The article you are reading is two years out of date. It refers to locks that use round "barrel" shaped keys that were a "high security" choice for firearms safes, vending machines, and bike locks. If (and ONLY if) a crook can match the plastic barrel of a pen that precisely matches the diameter of the key, and uses a precise technique, he can open such locks.

Although many people can do this trick successfully with a lock sitting on their kitchen table, doing it with a lock correctly placed around the rear wheel of a bike, 12 inches off the ground is much more difficult. The number of proven, documented cases where a bike was stolen using the barrel of a pen remains at zero, ten years after this technique was first made public.

Kryptonite and OnGuard bicycle locks now use a flat key design that is highly pick resistant. The best locks from those companies (those priced at $50 and up...and up...and up..) require a skilled crook using expensive tools to open.

If you are using a Kryptonite chain lock that has a padlock with a round key, consider replacing the padlock with a newer flatkey padlock from Kryptonite or OnGuard.

When "Cycling Plus" editors test bike locks, they consistently find that cable locks, and low-priced U-locks and low priced chain locks can be opened in just a few seconds by a skilled crook. The very best bike locks take much, much longer to defeat, even using expensive tools.

Look for a lock that has a "gold" rating after being tested by the locksmiths at Soldsecure.

www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm