Dear all,

Good afternoon - BikeForums newbie alert here, so apologies if this topic has been done to death previously. However, I have a problem with my snake-lock and I'm wondering if anyone on here has any suggestions about how best to deal with it.

Basically, it looks as if someone tried to force my snake-lock by pushing their key in really hard. This has bent down the side of the snake lock into which my key would normally turn, thereby preventing me from getting my key in to unlock my bike. I'm presuming it was a case of mistaken identity in the dark bike park outside my building, and someone pushed their key in really hard before they realised that they were trying to open the wrong bike lock.

Anyhow, since the snake lock is around my seat, my front wheel and a bicycle post... I'm a bit stuck - I can't cycle home at the moment, which is annoying!

Does anyone have any bright ideas? Do I just need to hire some large bolt clippers to cut through the lock cable (the cable is about 0.5" - 1", or 10-20mm, in diameter - so I'm hoping that a large set of bolt clippers would do the trick.

Alternatively, is there any easier way of breaking the lock? I understand that there's some way of freezing the lock and then smashing it... but I've no idea whether that's possible, and in any event I'm quite sceptical as to whether that means of breaking the lock will be successful since the lock itself looks pretty solid...

So, any and all bright ideas would be welcomed!

Thanks in advance, folks.

Matt

I assume a snake lock is some sort of cable with a lock at the ends. In your case, assuming you cannot get the key to work the easiest option will be to get a pair of bolt cutters and chop the cable. Perhaps a locksmith can get it open for you. Is it possible to pry the bent piece back out?

If the lock can be that badly damaged simply by trying to insert a key, then perhaps you should rethink your locking strategy.

Freezing and smashing the lock, even if it worked, would require something like liquid nitrogen. Contrary to popular legend, air conditioning coolant - freon - does not work.

Thanks supcom. A snake-lock is indeed a flexible cable lock that is usually coiled up, but which I stretch out to secure my front wheel and seat. As I said, it's about 0.5-1" thick and covered in a plastic sheath, with an M/F locking system (looks a bit like a jack plug). Bolt cutters look like the way forward - not least because that'll be cheaper than a locksmith. As for prying the bent piece out - I'll give it a go, but it's very fiddly and I'm not sure I've got anything thin enough, yet strong enough, to get underneath.



Possibly... although it hasn't malfunctioned like this before (and I've been using locks of this nature for about 15 months or so since I started cycling to work in London). The main lock I use for securing the bike is a D-lock; however, this being London - where people will have your wheels and seat off in five seconds flat if they're not properly secured - a second lock is needed for securing those items to the rest of the bike.



Glad to have had that urban myth debunked!



Thanks for your advice - it's greatly appreciated.



Cheers,

Matt

Cut the lock when plenty of people are looking and see if anybody cares that a bike is being stolen.

If you can get a piece of it on the ground, a very sharp cold chisel and a 2-3 pound hammer should do it.

The least traumatic way to remove it is with a Dremel Tool and a cut-off wheel. These will cut through nearly anything. There are rechargable versions of the Dremel if you can't get a power cord to your bike.

It'd be a good social experiment. People may look, but I doubt anyone would intervene. Most probably would not want to get involved and/or figure no one will steal in daylight with witnesses.

https://neistat.com/pages/video_holdi...ef_holding.htm

Maybe an air chisel?

Although that would be an interesting social experiment, the location of the bike - between the MI6 building on the Albert Embankment and a second office block which is filled with police officers - would suggest that I probably ought to let someone know what I'm up to before I start attacking the lock with a pair of bolt clippers!



Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. Bolt clippers or the Dremel sound favourite at the moment - not least because the cable isn't long enough for me to get it on the ground.

Matt

I had a similar experience when i locked my dirtbike to my trailer and somehow left the key at home. I drove to the nearest walmart and bought a $5 hacksaw...that cheap saw went through the $50 1/2" cable in 60 seconds.



Oh btw, the angle grinder in that movie was pure Class...

Well, I'm happy to report that the snake lock is off - I shall be back in the saddle to work next week! Hurrah.

A tip for any Brits out there (it may also work in the States) - the answer to "how do I get the lock off my bike" is...

...ask a nice fireman to help you!



I'm fortunate in that there is a Fire Station about 5 minutes' walk from where I work. I asked if they would help me - and they replied... sure, no problem. Top blokes!



Incidentally, the bolt clippers didn't work. They only cut through the plastic sheathing; it took a hacksaw to go through the cable itself.

Anyhow - thanks for all your help; much appreciated.

Matt

How long did it take for the hacksaw job?

This is how long your bike is safe against a thief using the same technique. Bet a portable dremal is faster.