what's the best solution?

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Hello,
I'm planning my first 100 miler for this weekend and including various food (pub) stops. My mate can't make it so it's just me and that leaves me with a problem, how to secure the bike while I stuff myself.
I have various bike locks but they are all a bit hefty to hump around for what could be a long day. What do you carry/use?
Thank you
Chris.

 

[Globalti]

Firstly never leave the bike out of your sight. Never. If you need to turn your back for a minute, ask somebody in the cafe to keep an eye on it and use one of these, which will fit in your jersey pocket:

 

[vickster]

Or just take it into eateries with you while you order (ask first, most won't object, unless you meet the security jobsworth at waitrose in weybridge) and then sit outside to eat

 

[Globalti]

I don't think any reasonable publican will refuse a request to bring the bike into the back of the pub or lock it to something in the back garden. At cafes, lock it to something and ask people at window tables or on the terrace to watch it for you. A thief would need to go and find some cable cutters if you use that cafe lock.

 

[Cyclist33]

I don't think any reasonable publican will refuse a request to bring the bike into the back of the pub or lock it to something in the back garden. At cafes, lock it to something and ask people at window tables or on the terrace to watch it for you. A thief would need to go and find some cable cutters if you use that cafe lock.

They would probably have a pair to hand already and in any case they could pick the combination in half a minute,

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Thank you for the replies, I'd never let the bike out of my sight unless it's locked up, and that little lock looks just the job, it would only be for a minute or two and I won't be stopping anywhere that sets of my spidey senses.
I know it's silly but I feel a little odd about wheeling my bike inside, no idea why.

 

[TissoT]

Sit outside with your bike in view !
I don t carry locks
Unless your planning on sitting at the Bar :-)
ask is there some where to store it round the back (lockup)

 

[ianrauk]

Firstly never leave the bike out of your sight. Never. If you need to turn your back for a minute, ask somebody in the cafe to keep an eye on it and use one of these, which will fit in your jersey pocket:

This ^^^^^

 

[Globalti]

They would probably have a pair to hand already and in any case they could pick the combination in half a minute,

I would never leave the bike out of my sight at a busy or popular cafe near an urban area as there are too many reports of thefts. A bad example is Scorton near Lancaster, popular with cyclists as it's a "gateway" to different riding areas and has several lanes heading off in completely different directions with easy motorway access to Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe and even Liverpool so the village has a bad reputation for professional thefts. However at a quiet country cafe the likelihood of professional thieves coming along with bolt croppers and a white van is much smaller so all you need is the cable to delay an opportunist who might snatch the bike while you are paying for your coffee.

Thank you for the replies, I'd never let the bike out of my sight unless it's locked up, and that little lock looks just the job, it would only be for a minute or two and I won't be stopping anywhere that sets of my spidey senses.
I know it's silly but I feel a little odd about wheeling my bike inside, no idea why.

I have wheeled my bike into hotel lobbies and into the lift and never been challenged. Obviously I wouldn't do it in a crowded cafe or pub but most places have somewhere quiet round the back where you can lock the bike out of sight, while keeping an eye out of the front window.