chimblysweep

i got in a fight with a cab driver and narrowly escaped being punched in the face because I ducked, but i was pissed that i couldn't grab my ulock fast enough to make the fight worth his time.

i keep my lock locked on to the pad of my bag. it has loops for it. i would have had to step away and unlock it to use it.

anyway, i'm wondering, if any of y'all have quick access to your u-locks, how you do it? i mean, aside from the back pocket/ belt thing-- i'm usually riding to work in suits/skirts and don't have either belts or pockets.

mattface 

Forget the U-lock. get one of those giguntus chains, and sling it over your shoulder. that way you don't even have to get within 3 feet of someone to smack em upside the head.*


*Disclaimer: If they die, or suffer brain damage and you go to prison or get your pantsuit sued off I accept no responsibility for this bit of terrible advice.

EnLaCalle

easy there tiger. count backwards from ten.

Landgolier

Hitting people with u-locks = having to talk to cops, getting sued, holding cell time, etc...

Getting the #$%@ up out of there without any violence = having a nice day

Your main defensive tool is always your bike. Like Biggie said, "Two words: I'm gone!"

chimblysweep

there was wheel damage involved. i needed him to stick around. i had to stick around. it was a mismatched fight and i could have stopped it if i had something to even the score. it's a rather long story... but thanks for judging!

again, i'm asking a simple question- how do you keep your ulock for easy access?

darkmother

I used to ride with my krypto down the back of my pants for such occasions-it is easy to draw your lock on short notice this way. I've since retired from using my lock as a weapon.

manboy

I never have had easy access to the U lock, so I don't know, but you've got my sympathy.

Maybe if someone designed a clip system to clip it to the back of the bag, that way all you have to do is unclip it. Someone with design skillz help!

dirty cookie

i find that when i am running around, and locking up a lot, i just tuck my mini in my waistband, in the small of my back and that works really well.

sorry to hear about your run-in. i had my closest run in with a taxi last week. no injuries or crashing, but we had words. i asked him if he cared that he almost killed me, he said no, so i left.

-

1fluffhead

Carabiner to a compression strap

pitboss

My bodyguard carries mine. He used to work for John Cusak, but was laid off for over-tanning at North Avenue Beach.

chicagoamdream

The u-lock pocket on Baileyworks bags keeps them at the ready.

chimblysweep

****. i need a ****ing bodyguard. and a sidecar for him/her to ride in. and then i can keep a keg there on days when i don't need the bodyguard. aha. a solution.

can someone roughly diagram the design for this? i could sew one on to my bag, i'm sure.

baldylocks

Couple of thoughts. 1, camera phone of possible. I say this on the advice of one of the men in blue, after he told me I should suck it up about getting hit by a car,(ask me about that one sometime). 2. If you wear a Chrome bag,(I forget), you can slip the lock on the main strap so it hangs at your right hip. Then as long as you have the stabalizer strap on, you can ht the seat belt release and have your lock in a flash and still keep your bag on. 3. Why does this damn city seen so angry/violent towards bikes? Christ, the guy was gonna punch you?! Sheesh!

cardstock

I had reload put pockets on my bags on the lower side so that I dont have to swing the bag around to get at it. I can take pictures and send them your way later tonight. Makes lock access super easy.

chicagoamdream

Cardstock's solution is the same as the Bailey solution...it's just a pocket the width of a Krypto Mini on the part of the bag that that's under your right arm if you wear your bag left-shouldered. Snug. No excuse for missed opportunities for u-lock justice that almost happened.

absntr

On the side of your bag (imagine the side when it's full of something), the Baileyworks has a pocket that will fit a Mini of either Krypto or Onguard and has a velcro strap that holds the pocket from getting loose and you losing your lock.

There's a photo I'll send you of someone from the forums we know that shows this -- I don't want to post it here.

chimblysweep

great idea. now i just have to get my sewing machine out of storage, move it to chicago, get some fabric, and get going! *grin*

i'll try not to get in fights in the meantime. really.

queerpunk

i wouldn't mind a hip holster. and while landgolier has a point, i'd like to point out that for some people in some situations, u-lock can be a reassuring thing to have, defensively.

there's a difference between wanting to knock the teeth out of the fifteen year old who lifted your bike, and between wanting to pull out your u-lock so some pissed off stranger doesn't go ape**** on you in the middle of the street.

sucks what happened chimbly, hope it works out okay.

anyway, i've been eyeing a hip pouch that has a built in ulock holster in it. i'll find the url...

edit: https://bike.zugster.net/

carleton

Is Janie OK?!?! I can't have my bike's betrothed getting all injured and stuff. He's been workin' out and doing atkins.








Oh, umm are you OK, too?

dutret

Why couldn't you just get the medallion number and let him drive off and report it as a hit and run when the cops showed up?
Or rode off when he attacked you and called the cops from a safe distance explaining that he assaulted you and drove you from the scene of he accident?

See there is no reason why you needed to stay nor why you needed him to stay.

chimblysweep

i'm a little bloody but will be fine, janie's fine but i'm glad i was on a backup wheel since the front will need some serious work- i threw it back together somewhat, but i don't trust it at this point. it may have seen its last.

i have the reload holster. i've seen people wear 'em with their bags before, but it seems like overkill for my commute.

dutret- you're totally right. but that's stuff you forget when people are swingin' at you, ya know? i ****ed up. that i know.

dutret

I realize its hard to think in the heat of an incident like that but having a weapon probably isn't going to make you more likely to avoid confrontation.

1fluffhead

Ha, Ha I just bought a hip pouch for the warmer weather riding so I don't have get all sweaty on my back when I am riding. I really can't wait for it to come from the pics he sent me it looks effing awesome. Flipping Hades made it for me

https://bike.zugster.net/store/hip-packs/

chimblysweep

here's me rockin' the reload with a crumper camera bag next to it:

i made the star with reflective stickon tape. it is a pouch with a waist strap and an extra loop of webbing inside for a lock.

dutret

Could we please refer to them as fanny packs instead of hip pouches?