Armored Cable Lock to go with a Sheldon-locked Mini U-lock?
 

Hello again,

I'm looking at getting the OnGuard Pitbull Mini and using it Sheldon-style (just around the rear wheel rim and tire in the triangle, but not around the frame) on my Miyata SixTen, and I think it's best if I use a cable lock to secure the front wheel, seat, accessories, etc.

A few questions:

A) Are the armored cable locks (like the Rottweiler Series by OnGuard) flexible enough to get around accessories and so on?

B) Are the armored cable locks significantly better than the other cable locks? I'm not sure if the plating actually does anything (some people seem to think you can get a snipper in-between), but they are generally thicker cables and "twisted" (at least for OnGuard). What about for the same thickness - 20mm Akita vs 20mm Rottweiler?

(If they offerred significant advantages over the other cable locks, I might be inclined to go with a 30mm armored cable, except that I don't think a 3cm cable would fit through anything on my saddle to secure it. :lol:)

C) For the non-"armored", how about coiled vs non-coiled? Is it just a matter of convenience/preference?

D) Is there actually a point where the cable is strong enough that they can't just snip it quickly?

Thanks!

From what I understand, any cable in inferior to a u-lock. As any lock can be compromised by a cordless angle grinder (even the NY fuggetaboutit) they are rated on the number of minutes it takes to cut thru. My Onguard Brute takes 5 minutes, which is very good for it's price. In Europe, we have Sold Secure which does several tests (ending with the angle grinder) on mainstream locks. So I hunted for one with a reasonable price with a gold rating.

PS: my lock is 4lbs! Pretty ironic to think of those expensive superlite carbon bikes probably need something even heavier to keep them secure.

Security is a deterrent, not a guarantee. Recently I had my saddle stolen (along with seat post), and a simple clamp style seat collar would have probably prevented it.

Depending on your area you may need a few different types of security devices. You can use a Pitlock for your wheels and seat post. A leash for your saddle. Then a U lock for your bike frame.

Basically you are trying to prevent opportunity based thefts and deter "professionals (soulless scum)" to go for easier targets.