I am sure there is a thread on this already, but I didn't see it in a quick search.

1. What are good objects to lock up to? Stay away from trees. How about sign posts? iron tree guards? iron building racks? meters (how do you get them from sliding the lock over the meter)? are lights okay?

2. Chain lock? U-Lock? What is the best way to use a U-Lock?

3. Do I need a separate cable for my seat?

Any other tips/suggestion?

thanks

My preferred strategy is to put the shackle around the wheel and through the frame and then secure that to the meanest looking dog I can find.

Mean cats just don't have the intimidation factor.

Barring that... I lock to something that cannot be moved without the use of extreme force and cutting tools.

Really?
I did a quick search on "what lock" and got like 5 hits on this very topic.
Read the Sheldon B. website.
Don't be lazy, eat your veggies.

Enjoy

use both a u lock AND cable lock.

I always also thread a cable thru my seat, but then again I'm paranoid after a theft years ago...

1. Lock onto things that can not be moved easily. (bike racks, meters, hand rails sometimes) Sign posts generally are okay but wouldn't do so if it is wobbly.

2. Use multiple locks on one bike. Mini U lock and chain+ cable for rear wheel and saddle. Always, always lock your wheels.

3. See above.

If your bike is really flashy and looks really nice, I wouldn't leave it out of sight for too long. Keep your eye on the bike at all time if you can, at least look outside every once awhike. Bring it in with you if you feel the need to, the people working there wouldn't probably mind it that much if they know that it is a high-theft area.

As you may know, if thieves want your bike, they'll do anything to take it. As many have said, angle grinders go through any sorts of lock in a matter of seconds. But if you have your bike pretty locked up, thieves would probably move onto an easier bike to steal.

How do mini U-Locks work? They seem too small to shackle the bike to an object. Are they just used to lock the chains?

If I spend the money for a good kryptonite u-lock, they insure the bike if it is stolen? Do you have to pre-register with them? how does that work?

both wheels?

you sure about that?

I have one of these.

It locks the chain rather than locking onto objects. But they can be heavy to carry, but pretty damn bombproof.

this is one of the first things posted in the "start here" sticky.

https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/520639-some-lock-advice-locksmith.html

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/CustomerService/FAQ.aspx

looks like only the new york series is insured in new york, and it is only for a year. still good to know, and probably worth the extra cash for the policy.

i thread a 4 foot cable from my back wheel through my front wheel and on to my u lock which is locked to either a parking meter or street sign on my frame

I assume your screen name means you live in Brooklyn so for locking up in NYC, I recommend the following:

1. Long shackle lock like the Krypto Evo extended. This will get your front wheel, frame, and bike rack or pole (although not all bus stops) and leave no room for a thief to try to use a pry bar
2. A shorter/smaller lock to lock the rear wheel to the frame. Stop by Continuum Cycles on Avenue B between 12 and 13th and check out their locks. They have a great mini lock that I use for my rear. If I had shallower rims, I could even lock my front wheel to the frame on one of my bikes.
3. Either put an old chain in an old tube and lock your saddle to your bike or get one of the krypto mini cables leashes to lock your saddle to your bike.

That is my basic set up. When I lock up at work, I leave a NY chain on the bike rack and use that to lock my rear wheel and frame to the rack, locking a saddle rail into the lock itself. I then use the krypt evo extended for my front wheel to the frame to the rack. And because I have the other lock in my back pocket, I throw it onto the rear wheel and seatstay.

Some areas are safer for your bike (the more residential, the further away from Union Square) while some areas are just bad ideas (Union Square, Union Square, Union Square). Locking to trees is illegal and locking to anything other than the vertical part of a scaffolding is a really bad idea. I see people use a cable through their wheels but I also have had friends come out to find the cable cut and both wheels stolen. If your frame has a short enough wheel base, the 3.3 ft NY cable should fit through both wheels and a pole. However, I met someone who did that and left the bike out overnight in Williamsburg and had his frame stolen (but not the wheels). There must have been enough slack that could be created to get the front wheel off and then to get the rear off.

i lock with sheldon's method using a krypto new york mini
1. Don't lock to trees. It can harm the trees and ur wallet (as u can get fined). Don't lock to anything that moves, are too thin, or removable. (no fences, scaffolding, mailboxes, street signs without signs, etc)
2. What veganwar said. Old chain to tube to tie down ur saddle. And then I would do Sheldon's lock method with mini u-lock AND cable for front.
3. (see 2)

in case u dont' know what we mean by old chain and tube to saddle, here:

Unfortunately that pole could easily be removed in a few seconds

I try to shoot for light poles and gas/steam pipe.

The pole is 40 feet from my back deck and was just handy for the demonstration shot... light poles are too big in diameter for a normal shackle and the utility guys and property owners get really pissed when you lock up to gas pipes as they are not as sturdy as you think.

If the U-lock has a small loop, it'll just be too tight for anyone to slide it over the meter, since the meter itself is wider than the pole it's sitting on.

The safest way to use a U-lock is the one shown in Sixty Fiver's picture. Rear wheel and frame are both secured to a post. HOWEVER... depending on your setup and the size of your U-lock, you might not be able to get both, the rear wheel and frame inside of the loop.

The Sheldon method is similar, but only involves securing the rear wheel to the post. The thief won't be able to remove the wheel to set the frame free, because the U-lock can't go through the rear triangle.

However, if the thief REALLY wants your frame, he'll just take a hacksaw to the rear wheel, and walk away with everything. The ruined rim is a small sacrifice they're willing to make for a bigger score.


I'm paranoid, even with my bike being on the cheap end of the spectrum. If I can't bring it inside or can't lock it up right in front, or at least somewhere close enough where it's easily visible, I usually just don't go into the place.

Have you ever tried to cut through a rear wheel with a hacksaw ?

It isn't easy.

I switch between locking the wheel and frame and just the wheel... locking around the seat tube is a better visual deterrent as some dumbass thieves might think they can get your bike by removing the back tyre.

The mini shackle through the crank also serves to disable the bike so riding it away is going to be impossible and figure the most vulnerable part on my bike will be the front wheel and for long term lockups I pop that out and shackle it to the frame. With some bikes I can use the mini u to lock the crank arm or chain ring to the chain stay which also disables the bike.

A good shackle is the best deterrent there is and unless yo are dealing with pros the average opportunist is going to take a pass on stealing your bike and look for someone who thought a cable was good enough.

I have some very expensive and rare saddles and if I have to leave a bike that has one of these I will take the saddle and post with me which also makes a bike less attractive and less rideable.

Some of my bikes never get left anywhere or get parked where they are out of sight as they are nearly irreplaceable but that won't stop me from riding them.

It has been 25 years since I had a bike stolen.

this is from the wikipedia article on theft.

Obviously being careful about locking up your bike matters, but in the end the best insurance against getting your bike stolen is riding a bike that's less nice than the bike next to yours. It's unfortunate, but you really shouldn't lock up your bike on the street if you can't afford losing it.

I don't get it - that wheel seems perfectly safe the way it's locked up.

Hahaha, I see locked up front wheels in New York all of the time. Or the occasional stripped frame that has no wheels, handlebars, or seatpost.

Surely not easy, but doable, if one is determined





Having something like deep section rims should help though, since I imagine those should be a ***** to saw through.