I just bought a new Gary Fisher Advanced that the LBS customised for me. All told, it cost ~530 dollars.

Sheldon Brown favors using a mini U lock. So, I bought the Evolution Mini. The thing is, I wouldn't be able to park my bike at a parking meter as the Evo Mini U lock is too narrow.

On the other hand, there's the Evolution 5 x 9 (standard size) But that has so much room it leaves a lot of room for opening the lock via leaveraging (?)

Thanks for the help, in advance.....

The mini is large enough to lock your bike to a meter.

You place it through the rear triangle around the rear wheel and meter only.

It is not large enough to include the seat tube.

The idea is that it is very hard to cut through a rim and tire.

Some people do not agree.

If someone does attack the lock the frame is not subject to torquing.

That's the idea anyway.

FWIW, I use the mini for short term lock up. Bike's always been there. For now.

For long term lock up, in dodgy territory, it's probably not optimum.

My Evo Mini easily fits around the rear wheel of any of my road bikes, plus the "standard" size parking meters. DON'T put the lock around any part of the frame...just the rear wheel just behind the seat tube plus the parking meter, with your chainstay up snug against the meter pole. Works great.