Lock Situation - London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

Dave Pickett · 8th August 2008

I'm moving into the city(Cleveland) and i'm not sure what type of lock combination I should use.

I have an On Guard Beast that weighs about 10 lbs, so it's pretty heavy in my bag.

I'm thinking about getting a u-lock to lock my front wheel to my frame and maybe some type of cable.

What lock combo do you use?

fc9k · 8th August 2008

I'm also wondering this - although i want to keep stuff as lighweight as possible. Currently I use a shitty kryptonite cable that would last all of 5 seconds in the big city, but I was considering getting an evolution mini d when I move (wimbledon). Am i best off getting 2, or should i get a cable/chain instead of a 2nd one?

cg5154 · 8th August 2008

Use "search". Loads of discussions on this topic.

I personally think this one's the best. I followed edscoble's advice and use the Evo Mini D and Fagheddaboudit Mini.
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread278.html

livingasleep · 8th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cg5154

Use "search". Loads of discussions on this topic.

I personally think this one's the best. I followed edscoble's advice and use the Evo Mini D and Fagheddaboudit Mini.
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread278.html

^^ what she said.

and my combo is the mini fah (ha!) plus a mini d

fred · 8th August 2008

no cables. you might as well not bother.

deadly fanny pack · 8th August 2008

no chains, they are truly not worth the weight.

A good D lock, (small ones with very thick& heavy bar) as your main lock.

And a cheap cable to stick round your front is a good setup.

If you have a front QR wheel, I would pop it off and lock it with the same D though.

A lot of people use two D's, I wouldnt think it worth the weight. If someones tooled up enough to cut one D-lock they can do two.

Just be sensible and dont leave your bike in bad places for too long.

Also dont make your bike uneccessarily attractive. And if you dont plan to resell, scratch your name into all your parts.

Superprecise · 8th August 2008

a lock thread by dave pickett? great name.

fred · 9th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadly fanny pack

And a cheap cable to stick round your front is a good setup.

-1. Only applies if you're riding a unicycle. show me a cable that cant be cut in <2 seconds.

Elguapo · 9th August 2008

I have been using a Kryptonite chain and mini D for several years in NYC and I feel totally confident and safe leaving my bike most places. It does weigh a ton but I lock the whole thing around my waist while I'm riding and I forget it's even there.

A short story about my beloved mini D lock. My ex and I were riding around NYC and she had the chain and mini D locked around her waist. When we went to lock up we discovered she had lost the key and she couldnt get the chain off her?

We went to a hardware store where they tried a pair of huge bolt cutters that bent on the lock. Next we went to a locksmith that pulled out his giant tool kit and tried to pick the lock for an hour with no luck, he suggested we go to the fire department. We went to the local fire department where they used their hydrolic bolt cutters which barely made a dent in the lock! Finally they brought out the 18 inch diamond blade saw. They covered her in fire proof blankets and went at the lock with the saw after 15 minutes and a huge shower of sparks they finally managed to cut through the lock! Now thats what I call a good lock! I dont think I will changing from Kryptonite locks anytime soon.

deadly fanny pack · 9th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred

-1. Only applies if you're riding a unicycle. show me a cable that cant be cut in <2 seconds.

I meant to secure a front nutted wheel. Obviously it can be cut in seconds, even a D lock can be cut in seconds with the right tools.

But you have to strike a balance been weight/practicality and security.

I have a friend who rides a very nice Moser track bike, he uses an abus steeloflex around the rear, and a shoelace thick token lock around the front wheel.

Even the shoelace lock although piss weak, it will stop the opportunists who dont have cutters from pinching the front wheel.

I see lots of people who have forked out for a fagghettaboutit only secure one wheel.
Surely any lock on the front wheel is better than none at all?

edscoble · 9th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by fc9k

I'm also wondering this - although i want to keep stuff as lighweight as possible. Currently I use a shitty kryptonite cable that would last all of 5 seconds in the big city, but I was considering getting an evolution mini d when I move (wimbledon). Am i best off getting 2, or should i get a cable/chain instead of a 2nd one?

bike theft operated in Wimbledon, the Mini D is more than enough to keep your bike safe for a couple hours (but not overnight), never use cable to lock the bike to a railing or summat, use the Mini D for that as a simple trip down to Homebase can find the right tools to cut the cable.

(I live in Wimbledon).

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadly fanny pack

If you have a front QR wheel, I would pop it off and lock it with the same D though.

or get those QR wheel that designed only to be release with a specific tools that's not in the shape of your typical allen keys.

deadly fanny pack · 9th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by edscoble

or get those QR wheel that designed only to be release with a specific tools that's not in the shape of your typical allen keys.

Some one came into the bike shop to get a puncture repaired on a bike with those fitted.

They unscrewed very easily with a pair of pliers.

GrowUp · 9th August 2008

I use a Pitlock on my front wheel.
From Hubjub.

pajamas · 9th August 2008

me and asm run a small company watching bikes. It started when asm watched mine while I was working in the city. He stood watch all day and was still there when I finished at 5.30pm so that he could confirm the bike had indeed been stolen just after lunchtime.

Now we work together and we look after other people's bikes. In fact we are what we believe will be known soon as "bike walkers".

We collect your bike from you whenever you have to leave it somewhere and for an hourly rate we walk it briskly around the city, giving it exercise and admiring glances while you work or shop. For a small extra fee we induce a puncture and mend it free of charge.

