Dave Horne

Here in the Netherlands almost everyone has a ring lock. That lock is always on your bike and takes up almost no space.

You can also buy a cable that specifically fits into that lock. That cable can be easily mounted on the frame and is also out of the way.

Here's a link ... ABUS framesloten - Sloten / Fietsen

fietsbob

Abus Bordo locks Fold , I use this instead of a U lock, now..
Bikelock | Bordo Granit X-Plus | The premium product

pouch on the frame uses the H2O bottle mount bolts..

Though, another Bike NL Koga I have a ringlock From AXA on it,
and a security chain that also plugs in, to the lock .
but the Axa chain was made longer at 1.4M (Abus is 1M at best)
so I can loop it around the front wheel and lock up to a secure bike rack or signpost..

905

Somebody looking to do a nice singlespeed conversion on the cheap might find that bike attractive; they won't be unduly inconvenienced by a cable lock, but you probably know that.

Breaking Bad showed what could be done to bike thieves were it not for that pesky "cruel and unusual punishment" bit in the Constitution:

John Redcorn

Protip: Constitution = rules for .gov to follow. Not .gov (and won't get caught by them) = cool.

jaxgtr

on my commuter, I have a rack that I carry a bag on but, I like the idea of running it under the seat, never even thought of that, but I have a Kryptonite Evolution lock that has a mounting bracket on it. You can attach it to various parts of the frame and then it locks in place staying sturdy, however, I have bottles cages, so I actually attached the bracket on the forward bar on the left side and then wrap the cable around it and then to total secure it, I wrap one end of the around the rear rack bar. It stay put and is quiet.

Here is a pic to show....it's a little dark, but should give you an idea.

Omiak

Mini U lock through your belt (if not carrying a bag).

xenologer

Been curious how well the rivited links hold up against twisting attack
can you try something ?
take a pair of 12" adjustable crescent wrench, grab 2 links on each side of rivited hinge, twist wrenches perpendicular to hinge axis
see if you can pop a rivit

walrus1

Meet the Chrome mesenger bag. It can carry many useful items such as U locks cable locks among many other things. Citizen Messenger Bag | Citizen Bags | Chrome Industries

Dave Horne

Over here you can buy after market chains that fit into the Axa or Abus ring lock; it's just a matter of buying a complimentary chain having the correct sized insertion plug. (I also have an Axa ring lock on my bike though haven't gotten around to buying a cable for it.)

905

True. And the prison industry is already being outsourced. I guess incarcerating bike thieves in one's basement could be considered working from home.

My lock carrying solution, at least for my folder when I don't feel like lugging it around, involves rack (not that one, though it's another idea for thieves) and bungee cord:



Other locks either stay more or less permanently at the locking site where practical, or don't get used at all; my 'best' bikes are simply never left unchaperoned.

MichaelW

the raised loop on many racks can trap the curve of a shackle lock. I lay my lock on top of the rack and secure with a bungee.

Darth Lefty 

While I'm also skeptical, it wouldn't have occurred to me to ask a stranger online to ruin his own stuff to satisfy my curiosity. How about you buy your own and break that one?

Little Darwin

If by cross bar you mean the top tube... I can't imaging any bike except for one of those clown bikes where a top tube is too short to wrap a cable around it... or perhaps you are looking at cables that are longer than you need,

kajero

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. Somehow or other I forgot to keep checking this thread.
I will post a photo of my bike and myself. My bike is a carbon frame so I don't want to install anything extra on the frame. The bike model is a Specialized Ruby Elite 42 cm.

I have tried some of the suggested solutions. There is not enough space below the crossbar to add anything that would hang on the crossbar. The length between the beginning of the cross bar and where the seat post is too short to install anything on. The height of the seat doesn't allow anything to be put anything underneath it. Right now I am using a small backpack for the lock. I don't like things on my back!

Thanks for all you help.

K

fietsbob

Go to Bikeradar site.. Locks Accessories Reviews - BikeRadar

they do destructive tests of locks .. or write the German Lock Company, directly..

kajero

I had a really nice cable that was small and narrow enough to wrap around the top tube. I hadn't locked up my bike one night when it was in the garage. And then somehow or other we left the garage door open overnight. I know . . . STUPID. We usually lock the bikes up with very heavy cable locks AND shut the garage door! Fortunately, the police recovered out bicycles. WOW! How often does THAT happen? The thieves had cut the the small light weight cable that was wrapped around the top tube of my bicycle. Apparently they didn't have much use for it -- especially since they didn't have the combination. I am apprehensive of using that kind of cable lock now.

I really want to use a U lock.

fietsbob

Tubus Locc rear rack was Made to carry an Abus U lock Inside its Left Leg so accessible with Panniers On .

Dave Horne

I'll pass on my experience with my Abus U lock. I bought that lock over ten years ago and it was getting pretty beat up.

I contacted Abus to see if they could recover the removable part with a new coating. They wound up sending me a new U. (I forget if I had to send in my original one or not.) In addition since my original U was the larger size, I asked for the smaller version. They accommodated me.

If you're going to buy a U lock, sometimes bigger isn't necessarily better. I have mine mounted on the seat tube.

jhazel

I've got a cable lock that I can squeeze into a medium seat wedge along with a spare tube, CO2 cartridge, tire irons and multi tool. Tight fit and the lock goes in last. It is the only thing that I can take out without unpacking the whole thing.

Gus90

My solution was to use one of my water bottle mounts for this folding lock from Abus (it also has straps on the case you can use to mount it anywhere on the frame). Folds away nicely in it's own holder and it's rated as tough as any kryptonite ulock. Even it that's true, it's a pretty solid lock and I don't think would be a thief's first choice to mess with. They make a few varieties of this with less of a security rating and a little lighter. ABUS Folding Lock 6500/85 black (55160)

905

Definitely you want to be getting the smallest size you can get away with. Leaves less room for leverage for a lock-wrecking tool.

xenologer

way I look at it, my request is doing him a favor , there are 4 possible outcomes

test performed, lock pass
- no loss

test performed, lock fail
- loss value of lock

no test, lock would have pass
- no loss

no test, lock would have fail
- loss value of bike and lock, when thief does test in wild

possible results favor performing the test, hence I feel its reasonable and friendly to ask said stranger to try suggestion, he'll likely benefit

LesterOfPuppets

You're hilarious

yote223

OnGuard Bulldog with frame clamp. Pretty simple stuff that works well.

fietsbob

Mail Me Yours , Xenologer.. I'll test it for You.. throw in a few Thousand$ for instrumentation
to put numbers on the force it requires ..