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Urbanites? Locks?
Okay, y'all. Quick opinions from city-dwellers in high crime areas only please: your lock of choice.
I got a Kryptonite NYC lock, but I'm a skinny and it's too bulky. Plus, the brac-kit thingee I shelled over more cash for broke on me and never quite fit right. I'm thinking of migrating to a chain--'m thinking the increase in weight might be easier to deal with around my waist than in my bag. Or maybe the new Evo-mini. I like the minimalist aspect. Oh yeah, and if you have a chain, which one? Is the lowest grade one okay, esp. in NYC? Let's hear it. |
i have the krypto chain, but i wouldn't leave my bike out of my sight for too long, especially in manhattan. the bottom line is that nothing is safe, and the more people know about fixies the more likely your bike is to become a target. in short- my lock of choice is the one on my front door. :D
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I agree. The same applies in DC. Nothing is going to keep someone from stealing your bike if they really want it. The safest thing is to bring your bike inside with you. My favorite bar lets me do this. I have a mid-priced U-lock (on guard), but then I need a bag to carry it. I got the ~$120 krypto chain to avoid having to carry a bag, but it must weigh 9 lbs. I'm also skinny, and a 9 lb chain doesn't feel very nice slung across my chest and back.
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i have a kryptonite mini,and it's been fine so far. only cost me 6 bucks.i left it locked up outside u penn for a day an it was fine. in fact some one tried to steal my bike last weekend and popped my tire instead. it also fits in my back pocket while riding.
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Six bucks..??? Where.
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Okay, right, got it. I've heard this one before and I take it to heart. I did get the krypto U-lock, after all. But I don't hang out with a biking crowd or in biking or bike-friendly joints, and I just really need to be able to lock up outside at times. Especially for things like trips to the markets (the bike just don't fit in the narrow aisles here) or going to dinner, etc. And by the way, the bike's a beater--fairly budget roadie conversion with a crappy seat and not much else.
So help me out. What kind of chain did you get? I don't think I can sling it over my shoulder, but how 'bout as a belt? Still too heavy? |
i use an onGuard resettable combo lock that's built onto a cable with a steel jacket.
it weighs a ton, but it fits in a bracket on the frame so i don't have to carry it, looks intimidating as hell, and only cost about $30 |
It's the 3 foot Kryptonite New York chain, about $120. Do you have a 36" waistline? Go to a bike shop and see if it fits your shoulder (or waist).
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If I feel really worried about my bike I use both an alkatraz(?) chain lock (I got it for about $15 from some shop in coral springs, florida it's just a little smaller than the kryptonite new york chain) and a kryptonite evo U-lock. I feel ok with that set-up because I think you need different tools for a chain and a U-lock, but then again I step outside about ever 15-20 minutes to check on it.
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so
i took the sleeve off my 3' krypto chain, and if the thing is too big, lock it in a couple of links from the end. you could probably cut just enough fabric if you worry about stains and such. i've had a crappy front wheel on my beater-bike stolen from me on houston, and was pissed about it. i've since taken to locking both wheels down with my chain w/out taking them off, and it seems to work on all but the widest of posts. i have an office job right off washington park, and leave it locked up outside all the time, without incident. i get paranoid and might start carrying a mini-lock for times when i can't do both wheels with the chain. i also do a chain on my saddle, which would most certainly walk. |
I have the Kryptonite Chain that I do wear around my waist. I took the sleeve off of it because I cinch it down a few links (i am skinny). I got the NYC chain because I needed a replacement when I sent back my Krypto U-Lock. I like the chain much better. Its heavy but I feel safer when I lock up, plus I like to lock up my back wheel and frame to poles and sheit like that. If I lock up to a meter, I can just cinch it down a few links. Its also nice for when I ride with the girlfriend and we both need to lock up our bikes, I just use the chain instead of trying to get 2 Ulocks around one area, or ulocking to a pole and then have her ulock to my frame. Less mess. I did like having the ulock tucked into the back of my pants though, I felt like I had a weapon if needed, now that I wear the chain around my waist I tend to lock it on myself so I dont really have easy access in an emergency, but then again, when will I REALLY need that.
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yeah where to get those mini locks?
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I don't know about nyc, but in boston they had them at every other lbs. Even the dreaded back bay bikes carried them!
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i had a stocks cable lock http://www.stocksmfg.on.ca/ before it got snipped. i went with the cable (t-lock) instead of their flexible u-lock so i could thread it through both wheels. apparently, the cable of the t-lock is not made of the same material (suspension bridge cable) as the cable piece on their flexible u-lock as it got cut pretty easily. this isn't mentioned on the website or packaging though. they don't have a bike replacement/refund policy because they say they can't control how anyone locks their bike. their locks are pretty popular, at least in toronto.. not sure if i'm going to stay with them or go to another manufacturer for my next lock.
