I've made do with a cheap Bell cable lock for a couple of years now, but wanting to upgrade. I don't like how the cold makes the cable all stiff and almost brittle. Had an On Guard u-lock prior to that, but didn't like it for various reasons- one of which is that I have to get creative locking up at times and a u-lock isn't conducive to that kind of creativity.

Anyway, came across the Mountie Mini with chain from Planet Bike. Thoughts on this type of design?

They work well, especially if kept as high as possible. I only use mine at when I'll be locking for longer times and am unsure of what the parking situation will be.

I do question the barrel keyed lock on the on the mountie. Maybe some are fine but that is the same style of lock that the bic pen trick works on.

Mine looks like a rebranded OnGuard (It says "Bunker Hill" and came with only 2 keys) that i purchased at harbor freight for less than $20. It is very similar to the link you provided

Pros:

I can lock up the frame and both wheels (front wheel removed then placed next to rear) and still have some slack to wrap around a decent sized object.

I am able to fill the u lock ortion with seat tube to make it less vulnerable to bolt cutters.

It can be used a bit higher making it harder to attack (they can't rest one side of the cutters on the ground so easily)

Cons:

It's heavy. heavier than a good u lock and decent sized cable lock combined.


Proper chain u lock technique by tdister, on Flickr

Based on your post, it sounds like you must lock your bike in different locations therefore need to carry your chain and lock with you, versus leaving it on a rack for you to come to on a regular basis. I think that many of these set-ups are too heavy to easily carry. But, you gotta do what you gotta do.

That is correct. Currently unemployed and I never know where I'm going to lock up at any given place until I get there. I've locked my bike up to flagpoles, a hand rail, shopping carts, playground equipment, park benches, propane exchange cage, small trees...

I use a kryptonite 10' cable and kryptonite U-Lock.

For quick trips, I use a hardened Kryptonite cable lock that coils. Easy to carry and deters opportunist thieves. Not as good as a U-Lock, but I have no excuse to not carry it.

I actually went bigger, a 6' chain I can wear bandoleer style and easily lock both wheels, frame and to something without having to remove the rear wheel. I just use a regular u-lock with it, I like having a regular u-lock with me as a defensive weapon just in case. It all weighs a lot to be sure, but my bike is always there when I come back to it.