security and locks [Archive]

passonby

09-02-07, 06:35 AM

mulleady

09-02-07, 08:15 AM

Where are you based and do you suffer from much bike theft?

A documentary her ein the UK called 'Gone in 60 seconds' proved matter how much you spend on a bike lock they can cut through even the most expensive ones in under a minute anyway with proper bolt croppers or cable cutters. I'd say don't buy anything too heavy just a reasonable U lock as a deterrent, just make sure it has good reach. Chains are more flexible but tend to be heavier if they are any decent density and length.

I think this snowmobile all purpose lock on eBay is a steal for you:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/THE-CLUB-UTILITY-MOTORCYCLE-ATV-BICYCLE-SNOWMOBILE-LOCK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33720QQihZ016QQitemZ260154934683QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

energyandair

09-03-07, 09:42 AM

My wife works at the local university and after her last bike was stolen we did the following:

- Replaced the quick releases on the wheels and seat post with allen key skewers. (If the components were high end, we would use Pitlock skewers http://www.urbanbiketech.com/about.html but they are more expensive and are not stocked locally)

- Bought the heaviest chain we could find http://www.bikeguardlocks.com/chains/megalink_3600.php . This weighs a ton and you would not want to carry it around but she always parks in the same area and leaves the chain there. While nothing is completely thief proof, this makes her bike the least attractive target there and just too much trouble to be worth stealing.

For general use (short stops in low risk areas) we carry Master Contractor Grade resettable combination cable locks. # 8119DPF: http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/product_detail.pl?dir=/cgi-bin/prod_search.pl?product_number=8119DPF&numbersearch.x=12&numbersearch.y=13&sub_cat_id=D8119&template=app . We went to these because bike cables are almost always precoiled making them a pain to use.

David

folder fanatic

09-08-07, 05:36 PM

Hi everyone!

I am wondering what type of lock to buy for my folding bike (Downtube). I managed to keep it safe but now that I am at the university setting I have to somehow keep it secure outside while I'm in class.

The Downtube has quick release for the front+back tires and also the seat post. This has played in my mind on purchasing a U-lock or chain?

Any thoughts/suggestions, please!

I use my new bikes at a college setting also so I do practice one thing whenever I am on campus: I keep it with me folded up and under my desk at all times-I do not lock it up outside for any reason. I do get permission from my instructor(s) for predictable class meetings before I take the bike on campus. Why buy a folding bike when you have this one feature over all the other bikes on campus? But to be fair, there is another folding bike owner that locks her bike all the time even at the same buildings I use. The question is, who do you think will keep her bike the longest?

v1nce

09-09-07, 03:02 AM

Dahon.Steve

09-09-07, 07:46 AM

The OP probably has about 30-40lbs of books to carry and trying to lug another 25lb bike is too much. The folding bike works well as work commuters where you don't have to carry the bike all day long and just leave it under your desk. But the OP must climb up and down stairs, cross buidlings, boad elevators, enter bathrooms etc etc. In other words, the heavy bike becomes a part of him walking all over the campus through hallways crowded with students. Trust me, he'll be the only one doing this. Then there all the questions he'll get as to why he's carrying such a heavy load and why it's not locked outside. The girls will stare and feel sorry about that poor guy carrying a heavy bicycle to class each day. Can you say peer pressure.

The best bike to bring on a college campus is a rusting pink girls bike with an ugly basket on the front. Hiding the bike a couple of blocks from the campus is an even better idea locked with a Kryptonite NY 3000 and Chain and it's very safe. You'll leave the chain and U-lock at the location each day of course.

EvilV

09-09-07, 12:41 PM

Abus Steel-O-Chain 810... there is nothing better for the price and weight, forget U locks (weaker to many forms of attacks and less flexible) forget OnGuard or Kryptonite, they are not quite in the same league as aforementioned. May be a bit hard to source but well worth it. If you want to know exactly why you can search an old post of mine in that i explain all the research i did in the locks and why i think the Steel-O-Chain is the best lock for most applications.

