I am looking at some new designs for cycle locks. I appreciate real super shackles like the fahgeddaboutit and NY from Kryptonite. However, i like to travel light (bike+kit+bodyweight). So theres probably some conflict about lock strength/weight v. exotic lightweight nickable bike and riding performance.

If you haven't glazed over yet, could you let me know if this is an issue with you? I will push on if its a worthwhile issue!

thanks for reading ;-)

CM

you're either gonna get extremely heavy
or nickable



fwiw, i chain my bike up with an ok magnum cable - you couldn't walk away with it, but it's easily cuttable with bolt croppers

you'd need a serious chain to survive a bolt crop attack, i only lock it up so people can't just ride away.

if i have to chain up the spesh anywhere suspect, i have 2 d-locks, 2 cables (one with a padlock, one going though d-locks) and 2 cable locks

overkill? nope if someone wanted it, they could get it

i know what you're saying M4, you just can't chain your bike up enough, and then you still want to see it through the cafe window!

I'm wrestling with the idea of when out on the trail you end up carrying about 3kg of locks - All that effort getting lightweight kit and you rub it out with one D lock!

Ideally it could be some exotic material but i've also gotta keep the cost under £75!

I don't own a lock for any of my bikes.


Not a single lock



I wouldn't trust any of them, that's why. Back when I was in the bike industry, we ran a series of destruction tests on locks, and the Squire Paramount came out on top. At ten minutes.

That's not good enough for me, I'm afraid. So, my bike are behind some more serious security! Put it this way, if some fool brike in to where my Giant is stored for example, and they didn't take the wine that lives with it, they're stupid!

carlos, do you never commute on a bike?

locks are breakable, but some peasants don't have bolt cutters with them, and can't nick a bike with a bolt cropperable lock

Yep, I do. Only when I am able to keep my bike behind some proper security at either end.

Commuter and lock

The logic goes that there are more desirable bikes with less impressive locks outside the station. So far so good.

I'd like a lightweight lock for those pub moments when you take your eyes off the bike for maybe thirty seconds. Just needs to be strong enough to deter a grab and run effort.
Like a snowboard lock but a bit stronger.

I take the front wheel with me into the cake shop, superette, bank and so on.

DO NOT CLICK FOR THE NEXT PICTURE ON JOHNS FOTOPIC ACCOUNT!

Only 900+ hits Mike. Somebody must have posted it elsewhere. :-/

*shudder*

y'know what, people have probably clicked onto that because i've told them not to

too late now, it's out there

oooo - that was a shock. But inspirational.

I like the feedback, much appreciated. I think just keeping your bike in sight is one of the best ones. Oh, but you can't run if you have cleats (i forgot my shoes to work and have been clattering around in my spesh mtb comps ;-)

i'm still looking for the ultimate - a lock that doesn't add 10% to your bike weight, is as strong as Ruth Badgers forearms and will take most parts of your bike into account.

fyi. i use a krypto-chain and padlock. tough, heavy, looks good as a medalion.

oh and i hope i have made myself clear - i am actually looking at designing a cycle lock!

Count have you considered looking into a device to make the bike unrideable? My dads old, old bike (think 3 speed sturmy archer equipped) had a lock tumbler fitted in the head tube when you parked up you'd turn the bars 45^o off center turn the key and it'd lock the steering in that position high tech no but light not forgettable and discreet.


as for security cables are the way forward as these crush when you try to cut them with bolt crops the problem is you can get through the smaller ones with a pair of wire cutters (if you know the trick to cut a gear cable with a blunt pair of snips you'll know what I'm talking about ((not going to make it too obvious tho))


as for making a lock keep the number of welds to a minimum as for any hardening processes remember not to overharden the metal or else although you wont be able to cut it a tap with a hammer will shatter it


Carlos I'm glad i bought 2 of the Paramount Plus when our local Halfords shut down as they had buy one get one free!!

My Scott is heavily chained to the wall at home and never really leaves my (or a mates) sight when out and about.

My commuter hack gets a fairly cheap cable with a £10 B&Q padlock to keep it stuck to something solid when its on it own.

To answwer your question, What ever lock I do carry it needs to be light and compact

i reckon ways to stop the bike being ridable are est, with a cable to keep it where it is

i do remember someone at college who sticks a small padlock to his front disk rotor
the only problem with that is that if you forget it's there, that's a £30 rotor gone

mike i use a motorbike disc brake lock bright yellow and hard not to see

Andy, i like your thinking because it's its an idea that smacked me around the head today. If the lock is integral to the bike then you are getting close to solving things. I know exactly the type of steering lock you mention. It was on an old hercules i inherited a few years back.

Another way is combining equipment to 'share' weight penalties. eg. The abus 'take away' is a back rack and 'D' lock in one. Thats a start.

I also thought of a system that could thread through (inside) the frame tubing. Something that meant if you wanted to nick the bike you would have to destroy the frame (ok its not nice but its a detterent!)

Why don't you just buy the heaviest duty lock you can afford and leave it where you leave the bike at the end of the commute? Assuming that is what you want the lock for. I've got an Abus kryptonite lock which is supposed to need at least two or three tools to open it.

AS for the locking headset lock....that only works if the thief actually plans to RIDE away with your pride and joy there's nothing stopping him putting it in a van and driving off with it.