A place on the fediverse to share and discuss about commuting by bicycle
I lock up my bike all over the city. And I want a quick way to secure it. The bike isn't expensive or specially attractive. But I want to deter casual thieves whilst having a convenient solution. Currently I have a 1.8m, non coily cable type lock that can go round trees and through frame and wheels. I've been considering a chain type, but that is harder to poke through spokes. And finding one long enough is not easy. Carrying it when riding should be easy too. Any tips appreciated.
Get a motion sensor that screams if someone tries to move it.
In all seriousness, I've just generally tried to keep trips short and keep my bike in areas where I can see it through the window. If I'm going to one place and staying there for several hours (like a movie), I'll carpool with friends or take the bus. Taking it to work or school, I'll discuss the safest and most out-of-the-way place to keep it with maintenance and custodial staff. Knowing that the security guard walks by the bike racks is pretty fair peace of mind. But if I can keep my bike in the break room or a storage closet, so much the better.
As in the way of Miyagi-do, the best block is "No be there."
I want to get about on my bike as much as possible. So I want to reduce the number of reasons not to go. Good lock. Quick to lock up. Good lights. Cheapish bike. Insurance. I value the feeling of freedom to go everywhere in the city. Motion sensor I hadn't thought about. I'll take a look thanks.
I feel you there, my bike is my baby. I've been lucky that for the past several years, I've only lost a wheel or a headlight, and never my whole bike.
Kryptonite 'Evolution" chain and mini u-lock; you can wear it around your waist while you bike. Take the front wheel off, lock through the rear wheel, rear triangle, and front wheel; chain up to something that is extremely challenging to cut through, like light poles (not sign posts!). Take your seat and seat post with you.
Thanks. I have a basket to drop a lock in. I'll not take a wheel off though. I'm after a quick way to secure it. It's not worth that much and it's not a high crime area. But I expect they will take an unlocked bike. So I don't want an excuse not to bother to lock it.
Get a locking skewer for the front wheel. Get yourself a proper u-lock of the correct size for your bike and usual locking places. Put the lock through the rear wheel, triangle, and around a properly solid object.
But really, a lot of this comes down to context. If you're in a low bike crime area, the above instructions should be enough. If you're in a high bike crime area, there are a lot more little things you should be considering, e.g. securing the saddle, waxing a ball bearing into Allen bolt heads.
Thanks. My city is not a high crime area. Nobody steals frames or cuts wheels. A mix of casual theft and organised truck load theft. As many people don't lock or don't lock to something fixed if there are just trees. Which is why a long lock is essential.
This has worked for me for years. The only thing I would add is to try to position your bike such that it's harder to disassemble. Wedge it between a signpost and a parking meter, or a bike rack and a bush. Anyone with a couple hand tools and easy access can strip off components quickly and quietly. Make their task a little harder.
Hail Cascadia!
D lock through the frame and rear wheel to the thing you’re locking to and a cable lock through the front wheel and, if quick release, the seat rails. Worked for me for a long time.
Basically make it harder to steal than the one next to it.
I prefer folding locks over U locks, its a bit easier to lock the front wheel and frame to a weird shape. I can recommend the Abus Bordo series.
Ok. U and folding locks on their own won't go around fat objects such as a tree or lamppost. I'd need a second lock for that.
I also want to keep locking up time down to as few operations as possible. Transporting a lock that is unlocked, ready to go helps here.
I have a second wire / cable lock for locking to bulkier things, i keep it wraped around my bike frame, and use it to lock the backwheel
i use a U-lock because it's what I had when I got my bike, they are pretty annoying, buy i keep it looped over my seat
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=kryptonite+evolution+1016&t=fpas&ia=web
That's the one I recommend for everybody, now..
Sufficiently long, sufficiently secure, & manageable.
If that's too heavy, do check the weight & make a mock of that weight, to try on you while riding, then get the next-lower-security equivalent from Kryptonite, with the integrated chain, which is the same length ( if they have one ).
Ride forever, eh?
steel-wire "locks" can be snipped, with handheld shears. They are NOT security. Neither are "bumpable" locks: only disc-locks can be recommended, now.
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As a Dutchy, I really like our frame locks. It’s enough for the quick stuff, but since you can walk away with the frame most allow to use them with a chain aswell.
just make sure the frame allows one to be mounted
When I lived in a high bike theft area and rode regularly, I used all these points of security
U-lock through rear wheel and triangle, cable for front wheel OR locking front wheel nuts, and an old bit of chain to secure the saddle.