Typically either of us walks up to nine bikes at a time, any more gets a bit cumbersome.

Elguapo · 9th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elguapo

I have been using a Kryptonite chain and mini D for several years in NYC and I feel totally confident and safe leaving my bike most places. It does weigh a ton but I lock the whole thing around my waist while I'm riding and I forget it's even there.

A short story about my beloved mini D lock. My ex and I were riding around NYC and she had the chain and mini D locked around her waist. When we went to lock up we discovered she had lost the key and she couldnt get the chain off her?

We went to a hardware store where they tried a pair of huge bolt cutters that bent on the lock. Next we went to a locksmith that pulled out his giant tool kit and tried to pick the lock for an hour with no luck, he suggested we go to the fire department. We went to the local fire department where they used their hydrolic bolt cutters which barely made a dent in the lock! Finally they brought out the 18 inch diamond blade saw. They covered her in fire proof blankets and went at the lock with the saw after 15 minutes and a huge shower of sparks they finally managed to cut through the lock! Now thats what I call a good lock! I dont think I will changing from Kryptonite locks anytime soon.

Ok it wasnt a mini D I was talking out my ass. as happens frequently. It was a Evolution kryptonite 4disc lock. Just took a look. Tought it was a mini D? Whatchagonnado?

new in '82 · 10th August 2008

i use an abus varedo (around £40 i think) and a kryptonite mini evo (the little orange one, £25-30) and i feel quite confident (i live in wimbledon too) although i still wouldn't leave it out overnight anywhere vunerable.

the bigger abus d-locks and the fahgeddaboutit weigh more than my bike, so i've avoided them.

8th August 2008	#1
Dave Pickett	Lock Situation I'm moving into the city(Cleveland) and i'm not sure what type of lock combination I should use. I have an On Guard Beast that weighs about 10 lbs, so it's pretty heavy in my bag. I'm thinking about getting a u-lock to lock my front wheel to my frame and maybe some type of cable. What lock combo do you use?
	quote reply

8th August 2008	#5
fred Blog Entries: 1	no cables. you might as well not bother.
	quote reply

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8th August 2008	#2
fc9k	I'm also wondering this - although i want to keep stuff as lighweight as possible. Currently I use a shitty kryptonite cable that would last all of 5 seconds in the big city, but I was considering getting an evolution mini d when I move (wimbledon). Am i best off getting 2, or should i get a cable/chain instead of a 2nd one?
	quote reply

8th August 2008	#3
cg5154	Use "search". Loads of discussions on this topic. I personally think this one's the best. I followed edscoble's advice and use the Evo Mini D and Fagheddaboudit Mini. http://www.londonfgss.com/thread278.html
	quote reply

8th August 2008	#6
deadly fanny pack	no chains, they are truly not worth the weight. A good D lock, (small ones with very thick& heavy bar) as your main lock. And a cheap cable to stick round your front is a good setup. If you have a front QR wheel, I would pop it off and lock it with the same D though. A lot of people use two D's, I wouldnt think it worth the weight. If someones tooled up enough to cut one D-lock they can do two. Just be sensible and dont leave your bike in bad places for too long. Also dont make your bike uneccessarily attractive. And if you dont plan to resell, scratch your name into all your parts.
	quote reply

8th August 2008	#7
Superprecise	a lock thread by dave pickett? great name.
	quote reply

9th August 2008	#9
Elguapo	I have been using a Kryptonite chain and mini D for several years in NYC and I feel totally confident and safe leaving my bike most places. It does weigh a ton but I lock the whole thing around my waist while I'm riding and I forget it's even there. A short story about my beloved mini D lock. My ex and I were riding around NYC and she had the chain and mini D locked around her waist. When we went to lock up we discovered she had lost the key and she couldnt get the chain off her? We went to a hardware store where they tried a pair of huge bolt cutters that bent on the lock. Next we went to a locksmith that pulled out his giant tool kit and tried to pick the lock for an hour with no luck, he suggested we go to the fire department. We went to the local fire department where they used their hydrolic bolt cutters which barely made a dent in the lock! Finally they brought out the 18 inch diamond blade saw. They covered her in fire proof blankets and went at the lock with the saw after 15 minutes and a huge shower of sparks they finally managed to cut through the lock! Now thats what I call a good lock! I dont think I will changing from Kryptonite locks anytime soon.
	quote reply

9th August 2008	#13
GrowUp	I use a Pitlock on my front wheel. From Hubjub.
	quote reply

9th August 2008	#14
pajamas	me and asm run a small company watching bikes. It started when asm watched mine while I was working in the city. He stood watch all day and was still there when I finished at 5.30pm so that he could confirm the bike had indeed been stolen just after lunchtime. Now we work together and we look after other people's bikes. In fact we are what we believe will be known soon as "bike walkers". We collect your bike from you whenever you have to leave it somewhere and for an hourly rate we walk it briskly around the city, giving it exercise and admiring glances while you work or shop. For a small extra fee we induce a puncture and mend it free of charge. Typically either of us walks up to nine bikes at a time, any more gets a bit cumbersome.
	quote reply

10th August 2008	#16
new in '82	i use an abus varedo (around £40 i think) and a kryptonite mini evo (the little orange one, £25-30) and i feel quite confident (i live in wimbledon too) although i still wouldn't leave it out overnight anywhere vunerable. the bigger abus d-locks and the fahgeddaboutit weigh more than my bike, so i've avoided them.
	quote reply

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