oddjob, if you think people act like they're under some nanny's thumb (or magic umbrella), you've very much mistaken. It doesn't feel one bit like a nanny state here. And many of us think Bloomberg has been great. I feel he did some very wrong things, yet I still give him a B+ or A- for his overall performance.

Anyway, that chain may be OK. It looks enough like the kryptonite noose that it would deter many thieves. I have the kryptonite noose, and it weighs eight pounds with the padlock.

A cable is absolutely useless in NYC. I cut through a cable lock with a pair of Pedro's cable clippers. It was like cutting cardboard with scissors. I had to squeeze hard, but it only took about 15 seconds. If you present me with a thicker cable, it will take me longer, but it won't be any harder. Cables are OUT. If you want a lock to stop New York thieves, you need to carry at least six pounds of lock, unfortunately.

Edited to add: if we live in a nanny state, why are there so damned many bike thieves?