Citadel lock; anyone still got one and how do they rate to today's locks?
- Thread starter Crackle
- Start date
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I've still got one - it must be over 20 years old!
In the last few months the locking mechanism feels like it has started to go so am thinking about replacing it.
The fact that I still have the lock and accompanying bike kind of indicates that it has done the job - though I am sure that by today's standards it is not very secure.
In the last few months the locking mechanism feels like it has started to go so am thinking about replacing it.
The fact that I still have the lock and accompanying bike kind of indicates that it has done the job - though I am sure that by today's standards it is not very secure.
Amanda P
Legendary Member
- Location
- York. Well, York-ish...
I've still got one, and was using it until a couple of months ago. No-one's nicked my bikes, but that doesn't mean they couldn't have...
Recently replaced it with another, smaller U lock after reading scare stories about being able to open barrel-key locks with a biro lid (I tried this, but couldn't do it), and how easy it is to open long U-locks with a bottle jack...
Recently replaced it with another, smaller U lock after reading scare stories about being able to open barrel-key locks with a biro lid (I tried this, but couldn't do it), and how easy it is to open long U-locks with a bottle jack...
hellymedic
Über Member
I passed mine to my partner.
The mechanism jammed last night.
I don't know how old the lock was.
It was quite lightweight and had blue keys.
Bye-bye, <sniff>.
The mechanism jammed last night.
I don't know how old the lock was.
It was quite lightweight and had blue keys.
Bye-bye, <sniff>.
I still have mine. I bought it when they first appeared in the UK (around '88 I think). Got it from the YMCA shop in London and they were Expensive (around £80 at the time I think)! I remember they were the first of the D lock types, and were pretty revolutionary compared to what was available at the time (cables or short chain with combination if you were lucky). I remember Kryptonite locks appeared pretty swiftly afterwards.
Still works perfectly, although the frame clamp won't fit my new bike :-(.
Also still got its predecessor, a "Made in England" short chain combination lock, although one of the links is bent where I forgot it was attached and tried to ride off. I suppose the fact that a wheel spoke managed to bend it gives you an idea of its butter-like strength!
Still works perfectly, although the frame clamp won't fit my new bike :-(.
Also still got its predecessor, a "Made in England" short chain combination lock, although one of the links is bent where I forgot it was attached and tried to ride off. I suppose the fact that a wheel spoke managed to bend it gives you an idea of its butter-like strength!
Espresso vecchio
Guru
- Location
- South Norfolk
I've just found this old thread.... I still have my 1979 Citadel D-lock and both keys. It is certainly heavy! Is it as secure as a modern equivalent, or less or even more maybe? It cost a fortune at the time, but the bike was new and expensive... I ride it most days on local trips: steel of course but a nice ride but my modern Bianchi is half the weight
TheNecromancer
New Member
I still have my original Citadel D-lock which I purchased new in 1979 for £34.99. That was a lot of money for a lock back then, but it came with a guarantee of bike replacement (up to the value of £1,000) if the cycle was stolen whilst locked with the Citadel. Even so, I got it at a discount as it was a sample sent to the professional cyclist, Keith Berry, who owned Thatto Heath Cycles in St. Helens. He knew I'd put it through its paces. It has been on every bike I have ever had and out in all weathers and left overnight in areas of London, Liverpool, Naples, and elsewhere.
There have been several attempts to cut it but non got past the outer plastic coating, although they cut through the so-called Squire "high-security" lock that I had on the front wheel. The Citadel has survived attacks by saws, angle-grinders, and long bolt cutters. One attacker evidently got so frustrated that they let the tyres down! They were Kevlar Continentals.
The Citadel is on my main bike and I wish I could get hold of more of them as I still consider it outperforms the Oxford and Kryptonite locks I have on my other bikes.
If you have one of these then cherish it. They don't need much in the way of maintenance.
There have been several attempts to cut it but non got past the outer plastic coating, although they cut through the so-called Squire "high-security" lock that I had on the front wheel. The Citadel has survived attacks by saws, angle-grinders, and long bolt cutters. One attacker evidently got so frustrated that they let the tyres down! They were Kevlar Continentals.
The Citadel is on my main bike and I wish I could get hold of more of them as I still consider it outperforms the Oxford and Kryptonite locks I have on my other bikes.
If you have one of these then cherish it. They don't need much in the way of maintenance.
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John biggles
New Member
I have a citadel, from about 84, and the bracket that carries it on the bike is fantastic, I just wish I'd got more brackets instead of just 2! I also inherited a slightly newer one with a barrel key, which sadly didn't have a bracket with it 😭
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
2009 thread. Winner winner Batman dinner !
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
Since Biggles brought this back from the nether reaches of the forum, I went hunting for my Citadel lock, which I didn't remember ever discarding, and found it in its bracket, attached to the frame of a Raleigh Randonneur that I've not ridden since about 1998.
Finding where the key is is going to be a whole new level of difficult.
It got replaced (in 1997/98) by a Trelock Titan Lite that I'm still using.
Finding where the key is is going to be a whole new level of difficult.
It got replaced (in 1997/98) by a Trelock Titan Lite that I'm still using.
Big John
Legendary Member
Can't help with the lock but I've got a Raleigh Randonneur and it's got pride of place in my garage. I've got a carbon racer with ultegra all over it in my shed and yet my go to bike is the Raleigh. Eight speed triple with a B17 saddle. Vittoria Corsa 28s on it and it's a dream ride. Sorry for going off at a tangent. It's my age 😄
oldandslow
Guru
I've still got and use mine. May not be the most secure, but our town is not the most risky place to leave a bike.
The remaining good key broke some years back. Luckily Timpson's or somewhere were able to make working new ones from the two bits.
The remaining good key broke some years back. Luckily Timpson's or somewhere were able to make working new ones from the two bits.
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
My Randonneur (grey & white 531ST) had a 6-speed Uniglide freehub.
It got retired when the most used sprocket reached this state, and it became pretty much unridable without a replacement rear wheel and a full transmission replacement.
(That's 10 of 17 teeth broken off)
P.S.
I found the key
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