That works in practice, but not in theory.

The second photo looks like a long shackle U-lock. I have two mini U-locks and I most certainly could not fit a bike rack, back wheel, two chainstays, AND the far-side crank inside.

This is how I've been locking my bicycle up. I'm actually curious if you guys think this is an OK method. I know I should probably lock the back wheel instead of the front, but the rack is really awkward.

A cable cutter can go through a cable like scissors go through paper. [MENTION=386158]killian21[/MENTION], that's a terrible locking method. All you are protecting is your front wheel. Consider the cable to be useless. Use the U lock to lock your frame to something fixed. That bike rack looks to be inadequate, too.

Yeah the bike rack is horrible. I will just have to find something fixed around my workplace. It's an extremely busy area so I haven't had any issues, but I figured it was a pretty bad method.

I see those bike racks around here sometimes. They are terrible but you can use them better than you currently are. Approach from the opposite side of the rack and lift your front wheel up and over the rack. Place the front wheel in the rack. You should be able to get even a mini u-lock around the rack and your downtube now. That plus a cable to keep your wheels from wandering off is what I'd do, where I live (not in NYC).

No downside, really, but Sheldon's lock doesn't look like it's quite long enough to reach around the post, wheel, outer chainstay, and crank arm; it's only long enough to capture the post and wheel with a little bit to spare.

Right, but the crank arm thing doesn't add any security, it just fills up the space to prevent jacking, which, I'm assured in this thread, never happens because thieves don't carry jacks (or Bic pens). Sheldon's lock is long enough to capture the rear rim and go around the chainstays or seatstays - so why wouldn't one?

A mini-ulock that's only big enough to go around the immovable, secure object, the back rim and a single seatstay is great - so long as you have an amenable object to lock to. As a ulock user since 1977 I gotta point out a mini-u'er is one of the least versatile bike locks. That's not a horrible thing, just a consideration.

I hate that type of rack! If you put the wheel in the groove like they intend, no part of the frame is close enough to U lock to the rack. I guess they expect people to be using cable locks? It's annoying. You're better off going behind the rack or on the side or something and locking the frame to the rack, and then use the cable to go through one of the wheels.

I did this method this morning and it worked. Thank you so much, my bike is a lot more secure now!

At first I had the same sense of not trusting that it was enough to only lock the rim that way, until I actually put my hands on the bike and thought about it. Leaving aside the hacksaw issue, I wonder if all thieves would realize right away that they wouldn't be able to get the frame? Util they undid the quick release and messed with it and realized their mistake, and then you come back to find your bike all there but you have to put the wheel back on. I don't know if that's ever happened, but it would be funny.

Your lock will get greasy.

As Saving Hawaii said,if you can't get one of the side spots,lift your front wheel over the top and lock through it. Carry a piece of pipe foam to pad your frame so you don't scratch it.

Heh. Now that you know how to use those crappy racks every single one you run into from now on will be against a wall so you can't use that trick.

The lock in Sheldon's illustration also gets greasy - in fact, while the lock in the second picture is not in contact with the chain but might come in contact with it, the lock in Sheldon's illustrated method is laying across the chain.