cncspinner

For the most part I have been a "recreational rider" always loaded my bike into my truck,drive where I wanted to ride, ride and drive home. This past year or so I started commuting to work a few times a week and have since started riding to stores and such. I bought myself a decent u-lock and thought I was all set. The problem is 99.9% of the business's locally do not have anything I can lock up to with a u-lock, alot don't even have a place to use a cable lock. The bank for instance doesn't even have a tree nearby that isn't 20ft around or is smaller than my arm. When I'm downtown it's not an issue there's plenty of places to lock up with a u lock. My question is do most of you carry multiple lock devices or just try and find the nearest place to secure and walk a few blocks if needed. The less things i need to attach to my bike the better.

scroca

My advice is for you to get something that is the best combination of versatile and secure that you can find and carry that one thing.

fietsbob

On My Bike Friday I Have an Abus Bordo folding Lock and I also have an Abus Integrated lock and chain I can carry..

My Koga I have an Axa ring lock and Its Integrated Lock up chain that snaps into the Catch on that Frame Mounted Ring Lock


When I go into my Credit Union Branch I Park the bike in the hallway inside.


Dont Like the Bike security options? perhaps You can change where you Bank?
They can write 1 check for your balance and you deposit it in someplace Better.

My town invested in a couple dozen Bike Racks, spread all around.

FBinNY 

Do you know the old Scuba Diver's joke about getting away from a shark? Answer, you don't need to out swim the shark, you just need to out swim your buddy.

The same logic applies to bike security. You want a less attractive bike, that's locked better than others nearby. That will have the thief pass you for better pickin's.

At work, or downtown, where your bike will be locked for a while, then a U-lock secured to a fixed object like a tall signpost is best, and in many places necessary, sometimes along with a secondary lock for the front wheel. OTOH- short term parking at shops, especially smaller ones don't call for the same security, and the same U-lock slipped across the seat stays to immobilize the bike is more than adequate.

When I lived and rode everywhere in Manhattan, I left my lock in place on "my" signpost at work, and carried a lighter cable for short term use at stores. At work, it doubled as my front wheel lock. You might adopt a similar method if it makes sense for your situation.

caloso

I leave a heavy U-lock attached to the post at work. Since it's a key-card controlled cage inside a key-card controlled parking garage, I don't hesitate to commute on my good bike. If I'm running errands, I ride my beater and bring a cable lock.

wolfchild

I carry either a chain or a ulock , it depends what area I am going to. A chain is a lot better and can be used to lock a bike around objects that a ulock will not fit. Some bike racks are a joke, I feel safer locking around a thick sign post , lamp post, parking meter or some heavy railing.

alan s 

I have a 9 lb Kryponite NY chain and lock and a u-lock, and that's inside a locked cage in a locked parking garage. There are easier pickings for a would be bike thief. I don't ride to the store. That's what cars are for.

the sci guy 

I just have 1 lock - it's an older U-Lock that can be opened apparently with a Bic pen. I keep it on the bike rack at work.
Not sure what I would get if I needed to ride somewhere else on my bike or another bike. Houston isn't exactly "ride your bike to do stuff" friendly. Except in the more hipster areas - which I don't live.

jyl

I carry a U lock. There is almost always a nearby place to lock up, if not then I lock and walk, or bring the bike inside. This being Portland, I've never been told to leave the bike outside.

takenreasy

Luckily for me at work I have a bike locker in a guarded parking garage. Outside of that I carry a good U-lock and cable.

Lanovran

I use a pair of Abus Bordo folding locks (one heavy-duty, one lighter-weight) for my frame and both wheels, along with a cable for my saddle.

El Cid

I get the same problem if I have to go out to a suburban strip plaza. Those places never have bike racks, but they usually have gaudy billboard signs, out near the sidewalk, with heavy steel frames. You could also lock up to the steel cable coming down from a telephone pole.

I bet the "less attractive bike" option won't do you any good; it sounds like you're going where there aren't any other bikes at all. But those areas probably aren't trolled by hardcore bike theives either.


I get by with a U-lock, but the Abus Bordo would also be a good option for you.

Bizman

I use 2 locks, a Kryptonite U-lock through the back wheel and frame then secured to a bike rack and a cable lock through the front wheel around the frame and fastened to the bike rack. If I think I may be in an area where I may need a longer cable to go around something of bigger diameter I carry that in addition to the other 2 locks.

cncspinner

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I will have to pick up a long cable lock. And there really are not a lot of cyclists in my area, the ones that are around usually group ride. The more I started riding the more I started "looking" for others doing the same and if I see a bike locked up somewhere its a rarity

kickstart

I have a frame mounted AXA Defender cafe wheel lock with plug in chain. Defender*-*axa-stenman
If I'm just running in someplace quick or will be within sight of the bike I can just snap the cafe lock closed. If I will be a while or out of sight I simply loop the chain around something, and plug it into the cafe lock, then its double locked, cut the chain and it still can't be ridden away..
One of the advantages of a high quality cafe lock is that they are difficult to access with many of the most expedient methods used to defeat a lock as its mounted behind the seat stays.

SalsaShark

I mount a U-lock to each of my bikes' frames, just in case I need it!

rekmeyata

The folding lock mentioned earlier is easy to break I would stay away from that one unless you live in a low crime area.

