Flounce

I try to keep my bike with me on brevets, e.g. even when entering convenience stores and gas stations.

But sometimes we have to go to the bathrooms that won't fit a bike inside or even nearby ; or enter a grocery store that tells you to leave the bike outside. In this situation, it's nice to have a small lock that will prevent "thefts of opportunity." Most of us know that a dedicated bike thief can cut through the best and heaviest U-lock in 60-90 seconds with a handheld angle grinder, we can't prevent those types of thieves and we don't want to carry a heavy U-lock, so it's going to something lightweight and more of a visual deterrent.


So: what lock do you carry on brevets, if any ? (I currently carry a $5 cheapo cable lock that rarely gets used)

unterhausen

I don't carry anything. In some sketchier stops, I try to put my bike where it can be seen and not so easily moved.

CliffordK

For doing something like a "Century Ride", I generally won't take a lock. For some restrooms, one can bring the bicycle inside. Others like the blue boxes, one can lean the bike against the box when one goes inside to do one's business. I figure that I'll hear anybody messing with it.

Any ride with organized rest stops seem safe enough with a bunch of like minded cyclists hanging around.

"Frame Locks" are popular in Europe, and I believe Asia, but not used a lot here in the USA.

https://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secu...ks/Frame-Locks

I believe the key stays in the lock until you lock it and pull it out. It would be good enough to keep someone from hopping on the bike and riding off. I.E. They'd have to carry the bike away, or carry it to a vehicle. They can be used with a thin cable lock if you wish.

Aushiker

I have just got a couple of sets of Hiplok Z Lok for this purpose. One set lives on my endurance ride and the other on my bikepacking bike.

Kontact 

I would get or make up a light cable, like 1/8", and a small key lock. Even long enough to go through both wheels it will still weigh next to nothing, but still be real security requiring real tools to cut. And they're cheap.

dim

nice! .... just what I was looking for!

gif4445

I carry a cheapo cable lock also. I have used it little, due to riding mostly where I trust. On longer rides, I'm sometimes torn between keeping the bike and wanting someone to steal it, and put me out of my misery.

Kontact 

This is what I was thinking of. $1.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-200CM-...8S0sjZ5FsQMWdw

Da Reef

Model No. 8114D | Master Lock

I don’t lock my bike when stopping but when skiing I use a cable combo lock when I’m in the lodge. Don’t have to worry about keys or separate lock and they are not that heavy. Just enough protection to be too much hassle.

Flounce

LOL ! I know the feeling. Toward the end of some long rides, I can be heard chanting repeatedly to myself, "will - somebody -
please - F**** - SHOOT - ME."

Flounce

Thank you all, especially Aushiker: I just ordered two of those hiplock Z locks. At 20 grams each (0.04 lbs), you can't beat that.

Aushiker

Just a heads-up and my apologies for not mentioning this before but they come with one "key" only and apparently they are not able to be purchased separately so be careful to try to avoid losing it or damaging it.

superpletch

I was given a bike lock/alarm cable lock for christmas. I was not sure about it at first, but I think I like it. if the cable is cut it makes a deafening alarm sound, it also detects vibration and will give a warning sound if disturbed and than the same godawful alarm sound if it continues to be disturbed. It is fairly light and compact for road rides and used in conjunction with u-lock for commuting seems to be effective. I use it on my bikes in the garage in case someone tries to break in.

DTG

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

skiffrun

to the OP -- you're obviously riding in the wrong Region. LOL.

Only once on a brevet and once on a Perm have I even considered the bike possibly going missing.

600 brevet with the 300k control / turn-around / possible sleep stop in a dodgy motel in Wilmington, NC. The volunteer at the control corralled all the bikes into rooms or in a small area from which he did not leave.

One perm-pop, returning into Raleigh, 14.5-miles from the finish in downtown Raleigh, my ride partner and I looked at each other and quickly agreed one at a time in the convenience store. Never before or since have I had a concern at that c-store.

Another time on the same 600 brevet route mentioned above, I desperately needed sleep in the middle of nowhere. Parked the bikes outside the small post-office, where anyone driving by could have seen them, and entered the P.O. lobby to nap. I know others have napped at that same P.O.; some have parked their steeds around back and others have parked where we did.

Flounce

Skiffrun, so your solution to my bicycle lock question is that I move my family from southern california to somewhere where I can leave my bike outside ? Ordering a nifty bike lock on amazon was much easier.

I hear you, though, I would love to live somewhere where this wasn't an issue. For one thing, for 1.1 million I could have a house larger than 2300 sq feet, maybe even a backyard!

I was on a brevet and chatted with someone who told me how they left their Trek Domane SL - probably a $3000 bike kitted out with rando gear - outside a market in San Diego along a bunch of other riders who also left their bikes out front. Wasn't gone long, but someone took his bike. I'm not surprised.

Tourist in MSN

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.

atwl77

Cable lock as mentioned in the post above, plus clipping the helmet around the front wheel/fork.

Flounce

Can you explain the clipping the helmet around wheel/fork?

atwl77

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.


OI000047-small.jpg

Flounce

Okay, got it. That’s a good idea, every little bit helps.

unterhausen

the Hiplock looks like something worth carrying. I wouldn't do anything more than that though. I think making it just enough trouble that they can't move the bike easily is probably more than enough on any randonneuring ride I have been on. In Pennsylvania, I think that people are mostly going to sell your bike for scrap price, so most bikes are barely worth stealing, even for that. Steel price is so low now that it really is more trouble that it is worth.

In California, there are thieves that understand bikes, that's not a good thing.

anotherbrian

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.

unterhausen

I think a tour is a whole other ballgame. I have read accounts of many people having their bike, or more likely their bags stolen while on tour. This has happened to very few long distance racers or randoneeurs. We just don't stop for that long.

I really don't think you need a real lock on a brevet. And the tigr is really easy to defeat anyway.

anotherbrian

How is the TiGr easily defeated (and time required?)? An angle grinder will go through it I’m sure, but the few pics I’ve seen make it look like anything but the larget bolt cutters will only mar the metal.

I’ve been on numerous NorCal brevets that had controls in urban areas that I absolutely wouldn’t leave a bike out of view if I were there solo (and I own a perm that has a control in such a place). I haven’t carried a lock with me yet, but I have hassled with dragging my bike into stores, and I’d have no problem carrying an extra pound of weight if I expected to use it.