Reasonable Bicycle lock to prevent "Thefts of opportunity", when on brevets
#26
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I'm sure a Tigr works fine at a convenience store, assuming the area isn't too sketchy. However, there are videos of people getting into them really quickly.
Seems like I have seen people attaching them to top tubes.
Seems like I have seen people attaching them to top tubes.
#27
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On bike tours I often use a small cable lock like skiers use (see photo) when I go in a restaurant where I will be able to see my bike. But grocery store stops where I will be in the store for a longer time and not able to see the bike, I use a better lock.
And on bicycle tours, I rarely lock up both wheels, I use the bolt on skewers that use a 5mm allen wrench, not a quick release. i am assuming that most bike thieves are opportunists, do not carry a multi-tool with them.
And on bicycle tours, I rarely lock up both wheels, I use the bolt on skewers that use a 5mm allen wrench, not a quick release. i am assuming that most bike thieves are opportunists, do not carry a multi-tool with them.
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I have one like that, and I also have a slightly heftier cable + small padlock. The tiny ski lock can be hard to find anything to attach to, so I usually carry the longer cable/padlock. I often don't lock up on brevets, if I can see the bike from inside the convenience store, or if there's an entire pack of bikes. (I remember boggling at one point on an early spring 100k in suburban at ~$100K of bikes stuffed into a snowdrift like it was a bike rack, none locked, while everyone was inside eating in a small restaurant. Then I stuffed my bike into the snowdrift too and went and had lunch. Was fine.)
I am not saying I am obsessive about locking up bikes, when I bike toured Iceland the crime rate was so low that I went days at a time without locking up my bike. But I get very nervous in high foot traffic areas about opportunistic bike theft.
#29
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there are some really deadbeat looking towns here in Central Pennsylvania where I feel somewhat uncomfortable leaving my bike. One of these towns features two convenience stores, both of which have windows that start well above bike level. The first time I rode through there, I was concerned about someone riding off on my bike. So I put it in a really high gear as I rode into the parking lot. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough momentum to make it, and when I tried to pedal I just fell over. I'm sure they were talking about that little feat for some time afterwards.
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Some of these locks and helmet-tying schemes would be a bad idea for me. Toward the end of a long brevet, *I* might not be able to remember the combo or have the dexterity to untie a knot.
#31
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#32
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I bought a TiGr lock (https://www.tigrlock.com) with the plan for taking it on a tour. It’s not too heavy (less than 1lbs) though it is an awkward shape and I haven’t found a good place to mount it besides within the main triangle.
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Here's the answer to all your troubles. I have this lock in the 30 inch variation. It's nimble, hardly weighs anything, and it can be the perfect bike lock in a pinch when needed for a few minutes. I don't use it for anything longer than grabbing coffee, beer (in view), quick run into a store.
https://ottodesignworks.com/shop/ottolock
https://ottodesignworks.com/shop/ottolock
I have used one this past riding season - gives me the confidence to leave bike unattended for a short period - likely more protection than a cable
Seems well made + combination # lock eliminates hassle of keys
#34
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On some rides where I expect to stop for an errand, bathroom or very brief shopping task, I carry a handgun cable lock, which is a 14" long armored steel cable that resists smaller cutting tools quite well. It fits easily in a pants or jersey pocket when looped and locked as shown. It cost almost nothing as these seem to be subsidized.
*(Add favorite joke about just carrying the titanium sig or kahr 380 instead)*
On some coffee-shop rest stops I remove the front QR and take it with me, hoping that a bike grabber would be surprised by the wheel falling off or would wisely be afraid to ride it away.
The modest 168g weight of the lock is somewhat offset by the use of other lightweight pocket-carry items, such as sub-30g adjustable wrench, Chain/multi-tool and SKS Sub40 (gram) carbon mini-pump, though my super-thin, old and worn Body Billfold wallet is shown stuffed with a heavy load of bills.
*(Add favorite joke about just carrying the titanium sig or kahr 380 instead)*
On some coffee-shop rest stops I remove the front QR and take it with me, hoping that a bike grabber would be surprised by the wheel falling off or would wisely be afraid to ride it away.
The modest 168g weight of the lock is somewhat offset by the use of other lightweight pocket-carry items, such as sub-30g adjustable wrench, Chain/multi-tool and SKS Sub40 (gram) carbon mini-pump, though my super-thin, old and worn Body Billfold wallet is shown stuffed with a heavy load of bills.
Last edited by dddd; 01-08-18 at 03:52 PM.
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Also, if you clip (or tie a knot, if you're willing to go that far) your helmet in between the fork's legs, that requires some additional manual dexterity to maneuver your fingers in between the spokes (which may buy a little extra time for you to spot a would-be thief fiddling with the bike). Or hopefully prove too much of a hassle that the thief may just hop on and ride off with another easier target.
