Utility Cycling - Travelling with a cable lock?

Where do people keep their locks while riding? I have a cable lock and I've never ridden with it on the bike. Should I just wrap it around the seatpost? I just put together a cheapy SS utility bike and I want to be able to ride and lock it up anywhere.

Where do people keep their locks while riding? I have a cable lock and I've never ridden with it on the bike. Should I just wrap it around the seatpost? I just put together a cheapy SS utility bike and I want to be able to ride and lock it up anywhere.

Typically, I throw it in a pannier.

I don't have a rack or panniers on my bike, no mounts. Also won't always be carrying a backpack or any other bag.

I use a mini cable lock and it gets stored in my bento bag.

http://www.rei.com/product/780462

Depends on your security needs, though... I wouldn't leave my bike locked outside with my lock for more than a few minutes (It's mainly for if I stop at a store on the way to or from work)

Most heavier cable locks come with a mount to store it on the bike, otherwise you might be able to use velcro strips to attach it to the top tube and seat tube.

I don't have a rack or panniers on my bike, no mounts. Also won't always be carrying a backpack or any other bag.

Get one or the other; or get a D-ring and snap it and the cable lock on to some part of your bike, seat rails are a good candidate.

Where do people keep their locks while riding? I have a cable lock and I've never ridden with it on the bike. Should I just wrap it around the seatpost? I just put together a cheapy SS utility bike and I want to be able to ride and lock it up anywhere.

Around the seat post is the traditional way of carrying a cable lock. A U-lock is usually carried with a holder on the seat tube, or attached to the rear rack. Smaller locks can be snapped around the frame somewhere or carried in a saddle bag, handlebar bag, or pannier. Whatever way you carry it, you want to make sure it can not swing into the spokes.

Also, from experience, a small cheap lock that you use is better than a big expensive lock that you do not use. Some places you only need a lock to keep someone from borrowing your bike; in other places you need one to keep a thief with a van full of tools from stealing it.

I coil mine around the top tube and lock it in front of the head tube so that it doesn't slide around. If you're worried about the paint, put down a layer of electrical tape first. I found that if I coiled it around the seatpost, I would become annoyed by hitting it with my inner thighs on every stroke.

Since you don't have any racks or panniers on your bike, you might ask this question in the road bike section also.

I spent a couple extra dollars and bought that combination coiled cable lock (i think avenir brand) that comes with the post that attaches to your frame. So I now have a water-bottle holder and cable lock holder inside my frame. It's very convenient.