The singlespeed/fixie locking ethic
 

So, amid discussion of theivery...

Let us discuss locking technique. Minimalist? Overboard?


The "tucking a tiny u-lock in my belt" thing seems popular. So does the unweildly New York Chain mega-lock.

How do you lock your bike up?

..tiny u lock for the most part..unless its for a long period...than its regular u lock and tiny u lock :(

well-- i'm in NYC. so NY lock it is.

i lock up the frame and front wheel.

mc

Locks are lame. Only posers use them. ;)

Absolutely minmalist (like my bike and my life)
 

Small U lock. Lock only rear wheel between rear triangle and front wheel to the structure. Locking the frame itself is useless and most often requires a bigger lock.

newyork chain.

Big, theft proof.

let me know where you live and where you stand your bike

I have an old Kryptonite "kryptolok" u-lock and a NY chain.

I bought the New York Chain after I reposessed several abandoned bikes in my old apartment building. I bought a $4 drill bit and some tri-flow-- killed two "kryptoloks" with about five minutes of drilling. In short, I realized how ****ty my own lock was.


The NY chain is what I use for my Voodoo Bokor (geared). I love the bike. I'd hate to lose it...(I've even had dreams about chasing down a theif and beating him up with my wheel...)

Anyhow, I still use the kryptolok for my singlespeed. Nothing on it is terribly expensive or irreplaceable. I'd be livid if it were stolen, but the chances are relatively slim in my town. There are many more valuable bikes out there.

I watched a homeless man take an old car jack and pop off a U lock. Made a believer of me. The police thought it was pretty ingenious too.

Mine is the bike without tires. Tires are lame and only for posers, too. ;)

when i lived in NYC:
carried the New York Chain AND little u-lock. used the chain for front wheel/frame to parking meter, and the u-lock for back wheel to frame.

now in SF, only the little u-lock - usually frame only.

D

i saw a fix in manhattan chained up & he removed one of the crank arms.

:lol:

could it have been this guy's bike?

That is one long article and i suppose inspiring but i prefer not to know one legged men push bigger gears than i do.

personally I like a combo of my Abus Granit chain (almost as good as NY chain quality but about 2/3's the price) and am Abus Granit D lock. They've both had very good reviews. I favour just the chain for my fixie during the day, but I'd always use both if I ever left my roadbike anywhere. Also have a chain in an inner tube for the seat on the fixie.

165, I'll race you there.

NYC Chain + Kryptonite U-lock


Just because you're not paranoid, doesn't mean that they're not after you(r bike)

I usually use my Kryptonite U-Lock and put it around the front wheel and the frame (and a parking meter). Do you think its better for me to put it around my BACK rim and frame (and parking meter). I guess I have always done the front wheel because I thought that was the easiest for a theif to steal...but with my fixed, I guess the back wheel is more valuable and probably just as easy to remove...almost.

hmmm...I may need to start bringing out my ulock AND my NYC chain. ugh.

:(

Krr2 armored chain, which is some sort of Kryptonite licensed product, but made in China.

Pros: Quick, fits around my waist nicely
Cons: ****ty lock quality, prone to rust and will yield to diamond cutter (I found out the hard way.)

I am considering a NYC U lock, though

What mini U locks do all of you use? I am looking for something a little more lightweight and compact for when theft isnt as much of an issue. I normally use a Kryptonite NY3000 ULock.

This one:

http://www.bikeusa.com/MERCHANT2/mer...ct_Code=LK4027

i'm pretty dorky, but it has worked well so far.

i use a ulock with the old AV-dork cable. the cable works as a sling, so i can ride with my lock round my shoulder, pocketbook-style. if i'm in & out or in a very safe location, i basically just use the u lock, with the cable stuck in it, but not on active duty. for longer lockups/worse areas, i lock the frame and backwheel to a meter, leaving little clearance for thieves with jacks. the cable runs thru the ulock and secures the front wheel. i also have a wee bitty cable for my saddle, but i normally use that to keep my keys attached to my beltloop. i often use it in the city, as i dont want anyone to take a hex wrench out and steal my selle italia.

so far, so good. been a few years with this method. (i lost a saddle once, before i got the mini-cable. that's sorta why i got the mini-cable.)

-rob