I'm concerned about the use of cable locks.

[Cyclopathic]

I had a bike with a hefty looking cable lock on it to which I had no key. I was a bit worried that it was going to require an angle grinder or some other piece of industrial equipment to remove it so put the job off for a bit. Eventually took a hacksaw to it just to see what would happen and I got through it in about a minute.

Are all cable wire locks this easy to get past. It looked to all intents like a bloody sturdy thing and I just assumed that it would be made of hardened steel. As it was it felt like it was made of spaghetti.

I'm worrid now because the lock I use for my regular ride is a cable. A cable with a 5 digit combination which I bought mostly on the recomendation of the guy in the lbs who said that combination locks these days were good and that the cable type of chain was also good.

What should I do? Get a new lock would seem favourite but what should I get. The whole subject seems so very frought and confusing. My requirements are that it is long enough to go around the frame, front wheel and one imovable object. That it be flexible as I find U-locks too restrictive. I would prefer that it be a combination lock as I am prone to losing keys but now I'm all confused and don't know if the man at the lbs was just giving me some flannel to make a sale. If the combis are good then I'd prefer it. Lastly I want the most for the least as does everybody. I know its a sliding scale of expense vs performance but if I had to draw a line I'd draw it at £30 quid. If that is just too little for an effective lock then please tell me.

In short I want a slightly better lock than at least a couple of the other bikes that I happen to lock up next to and to have a slightly less atractive bike.

Ideas and brainstorms welcome.

Stories/annecdotes also welcome.

 

[Klaus]

Main thing to consider is what are the bikes worth? Where are you going to park it at work and at home?
It's false economy to spend £1000 on the bike and buy a £30 lock. Consider spending 50 to £100.
I believe cheaper combination locks are not very secure. There are plenty of aspects to consider.
In the end you have to strike a balance between security and affordability.

As for losing keys, keep the spare key at home where you will find it.

 

[numbnuts]

I use a Abus Granit D lock and a long cable with a strong padlock, the Abus would need an angle grinder to cut it through and beacuse it is square steel you has to cut both parts to release it.

 

[aberal]

Most hardened bike thieving types will be able to get through any and every lock, given enough time. So choosing a bike lock isn't so much about choosing whether it will be strong enough to prevent theft - its about choosing how long you want to give the thief to do his dirty deed. So thirty quid will buy you long enough. 100 quid will get you longer so if you are parked up somewhere visible might deter someone spending too much time on it. Any bike lock of any kind will deter the opportunist.

 

[Hacienda71]

Any cable or chain lock where a pair of bolt cutters can get around the link or cable is always going to be vunerable. I don't think that there can be a full proof method, but as said by others having a deterent will put off the opportunist. If you have a valuable enough bike consider getting it data tagged.

 

[BSRU]

All you can do is slow down attacks from the most common tools of the trade, bolt croppers and bottle jacks and hope they do not have transit van with hydraulic cutters in the back.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I use a Abus Granit D lock and a long cable with a strong padlock, the Abus would need an angle grinder to cut it through and beacuse it is square steel you has to cut both parts to release it.

I've got my eye on a square section chain linked lock by Oxford that looks like it fulfils me requirements. It is a key operated one but for £30 I'm not sure the combi locks are as good.

I know that ultimately it's all a trade off between cost and eficacy but I was truely apalled at how quickly I sawed through what I thought looked a very sturdy cable lock. If they are all that flimsy the bike theives must know about it.

 

[Midnight]

A couple of years ago, in a pub I got talking to a young bloke of questionable character (I hasten to add he was no friend of mine), who admitted to stealing the odd bike. He told me that cable locks were 'easy' and could be cut with a pair of side-cutters by nibbling through them a few strands at a time...

So I'd avoid a cable locks like the plague. I use a heavy duty motorcycle chain and padlock. It weighs in at over 2 kilo's, but if I'm going to leave my bike anywhere, I'd rather hug the lock around than give some toe-rag an early christmas present.

 

[Cyclopathic]

All you can do is slow down attacks from the most common tools of the trade, bolt croppers and bottle jacks and hope they do not have transit van with hydraulic cutters in the back.