A Kryptonite NY Chain the BullGuard Chain is a good idea because it's usually long enough to go around most things and far stronger than a cable but is quite heavy so some commuters simply leave the lock around the thing they locked their bike too, but some cities may have an ordinance against leaving a lock behind so you'll have to check with your city. Other than a chain or cable you're pretty much screwed if you can't find a small enough thing to lock your bike up to, you may have to search outward to find a place than walk to where you need to go.

All I ever carried was a cable with a Discus lock but I don't live in high crime areas and leave it so I can see it, I also been able to always take my bike into my office when I commuted. I never carry a lock just in case because if I go into a store I just leave it so I can see it and cross gear it.

Redhatter

I usually carry a chain lock, about 10mm thick. Rarely needed anything better, but that could be that anyone who tried nicking my bike would be spotted a mile away as it's quite distinctive, and also rather heavy to lift.

Edit: Then again, if you're paranoid, you could try this…



(Thanks to @ahsposo for posting that here)

cncspinner

I definitely live in a high crime area, but not high bike theft, if it's left out in the open it will be gone in minutes but I don't think there's many people out looking for bikes to steal. Most thefts I here about are unsecured bikes or garage doors left open/unlocked

rekmeyata

The problem with cables that I use is that a simple pair of small wire rope cutters will have a cable cut in less than 15 seconds, and a bike thief will carry those.

Look, myself and a few others have said this before on other posts and forums, the best deterrent against bike thief is to buy a used nice bike for $300 or so and lock it up with medium priced locks.

When I say locks I mean 2 locks, a medium priced U Lock and another of your choice that is portable like a OnGuard Cable, this way the thief will have to have two sets of tools instead of just one which he'll just move on. It's a $300 bike so don't go buying $200 in locks! You can can 2 decent locks for less than $100; and here is a list of the best locks for under $50: 3 of the Best Bike Locks Under $50 | Top Trusted Reviews If you get the combo U bolt with cable I would buy a separate lock for the cable so in case someone defeats the U bolt lock they also haven't defeated both the U bolt and the cable, I happen to like the Abus Discus lock for my cable system because it's compact and it's 35 years old and still works great.

Here's the proper way to use a U lock: Bicycle Lock-up

Here is a test done on some locks for breaking: Smash Lab: Bike Locks Broken | Bicycling

Here is a lengthy discussion/test on fewer locks; see: The Best Bike Lock | The Sweethome

You can also use locking skewers but I can't really get into those because then I have to use a tool just to fix a flat which defeats the purpose of having quick release wheels.

Also don't get hung up on lock guarantees because they're almost all but impossible to get money from a claim due to numerous requirements such as: you must register your lock within a certain time period, (this is tricky) you have to send them your original UPS code and original receipt to register the lock and then send the original package with the UPS code attached again when a theft occurs? how's that done when there is only one UPS code on the package and you sent the original receipt in too? That pretty much prevents you from collecting, but they're not done with the requirements, you need a police report which in most major cities the police won't come out to do a report on a stolen bike so again you're screwed, but wait there's more, you need pictures of the unmolested crime scene and lock with whatever it was attached to so they can determine if you locked it properly and if the bike was in a well lit highly traveled area, plus you need to send the broken lock back, and then just before the first 2 years of the insurance expires you have to renew it which means pay money, then just before the second 2 years is up you have to buy another lock in order to keep the insurance going. When Kryptonite was questioned once by a major bicycle magazine as too how many claims do they pay out in a year, their answer was: "that is confidential information which we do not publicize"! In other words very few and probably none.

You could make a claim on your homeowners insurance but usually most people have a $1,000 deductible, and it could raise your rates depending on the company.

bmthom.gis

to start carrying a 2nd one in whichever bike is using my Brooks. I park it inside at home and at work, and am not in a particularly high crime area when i lock it up outside a restaurant

Reynolds 

It depends. If I'm leaving my bike for a few minutes in a place where I can see it I usually use a 3/8" combination cable. If the bike is left alone in the street where I can't see it I use a case hardened 3/8" chain and an armored padlock. I also have an U lock but as said before the chain is more versatile - very heavy though.

pdlamb

Really depends on the neighborhood, how long you'll be inside, and whether or not you can see the bike from inside.

I'll occasionally wheel my bike inside a business or bank. If someone asks you to leave it outside, ask them politely to show you the bike rack you can lock it to. (Works better in wide open spaces of a bank than a crowded urban store.)

rekmeyata

I've done this a lot, just bring the bike into a bank or wherever, I've found indoor restaurants and mini marts not as obliging but that's understandable due to limited space. But I've never been told to take my bike outside at any place of business, but I can also tell which businesses may balk like you said a crowded store there is no way, just use common sense that's all. I took my bike into a hospital once and the security guard had me place it next to his station and he watched it! Walmart's that I've gone into never had an issue either, and why would they? People buy bikes all the time and are wheeling them around the store.

irwin7638

I use Abus and Axa Ring locks supplemented by a cable for the two I commute with. I add the cable whenever they are parked for a few hours. I also have a Kryptonite cable for my roadie or hybrid,but use an Abus Bordo for any of my bikes when I travel. I live and work in a pretty affluent, low crime area.

Marc