Decided on a bike! What lock should I get to keep it safe?
Discussion
I used a Cryptonite New York chain, similar to those used on motorbikes. Very heavy to lug around so I just left it chained up to the railings at Uni.
However....No matter how well your bike is locked the only items that you are actually protecting are the frame and wheels. Fork/stem/bars/saddle/seat post/brakes/gears can all be nicked very quickly. Best get a shed for the trips to the gym, especially if you have a routine for going there. i.e. thief realises that a nice bike will be parked up ready for stripping every Thursday afternoon.
However....No matter how well your bike is locked the only items that you are actually protecting are the frame and wheels. Fork/stem/bars/saddle/seat post/brakes/gears can all be nicked very quickly. Best get a shed for the trips to the gym, especially if you have a routine for going there. i.e. thief realises that a nice bike will be parked up ready for stripping every Thursday afternoon.
Just for completnesses sake, and because this topic keeps coming up at the moment, here are other PH threads on this matter:
Hard Lesson Learned - Cube Bike Stolen
Locks - Portability Vs Security
Cable Lock Vs Angle Grinder
And my short short Summary:
Cable locks and armoured cable locks are not fit for purpose in Urban areas. Do not buy.
D Locks need to be of reasonable quality - Kryptonite, ABUS are reputable makes.
D-Locks tend to be defeated by either brute force (hammer) or tools like a pair of heavy bolt croppers or an angle grinder. Not much you can do about an angle grinder apart form hope someone notices, but a hard shackle will resist bolt croppers. I have never, in 10 years policing seen a bike lock defeated by "freeze spray" or a car jack to steal a bike. I have broken many hundreds of locks in my time also, it used to be a particular hobby of mine, and car jacks simply do not work on a quality lock, and certinaly not when you have a bike locked to it. Thieves will look for a weaker target.
There are so many high value bikes locked up with crap locks that so long as you pay half a mind ot your bicycles security, you can vastly reduce the chances of it being stolen. Bicycle Thieves tend to be equipped with nothing more than a junior hacksaw and a cheap portable pair of bolt croppers, and a quiality D-Lock defeats both of these tools.
Hope that helps.
Hard Lesson Learned - Cube Bike Stolen
Locks - Portability Vs Security
Cable Lock Vs Angle Grinder
And my short short Summary:
Cable locks and armoured cable locks are not fit for purpose in Urban areas. Do not buy.
D Locks need to be of reasonable quality - Kryptonite, ABUS are reputable makes.
D-Locks tend to be defeated by either brute force (hammer) or tools like a pair of heavy bolt croppers or an angle grinder. Not much you can do about an angle grinder apart form hope someone notices, but a hard shackle will resist bolt croppers. I have never, in 10 years policing seen a bike lock defeated by "freeze spray" or a car jack to steal a bike. I have broken many hundreds of locks in my time also, it used to be a particular hobby of mine, and car jacks simply do not work on a quality lock, and certinaly not when you have a bike locked to it. Thieves will look for a weaker target.
There are so many high value bikes locked up with crap locks that so long as you pay half a mind ot your bicycles security, you can vastly reduce the chances of it being stolen. Bicycle Thieves tend to be equipped with nothing more than a junior hacksaw and a cheap portable pair of bolt croppers, and a quiality D-Lock defeats both of these tools.
Hope that helps.
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