I would hope that anyone with that sort of kit would be after much higher end bikes than mine. I've just got a very generic Python hybrid which even now is only about £230 brand new. Not quite the cheapest bike on the market of its type but definitely lower end and hopefuly not the sort of thing to turn a serious theifs head. I am always pleased to park up with much better bikes than mine if I do have to park outside.

I am also going to security stamp my post code on to it but I'm going to put it quite visibly on the crossbar rather than hidden away. Hopefuly this will make it less atractive as any attempt to file it off will result in a big ugly and highly visible blemish. Also something that those wonderful people who work at places like Cash Generator will be able to see in an instant, again making it less atractive.

If I'm sounding paranoid it's only because I've had a few bikes nicked in the past. Sometimes more my fault than at others but it always hurts. My current bike was nicked from my back yard (not locked) but I got it back after seeing it in town. It had gone to a very nice man (no really) via Cash Generator. Now I've got it back I dont want to lose it again.

 

[summerdays]

My requirements are that it is long enough to go around the frame, front wheel and one imovable object. That it be flexible as I find U-locks too restrictive. I would prefer that it be a combination lock as I am prone to losing keys but now I'm all confused and don't know if the man at the lbs was just giving me some flannel to make a sale.

Why do you want to lock the frame and front wheel ... if they are going to steal one wheel then I would rather it was the front wheel - cheaper to replace. I use a D-lock and lock it through back wheel and frame to stand and haven't spent a fortune on the D-lock - as others have said if they really want it to take the bike they will. I think the make is OnGuard and some even come with a cable as well so that you could loop it through the front wheel as a deterrent and they can be got for under £30 I think. Although it is key operated it comes with 5 keys so that gives you a number of chances not to loose them. The knack with D locks is to fill as much as the inside with frame and stand.

I also have locking skewers on the wheels to deter them.

 

[Cyclopathic]

Why do you want to lock the frame and front wheel ... if they are going to steal one wheel then I would rather it was the front wheel - cheaper to replace. I use a D-lock and lock it through back wheel and frame to stand and haven't spent a fortune on the D-lock - as others have said if they really want it to take the bike they will. I think the make is OnGuard and some even come with a cable as well so that you could loop it through the front wheel as a deterrent and they can be got for under £30 I think. Although it is key operated it comes with 5 keys so that gives you a number of chances not to loose them. The knack with D locks is to fill as much as the inside with frame and stand.

I also have locking skewers on the wheels to deter them.

I want to lock the front wheel because it's quick release whereas the back is trusty nuts. I know a spanner will do the job but its not such a great wheel that anyone will go out looking for one to steal.

5 keys is good though. If I went for the key option, and it looks like I might have to I'd want a minimum of 3. I am useless with keys. I must have lost every key I've ever had and not just bike keys. It is just a technology that I haven't ever gotten the hang of. If one were to design something especially to get lost you'd have to go a fair way to beat a key. I would have to have it permanently attatched to me somehow, perhaps on a clip on a neck chain. The clip so that I can use it without looking like I'm trying to eat my bike.
Perhaps atatch the key to a small chain and superglue it to my hand.

 

[StuartG]

In unsafe places I always use a DLock AND a cable lock. They require different tools to break so making it a bit more complex. Its not time you are buying with a lock but a notch further down the cchoice of bikes to steal around you. Making it look grubby and unkempt helps. Remember apparent resale value is the other side of the coin.

More Effort/Less Reward

Me posh bike i never let out of my sight!

 

[Davidc]

I wouldn't trust any cable based lock or ombination locking device.

Sold Secure Gold D lock + Cable for the front wheel + very loud motion sensing alarm.

No QR at all, hex key operated skewers or real nuts to hold everything - wheels, seatpost, and anything else.

You can never stop a determined thief. You can make it easier for them to nick someone elses bike instead. You can make sure that if they spend long enough on yours they'll suffer permanent hearing loss.

 

[Beebo]

I use a cable lock for the wheels and a D lock for the frame.

But, i leave the locks over night on the bike stand so that i dont have to carry them back and forth on my commute. I have heard tales of theives practicing on these locks over night, so they can nick the bike in the morning, do you think this is just an urban myth? How easy would it be to pick a D lock?

 

[e-rider]

cable locks of any description are a joke! Perhaps worth while if paired with a good D-lock though.

If you are going to use/buy just one lock then it has to be a good quality D-lock.