There are dozens of threads about bike locks in the Forums. Many of them are lengthy and detailed.

But, the bottom line is that cable locks are not actually locks. They are advertising that says "Get your free bike right here". The cheapest, smallest, and lightest u-locks from Kryptonite and OnGuard provide better security than most of the heaviest, and most expensive cable locks.

If your bike is worth $200, you can do well with a $30 OnGuard or Kryptonite u-lock. If your bike is worth $1,000, you need the most expensive u-lock on the market to secure the rear wheel, and a $30 u-lock to secure the front wheel.

Read the thread titled "Best Bike Locks - 2005 Tests" for a more detailed discussion of specific locks and locking methods.