Attachment 594147
#36
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https://www.topeak.com/global/en/pro...ybridrocket-hp
The only mods I made was to wrap the canisters with inner tube (to minimize impact of road vibration on the canisters against the down tube), and also using Velcro to secure the tubes to the pump (as they have a habit of working themselves loose from bad road conditions).
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The Kryptonite R2 is a 3' cable combination lock that can help keep honest people honest, and it weighs just 3 ozs.
#38
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I have a 6' cable lock I made for $11 from materials at ACE hardware. The first bit was a small padlock which comes with two keys.
I then bought some heavy aircraft cable up the aisle from the locks with some thimbles and nicos. I used a nicopress (swaging tool) to install the thimbles on the ends of the cable and swaged it all together with the nicopress.
The result was cheap, fits easily on the map side of my tangle bag and weighs about 1/4 pound. Its just to keep people honest when in small towns (I ride the Tour Divide). The bike typically weighs about 50 pounds anyway, so it would be hard for someone to race off with it and the lock can be easily defeated, but in most of the towns on the Tour Divide that's not really a problem.
I then bought some heavy aircraft cable up the aisle from the locks with some thimbles and nicos. I used a nicopress (swaging tool) to install the thimbles on the ends of the cable and swaged it all together with the nicopress.
The result was cheap, fits easily on the map side of my tangle bag and weighs about 1/4 pound. Its just to keep people honest when in small towns (I ride the Tour Divide). The bike typically weighs about 50 pounds anyway, so it would be hard for someone to race off with it and the lock can be easily defeated, but in most of the towns on the Tour Divide that's not really a problem.
#39
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This came free from ribble when I picked up a shirt and set of tyres.
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cafe-lock-r-cl10/
...And it's really easy to change the combination by accident.
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cafe-lock-r-cl10/
...And it's really easy to change the combination by accident.
Last edited by znomit; 01-13-18 at 04:43 AM.
#40
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Thanks all. I got the Hiplock Z, haven’t used it yet but just FYI: each pack comes with two of them. I ordered two and wound up with four.
#41
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THIS.... plus putting the shifters in a completely different gear than the bike, so riding off is challenging. Barely works with Di2 though. The damn stuff just drops cleanly into gear as soon as [thief] starts pedaling.
As a deterrent against opportunistic theft, the helmet is "yet another hassle" that the would-be thief has to fumble with, in addition to any other deterrents (i.e. cable lock). Plus, you typically have a helmet with you, so it's not something extra you have to carry about.
Also, if you clip (or tie a knot, if you're willing to go that far) your helmet in between the fork's legs, that requires some additional manual dexterity to maneuver your fingers in between the spokes (which may buy a little extra time for you to spot a would-be thief fiddling with the bike). Or hopefully prove too much of a hassle that the thief may just hop on and ride off with another easier target.
Attachment 594147
Also, if you clip (or tie a knot, if you're willing to go that far) your helmet in between the fork's legs, that requires some additional manual dexterity to maneuver your fingers in between the spokes (which may buy a little extra time for you to spot a would-be thief fiddling with the bike). Or hopefully prove too much of a hassle that the thief may just hop on and ride off with another easier target.
Attachment 594147
#42
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Rode a 200k brevet yesterday and used the HiplockZ "locks" for when leaving bike attended for 3-5 minutes going to restroom or stepping in a store. I keep them attached on the bike and they weigh next to nothing. Just don't lose the little key.
#44
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Personally, I like to keep my keys in a zippered jersey pocket or trouser pocket that I don't routinely open and close for other items, such as wallets, phone, etc. so there is absolutely no risk of dropping it while pulling out something else.
#45
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Sometimes I just sabotage my bike. I shift the chain into the big chainring and big cog. Then I push the shift levers forward so the bike will want to shift when pedaled. I disconnect the brakes and open the skewers. So if someone gets on the bike, these steps will slow him down, and he might also fall.
This won't prevent someone from picking the bike up.
This won't prevent someone from picking the bike up.
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#46
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Since it is so small & easily lost, and used so infrequently, I kept the little key on a 6 inch loop of bright yarn/string and then put in the ziplock bag that I use for keeping my brevet card and receipts from controls (and my
dental retainer that cost a $1000!). While riding, that ziplock bag is in a bento box bag on the top tube. When leaving the bike locked, I take that ziplock bag with me and keep it in a zipped pant pocket.
dental retainer that cost a $1000!). While riding, that ziplock bag is in a bento box bag on the top tube. When leaving the bike locked, I take that ziplock bag with me and keep it in a zipped pant pocket.