Securing your steed

andy jackson

Hi all,

when you park up at work / shops which lock do you use, have you ever had a bike nicked and seen the broken lock? etc... any general info and opinions sought.

Also do any of you use or rate things like Datatag or the immobilise transponders?

Ta

Andy

.

Bassjunkieuk

I use one of these:

http://www.cyclesuk.com/1011/154-465122

It's a far weight in the bag, but has been excellent as the D-Lock is extremely sturdy (the set is Silver rated on the protection scale) and the cable lock allows me to secure both wheels using the one d-lock to secure the bike to a pole or fence. If I'm lucky I can even loop the cable lock round the front wheel and fence!

When leaving it if the site I'm working at doesn't have a bike shed of some description I'll normally leave it secured to a fence, lamp post or other on-street cycle parking facility. Generally it's better to leave the bike somewhere visible so hopefully other members of the public should see if someone is trying to tamper with the lock. I

blackworx

Abus chain and stainless steel padlock (Diskus I think it's called). Bit of a deadweight tbh but I need it for the insurance

Jamey

I've got the super-long version of the orange Kryptonite D-Lock, which lives in my right pannier until needed (right pannier is for stuff that stays with the bike - locks, tools, overshoes, etc etc - the left pannier is for stuff that comes with me - clothes, wallet, keys, phone, lunch, etc).

My workplace has secure underground bike parking so I only lock the frame when I'm in the office but I keep a cable lock in the pannier alongside the D-Lock just in case something happens on the journey into work and I have to abandon the bike until after work, then I know I can lock both wheels and the frame together to pretty much anything I can find along the roadside.

Parkey

Cable lock and a small D-lock.

My thinking is that few thieves will be carrying the different tools needed to break both. Besides, most of the bikes parked around mine only have one lock.

ansbaradigeidfran

I've got a Kryptonite series 4 (regular, not the mini or long shank), £35

I did have a cheap cable lock as well, but it's been donated to the Mrs to keep her shopper locked up when we go out pootling. I made a special point of showing the Mrs how to lock her frame and rear wheel properly with her lock, and point out silly people who only lock a wheel to her.

I don't remember ever seeing a broken bike lock in Bangor, but I have seen a few bicycles which were incorrectly locked up and have had unsecured parts (frame or wheels) stolen. My QR seat comes with me when my big bouncy folder is locked up, and I feel that it's therefore less attractive than a complete bike next door to it. I never lock it up folded for fear of it standing out and attracting attention.

Horton

Kryptonite New York - it's bloody heavy, but the only time it's been broken is when the local Council took offense to me (and about 5 or 6 colleagues) leaving our locks attached to the railings where we lock our bikes too overnight (due to said weight)... No prior warning and we had the bar's permission (railings are on the side of their building) but one morning at about 7 o'clock, they took a variety of petrol driven angle-grinders and oxy-acetylane torches to them. Once we'd tallied up the damage, we each received cheques to a total of £400 to replace said locks - utter waste of money, but lock now stays on the bike to add some weight for the short commute... I also use a cable through the forks to the D-lock because the scum of Brizzle have tried to thieve those before now - remember for the most part, anything on your bike can be removed with one of 3 allen keys and a pair of pliers/wire cutters for the brake/gear cables!

laughingboy

Horton wrote:

Kryptonite New York - it's bloody heavy, but ... lock now stays on the bike to add some weight for the short commute...

Horton, I like your attitude! Not only do I tote a heavy Abus D-lock (called a GraniteX or something similarly tough) but I also drag two sandbags, my recently deceased dog, and a small family hatchback to add some weight.

fossyant

Magnum gold rated D lock and an On-guard gold rated 10lb chain lock (that stays at work)

philbill1973

Abus granit x plus 54 lock and a cobra cable for front wheel, bike is data tagged from immobilise.com as well.

itboffin

I leave heavy duty locks at places I use most frequently, train stations, pub, work etc - I quite often forget the keys mind

Horton

itboffin wrote:

I leave heavy duty locks at places I use most frequently, train stations, pub, work etc - I quite often forget the keys mind

Don't leave them in brizzle or the "Council Cleansing Officer" will 'ave 'em (said in a Phil/Grant Mitchell type voice...) :twisted:

