Re: [RBW] Lock question

[PATRICK MOORE]

http://us.gizmodo.com/5922074/the-best-bike-lock

I've had our local True Value cut me a couple of lengths of towing chain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-tensile_chain

that I then cover in an old MTB innertube and lock with a pick  and cut resistant lock like one of the Abus discus locks

http://www.amazon.com/Abus-Padlock-Extreme-Security-Different/dp/B004C45N7U

or 

http://www.amazon.com/28-70-KD-Diskus-Stainless/dp/B005UMBPTS

They are rather a pain to lock and unlock with a heavy, thick chain, but for a total of less than $30 (cheaper lock model) they can't be beat. Heavy! But I leave one at a local grocery store where I don't feel comfortable wheeling my bike down the aisles.

On Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 3:37 PM, Ned Ludd <bag...@gmail.com> wrote:

My wife has a lovely HH and is afraid to use it. She'll ride it in the park, or out to the beach, but she won't use it for errands because she's afraid to leave it locked in front of a store for 10 minutes. I think her old CrypticNight lock is inadequate, but there must be something that is useful out there (I hope.) She does not plan to lock it to the fence at Dolores Park overnight, she just wants to be able to go to the bakery or the grocery store and have the thing still be there when she comes out. Any suggestions/thoughts?

Thanks

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[Bruce Herbitter]

I regularly use a Master cable lock and have never had an issue. Saturday, we snaked it through 4 bikes while eating lunch at Panera Bread Co.  I would not rely on it for overnight though.

[PATRICK MOORE]

Forgot to add that it takes the True Value man 15 minutes to cut through the chain even starting with a bench grinder -- bolt cutters won't work -- and finishing with a hacksaw.

[Colin Bortner]

Four quick suggestions below, assuming you don't want to lug around pounds of hipster chain every day. (I say this having done exactly that through college.)

Is all of this necessary? No, but what we're actually doing battle with is our anxieties, not bike thieves, and while bike thieves rarely strike, our anxieties are always with us.

(1) Locking skewers - keep your wheels on the bike and out of thieves' hands:

Pitlocks are a popular option: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/pitlock.asp

There are alternatives that give you most of the protection at a lower cost. OnGuard, Pinhead, etc. You'll need to do research, I don't remember the pros and cons of each.

Some folks like the Zefal gravity-actuated locking QR levers: http://www.zefal.com/en/locks/81-lock-n-roll.html

They probably, statistically, work great, but they do nothing to lower my anxiety, because knowing what they are, I can defeat them fairly easily, and I naturally assume bike thieves also race, volunteer at coops, and hang out on forums. (The don't.)

For us fixed-for-life solid axle riders, Bryce Fasteners has a couple of options: http://www.brycefastener.com/

Warning: they are a hassle to get. Be prepared to buy a bunch. Through a proxy business.

(2) Locking seatpost binder bolt - think about it, loosen the bolt and your saddle and post are gone:

Pitlocks include this, so do many other other sets. Make sure they play well with your cluster.

(3) The ol' chain-in-a-tube-round-the-saddle-rails-and-rejoined keeps the saddle connected to the bike:

Picture here: http://blog.brooksengland.com/wps/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/saddle1-768x1024.jpg

You can make this look surprisingly sharp. By which I mean unnoticeable.

Here are some instructions from someone who failed to make it look good: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-keep-your-bike-seat-from-getting-stolen/step5/Rejoin-the-chain/

(4) A serious u-lock - probably more important than all the above:

This one hits the sweet spot for me in terms of price, features, size, weight, and availability, but there are many good options: http://www.kryptonitelock.com/Pages/ProductInformation.aspx?PNumber=997931

Combined with all the above, you just need to get it around a frame tube and whatever you're locking to.

If you really want to go off the deep end you can start replacing your small fasteners with tamper-proof alternatives, or just fill their heads with solder or grease-and-ball-bearings or epoxy or your homebrew deterrent of choice.

