Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - U-lock holding

Does anybody have any tricks for holding a U-lock for a fixed? I hate the clips that come with them, and somebody on the fixed-gear list mentioned laying it from the seat tube back onto the seat stays or something (which doesn't seem to work on mine, but the frame geometry is absurdly tall :confused: ). Or is keeping it in my bag my best bet?

Bag..

Bag.

I use my bag. If I'm not carrying a bag, I use a Two Fish block (http://www.twofishunlimited.com/bike.html)

My squire carries mine, but if he is sick or on Strike (Squire Unions are the worst), I put it in my back pocket. I like mine handy in case someone wants to be a hero...

Lock it over the top tube and then between the seat tube and rear brake.
On my tall fixie this works but you need clearance for it. A small or medium size bike this won't work

I have used Shishi's method, and it works, but it wears the paintwork very quickly.
Lay the lock on top of a rear luggage rack under a bungie chord. The curved end fits nicely under the front raised section of the rack.

occasionally I use the 'Pirate Method'...not recommended for people with dentures or people with calcium deificiencies.:roflmao:

165: i want to see a photo of a ulock in your back pocket... (those must be some pockets!)

i think he's talking about the little krypto-locks - you know, the tiny new york 2000 ones? assuming so, i keep mine in my back pocket too. if he's talking about something beefier, then yeah, pictures.

Shishi, I'm trying variants on your method and some of them work, but it tends to shift about to a position where it hits my legs. I'm not worried about it wearing at the paint, though (hell, I hacksawed off the cable routing). It's a deliberately grungy-looking road conversion fix. I'm going to try riding with it on my handlebars and headtube, but probably my bag is the answer.

I'd prefer to have it quickly accessable in case "someone wants to be a hero", as 165 put it, but it looks like it's a matter of "Quickly grabbed / stable in place / no extra hardware on the bike: pick two", and my pockets aren't big enough.

Originally posted by jim-bob
i think he's talking about the little krypto-locks - you know, the tiny new york 2000 ones? assuming so, i keep mine in my back pocket too. if he's talking about something beefier, then yeah, pictures.
DING DING DING!
we have a winner...the mini-lock is totally back pocket friendly...just like the NY chain is waist-friendly!

165: Where did you get your NYC Mini-Lock, how much, and do you like it? Can you lock your frame to normal city fare or what? How does it work? I'm not gonna free-lock my **** all the time....

I bought mine at Yojimbo's a few years back. They offer 2 sizes:
Mini and Mini LS (long shackle).
They are called 'Evolution Mini 2000'
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetisscripts/abtinetis.exe/PublicArticleFind@Public

not the best for locking up, but small and easily carried for short trips. The Long Shackle version offers more as far as what it can lock to. Otherwise, I use the NY Chain.

Yeah, after you lock it is in place you need to keep it in the plain of the bike so it won't hit your legs. My lock stays put on my bike.

If, by chance, you have a blackburn MTN rack, the u-lock fits very nicely vertically in the gaps between the spray plate and the rack frame...no digital can, sorry.

I have also seen a subtle, handlebar and stem mounted u-lock holder in parts catalogs.

BK

I've got a Kryptolok now, but I'm switching it for a much beefier New York krypto u-lock, since I got a new mountain bike (a Surly Karate Monkey 29"er). That one may keep still better on the seat stays.

a regular ulock fits in a lot of back pockets.. it kinda sticks out of the top, but it stays. i sometimes stick it upside down under my belt, like between my boxers and my pants, where the back pocket is.. kinda weird but it works. haha

a mini fits perfectly in a back pocket, but a regular lock fits surprisingly well too...
as for how they fit on a bike, you can't lock your frame and your back tire to a parking meter, but you can get your frame... and a 3 foot cable really oesn't take up that much room. in a bag or around your waist...

the tiny back pocket lock is sweeet. i carry mine in my back pocket.

i want a krypto chain, but i can't fine the noose one anywhere in the bay area right now. everyone just has the plain 3 and 5 foot chains.

Never put anything in your back pocket that you wouldnt want to land on.

i use a cable with my u-lock, and i sorta "thread" both ends thru the U, and wear the whole thing pocket-book style. i find this more convenient than putting it in my bag, b/c i dont like opening my bag needlessly when i lock up. also, it pays to have a heavy u-lock handy whilst urban cruising.
-rob

I apologise for intruding into this forum whilst boldly using a derailleur (my wife runs a 3spd Sturmey-Archer if that's close enough ;) ).

Owners of the mini-Kryptonite Evolution 2000 (not the long shackle) you may have found me the solution, a sold-secure silver rated lock that's less than half the weight of any other. It would save me 2lb on my current lock, whilst still keeping the insurance company sweet... if it will fit the rack at work. Can anyone tell me the internal length and width of the shackle? Kryptonite only lists the overall dimensions.

Thanks Richard (semi-weight weenie)

I generally slide my kryptonite ev. 2000 through the loop on the top of my bag... but when travelling light (part of the fixie mantra) I hook it through a carabiner attached to the left side of my belt. If in position properly (u-shackle hanging down and backwards) there's very little sway and it can be accessed easily. It's fairly common among messengers here...
I haven't fallen and landed on it, but it could lead to a bruised hip I suppose... but the risk is minimal.