General Cycling Discussion - coil lock

hello, I have just purchased my first new bike and definatley do not want it to get stolen. The guy at the bike shop try to sell me a U-Lock. However I highly doubt that i will have the time to take my front tire on and off all the time. I would appreciate if everybody gave me suggestions on which coil lock is the best at keeping your bike safe. thanks

Get a u-lock and a coil lock. Use the u on the rear and frame, coil on the front, that's the best way. Add a cheap cable for your seat to your u-lock. 2 locks force thieves to have 2 tools to steal ur bike. Also, if properly adjusted, it only takes like 10 sec to take the front wheel on or off though ur hands get dirty.
It really depends on where you live though, I live in NYC, so unless you encase it in concrete, it'll be gone.

Never use cable locks alone - they're too easy to cut w/ a hacksaw. Use a cable for the front wheel in conjunction with a ulock, use two ulocks, or replace the front quick release skewer with a locking skewer such as a Pitlock, if you only want to use one lock and don't want to always be detaching the front wheel.

A lock alone will not provide complete security, you also need to park your bike somewhere it will not be prone to theft in the first place.

For relatively short stops I wouldn't bother with a cable for the front wheel... at least here in Portland. I much prefer the smaller U-lock. It's easier to carry & lighter & big enough for almost everything a regular big/bulky U-lock would fit.

Two years ago I caught someone stealing an unlocked QR front wheel off a bike on a busy downtown Portland street at high noon. My wife's son had his unlocked QR rear wheel stolen a while back. Bikes have been stolen from the bike racks in the loggia of the Portland Building while the security guard looked on by camera and did nothing. I am always amazed at the number of bikes I see that have unsecured QR wheels, or cheap cable locks, all just waiting to 'take a walk'. Investing in a good locking system or replacing your QRs with Pitlocks is IMO just good insurance. :)

onguard locks look to be a good buy.

kryptonite skewers. I still stand by them if your using the bike as a commuter. They may not be cheap, but they are plenty good at confusing the heck out of people.
The skewers secure both wheels and the seatpost.
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetisscripts/abtinetis.exe/PublicArticleDetails@public?artid=3032&atf=products_item&pgrp=20

Then use the u-lock to mount your frame to something.

For about $5, Planet Bike sells a wheel tether (http://www.planetbike.com/cablelocks.html) (scroll down to about the 7th item), which is a light, 31" long cable with swaged loops at both ends. You don't need to bring both ends 'round to the U-lock. Just put the cable thru the front wheel, put one end of the cable thru the other, and then put that end on the U-lock. Probably available at a better LBS in your area. If not, and you get the LBS to order it, there's probably no shipping cost. 'Course, if you're a member of a bike advocacy group, you get free shipping to your door from PB.