Incidentally, in the near future I'll put the Sheldon-Brown method to the test, using a cordless recip saw to cut a rim, tire and tube down at the LBS that I work at. I've used a corded recip saw to chop up dozens of computer hard drives for secure data-destruction reasons. They're made of aluminum castings with steel top covers, about 4 inches across by 1 inch thick, and regular Wood & Nails blades go through them in about ten seconds. So I'm not too optomistic about the chances of an aluminum rim extrusion, steel or Kevlar tire beads, and some rubber and nylon, even with a lower-powered cordless saw.

Stay tuned for video footage when I get around to it



The next challenge would be to simply break the rim by hand, then cut the tire & tube with a hand-held diagonal cutter. As a shop mechanic, I routinely cut tires with a diagonal cutter, and routinely break rims prior to throwing them away, so it really shouldn't be much of a challenge to do both. Just flex the wheel back and forth against the lock shackle, then the pole, then the lock shackle. Aluminum rim extrusions aren't very ductile. A steel rim would give me a run for my money, though.

Not trying to diss the SB method, but like all locking methods, it's not invincible.