For the want of a nail

[SaiKaiTai]

One reason I haven't stopped for pie -and yesterday would've been a grand opportunity- is that I don't have a lock. Sure, I'll just leave the Kaitai or the Reno here leaning on a street pole or something. Actually, I do have an old Kryptonite but it's sort of on the heavy side (and I don't need to carry the extra weight) and, besides, how do I carry it? Surely some or all of you have some kind of lock and maybe lock technology has advanced in the last 20 years, too. I'd need something I could use with both bikes, I guess.
Any thoughts on this?

[stapfam]

One reason I haven't stopped for pie -and yesterday would've been a grand opportunity- is that I don't have a lock. Sure, I'll just leave the Kaitai or the Reno here leaning on a street pole or something. Actually, I do have an old Kryptonite but it's sort of on the heavy side (and I don't need to carry the extra weight) and, besides, how do I carry it? Surely some or all of you have some kind of lock and maybe lock technology has advanced in the last 20 years, too. I'd need something I could use with both bikes, I guess.
Any thoughts on this?

Keep your eye on the bike by Placing it in a spot you can see from the cafe and take the front wheel with you. Or find a cafe with outside seating or a cafe with a garden or take a piece of string with you and tie the front wheel to the forks- whilst you are in a position to watch the bike. It takes a bit of time to untie a well tied knot.

[Digital Gee]

I have a lock but only use it with the cruisers. Go figure.

Yesterday I bought my pie and OJ at a 7-11 convenience store, and just wheeled the bike in with me, up and down the aisles picking out my stuff. Then I leaned it against a small "wall" of cases of soda so I could pay for my food. I was prepared to have the clerk tell me I couldn't bring the bike in, but I acted like I did it all the time, and no one said a word.

Then I went out behind the building, found a wonderful patch of grass and some shade, and ate my pie. Yummmmm!

[Artkansas]

It takes a bit of time to untie a well tied knot.

That's what Gordias thought till he met Alexander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordian_knot).

[stapfam]

That's what Gordias thought till he met Alexander (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordian_knot).

But even Bike thieves don't carry well sharpened swords around with them nowadays. Flick knifes and machettes possibly but where is the handy sharp sword when you need one?

[zonatandem]

Which would you rather bring from home: a lock, or bring pie . . . (in your jersey pocket of course!)?
We've got to make choices, not excuses!

[Tom Bombadil]

I have a cheap, light $3 coiled cable lock, wound around my seatpost. Keep it there specifically for making brief stops. Wouldn't depend on it in a high crime area. Bought mine in a department store somewhere.

And I have one that I picked up for $1 from a Dollar Store that I have on my lunch bike. When it's in the rack, I have it chained up with a heavy zinc plated chain & lock. But when I go off on a lunch ride, I leave all of that weight behind and use this little lock, just to slow down someone from grabbing the bike and riding down the street with it.

[Louis]

I'm never in a situation where I need a strong lock/cable. My bike(s) seldom leave my line of sight.

For "light locking" duty, I bought a 6 foot piece of 3/8 inch boat trailer winch cable and covered it with a 6 foot piece of clear tubing. These items are from my local Ace Hardware. I used two "s" clamps made for telephone drop wire to loop the ends. A small, cheap, light, brass lock from a Dollar store completes the deal.
I only take it on overnight trips, weeklong tours, etc. I never carry a lock/cable on regular rides.

Of course, this setup is only good for that short, in and out of a store, situation etc. It will only detour a "ride away" type thief. It is worthless if up against a professional bike thief.