What's the best lock to take on LEJOG?

willharris10

I need a lock that's light enough that I don't mind carrying it on LEJOG, but strong enough that it'll protect a £2k carbon bike from being nicked overnight and during stops.

I have a Kryptonite Chain lock - same as the motorcycle locks you can get. Had it about 9 years. Wish I'd used it in Jan and I'd still have my Spesh, but there you go. Thing is, it weighed more than my old racer. I'm not prepared to carry that on LEJOG! Last time I did this, I used a fairly inexpensive combination cable lock. And it went when the Spesh got nicked. So, I'm thinking, perhaps not a great plan to buy another! LOL.

So, a D-Lock? Needs to be just long enough to go through frame, wheels and something like a lamp post or fence etc etc, and be reasonably light. Good quality, something that'll put the theives off, but not slow me down too much.

Any suggestions? Is there a wieght vs. quality chart anywhere?

mateotu

These ...

http://www.pinheadcomponents.com/

... will make a thief think hard about stealing your wheels. They add only a few grams in weight. Though it ain't easy, you should cut the skewers to the correct length to get the full security benefit.

Then get the smallest D-lock that will fit around your frame and a post. For max security, this is 2kg:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... mini-16565

Even professional thieves will shake their heads and move on

amaferanga

If you're staying in rural B&Bs and/or Youth Hostels then you don't really need a lock. I didn't bother.

No matter how good the lock though I wouldn't be leaving a £2k bike locked to a lamp post.

willharris10

Interesting, but really I'm only looking for one lock, probably a D lock and I want to know whether there's anything really lightweight, that's still strong enough to act as a suitable deterrent. If it's 2kgs, I'll probably think that's a bit on the heavy side. I'm not cycling through New York, so a "fahgettaboudit" lock, is not really needed. I have the insanely heavy and burglar proof Kryptonite chain for that.

So, any strong, light d-lock recommendations? Probably needs to be 20+cms really. Wouldn't you think?

mateotu

No such thing as a strong and light lock. Anything less than 12mm-thick hardened steel can be easily cut with bolt cutters and extension bars. Any D-lock that leaves a gap between the bike and the post can be easily burst open with a mini bottle jack; like the BikeRadar review says, smaller = more secure.

Sure, these are expensive tools, and if you don't think you'll encounter any professional bike thieves, you might get away with a lot less

willharris10

Looking mostly at a deterent I guess. If it goes, it goes. But I'd like to try to do all I can, within reason, to slow that down. So light would be good. D-lock alone would be great to put off wouldbe thieves, but a bit of strength wouldn't go amiss.

I'm happy to pay for clever materials. Who'd have thought carbon fibre could have 5 times the strength of steel for the equivalent weight? I wondered whether any clever materials had been invented for locks, that could make them light weight as well as strong. Doesn't look like this has happened though.

Ones I'm looking at are:

Onguard Bulldog Mini LS £26
Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 - 23cms £42
Kryptonite Evolution Series 2 - 23cms
Kryptonite Evolution Mini LS - 24cms £38

Could look at ABUS too. Any suggestions. What would you suggest lugging up the country from Bottom to Top?

willharris10

Could someone please tell me why none of the lock manufacturers websites show the weight of each of their locks for comparison? None of the websites selling the locks seem to do so either.

As I'm comparing locks based on taking them for a very long ride, the weight is a major consideration. This can't be beyond the comprehension of the manufacturers can it? Why be reluctant to publish such an obvious metric? Some people associate weight with quality. I'm interested in both and so I need to know both the rating and the weight to decide where the correct compromise should be.

At the moment, the Onguard Bulldog Mini LS is in the lead. It appears to be the lightest 23cm good quality D lock. Though it's not too wide. I'm hoping that with a racing bike and a bit of a hunt around, I'll be able to find something to lock it to whenever I need to. Lamp posts will be out, but other street furnature and fences should do the trick.

Anyone have a view on all this?

amaferanga

As already pointed to you out there's no such thing as a lightweight and secure lock. If you really need something to set your mind at ease then what about some kind of alarm?

If you don't want your bike to get nicked then keep an eye on it at all times during the day and book B&Bs that have secure bike storage. And choose your cafe stop wisely so you can keep an eye on your bike. When you stop to stock up on snacks or water then try to use a garage shop (as you can usually keep an eye on your bike and they have CCTV in case some numpty does try to make off with your bike). Once you get away from cities and big towns then bike theft isn't really something that need concern you anyway.

willharris10

Well, when I'm in London, I'll use my Kryptonite Chain lock, though it looks like I'll need to replace the shackle as it's one of those that can be opened with a Bic pen. You've got to be kidding me!!!

This is just for LEJOG. So mostly, it's small towns, cafe stops and hostels. No B&Bs. Have to work a little bit on trust but want something offputting rather than bullet-proof. There's no such thing as perfect and I have to carry the darn thing the whole way! Just needs to do enough. No more.

Still looking like the Onguard Bulldog Mini LS so far.

Any alternatives people?

gpsBRM

Checkout Sheldon Brown's article regarding locking your bike using Kryptonite's smallest D lock. I use this lock now and this technique.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

Have just swapped the QR scewers in the wheels for these to and just carry an allen key:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26621

willharris10

Sheldon's piece is really interesting. Something to think about. Thanks for that!

amaferanga

If its for small towns, cafe stops and hostels and you're careful where you leave your bike then all you need is a token lock. I did LEJOG with a very smart looking bike (Kuota Kharma) and no lock staying in youth hostels and one night in a travelodge.

toontra

I did my LEJoG with a £2k bike and a £5 cable lock. I didn't leave the bike unattended for any more than 10 minutes at a time, and this was mostly in small towns or villages. At night the bike either went into my Travelodge room or into the B&B's garage.

The lock is just to prevent opportunist thieves. No way was I going to hike a heavy D-lock over 900 miles. Most D-locks would weigh as much as my entire bundle of spare clothes + toiletries.

huuregeil

Sheldon's method also doesn't work. Somewhere on the Londong FGSS website, there's both a youtube video of someone munching through the rear wheel (surprisingly easily) and walking off the bike, and also a couple of failed attempts at defeating it, which also resulted in the frames in question being written off. The thieves, seeing Sheldon's locking method, obviously thought this didn't defy any major laws of geometry and had a go...

willharris10

Indeed. Interesting theory, but in practise, I've always taken off my front wheel, brought it round to the back of the bike, and put the lock through both wheels, the rear triangle and whatever object I'm locking to. In practise, I'll probably be locking my mate's bike to mine in a garage overnight and it'd be useful to be able to do that. My last ride I used my now disappeared cable combination lock. Worked a treat and I never worried (much). Though the idea of leaving a Cannondale Six to be walked off with is giving me kittens.

GyatsoLa

For me, the best small portable lock is the Kryptonite Evo - its the lock of choice for bike couriers and they tend to know a few things about theft. Mine weighs just under a kilo and fits easily into a pannier or saddlebag (or even back pocket). If worried about the wheels, etc., then add a loop to it. While it has the disadvantage of not being possible to lock rear wheel with stay to a solid object, its small size makes it very difficult for a thief to get a tool in to break it.

GyatsoLa

Sorry, just to clarify, I meant the Kryptonite Evolution Mini

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/products ... 0&pid=1100