Whatever you do, it will be a small price for peace of mind.

[Matthew J]

Abus Bordo are very nice.  Get the extra heavy duty one. Bordo has the flexibility of a chain but convenience of a U-lock as it comes in a handy sleeve designed to attach in place of a water bottle. 

 

If your wife is still worried, supplment with the new ultra-light Abus u-lock which she can use a-la Sheldon Brown to secure rear wheel to the seat tube. 

 

Both made in Germany to high standards.  The keys are especially complicated.

 

Be easier to steal a car than to get those two off.

[Claude LaVallee]

Hi Ned,

I can relate to your wife; my Rivendell bicycle is my sole vehicle so I'm very protective of it.

TiGr (http://tigrlock.com/) makes a very strong, lightweight titanium lock that allows you to lock both wheels and the frame to a secure bike stand. It is the strongest theft deterrent I have found.

I supplement that with a D-lock, and intend to install pit lock skewers (http://www.pitlock.com/) to lock my seat post, wheels, saddle and seat post (in the meantime, I secure my seat post and saddle with a second D-lock).

Another couple of security items I'd like to get and install are a GPS device (ex.: www.spybike-gps.com) to alert me in the advent of someone taking my bike, and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device like www.snagg.com) to help me in recovering my bike if it is stolen. These are not common in North America yet, but I think there is growing interest.

Lastly, she might be interested in looking into bicycle insurance options that are becoming available, like Clipp (http://getclipp.com) or Better World (http://www.betterworldclub.com/bicycles/bike_assistance.cfm/) which doesn't, as far as I know, cover theft, but offers interesting benefits.

Good luck!
Claude

[Jeremy Till]

I'm not sure how old your Kryptonite is, but the current u-locks from them and OnGuard are more than up to this purpose, IMHO.  I regularly use my 8 yo kryponite to luck up my QB on errands, and I live in a fairly high bicycle theft area.  The current key systems are very hard to pick and you're not getting through the shackle with anything less than an angle grinder or maybe a car jack.  OnGuard even guarantees their lock up to $1500 for the replacement of the bicycle.

Cable locks are definitely inadequate, since they can be cut quickly with relatively simple tools (bolt cutters), making a bike locked with a cable an attractive target for opportunistic thieves.

In any case, I think the best bet is not leaving the bike unattended for long periods anywhere.  Since she wants to use it for errands, I think she's already avoiding that risk. 

[Ron Mc]

here's the Abus catalog - http://uk.abus.com/myfolder/52986_Katalog_MoSi_2011_ENG_screen.pdf - they do a good job of rating security features for each lock design.  

For errand running, my vote is for the Abus cable lock.  It would take a powered abrasive cut-off to get through a cable, and it would take more than several minutes and make a lot of visible sparks.  Would take more 15 minutes to chew through with bolt cutters.  

[David Verrinder]

Given that anyone who wants to steal your bike can, I am a big believer in teh insurance option.  Check with your agent about scheduling your bicycles on your home owner's policy.  For a very modest fee I have 10K worht of bikes covered for 17 perils (including theft) and no deductable.

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David Verrinder
406-646-6813
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[Ron Mc]

David, they are probably already covered on your home owners policy - just make sure you have good photos of bike and accessories, and serial numbers, etc.  

[David Verrinder]

Benefits of scheduling can be an increase in the number of covered perils and the elimination of the deductable. All depends on your policy and the additonal products offered

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[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

+1 on the Abus Bordo series locks. Easy to use and compact to carry. Also tough.

[Joe Bernard]

I'm sure my view won't be a popular one, but if your wife has a bike she considers too nice to lock up, no manner of security device is going to matter much to her while she's in the store stressing. I have a lovely Saluki (not finished yet, but almost there) that I might lock up for a quick dash into 7-11, but I won't be leaving it for 10 or 20 minutes while I peruse the supermarket. I have a mid-'90s Marin MTB set up expressly for those kinds of errands. It's a nice bike, but not worth much, and it wouldn't be the end of the world for me if someone snagged it.

