Living Car Free - What do you use to lock up your bikes?

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Lock it up inside?

Depends on the bike and where I lock it and for how long.

Grocery store run or library run, I use an attached wheel lock and cable/chain around the nearest solid object, if I remember I might remove the blinkey. Both of those bikes have bolt on wheels and nothing is quick release, including the head and tail lights. (generator hub) Those bikes are typically parked for under 30 minutes. My 1972 Raleigh Superbe has a fork lock and I carry a small u lock and cable in the saddle bag, that bike is never left out of sight for more than a few minutes at a time.

I lock my bikes inside my shop with their various chains and cables, in there I lock them together, to make it harder to move them. I also keep all types of cutting tools locked in the toolbox, so if someone does break in they are going to have their work cut out for them.

Aaron:)

Small attached wheel lock for the rear, the beefiest Abus Granite U-lock for locking front wheel to frame. One of these (usually Abus) is locked into something solid. After some crackhead stole my bolt-on seat post to help themselves to my Brooks saddle, I filled both seat post and saddle allen bolt heads with superglue. Lights, comp, panniers, pump, saddlebag etc. I take with me.

--J

Pinhead locking skewers on wheels, seatpost, stem. Kryptonite NYC chain strung through frame and front or rear wheel depending on the situation, shackle placed around frame of bicycle or bike rack / locking object instead of left dangling, leaving only millimeters of open space left in the u-lock section of chain.

Am considering replacing the hex key bolts for my seat with Torq bolts, and not T25s. Not so worried about saddle theft though, as my particular Brooks isn't very attractive, and the seatpost I have is an ornery old 2 bolt system which requires time to undo.

When the bike wont be left alone somewhere at night I just use a thick cable lock with a padlock. Someone could remove one of my quick release wheels but I usually only use this lock when at the grocery or some other quick errand. When I think that I may have to leave the bike by itself for a longish period of time, or over night somewhere, then the U lock comes out with the cable lock to protect the wheels. Blinkies usually come with me when I use the U lock but they stay on for short errands. My bike pump is crappy so I am kinda hoping someone takes it so I can justify buying a Road Morph. My seat post and brooks saddle are not quick release and most people in this are do not know what its worth anyways! I get a lot of comments from people at work who say, "i cant believe you ride that bike with that cheap-o saddle!" Lol if only they knew....

These http://www.oredon.com/content/en/produits.php?id=24

and this http://www.onguardlock.com/lockviewer.php?type=ulock&model=5013TC

in addition to this at times depending on how long i am locking up - around seat rails and wheels
http://www.onguardlock.com/lockviewer.php?type=cable&model=5044

Sheldon Brown (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html) has a pretty good locking strategy:



If you don't have secure parking at your workplace, you should indeed have a serious lock, such as a Kryptonite. The thing is, you should not carry it home every night. The weight of a typical U-lock represents the difference between a $400 bike and a $700 bike.

Just leave the lock at work, locked to whatever you normally lock your bike to. Carry a light cable lock with you for quick errands or emergencies.
If you use both the U-lock and the cable lock at work, you are more than twice as safe as you would be with either of them alone. Either type of lock can be defeated, but each requires a different large, bulky tool which is useless against the other. Don't take your bike apart to lock it, it is really bogus. The cable lock will secure your front wheel to the frame and any convenient object, and the U-lock will secure your rear wheel and frame. If you have a quick-release seatpost bolt, replace it with an Allen head bolt, and stop worrying about having your saddle stolen.

a kryptonite u lock circa 1996 it has stood the test of time. it was used on the east side of Milwaukee for 2 years and countless years in a city that isn't a toilet.

never lubed
still works
never had a bike stolen

When using my comfort bicycle I use a Kryptonite cable lock through the frame; Thudbuster seat post, the rear wheel, and attach it to something solid.

With my light weight touring bicycle I use the same lock through the front and rear wheels and frame. I remove the seat post with the seat and the quick release pedals. I always take my headlight with me. The tail light is attached to the top of my helmet so that stays with me too.

My bicycles aren't configured to carry panniers but if they were I would always take them off the parked bicycle.

One of these days I'll get a U-lock to add to the locking strategy.

I use a Kryptonite Evolution lock for errands. It's a short one, which is harder to pry open. If I'm going to lock up for several hours, I add a cable to the the tires. Overnight, I always bring the bike indoors.

In all honesty, whenever I've used a U-lock of any kind, I've never had a bike stolen. The only bikes I've ever lost were totally unlocked, sitting on porches or in garages. On the other hand, I don't ride $5000 bikes, and I don't live in NY.

I use two u-locks when I leave the bike anywhere for any amount of time. I often just lock them both to the same thing. If a theif is looking for an easy bike to steal, they will pass mine by.

ddac, if you're living somewhere in the 5 boros, then it's highly unlikely that most people's locking habits will be sufficient for you. I rarely ride into the city for many reasons; mainly the roads are junk and the taxi drivers are nuts, but there's also the consideration of not being able to leave your bike unattended.

I'm a mere 40 miles east of you, and even here it's a vast difference from the city. I can leave my bike outside unlocked for a few minutes in a shopping plaza and not have to worry; and on weekend group rides ten of us will leave high-end road bikes outside a coffee shop for 40min-1hr without wondering if our bikes will be jacked (though we do keep them within view of the window.) On campus, most people lock up bikes with simple cable locks. I'm not going to pretend like bike theft doesn't exist here; but it's a calculated risk I take here that I'd never take in NYC.

If I were to ride in the city regularly, I'd first of all not even ride my carbon bike unless I knew I'd be straddling it at all times. For locking up, I'd invest in a solid U-lock plus one extra lock of some sort (probably a cable or chain for locking up the other wheel or saddle). I'd only carry doodads (lights, odometer) if I was willing to take the time to remove them and take with me into the shop, because I don't expect them to still be there otherwise. It's unfortunate, but it's just the state of bike theft in NYC, and you'll be carrying an extra 10-15 lbs in locks simply because you have no other choice.

Kryptonite U-lock around rear rim + seat stays to something solid plus a thick cable lock around front wheel + frame + something solid.

Never had a bike stolen but I caught a few 'locals' messing with my bike once. That didn't end well for one of them.

Kryptonite Evolution (full size). I take all my gadgets off. If I am in a bad neighborhood I take the front wheel off so that I can lock it up with the back wheel/frame. I use a Surly constrictor for my seat post and I have yet to have anything stolen.

Kryptonite New York Faugitaboutit! its heavy but it'll keep ya ride safe!