That does look like a good lock. I'm scared to leave my new Pashley - Moulton TSR 30 tied up anywhere with the rather scrappy cable lock I've been using for my Merc. I wouldn't like to lose either bike, but the Moulton is such a joy, I think I'd be marked for life it was lost.

v1nce

09-09-07, 12:58 PM

The lock has been tested as the very best in it's price range by an independent and respected cycle association in the Netherlands. And that does mean something as in the Netherlands bike theft is as bad as in NYC and the dutch (lock) consumer is probably the most demanding and discerning in the world.

maunakea

09-09-07, 08:57 PM

+1 Abus Steel-O-Chain 810 (I've only seen them on sale in the EU, though.)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/810-Steel-Chain-Lock-110cm/dp/B000P1TN16/ref=sr_1_1/026-8858453-0961208?ie=UTF8&s=diytools&qid=1189393242&sr=8-1
I do think Amazon UK have the weight wrong .... 150g?

v1nce

09-10-07, 08:33 AM

I think there is an outfit in NYC that sells them though i can not remember who. I imagine it must definately be possible to get it on line.

Weight is 1980 g. Not light nor very heavy but since i always have it around my seatpost or even lower on my folder i hardly notice it. Only when i am doing multi mode biking can i tell.

Btw, i am not affiliated with Abus but i just know what i like.

Diode100

09-11-07, 01:51 AM

That does look like a good lock. I'm scared to leave my new Pashley - Moulton TSR 30 tied up anywhere with the rather scrappy cable lock I've been using for my Merc. I wouldn't like to lose either bike, but the Moulton is such a joy, I think I'd be marked for life it was lost.

You couldn't leave a Moulton out in public anywhere, not even chained to the Pearly Gates, without suffering severe anxiety attacks. I met a guy at the Moulton BoA weekend who sold his AM14, and replaced it by a battered looking F frame two speeder, because just taking the AM out of the garage was damaging his mental health. I know how he felt, I had a very nice mini cooper 1275 S stolen in 1980, and I've never yet forgiven the world. Finger crossed, no one has yet been tempted to try and make off with my Puch Pic-Nic, but you can't put anything past a bicycle thief.

Ziemas

09-11-07, 02:31 AM

Abus Steel-O-Chain 810... there is nothing better for the price and weight, forget U locks (weaker to many forms of attacks and less flexible) forget OnGuard or Kryptonite, they are not quite in the same league as aforementioned. May be a bit hard to source but well worth it. If you want to know exactly why you can search an old post of mine in that i explain all the research i did in the locks and why i think the Steel-O-Chain is the best lock for most applications.

The Abus Abus Steel-O-Chains 810 is only rated Bronze (the lowest rating) from Sold Secure, and the higher end 1000 only gets 2 out of four stars from the ART Foundation. Not very secure.

http://www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm

http://www.stichtingart.nl/sloten_resultaat.asp

EvilV

09-11-07, 02:50 AM

You couldn't leave a Moulton out in public anywhere, not even chained to the Pearly Gates, without suffering severe anxiety attacks. I met a guy at the Moulton BoA weekend who sold his AM14, and replaced it by a battered looking F frame two speeder, because just taking the AM out of the garage was damaging his mental health. I know how he felt, I had a very nice mini cooper 1275 S stolen in 1980, and I've never yet forgiven the world. Finger crossed, no one has yet been tempted to try and make off with my Puch Pic-Nic, but you can't put anything past a bicycle thief.

Oh - now you're giving me a psychological complex. And what to make of the info from Ziemas up above?

I'm keeping it in my bedroom, so I know its all right.

Diode100

09-11-07, 06:01 AM

Oh - now you're giving me a psychological complex. And what to make of the info from Ziemas up above?

I'm keeping it in my bedroom, so I know its all right.

I've lost two bikes secured by cable locks, so I'd view them as no more effective than a piece of string, ok for detering someones grannie from pinching your bike to get home after a night in the pub, but that's just about all. Any folder is going to be super vunerable on the street, so I've just got a nice old peugeot 10 speed mixte, not something that is going to be instantly desirable to a london bike thief (ha, what do i know). I'm putting an Axa fixed rim lock on the back wheel (probably not a viable option for a folder), they have a good reputation for being difficult and time consuming to get off if you dont have the key. After that I think its down to presenting at least two different type of obsticles for the thief, that require different techniques & equipment to break them. Maybe an 810 chain lock and an average D lock would be enough of a deterent; how do they break chains, hope its not plumbers freeze spray & a lump hammer ?

EvilV

09-11-07, 07:48 AM

I think they should amputate both hands from any bike theif using that method - plumbers freeze spray and a lump hammer.... Hold that... Why waste the spray. You could get their hands off with a lump hammer alone.

