If not he's got a qr on the front, just get one of the skewer sets that require the bike to be upside down to remove. If it's locked it's fine, and still serviceable.
U lock practicalities
- Thread starter Crackle
- Start date
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jefmcg
Guru
And worse, in Hammersmith there is (or was) a U-lock locked to a stand, still threaded through the two cut ends of the cable. Breaks your heart to know someone lost their bike, even though they had the kit to keep it.
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Jackmaster
Regular
Don't really see the problem with the way you locked it?
jay clock
Massive member
- Location
- Hampshire UK
I park a Trek hybrid in Waterloo station with one of these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kryptonite-...|pcrid|67090840382|pkw||pmt||prd|5360498951uk
I have given up on the cable as it is a bit of a fiddle. Just the lock around the seat tube and the stand. Front wheel impossible to get to and so far back wheel fine. Bike is wrapped in extra wide electrical tape 50mm wide. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/2626996424...=1007237&device=c&campaignid=856227598&crdt=0 Looks crap. Large wire basket on the back for rucksack to save back sweatage. Ideal
I have given up on the cable as it is a bit of a fiddle. Just the lock around the seat tube and the stand. Front wheel impossible to get to and so far back wheel fine. Bike is wrapped in extra wide electrical tape 50mm wide. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/2626996424...=1007237&device=c&campaignid=856227598&crdt=0 Looks crap. Large wire basket on the back for rucksack to save back sweatage. Ideal
Have you got a link to them I was looking for them before but couldn't find them?
I seem to remember quick release versions of these, but this is more or less what I was thinking.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kryptonite-security-wheelboltz/
Ah! Yeah, they're probably worth more than the bike.
If it's not bolted down they'll take it. I regularly see bikes in the city centre which have had their wheels nicked. And saddle. And handlebars.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Thread cleaned and back on track.
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Thanks for everyone's input. I'm sending him off with the Abus Granite to go through the back wheel and seat tube and around the bike stand and a cable extension for the front wheel plus I've bought a QR replacement which needs a special Allen key to untighten it. It seems not much has changed really since the days the U-lock was first introduced, except for angle grinders. I shall keep the Knog and use it in situations which need less security. It is just that bit smaller and lighter than the Citadel or the Abus so a little more convenient for touring etc...
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
A more general alternative to the Pitlock and such are Hexlox, which are an update on the old trick of supergluing a ball bearing into your allen bolt sockets, allowing you to secure thing like your wheels, saddle, forks, or in my case, dynamo lights. Having secure ancillaries means you just need 1 good lock that will do frame and anchor point.
The hexlox are magnetic inserts for 4, 5 or 6 mm allen sockets that block out the allen key, and which are easily removable with a small (keyring) magnetic key that's specific to your set of inserts, and which are not easily removable by other means, such as pliers, tweezers, picks, or external magnets.
Lighter than any other option, not cheap, but no more costly than Pitlock etc.
The hexlox are magnetic inserts for 4, 5 or 6 mm allen sockets that block out the allen key, and which are easily removable with a small (keyring) magnetic key that's specific to your set of inserts, and which are not easily removable by other means, such as pliers, tweezers, picks, or external magnets.
Lighter than any other option, not cheap, but no more costly than Pitlock etc.
Wobblers
Euthermic
- Location
- Minkowski Space
The problem is that a tealeaf who isn't in the know might see your wheel locked bike as easy - and will end up trashing wheel and frame trying to get it. Probably the most essential function of a lock is deterrence - you want your bike to look difficult to get so that the sumbag will pass over it looking for something easier. The Sheldon technique defeats that important element of protection as it simply doesn't look very secure.
The other problem is that, as @User's video shows, it really isn't difficult at all to steal a bike locked in that way.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I take off the front wheel every time. It only takes a couple of seconds. With a medium sized D lock you can get the frame, back and front wheels attached to a bike stand or some other bit of road hardware. The more you have cluttering up the lock, the less room there is for people to start levering/jacking it, as has been pointed out.
Edit: unfortunately, these have been a bit of a game-changer...
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KnackeredBike
I do my own stunts
I am not sure it is really a game changer. Opportunist thieves will not walk around with one in their bag, because if plod stops them they are in trouble for going equipped. Someone targeting your bike will not be deterred but they will always be prepared with the right tools anyway.
My general strategy is to park the bike somewhere so busy any theft would draw attention, or so quiet it is unlikely a bike thief will be passing. These are surprisingly easy to find, for instance, when I work in hospitals I tend to park them in rooftop gardens or chained to the top of fire exit staircase banisters. Obscurity is good.
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