I was surprised to find this article by Sheldon Brown on how to lock a bike but after reading it I'm pretty convinced. The idea of just locking the rear wheel to a post, rather than the frame, is counterintuitive but I went to look at my bike and, short of destroying the rear wheel, there is no good way to steal it if you lock it like this. And, the rear wheel on my bike is easily the most expensive part since it's a low end Trek hybrid. I put on a good rear wheel so I wouldn't get broken spokes.

I particularly liked his explanation for using a small U-Lock rather than a bigger one.

Does anyone lock the bike this way?

I lock up using the Sheldon method all the time, with one exception: Cable through the front wheel, too.

(bolds mine)

The way I look at it, a crackhead can't tell the difference between sheldon's method and someone who only locks his front wheel, an open invitation to *try to* take your bike.

Recently, there was a thread started by a locksmith about locks and locking technique, including, I believe, some discussion of Sheldon's bike-locking philosophy. Here's the link, in case you'd like to take a look at it: https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/520597-some-lock-advice-locksmith.html

I dislike this technique of locking only the rear wheel (through the rear triangle). Even if we don't worry about someone hacksawing the rim (which, I agree, is unlikely an counter-productive to someone who wants a bicycle), we ought to bear in mind that the style does look a bit weak. I don't wish to re-adjust my rear wheel every time a would-be thief "eventually learns" he or she can't get the wheel through the triangle.

I just U-lock my top tube, downtube, or front wheel, depending on the rack. I know other methods are safer, but until something goes missing, I'm not going to worry about it.

So you'd rather someone steal your bike before you adopt better locking methods? Whatever floats your boat... hopefully you're riding a beater most of the time when you lock up then

More like I'd rather not lock the bike to begin with if I don't feel it'll be there when I get back.

For me, locking is just one part of the "how to not get your bike stolen" formula.

Thanks, that was a long and interesting thread - though not too much mention of just locking the rear wheel. In exchange for that pointer, I'll give you my favorite bike lock story.

I always kept my Kryptonite chain/lock locked to a street light in front of my work building. The street light has a base around two feet high and a pole around 15" circumference going 30 feet up or so. Pretty solid thing.

One day I come out for lunch (I hadn't taken the bike to work that day) and happened to glance at the location where I keep the lock, and it's gone. So is the pole. It became clear to me that someone had removed a huge pole (leaving the 2 foot base) just so they could get my lock. I went to ask at the local police station about someone stealing a street light but, of course, they just laughed.

I called the (New York) City, and got the phone number of the contractors who work on street lights. Yes, that street light had been dented somehow and was being replaced. So, where was my lock? I get a call back an hour later. They had spoken to the crew and they claimed that they had left my lock on a nearby bike rack. If there had been a nearby bike rack I wouldn't be locking my bike to a street light. So I'm out a good lock/chain, but they didn't get the bike.