Bike Locks

[DebW]

When and where do you carry a bike lock? I commute to work without a lock, putting my bike in my office during the day, but then I can't stop anywhere on the way home. If you carry a lock, is it a lightweight minimalist lock, or something really secure? I had a Citadel years ago but think I lost the key. Now use a cable and padlock when needed, which isn't often. Did carry a lock once last year on election day so I could stop and vote (bikes don't fit in voting booths!). Those who tour, what kind of lock do you carry?

[Nanci]

I have a pretty small, light (but strong) cable lock wound around the seatpost. Don't remember the brand. Or the combination, since it can't be reset! I have the combination sticker stuck under my cyclocomputer.

You should probably carry a lock at all times, because if you get hit by a car, and are unable to take your bike with you (ambulance) you want to be able to have someone lock it up until it can be retrieved.

Nanci

[DeniseGoldberg]

Deb -
I use a cable with an integrated combination lock. The U-locks may be more secure, but when I'm touring I can't rely on finding something to secure the lock around where a U-lock will fit.

On my first tour I had a lock with a key. But I quickly decided that it was way too easy to misplace the key - so I switched to a different lock. I can't remember the brand of lock - but I'm pretty sure it's a Kryptonite.

I usually don't carry a lock when I'm riding around home - as opposed to commuting - unless, of course, I plan to leave my bike for a while. I always have one with me when I'm touring. When I commute to work by bike, I do carry a lock. I work across the street from a Marriott, and I belong to their gym so I commute in, lock the bike at the Marriott, shower, then walk the bike across the street to my office where it lives in a closet for the day.

--- Denise

[DeniseGoldberg]

You should probably carry a lock at all times, because if you get hit by a car, and are unable to take your bike with you (ambulance) you want to be able to have someone lock it up until it can be retrieved.

Nanci

Nanci -
When I crashed back in 2004 and was taken off by ambulance, my bike was picked up by the State Police (who were onsite at the accident). They held the bike in their office until it could be claimed. So no need for the lock. And actually, I had a lock with me - they didn't use (or need) it.

--- Denise

[DebW]

Ditto on my accident last year. The police took my bike and the ambulance took me. I was a meer 300 yds from work and would have walked back and put my bike in my office, if I could have walked without passing out or needing to hold up my right arm with the broken clavicle.

[Nanci]

See, I've heard horror stories about the police _losing_ the bike. I don't know if that really happens or not...

My lock is Kryptonite, too. VERY small.

Nanci

[Melody]

When I carry a lock (such as when I got to the doctor's office) I carry both a cable lock and a small bulldog u-lock. The bulldog goes around part of my frame and my rear wheel. I then run the cable lock through the rear wheel, frame and front wheel. Both locks are also threaded through something physically unmoveable such as a bench or bike rack.

I do this because my understanding is typically a bike thief has the ability to open one type of lock but very rarely able to open two types. I have yet to have the bike stolen <knocks on wood>. When I commute to work I don't carry a lock at all. I've rolled the bike into McDonalds, 7-11s, etc., with permission first though.

Mel

[Geonz]

One of the things I *love* about the Xtracycle is not having to worry about where to put the lock any more... I just toss it into the bags.

Okay, K *know* this is going to be big...



(Guess it was too big! Image didn't show up! Trying againwith the thumbnail...

[ladyjai]

you can use handcuffs. lock the rear wheel, on the inside of the fork/frame, that way the only way they're getting it off is by cutting the tire and it secures the frame.

[Brandi]

Buyer beware. We saw this video wanted to share. We are not sure if this is old locks or new but I would ask when buying one. http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/kryptonite.asp it's a crytonite lock or however you spell it.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Buyer beware. We saw this video wanted to share. We are not sure if this is old locks or new but I would ask when buying one. http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/kryptonite.asp it's a crytonite lock or however you spell it.

Brandi -
This is really old news and the locks have been redesigned since then with replacements provided to consumers in October of 2004 (as noted in this article: http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=4753). It's really a shame that snopes.com didn't update their page to reflect the current state of affairs. (And I have no connection with Kryptonite - I'm just person who hates to see what was good information at the time it was published turn into incorrect information when no updates are done.)

--- Denise

[Brandi]

Denise-
That's wy i like this site! everyone is so up tp date with stuff. Thanks for letting us know Like I had said we weren't sure if it was old or new new'a. Now we do thanks!

[VW Beetle]

Yeah, but Kryptonite stopped honoring the exchange policy after a certain period of time had passed. I had two of those things (at $45 each) and was SOL when I finally got the chance to look into the details of the exchange. I missed it by about a month.

Good locks though. The mini-U is a tad heavy, but it fits perfectly into the pouch on my Cambelbak. The U-locks are far more secure than any of the cables if you are away from your bike for more than a few minutes.

[kiwi girl]

I use a cable lock with a combination. It possibly isn't the most secure lock in the world - but it should put off the opportunistic casual thief. I reckon that to stop a really determined thief I'd need more or heavier locks than I am prepared to carry. Also use a cheaper bike for my errands/commuter bike - the purpose of that being two fold - hopefully it is less likely to get stolen and that it wouldn't be such a big deal if it was (although my emotional attachment to it and its replacement value went up about 50% when I got new pedals for Chrsitmas)

[DirtDiva]

My most frequent riding is of the A to B, getting around kind, so the lock comes if there's any chance what-so-ever I'll be hopping off. In good old Chch, I secured my sub-NZ$500, everyone-and-their-dog-rides-something-like-it mtb with a decent length 8mm coiled cable. Here in London-town I have a good, sturdy Kryptonite D-lock (U-lock?) with a big, fat cable that allows me to lock my bike to just about anything. Aside from my own piece of mind, I have to have something fairly secure in order for my insurance to be valid.