 

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

[Eric Platt]

Will chime in and vote for the Abus lock Rivendell sells.  Not as heavy as the Bordo series, which makes it more convenient to carry.  I use it for my commuting lock.

 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

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[Zack]

I have an abus bordo lock.

I did a bunch of research and in the end decided to go with having a lock that was different than what bike thieves are used to seeing, rather than a better version of one that they know (u lock, cable lock, etc).

The lock doesn't have to be impenetrable it just has to be better than the worst locked bike around it.  It is a bit heavy, but I think it's worth the weight.

[Peter Morgano]

I have to agree with Joe, I just love my Rivendell's too much to leave them locked up outside somewhere. I also love my MB2 but if it got jacked I could replace it for around $350 bucks, which is no chump change but that is about what just my Dyno wheel and lights just cost me on the Bombadil. I also have an Xmart bike that was left behind in the basement in case I just want to run out and not even bother to lock, it helps it is a girls bike, what do I care what people think, I know I have a beautiful bike waiting at home for quality rides!

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[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Joe has a great point: what good is a bike that's too precious to ride!

[Joe Bernard]

Now now. Bikes too precious to lock up aren't too precious to ride. Most of my rides don't involve my bike being out of my sight. For those jaunts, I use a different bike.

[Matthew J]

> It is a bit heavy, but I think it's worth the weight.

 

The Abus are heavy, but IMO being able to store them on the down or seat tube bottle cage spot makes the weight very easy to manage while riding.  The bike is a little heavier going up the stairs to my apartment though.

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Sorry to put words in your mouth/keyboard Joe! By "too precious to ride" I also include "too precious to lock up", since locking up a bike is part of riding it, at least for me. I have some fancy/expensive bikes, but I've never liked the feeling of having so much tied up in a bike that it could only be used under limited circumstances.

I have a hunch that our fancy Rivs and such are actually somewhat theft-resistant. The average theif knows a Trek is a good bike, but who the heck is A Homer Hilsen, and why is his name on his bike?! I've been in the bike biz about 8 years now, and local people tell me when their bikes have been stolen. Most bikes that get stolen are not expensive, but just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and most of the time they're not locked at all. Locking the bike in ANY fashion is MUCH more important than having a great lock. Closing the garage door when the bike is parked inside would prevent the vast majority of bike thefts.

[Peter Morgano]

Hmm, my choice of rides is only "limited" by common sense, here in NYC people will steal anything that isnt nailed down and even then they will try. I would rather use my around town bike for what it is used for, around town 5 minute rides that really arent that "fun" and save my bombadil for longer jaunts around town where I can actually enjoy myself. I know a lot of you live in more suburban areas where the idea of doing errands is a bit more relaxed and you can go places and lock up and not be worried about the bike being gone when you come back but I worked as a Barista for many years and would see bikes get stolen right in front of the store, and when you call the cops they could care less.  Again, I envy you suburban guys, hope to escape NYC one day, even though my wife loves it here for whatever reason.

On Wed, Nov 21, 2012 at 10:51 AM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com> wrote:

Sorry to put words in your mouth/keyboard Joe! By "too precious to ride" I also include "too precious to lock up", since locking up a bike is part of riding it, at least for me. I have some fancy/expensive bikes, but I've never liked the feeling of having so much tied up in a bike that it could only be used under limited circumstances.

I have a hunch that our fancy Rivs and such are actually somewhat theft-resistant. The average theif knows a Trek is a good bike, but who the heck is A Homer Hilsen, and why is his name on his bike?! I've been in the bike biz about 8 years now, and local people tell me when their bikes have been stolen. Most bikes that get stolen are not expensive, but just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and most of the time they're not locked at all. Locking the bike in ANY fashion is MUCH more important than having a great lock. Closing the garage door when the bike is parked inside would prevent the vast majority of bike thefts.

