U-Lock Fashion
 

My apologies, but can't find the u-lock thread again.

Hey,

I was thinking about this earlier while trolling around one of my bike blogs, Let's Go Ride a Bike: How do you carry your u-lock(s)? I carry two u-lcoks an OnGuard Bulldog DT for my front wheel, frame, and actual locking to a stationary object, and an OnGuard Bulldog Mini DT for locking my front wheel to my fork. I, also, have locking skewers on my tires.

I just purchased the ABUS Rack Bracket for my Transit TS-1 Rack, however, I am not sure how I am going to carry the mini, I will probably just use the bracket that came with it.

Anyway, back to my question. Do you find that the aesthetics of your bike suffers for the practicality/safety of the bike? I have not seen how these lovely ladies lock up their steeds, but their bikes always look so pretty, and less "industrial" then a lot of commuters.

I just bought a set of vintage Swiss Army panniers for my rack, because I have a cargo cradle attached to my rack that I refuse to get rid of, because I absolutely love it! However, I am careful with what I put on it, so as not to scratch/knick it. Although, I was very careful with Lola in the beginning, and she has a few scratches on her, too. I am sure she will get more as I can continue to bike.

Also, any suggestions to "seal" a sticker to the frame? I just put on a "SHUT UP LEGS" sticker (the frame was clean first), but thought that maybe sealing it will prevent it from peeling off, minor damage etc.

Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.

Thanks!

Thanks for mentioning the ABUS Rack Brackets! I was looking for a way to carry my Kryptonite U-Lock without using a pannier or a backpack. Those brackets seem to be the perfect solution. Already placed an order from Amazon. :)

I find that a bike starts to look cluttered as you hang more "stuff" on it. Unfortunately, sometimes stuff is necessary. Lights, locks, luggage. All you can do is choose nice looking stuff that goes with the bike, and consolidate or streamline stuff when possible.

For example, you could skip the separate U lock holder and simply keep the U lock in your panniers. That would save a bit of clutter and a bit of weight.

I have a small Carradice saddlebag where I keep the lock, as well as gloves, map, tube and tools.

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I try and get away from carrying locks as much as possible. Since most of my rides are commutes to either work or school I leave locks there. For the longest time I didn't even bother locking my bike in the cage at work, but some heel stole my water bottle the other day and made me paranoid so I've got a u-lock there now too. For school I leave a u-lock and a chain with a padlock on the rack. I take them home over summer break and the winter holiday so they don't think they are abandoned there and cut them off.

When I do carry locks I prefer to wear a medium sized u-lock in a belt holster. Sometimes I'll wear a chain like a bandoleer if I think I'm going to need that as well. Depending on what bags I've got mounted on my bike that day the locks might end up there.

This is the simple, yet very effective holster I use:
https://www.missionbicycle.com/store/ulock-holster
The black one blends right in with my belt, but of course, that is the downside to using it, you have to wear something with belt loops!

I've never been a fan of mounting my u-lock on my bike. My bike is about as cluttered as can be without adding a u-lock! I'm used to the clutter of my fenders, lights, racks, saddlebag support and bag, three water bottle cages, Airzoundz horn, and bell, but I can't bring myself to mount a u-lock on the bike. Somehow all that other stuff seems to belong (to my eyes anyway!) while a u-lock would look ugly on my bike IMO.

That said, that Abus rack bracket looks pretty slick!

I hear you guys. I don't like my bike to look cluttered, either. On the other hand, I want to avoid carrying a backpack or a pannier as much as possible. I do keep a U-lock at work, but I need to carry one when I go out on a leisurely ride on the weekend.

My tools and cellphone go in my under-the-saddle bag. My wallet and keys are in my pants pockets. All I need to worry about is my U-lock. If I can attach it to my rack, that will do. That's why I ordered the brackets the OP mentioned. :)

This one?

Embrace your inner Fred.

Scratches and marks from use are called beausage. Embrace them, too.

I don't (technically) HAVE a U-lock anymore; one of the two, I paired with a long cable and gave it to my daughter for her bike; it's basically light enough to just hang on the bar.

My other U-lock, 'the Beast', is now riding on my nephew's handlebar.

I have a coiled cable and a trapezoidal chain with h/d padlock for my bike. The cable stays with the bike, I take the chain when I know I'm going somewhere that requires lock-up. Riding to work, the bike goes in the building with me.

I use a triangle (top tube/seat tube) bag for my mini u-lock w/keys and wind my end looped cable into a small coil and carry it on the handlebars. It rides well in the middle of the bars, sorta held in place by the stem.

