I know I know! I did read this threadand others. I think the Sheldon strategy makes sense. Two kinds of locks means two types of tools. I own a decent D lock, not a Kryptonite but an OnGuard Brute . I really don't fancy carrying another 4lbs in chain so that leaves cable.

So most any cable lock can be defeated pretty quickly and easily. But if you had to pick a cable lock (a chain being too heavy) to compliment your D lock.... are there any good options?

Abus makes an armored cable lock, steel sleeve sections cover the cable , has a lock mech too.
reviewed better in destructive testing, than the On Gard, which I own,
but this is not a big city or a college town ..
It fits in my Brompton's Front bag or hangs over the handlebars.


on another bike,
I have an AXA 'defender' Ring Lock, they will retrofit with out
the seat stay braze ons, which my Koga WTR has.

and their 1.4M lock up chain is not made of heavy links..,
and won't need to go around both wheels,
as the ring lock takes care of the back one.

I would get the largest diameter cable that I could find, or one of the new armored cable locks.
Weight for me isn't an issue. I have a U-lock, a cable w/padlock, and a chain w/another padlock. I want to get a ring or frame lock too.
Having said that, I rarely lock my bike up, in my area, it isn't that big a concern. When I go to the city, I use all the locks and remove anything that is semi-removable (lights, bags, etc.)

The best option is the one you will use and carry with you. Looking at some of the weights listed for the armored cable locks, I am not sure if I would carry them.

Is your area high crime rate, and if so then what type of crime? Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. If that is the case in your area than anything you use as a deterrent should be sufficient.

If you have a roving band of bike thieves with angle grinders, bolt cutters, and whatever, then nothing is safe. It will simply take more time to get at what you have.

With me, I will sometimes use the the cable that came with the lock I bought. Have you also thought about using pitlocks or something similar?

I laughed when I saw the title. It's like we are talking about quantum physics.

I've got one of these - I think the cable is like 5/8" thick. I also use TWO U-locks, but I leave them all at the rack at work so I don't have to carry them around. I've got some smaller lighter ones for parking other places.

I use the Kryptoflex cables by Kryptonite. As you said it is easy to cut cables, so I don't think for a moment it is a theft deterent because of its strength. I use it in conjunction with my two Kyrptonite U locks as a visual tool. It should say this bike has too many locks and isnt worth stealing, there are easier pickins somewhere else. So far I have been lucky but as exile says, if they want it they are going to get it.

You bike only has to be harder to steal than the bike parked next to it.

You don't even need good cutters to get through a cable lock. They can be defeated with tin snips, diagonal cutting pliers, or even bicycle cable/housing cutters. They deter casual theft only.

If you live somewhere where thieves are walking around with portable angle grinders, like NYC, then your only real choice is to never lock the bike outside at all. A U-lock with a hardened shackle might take about 10 minutes max with an angle grinder. The big heavy chains might take a little longer.

Yeah, Ireland would be pretty bad for opportunistic theft. There are knackers and tinkers who in some areas of town, which thankfully I don't frequent that often. But when I need to pop in to the city centre or certain areas, it's at risk.

I'm thinking of this becuase I just ordered a shiny new bike. I thought the idea of a heavy U-lock combined with cables thru the wheels and frame would be that bit better. I ordered the Kryptonite Modulus because I love the idea it's bolted to the frame. Then a saw the terrible review and wondered:

If there a cable lock out there worth carrying?

Chains and U-Locks take under a minute to cut with an angle grinder, regardless of brand/make/thickness.
Thicker is better against bolt cutters though, which is more common.

Cable locks stop someone from just walking away with your wheel or seat, does nothing for someone out looking to steal a bike.

I talked to a kid in my neighborhood who was known for lifting bikes, he said he walked around with tin snips and would take a bike locked with a cable when-ever he needed a ride or wanted to make a few bucks.

I'd say cable locks are as useful as a piece of rope.

I like the ring locks also, most of the time that's all I need, but you can use it with a good heavy cable from the hardware store, a good padlock and there you are double locked. They might get the cable but will find they have to carry the bike to steal it.

Marc

The strategy I use is just to ride an old rickety looking bike whenever I'm going to be riding somewhere where there is a higher risk of theft. I still lock it up with the U lock to the rear wheel, and if they steal my front wheel, then they're not getting very much because it's not a very good wheel anyway.

Never go to any location that won't let you take the bike inside with you has been my personal motto. I carry around a cable lock (kryptonite) and a U-lock but find that I've social engineered at my frequent haunts enough to get away with either locking up the bike inside (walmart, for example, was more than okay with it when I suggested that if my $1700+ bike disappeared from their parking lot, I'd make the biggest Fing deal about it they ever saw. From that moment on, the manager and I saw eye-to-eye).

Grocery stores that get your business frequently tend to be more okay with it (here again, I made friends with the security at H-E-B and they let me lock my bike up near the machines at the exit).

I have a much nicer bike, but that bike is never ridden unless I have zero reason to leave it unattended.