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Originally Posted by operator
Six bucks..??? Where.
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I run a Krypto chain with an industrial grade american lock because those krypto locks are now garbage. I also have a mini u-lock that I use for free locking my bike to go in and out of places quickly.
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I find that locks dont really work on bikes, so i settle with lox on my bagel.
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Originally Posted by gokiburi
i had a stocks cable lock http://www.stocksmfg.on.ca/ before it got snipped. i went with the cable (t-lock) instead of their flexible u-lock so i could thread it through both wheels. apparently, the cable of the t-lock is not made of the same material (suspension bridge cable) as the cable piece on their flexible u-lock as it got cut pretty easily. this isn't mentioned on the website or packaging though. they don't have a bike replacement/refund policy because they say they can't control how anyone locks their bike. their locks are pretty popular, at least in toronto.. not sure if i'm going to stay with them or go to another manufacturer for my next lock.
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i'm gonna repost this here cuz i just spent so much time typing it...
Originally Posted by gally99
i've heard people say that something "can't be cut with bolt cutters", or "you'd need bolt cutters with four foot arms" etc... standard 30 inch cuters can get through damn near anything if you know how to use them (the krypto NYC chain is a usual exception)...
hell, i can turn you on to a hand-held cutter than can get through a 3/8" krypto cable like butter... as for combo locks; circular ones- a hammer, maybe a chisel, a needle, and knowledge of what you're doing will get you through one in under two minutes... cylindrical ones- skip the needle and half the know-how... regular key locks (ie masterlock padlocks, house door locks, etc): i can open anything like this, with 5 pins, with a bike spoke and a screw driver in under 10 seconds... 7 pins and i take about 30 seconds... warded locks (which, i believe, is what krypto is using on the new locks) are the only ones i've tried that i can't pick... not to say it can't be done... quickly at that... i still even trust cylindrical locks (old kryptos) if you dump enough oil/grease in them to keep a bic from sticking... if these are actually picked, you need to pick it seven times to actually get it all the way open... granted, breaking & entering and theft played a major role in my life for a while, but anybody with access to google and a curb can learn to pick basic locks, and anyone with some bolt cutters and an hour to kill can learn to use them well... i don;t figure this is common knowledge with your average bike theif, but it's common enough that i don;t trust locks for ****... i figure intimidation factor (of the lock) and tricks like grease in the mechanism work way better than the actual locking mechanism... |
my lock moves from "Safe" to "Auto"
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Originally Posted by [165]
my lock moves from "Safe" to "Auto"
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Abus Manhattan. Bikes ain't been stolen yet... but then maybe it;s 'cos I also use a little magic to protect the bikes...
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If you are parking a $2,000 bike and leaving it alone in New York City for hours, two "New York" locks might not be enough.
But, if you are locking a $300 bike for thirty minutes or so, a lower level of security might be enough. My "low level" security system is to replace quick releases with bolts. I lock the rear wheel with a "mini-lock" directly to a steel pole, with the lock positioned next to the seat tube. That protects the rear wheel and frame. The front wheel and frame are attached to the pole with a medium weight cable with built-in combination lock. The easiest way to carry heavy locks is strapped to a rear rack. You don't even notice the extra weight. That set-up works fine in Houston in daytime, on a $300 bike. At night, with a better bike, I would want a couple of my New York locks. |
I have a variety of locks. So far so good with the mini (got a replacement) and for extra security I carry either a cable (I take the front wheel off - a pain, but I'd rather do this then lose a front wheel even if it's got nuts) and then loop everything together at the rear. For even extra security I also have a New York U-lock which I got while waiting for my replacements. Not light but that's the way it is with bikes.
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could you post some pics of this? the climbing webbing sounds like a great idea..
Originally Posted by climbinrocks
i use a chain and padlock....the chain is the beefiest stuff they had at the hardware store (hardened steel, about 1/2inch in diameter)....3 feet cost me about 10 bucks....the padlock is an american brand padlock...beefy and strong, shackle also about 1/2inch...cost me about 20 bucks at the local locksmith...to top it off i took a piece of 2 inch wide climbing webbing and threaded the chain through it...webbing is about $.35/ft...in the end i had a lock about as good as any krypto chain for 30 bucks....still goin strong about six years later....i just drop a little triflow in the lock from time to time....i ride with it (unlocked; for potential quick weapons usage) around my waist and never notice its there....i dont think i'd ever spend 60 bucks or more on a krypto when this is practically just as hard to cut and/or pick....though i do also like those krypto minis...which is what i had before the chain....
also if you have any quick releases on your bike....replace them with something (anything) that requires a tool...if you havent already |
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