andre nickatina

Which is the superior of the two in strength? Transportation convenience? Value? Overall?

BuddyMike

I'm going to assume a lot of people here use a mini-U, krypto/bull dog. Those fit conveniently into the back pocket of my jeans, dickies and pockets of my 2 messenger bags. Those are nice for fast stops.

The chain is nice. Throw it around the waist and great for long stops. I double up on the chain and u-lock at times.

Put the chain through the rear wheel in the rear triangle of the bike and around whatever you are locking to. Then lock your lock to the bars of the seat. Then mini-u the front wheel to the frame.

Smorgasgeorge

I lost my mini after I hit trolley tracks the other day and only have my NY chain. Sucks lugging it around on long rides, but I NEVER have to worry about wheels getting gripped.

andre nickatina

Right now I'm running a Mini-Evo which I like but would like to invest in a second lock when I get my new bike built up, since it's going to run me almost 1G. Or I could sell the Mini U, but I think I'll keep it. Think Im' leaning towards the NYFU U Lock because it really sounds like a hassle to haul around the chain, and with 2 U's there's no worry of stolen wheels for those pesky 5 hour lock ups.

fibergoldfish

two mini u's are all you need, One through the rear wheel ala sheldon brown style than one through the main triangle front wheel.

Ken Wind

The mini isn't always long enough to lock up to stuff though.

andre nickatina

It can get through most of the poles designed to lock bikes up against in my city, and with closer tire clearances of track bikes, can lock one wheel along with the frame. With my current road conversion I can only do that on the skinny blue poles that are designated bike lock poles.

Landgolier

I have the krypto chain, girlfriend has the NY3000 (not the super burly NYFU U lock). I'm starting to be anti on the krypto chain unless you have to lock up outside overnight or your bike is seriously valuable. It's just too heavy, and locking up both wheels with it is always an awkward process. I have never heard of an evolution being defeated, and two evolution minis get you anywhere you need to go. Worst case scenario is you can't get it around something and still get your wheel in, so you just use one to the object and then lock the second one to that and take your front wheel off. Not great for your fork, but it's not like this happens a lot.

I think the NY3000 is overkill for anything, it's not buying you that much cut time and most ways you can lock up with a mini are pretty touch to use a jack on.

SamHouston

Chain & Molly/American padlock FTW, padlock is easier to manage than a mini U, faster on the bounce, less motions.

octopus magic

Honestly, I'd be more worried about stuff like pedals and bars getting ripped off your bike than the actual bike getting stolen with a decent u-lock on it. If they want your bike bad, they're going to ruin/take whatever your bike is attached to.

Chains, however, are a great way to get that much desired fakenger look.

fenester

I like the EVO-mini and a cable for about town, and use a Krypto chain t work.
Someone else recently suggested using a carabiner to fasten your chain when carrying around your waist (instead of the lock) so that if you wreck paramedics don't have to grind it off. I'm just passing it on because that sounds like a good idea to me.

I Like Peeing

I've never seen a courier with a chain now that I think about it. But I have seen couriers freelocking 3renshos.

SamHouston

That's a good idea for te u-lock clasp users, padlocks don't necessarily need to be in locked position to hold it on your waist securely, but you'll lose the half of your u-clasp if you try that, or you could put the shaft in your pocket w/key

SkyeC

I run an Evo long U through the rear triangle/rear wheel to whatever I'm locking up to and an NY U to lock the front wheel to the frame. If someone wants to go through all that to get my bike, so be it.

john_and_off

this is an interesting point that i've actually wondered about before - i seem to remember a thread a while ago about someone's dope pedal setup getting jacked, which was totally ****ed... anyone ever had something like bars/stem, non-qr seatpost/saddle, or pedals stolen? what about something totally ridiculous like cranks?

soyboy

not that they were nice but someone stole the cranks off the ghost bike around the corner from my house(bronx john, RIP) i keep meaning to paint an old set of cranks and go put them on there, the ******* who stole them will get what's coming to them some day

Fixxxie

MWAAAAAA HAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAA
Good one

bitpartinyrlife

for real? i pass by that bike almost every day, only a few blocks from my place as well. i used to look and make sure everything was still there, but after a while i figured what kind of ****tard could be so low as to jack something off a ghost bike...

just when i think people can't get lower...

andre nickatina

I run the standard generic road pedal w/ clips and straps fit, so if someone stole that it'd be more of a "Damn, I have to put in 4 or 5 hours at the job to get that back" thing more than a "****, THERE GOES THE BANK ACCOUNT" typet thing. Bars and stem would suck a bit more to lose because obviously together they run a bit spendier. And I would hate to lose my Brooks saddle, but if I think you're probably at the same risk if you're not going to lock it vs. if you have one of those super skinny cable locks for bike seats, because those flimsy things could practically get cut with your little bro's school scissors. Just get rid of the QR's I guess.

Someday I'd like to dream up a better vision to guard against bike theft yet not add excess weight or a clunky interface... maybe a bike alarm that works much like a car alarm if some tries to **** with your lock, complete with a password to unset it in case you lose the key?

Telix

I don't care how geeky I look, but I use a full-sized Kryptonite Evolution that I mount to my frame. Usability > style, and the Evo is going to be fine anywhere but the worst of cities.