irwin7638

I am writing a review of a new Abus Lock for my blog, but was wondering how many people are using Abus or Axa ring locks and where did you get them. I only know of two places online VO and Clever cycles, now a local LBS in Kalamazoo, Zoo City Cycles is carrying them,
Personally, I use them on three of my bikes and have found that is all I need 80% of the time.

Marc

Bekologist

hi, Marc-

I've been a fan of ring locks since about 5 years ago when i saw a couple of german cyclotourists deploy theirs to get some pizza. just pulled the lever, removed the key, and they were in the building.

I thought i would appreciate one on my touring bike, but find them much more practical for short city trips. i took mine off my touring bike as a U-lock is almost as quick to deploy if you have it mounted on the bike and the key acessible, and MUCH MORE VERSATILE while out on tour. but the ring lock has great advantages if you want to nip off the bike quickly.

I did not have an ABUS with the accessory plug-in. now that they have a case hardened chain to plug into the abus, it might be good in town, and with a cable out on tour.

I had a friend pick some up in England -including some vintage ones- before they were in US distribution, and have since picked up a couple from Velo Orange.
I don't think i would go to one on the touring bike again, just the city bikes. if you can stomach the level of security a ring lock provides, they are great. i would probably add a very minimal, lightweight one like the vintage ring locks, much lighter than the current versions, and still about the same level of security, and bring a second lock for secure locking needs.

they'd be great front wheel locks for city riders IMO if one could be rigged that way. and i do think they would be a great lock for most cyclotourists on the TA for many daily stops.

jurjan

Over here in the Netherlands they are standard equipment on most if not all bicycles.
They range from the extremely flimsy to the very sturdy (most of 'm on the sturdier end of the scale nowadays).
On our touring bikes they came as standard as well.

wahoonc

I use the AXA Defender on most of my bikes, currently have 3 installed and going to order a couple of more. I like the add on chain and cable capability. FWIW I bought one chain and one cable and just swap them around between the bikes. I find it very convenient to have the lock on the bike with the key at all times. On more than one occasion I have ridden somewhere, reached for the U-lock and had no clue where the key was.

Aaron

irwin7638

I like the AXA's feature with the key also, but I am a bit skeptical about the plug in cable. If I am going to carry an extra chain or cable, I would rather have a seperate lock for it and give the thief more to fight with.

wahoonc

It plugs in solid I doubt it would be easy to defeat with normal hand tools.

Aaron

crimsonking

I have one with the cable accessory. I like it when I use my bike in the city and must leave it for a while, it ease my worry a bit.
They're on the heavy side though, and sometime the lever rub my shoes. I bought it online on a German shop.

pathlesspedaled

We have wheel locks. We used them as our primary lock for the last 15 months across the US! Almost all we needed until we got into big cities when we borrowed U locks from bike shops.

Ours were $5 Basta locks a friend of ours gave us. He bought a box of them when we went bike touring in India many years ago.

Best,
Russ
www.pathlesspedaled.com

James1:17

i wouldn't use one without a chain, especially in the city.

that rockhopper is the juice btw crimsonking...i'm starting a '90 Trek 750 build and hope it turns out half as well.