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[Joe Bernard]

It's true that everyone's riding environment is different. I don't commute because my job is too far, and I use my car for it (transporting disabled people on outings, shopping, etc.). I don't tour, either. I go on "rides", and grab a different bike for shopping and such, so I'm able to separate bikes into riding categories that commuter/tourers can't do.

 

Of course, all this goes out the window if I take the plunge and buy a Faraday next year. $4800 for an electric-assist commuter/shopping bike throws everything I've said out the window :)

 

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

[Kevin Mulcahy]

A bit of anecdotal data from the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry:

Out of the thousands of reported stolen bikes, the vast majority of the bike that were actually locked at the time of theft were "secured" using a cable lock. After that comes typical U-locks, incidents in which the thief cut the fence (or whatever) the bike was locked too, and bikes locked with heavy duty chains. IIRC, There has never been a report of a bike being stolen while locked with two separate U-locks. It's seems like you're better off with two $40 locks than one $80 lock. The double lock method is becoming more common in Chicago.

Yesterday, I went down to the local precinct after the police discovered a huge stash of stolen bicycles. I was hoping to find my Gunnar after hearing that most of the bikes were hybrids and mtbs. Almost all of the bikes were low quality hybrids...

Also, locking skewers won't keep your bike from being stolen. And, be sure to insure your bikes.

Kevin
Chicago, IL

[Kevin Mulcahy]

I also hear that beausage is an effective anti-theft tool. Check out this Atlantis spotted in Chicago:

[Allingham II, Thomas J]

Wow.  I wonder, what is the significance of the 7 of clubs in the front wheel?

 

From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com [mailto:rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Mulcahy
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 12:04 PM
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [RBW] Re: Lock question

 

I also hear that beausage is an effective anti-theft tool. Check out this Atlantis spotted in Chicago:

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[Lynne Fitz]

I've got a very pretty Bleriot.  It goes everywhere, and is often locked outside.  Kryptonite U-Lock with a Kryptonite thickish braided cable to get both wheels.

1) make it harder to steal than the ones it is parked next to.

2) of course, the Speedplay Frog pedals might be a bit of a deterrent :-)

3) strip off easily removable accessories - pump, lights that just clip on, etc.  My B&M IQ Fly stays on - pain to unbolt, and worthless without the wheel.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnefitz/6922577821/

[Ron MH]

A Kryptonite mini U lock through the rear wheel inside the rear triangle, Pitlock skewer-ed front wheel and Pitlocked Dyno light and I feel pretty safe and only had to carry a small lock. It isn't that hard. Except for those in NYC, why all the bike theft angst?

[Ray Shine]

I guess this is an appropriate time to post this workshop announcement (attached). Might be good for some of the Bay Area folks. Hope everyone can open it.

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From: Lynne Fitz <fitz...@comcast.net>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, November 21, 2012 12:48:24 PM

Subject: [RBW] Re: Lock question

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[Chris]

For Pitlock, I'd recommend Urban Bike Tech.  The site offers many different packages and LOTS of accessories.  You can even special order for a specific key code so all your bikes can share the same key nut.  

Once I made an order for a specific key code.  Due to the German supplier's error, the order was delayed for a few weeks.  The owner voluntarily gave me a discount.  That's nice service!

Chris

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

Pitlocks are pretty easy to defeat. A downward whack with a blunt object will knock them out of the dropout. Hopefully you didn't file off those "lawyer lips".

Of course, all locks are defeatable if you have the right tool and know how.

Personally, I think the best strategy is to use a decent lock (or 2, if I'm nervous) and park my bike in a thoughtful way - never leave it in the same place too long or at the same place/time everyday, and bring it inside with me when possible. Also I don't go to NYC. If I do those things and my bike still gets stolen, that's amazingly bad luck. But life goes on, it's just a bike.