yes it rubs up the paint a bit. I don't care, my bike's a fairly inexpensive bike that was intended to get me places and not to look pretty. I'll swap that out for the armored cable if I'm not sure where I'm going to wind up for the day. If I know I'll be somewhere where I have to leave my bike unattended for more than a half hour, I throw the u-lock into my backpack and keep the lightweight cable on the bike - when I'm at lockup, I make sure the cable runs through my rear wheel as well as the frame. If I have to leave my bike overnight, then I do the same but with the armored cable AND I take my lights and computer off of the bike.