You think I'm joking don't you? - Nope, just take a look at my name.

v1nce

09-11-07, 11:01 AM

@ Ziemas

I feel those ratings make very little sense.

ART is a pretty decent organization but i have know them to rate great locks low and vice versa. Also they do not explain in their testing methods as well as the tests i read by the TU Delft. Another important factor: ART is affiliated with the Bike Industry,.. the TU delft is an independent body and one of the most respected technical universities and research facilities in the world. I read their entire testing procedure and it was both rigorous and sensical.

As for Sold secure:

"Sold Secure‘s only source of income is from the fees it levies to undertake its work. However, as the company does not have to pay dividends to shareholders it is able to offer its services at very competitive rates. All surplus income is reinvested in crime prevention.

Manufacturers and suppliers can apply to have their products approved by Sold Secure."

Additionally i am closely familiar with some of the locks on the list of sold secure and feel the gold rating or bronze rating is often given even though the lock deserves a different assesment.

Lastly operative words in my posts were: "there is nothing better for the price and weight"...!

Of course a boat anchor 4 KG lock is likely (not even necessarily! from what i understand Abus hardening procedure is second to none..) better than a 2 KG Abus, but that is Apples and oranges.

Ziemas

09-11-07, 11:13 AM

Both ART and Sold Secure are highly regarded benchmarks in the bike lock world. If their ratings were bunk and people lost their bikes with any frequency while using their top end approved locks the whole cycling community would know about it. As it is, their reputation stands.

As for methods, I don't know about ART's methods, but Sold Secure uses the following criteria.

Currently to meet Sold Secure's gold standard a bicycle lock must offer theft resistance against the full bicycle tool list (any realistic combination of tools) for a period of no less than 5 minutes (per attack).

The basic bicycle tool list consists of items such as screwdrivers, junior hacksaw, pliers and steel tube. The enhanced bicycle tool list adds in stillsons, larger tube, ball peign hammer, HSS hacksaw, punch set, side cutters and 16" bolt croppers. The full tool bicycle tool list adds in socket set, spanner, more screwdrivers, 24" scaffold pole (for use with stillsons), club hammer, TCT hacksaw, freezing agent, cold chisels, 24" bolt croppers, 24" wrecking bar, scissor jack, slide hammer and lock picking tools.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/kryptonite-hit-back-after-tv-bike-theft-documentary-11745

Use what you wish on your bike, but I know that I'll continue using a lock which is both ART Four Star and Sold Secure Gold. Better safe than sorry.

EvilV

09-11-07, 12:05 PM

There's obviously no fun in cycling anymore. Clearly, we should take on the psychology of gazelles in a lion enclosure, for according to these posts we are bound to be eaten by the predators. Maybe a booby trap bomb would be the best defence. I'll contact some Iraqi insurgents at once for prices on solid secure fragmentation devices.

Ziemas

09-11-07, 12:58 PM

^^^

I have fun cycling every day. and I feel secure leaving my cycle locked up as I have a high quality lock which has been independently tested as being quite secure. :)

Aguila281

09-11-07, 12:59 PM

Hi,

10 years back when Kryptonite was THE standard for secure locks in Europe, I had a Kryptonite cable lock for a light motorcycle. My girl friend used it and as the keys where made out of brass they tended to brake of fatigue. One fine day this happened to my GF. One part was stuck in the keyhole and yes, foolishly this was the last key (first broke off too, but the part was removed with pliers). Now our luck ran out and the part sat too deep in the keyhole to get at it.

As she urgently needed her motorcycle I brought in the big gear (grinder and 16' bolt cutters). The job was done in 10 seconds flat. One cut with the bolt cutters and one with a decent cable plier and that was it. It was a 10mm steel flexed cable which was regarded as very secure by many shops in those days. Cost serious money too. Now I always laugh when I see them cables.

Later we had a new Trelock Titan U-lock. This lock was promoted because it withstood freezing. The motorcycle was stolen 14 days later. Thieves had wrenched open the metal body with a SCREWDRIVER so that the pins could be moved out of the jaws.

Get a really decent U-lock (Kryptonite New York) or a decent chain (more practical). Oh yeah, people call me nuts when they get to see and weigh my lock (about 2 kgs). But I now dare to leave my bicycle in the city of Antwerp while shoppnig (in daylight, never at night).

Drive your bikes in good health and lock them up well!

Michael