General Cycling Discussion - How good are cables for securing wheels?

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shakeNbake
07-04-06, 06:44 PM
I'm thinking of getting a second lock for my bike to secure the front wheel (I already use a u-lock for the rear wheel a la Sheldon Brown).

I'm thinking of getting the padlock+cable combo from kryptonite, but the plastic end parts look kinda iffy to me

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2382/210818x27ia.gif

How exactly are the cables held inside the covers? It looks like you can just hammer the plastic apart and the cable would undo.

Anyone have any info?

mechBgon
07-04-06, 07:45 PM
Those plastic things probably cover crimped metal ferrules. You might think about a mid-range chain + shrouded padlock if weight weren't a problem (it would be more secure). Like this one: http://bicyclesource.us/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&sort=brandasc&id=7791

http://bicyclesource.us/images/library/large/avenir_chain_mag_lock_06_m.jpg

If you could leave the lock at the destination, then the weight would be a non-issue. And if you can lock to something solid with both the U-lock at the rear, and this one at the front, then that's double trouble for thieves.
mechBgon
07-04-06, 08:08 PM
BTW if weight is an issue and you want to stick with a cable & padlock, then if you happen to have a Nashbar order waiting in the wings, here's a cheap buy on the circular-style padlock: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=102&subcategory=1120&brand=&sku=16496&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename= They're a little less prone to bolt cutters than your run-of-the-mill regular padlocks, although they'd still be easy to defeat by drilling out the cylinder.

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/YY-AVDL.gif

And then if you pick a cable that spends most of its "weight budget" on size, rather than length, that may buy a few seconds of time in the event that the thief attacked the cable rather than the padlock.

geo8rge
07-05-06, 11:45 AM
It is likely that your wheel is not that valuable in comparison to the effort and possible arrest (check eBay/craigslist). Pull the label off the rim to make it less valuable. You could even engrave your name, or if you are evil "DEFECT REJECT NOT FOR SALE" on the hub.

Allen skewers or even
http://store.bicyclerevolution.com/maslocstreet2.html

If it is a 20" wheel you could probably find a bag and take it with you.