Bicyclists - Locks?

fanaudical · fanaudical's Garage

Long story not worth sharing, but I need a new bike lock for occasional commuter runs into town. This will be securing either my recumbent or my gravel bike - not super-expensive stuff, but certainly not cheap either.

I used to have a big U-lock but understand those have become easy to defeat.

What are you using and why?

herr_oberst · 11:25 AM

I use a Ulock (and a cable to wrap up the front wheel). Anything can be defeated. Be careful where you tie your bike up. Try and make it harder to steal your bike than the bike next to yours.

Lock Picking Lawyer would be a good source for you to make a determination for your needs. There's some big ol' hardened chain locks out there that weigh a ton and slow down the battery powered angle grinder.

fanaudical · fanaudical's Garage

U-Lock and cable were my prior go-to. I'll look up the Lock Picking Lawyer.

I'm usually pretty good at parking the bike where I can see it or it has high visibility and do my best to not be parking in high crime areas. I'd be locking up just in the local Sherwood / Tualatin area. That said, catalytic converters were getting stolen in broad daylight in the Sherwood Safeway parking lot a few months back...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Two different locks

U lock and a cable with a similar, difficult to pick cylindrical keys, might even be able to get them keyed alike.

The technique to defeat these is different. Will not stop them, but will slow them down enough they will go steal someone else's stuff.

Zeke · 05-26-2023, 11:17 AM

Apparently with a specific search about abrasive disc cutting there is at least one that is designed to resist abrasive blades. It wouldn't be hard to do with a heavy ceramic coating. How portable these are is something IDK about. One is not and it appears to be 1.5" thick. A beast.

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Apparently with a specific search about abrasive disc cutting there is at least one that is designed to resist abrasive blades. It wouldn't be hard to do with a heavy ceramic coating. How portable these are is something IDK about. One is not and it appears to be 1.5" thick. A beast.

Combinations of materials that you might not expect can be very difficult to cut. We found various layers of Al and steel were pretty darn infuriating to our DoD breacher colleagues. There's a blade awesome for each, but not for both - short of a Broco torch, and that one's more than a little indiscreet. (but really effing fun to play with!!!)

stevej37 · 05-26-2023, 11:37 AM

Always been a cyclist, but not a serious one until I retired 10 years ago.
In that whole time I've never used a bike lock..never owned a bike lock.

I do pocket my Garmin Varia when in the city. It's an easy quarter turn to remove it from the bars.
The rear radar tail-light I leave on....I doubt many know the value ($250) of that.

Until I hear of a bike theft around here....no lock for my bike.

herr_oberst · 05-26-2023, 11:49 AM

There's videos of people using angle grinders on locks here in PDX in broad daylight in areas of high foot traffic. I'm not saying it happens all the time, just that there's evidence. And the homeless camps are piled high with bike frames and bike parts. (and all manner of household items, but I digress) All you can do is try to keep your stuff in your possession, and hope that the pond scum who is stealing bikes off that rack that day isn't interested in yours.

zakthor · zakthor's Garage

Nobody is going to steal your recumbent. How would they even ride it? Cable lock is fine.

For bicycle I just bring it into stores with me, no portable lock is good enough. I have a 20# kryptonite chain for when bike is on truck but won't trust it longer than 5 minutes.

Not to mention... if you invited me I could strip a bunch of nice stuff off your bike in 2 minutes with hand tools and some snips.

dad911 · 05-26-2023, 12:26 PM

I got nothing but this:

jyl · jyl's Garage

My son rode his bike to high school, left it locked up all day at the bike racks which didn't have anyone around except at lunch hour, never had a problem. He used a Kryptonite U-lock and a beefy Kryptonite chain. He had a vintage Peugeot racer, Columbus tubing and full Mavic groupset. We siliconed ball bearings into all the Allen bolt heads that secured commonly-stolen stuff.

Shifter · 05-26-2023, 07:03 PM

I saw a guy clipping the spokes on a bunch of bikes with some wire cutters one day. All the bikes were there the next day, so it must have been a pretty good security measure.

aigel · aigel's Garage

https://mobil.abus.com/int/Consumer/Bicycle-locks/Folding-Locks/BORDO-GRANIT-XPlus-6500-85-black-bracket-SH?type=pdp

Fits a water cage mount - ant least equivalent to a good u lock and much better form factor.

otto_kretschmer · 05-26-2023, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

I got nothing but this:

staged

LWJ · 05-27-2023, 05:49 AM

After decades of using a big U lock when I cared, a large cable and padlock for show, I have a hinged lock (like a Kryptonite Keeper but a different brand) for my E-bike.

Like Stevej37, my bikes are seldom locked. Either I am riding or they are tucked away in my garage. But for those times it’s needed, yes, I lock them.

The folding lock seems to be a good product. Heavy. But It’s is somewhat of a deterrent.