There's lots of days I don't carry a lock (indoor secure parking at both ends), but when I do, it's generally in the outside pouch of my pannier. Not a fashion statement, just a practical way to carry it.

My u-lock goes in my pocket (or messenger bag).

That works for me if I have other stuff to carry with me. If the U-lock is the only thing, I want to avoid carrying a pannier just for that. (My essentials, such as spare tubes and multi-tools, go into my saddle bag.)

Thanks!

I have only used it since Tuesday, but have already fallen in love with the ease of use! :love: I agree with a bike looking "cluttered", but I would rather be safe & practical (sort of ... :lol:) than sorry. I tend to carry a lot of stuff with me anyway (in my regular purse), so doing so on my bike is no big deal. I just added my Monkey Light M210's & am waiting for my ReeLight SL 770's to come in. Then, Lola should be all set (for now anyway). It will be nice to not have to keep taking my lights on & off & on & off my bike everytime I go somewhere.
:commute:
So, yes looking at Lola right now (as I type this she is parked in my 230 sq ft studio apartment in front of my kitchen counter where it has sorta been designated her "spot") she is a bit "cluttered", but all with necessary things to keep me safe and happy as I pedal along, and she really doesn't look all that "bogged down", so she has still kept her Euro-flair, as I call it. :lol:

You have a Hello Kitty Fixie? Awesome!

I agree! I have a vintagey vibe for Lola. I was leaning toward a pink vibe, but have kinda fallen in love with the vintage stuff, such as my copper Crane bell, my Swiss military pannier, wooden cargo cradle, Reelight SL 770's. But, my more modern attributes to Lola are my Monkey Light M210's and my Nutcase pink cheetah helmet.

I would love to get some Brooks stuff, but I am way too afraid that those types of things would get stolen. But, then again, anything can be taken if someone tries hard enough!

Yeah, I can see that. Unfortunately, I am paranoid and carry my u lock everywhere! Better safe than sorry!

But, being a woman that loves to wear skirts & dresses & trench-type rain coats & winter pea coats, I can't really justify something like that.

:thumb:

On another note, who's Fred? :lol: I don't mind scratches and marks, I just don't want them to "hurt" my bike - rust, frame integrity, mechanics etc.

Have you thought about ring locks? I'm about to try one on the bike I'm building up to replace my current commuter. It's not a total solution, but I think it makes sense as both part of a layered defense and as a quick and easy lock that is always on the bike, and doesn't have to be carried on your person. Combined with a chain or a u-lock (that you might leave at a usual lock up location much of the time) it makes your bike a tougher target than most neighboring bikes and since it takes care of the rear wheel, you might be able to get away with a lighter lock that you use to secure the bike to something and maybe the front wheel.


This is the Axa Defender, you can get an accessory chain that plugs into it, and Abus makes a very similar ring lock, although not a chain AKAIK.

http://imageshack.us/a/img24/6696/jich.jpg

I just received the brackets this afternoon! I was going to install them tonight but got distracted with other stuff. I'll do it tomorrow for sure. :)

Great! I'm sure you will love it. Well, as much as you can love a bicycle accessory! Be careful when you install them, because the instructions suck! You have to make sure the threads on the bolts are placed just right in order to fit it into the plastic sprocket. :)

So, they are similar to cafe locks on Euro bikes? Hmmm ... interesting. I'm just curious as to how easy (although anything can be taken with the right tool) it would be to get off/jimmy etc.?

I suppose you'd cut the cable that is holding the bike to a fixed object , then toss the bike in the van and drive off . Deal with the ring lock at your leisure. In my garage, I think it would take me 5 minutes to get that off. Dremel to cut the straps holding the lock to the seatstays, screwdriver to detach the lock from the seatstay bridge, undo quick release, rotate the wheel to move the lock a couple inches away from the seatstay, bolt cutter to the ring, done.

Once the bike has been stolen, a thief will figure out a way to remove any lock. It's about being a less attractive target than the bike next to you (you have two locks, they have one) sometimes, or a minimal lock for in front of the coffee shop in some locales. Do you bring the six foot chain and separate U-lock both on every ride? That's what I run when I have to park in a risky area, a ring lock and one other sounds much more feasible when I don't quite need that much protection, but want two locks. My front wheel is a pain to get off too, takes longer than it should.

determined thieves tool up to defeat any lock

so in the worst case scenario you dont stand a chance . Give Up.

Yeah, the instructions... they don't even tell you which size Allen wrench to use. I had to look up the product on the web to figure it out (8 mm).

My thought about installing them was just to place each piece at the right location, stick the bolt in from behind, and then screw the plastic part in using the wrench. Is there more to it than that? Hope not... :)