leaving bike locks out in town overnight

kieranb

Just wondering what people's experiences are of leaving their heavy locks locked to bike stands in public overnight in cities is like? I am wondering about leaving my lock at my usual bike stand instead of carrying it home with me every night, just to bring it in again in the morning. Do the locks get vandalised?

El Capitano

I've heard of them having super-glue put inside the locking mechanism to render them useless - you can't get the key in.

el_presidente

I've been leaving mine every night for 3 years, and weekends, never had a problem. It is a private set of railings and not a bike stand though

WesternWay

kieranb wrote:

Just wondering what people's experiences are of leaving their heavy locks locked to bike stands in public overnight in cities is like? I am wondering about leaving my lock at my usual bike stand instead of carrying it home with me every night, just to bring it in again in the morning. Do the locks get vandalised?

I leave mine in London.

The only issue I have add is that the lock needed a bit of TLC last winter.

lardboy

I used to leave my locks attached to the railings at Oxford Circus, before they got rid of them in favour of no additional bike racks (cheers, Boris). Never had a problem with the locks, especially as I tried to keep the locks hanging from the top, keyholes pointed down so minimized the water into the mechanism. A drop of 3-in-1 every week or so should keep them nice and smooth.

rb1956

kieranb wrote:

Just wondering what people's experiences are of leaving their heavy locks locked to bike stands in public overnight in cities is like?

I did this when I worked every day at the same place. Never had a problem. Just make sure you buy a good-quality lock and lube it regularly.

AndyManc

I wouldn't do it, Manchester has loads of locks that seem to have been abandoned, rusting away and full of c rap, they look a mess.

There's also the tripping hazard which the council have a duty to control, many locks have been left on the pavement pointing away from the stand, I'm not sure if Manchester routinely remove locks, but I would be surprised if they didn't.

It's understandable why some bikers do it, but there are issues.

.

snailracer

I always carry a lock with me even though I have a beefier one waiting for me at my destination. You never know when you might have a mechanical failure and have to temporarily lock and abandon the bike.

s1lko

One downside is it gives thieves opportunity to suss out the locks and their weak points when there is nobody about.

Greggyr

You could get dogs fouling on them if they're at a certain height..

freehub

Just carry them with you, will give you some extra training with that extra weight.

kieranb

I was asking as the only locking place for my work are public bike stands in central London. I usually commute in on an old SS MTB and carry my lock in a pannier with me back and forth, but if I am racing in the evening I come in on my good racing bike and still have to lock it in public. Currently for the racing bike, I will then carry an even heavier lock back and forth but it isn't good for the old back, so was thinking of bringing it in the day before with the MTB, leaving the lock there overnight for the racing bike the next day and then leaving it there to take home on the MTB a day later again. So the lock would be there 2 nights only once in a while.

WesternWay

kieranb wrote:

I was asking as the only locking place for my work are public bike stands in central London. I usually commute in on an old SS MTB and carry my lock in a pannier with me back and forth, but if I am racing in the evening I come in on my good racing bike and still have to lock it in public. Currently for the racing bike, I will then carry an even heavier lock back and forth but it isn't good for the old back, so was thinking of bringing it in the day before with the MTB, leaving the lock there overnight for the racing bike the next day and then leaving it there to take home on the MTB a day later again. So the lock would be there 2 nights only once in a while.

Whereabouts? My lock is permanently locked in the rack above Bank tube station

kieranb

down on Victoria street near the Sainsbury's store. Stupidly I didn't do it today and I may race tomorrow.

cjw

kieranb wrote:

I am racing in the evening I come in on my good racing bike and still have to lock it in public. Currently for the racing bike, I will then carry an even heavier lock back and forth .

Bloody hell... I couldn't contemplate leaving my racing bike out of sight regardless of the locks. Some scrote could just take exception to a nice bike and smash it for the hell of it :shock:

cjw

kieranb wrote:

down on Victoria street near the Sainsbury's store. Stupidly I didn't do it today and I may race tomorrow.

Cool... I'm just looking for a nice seatpost, new handlebars - might even find me some wheels. I'll pop there tomorrow.

Are you mad :shock:

kelsen

cjw wrote:

kieranb wrote:

down on Victoria street near the Sainsbury's store. Stupidly I didn't do it today and I may race tomorrow.

Cool... I'm just looking for a nice seatpost, new handlebars - might even find me some wheels. I'll pop there tomorrow.

Are you mad :shock:

kieranb, it's not the lock that's the problem, it's leaving the nice bike in full view of passing scum bike thieves. I wouldn't.