Gilbie

I use a D lock through the frame, coiled cable through both wheels (and frame) with one of these on the chain stay http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24387 The siren lock gives you peace of mind,

Hopefully that will stop them :twisted:

girv73

I keep a d-lock and a cable lock attached to the bike racks in work as I never really cycle anywhere else where the bike needs locking up. The d-lock is a cheap one, but it's a cheap bike and is kept in a locked car park that you need either a key or security code to access in the first place, so I'm happy enough.

symo

I use an Abus D-Lock with a Kryponite cable for extending to the front wheel. Not light, but hey neither am I, and if I keep carrying them I may get lighter :S

Cunobelin

Depends on the bike, but as a minimum....at least two of the following (normally 3)

Granit X54plus
Kryptonite cable with quality gold standard lock
Pitlock Skewers where possible
Masterlock StreetCuffs for the Recumbents
OnGuard Bulldog

mtb.boy

Cunobelin wrote:

Depends on the bike, but as a minimum....at least two of the following (normally 3)

Granit X54plus
Kryptonite cable with quality gold standard lock
Pitlock Skewers where possible
Masterlock StreetCuffs for the Recumbents
OnGuard Bulldog

I have -
Abus Granit Extreme 59 D Lock
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboutit 100cm Chain Lock
Kryptonite New York Fahgetaboitit Mini D-Lock
Pinhead Four Pack Locking Skewer Set
and a magnum chain.

My commuter has the Pinhead Four Pack Locking Skewer Set on it and I usually take the Kryptonite New York Fahgetaboitit Mini D-Lock with me.

dan1981stu

andy jackson wrote:

Hi all,

when you park up at work / shops which lock do you use, have you ever had a bike nicked and seen the broken lock? etc... any general info and opinions sought.

Also do any of you use or rate things like Datatag or the immobilise transponders?

Ta

Andy

.

I've recently started to commute to work on my bike. I found that the facilities for cyclists at my local train station were not very good (newmills, highpeak) to say the least. As a result I've been forced to take my bike with me on the train!

I got some nasty looks from commuters when I wheeled my bulky dirty mountain bike onto the train. It was not until I reached Piccadilly train station in Manchester that I realised I needed something smaller. After much research I purchased a folding bike that I found here http://www.totalbike.co.uk/folding-bicycles.

The bike is great! It folds up in less than 20 seconds and only cost £160. [/url]

majormantra

I use the bigger Abus Varedo D lock for the rear wheel and frame and usually a cable through the front wheel - particularly important on my geared bike as it has a QR.

Gilbie wrote:

I use a D lock through the frame, coiled cable through both wheels (and frame) with one of these on the chain stay http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=24387 The siren lock gives you peace of mind,

Hopefully that will stop them :twisted:

I'm curious about this, what does it take to set off the alarm?

Matthew

alfablue

Unfortunately, C+ test this month didn't rate alarmed locks (not this one though)

cover the speaker with your hand and it's not that loud....

. The lock itself (that one on CRC) would probably withstand between 1 and 10 seconds of attack. 10 seconds being very optimistic - it looks very mickey mouse.

Most of the locks tested are in my view, useless, even the Abus Varedo only lasted 33 seconds. The only ones worth having in my view are the Abus Granite X Plus (5 minutes plus manual tool attack, 59 seconds power tool) and the Kryptonite New York (5 minutes plus manual, 1min 5 secs power tools). The test also shows that cheaper versions of good brands do not really provide much security as you go down the range.

Gilbie

MajorMantra wrote:

I'm curious about this, what does it take to set off the alarm?

Matthew

Its fairly sensitive, slight knock or rattle.

A valid point regarding covering the siren, nothing would be 100% safe but used in addition with another 2 locks then it should startle an oportunist.

majormantra

Gilbie wrote:

MajorMantra wrote:

I'm curious about this, what does it take to set off the alarm?

Matthew

Its fairly sensitive, slight knock or rattle.

Interesting, though I can imagine I'd set one off every time I went to unlock my bike.

---

Locking technique makes as big a difference as the choice of lock. If you 'fill' the D then it shouldn't be possible to obtain leverage and more significantly it won't be possible to insert a bottle jack - and these will break ANY D lock as far as I know. Useful article here:

http://quickrelease.tv/?p=327

Matthew