Carrying a lock..

[Michael Orvis]

Hi all - I'm interested to know what everyone does about carrying a lock?

I only ask as I start to venture further outwards from my home the more I think about stopping at a nice pub or cafe along the way. The reason I don't is that I don't carry any locks with me. Now obviously the answer is to simply carry a lock but I'm interested in whether people go out with bag and place it in there, wrap it around the frame, saddle bag, etc.

My preference is to not wear a bag or have a large saddle bag but I need to lock the bike up as I'm petrified of having it stolen. I haven't been with her long but we have a strong bond.. haha.

I'm interested in whether I'm just being stupid or if anyone else was presented with this issue when they first started.

 

[Fubar]

If I do take a lock with me I wrap it around the seat post (i.e. commuting) however more often than not I don't bother - if I'm on my own stops tend to be quick and if in a group there is safety in numbers (of all the bikes my Triban is the least likely to be nicked!) and tend not to stop in dodgy places. Most cafes you can sit outside and keep an eye on things anyway. I used to always take a rucksack on longer rides but now just stuff everything in back pockets, when I remember to pick them up! Regards, Mark

 

[wilkotom]

Firstly I always use two locks, not just one

For commuting, I keep a pair of locks at the office, and another pair at home for going out and about, which are just shoved in a rucksack. Some locks come with mounting brackets for the frame, but they're not always brilliant. I'm almost always likely to be picking something up along the way or needing to carry bits and pieces so it's not a big deal.

 

[HLaB]

Depends what I'm doing but basically: For commuting I carry a D'Lock (attached to the frame) and am pretty careful where I leave my bike. For longer excursions my bike never leaves my sight and if its a solo ride It never leaves my legs, I tend not to carry a lock then, if I do its only a lightweight cafe lock.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

There is only one place that I will need to lock my bike up and that is at my work so I just leave the lock on the bike shelter.

 

[Michael Orvis]

So the general consensus so far is simply, not to worry so much.

 

[MisterStan]

So the general consensus so far is simply, not to worry so much.

Or get a cafe lock - i have one of these - fits in a jersey pocket and doesn't weigh much. It's a short term deterrent more than anything else, makes me feel better if i need a comfort break and have to leave the bike.

 

[Michael Orvis]

That's a very interesting lock.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Shortmember]

So the general consensus so far is simply, not to worry so much.

You should worry.Bike theft is common, and only last week a friend of mine had her brand new Carrera Subway stolen from outside a Bingo Hall in the town centre.Unfortunately she had locked it with a fairly cheap cable lock
and the thief made short work of removing it.
Always carry a good quality lock and always use it, even when making short stops.

 

[Cupra]

I ask pubs if I can bring my bike in if they say no I go somewhere else.
One day it will bite me in the arse and I will have to use a bakery or something but so far so good.

 

[Born2die]

If I'm off to town or I think I we'd to leave the bike for a short time I use this http://www.hiplok.com/ its ok till it rains when you leave the bike though

 

[Kies]

On leisure rides I carry a lightweight cafe lock, but don't usually stop for 30-40 mile rides. If I'm riding with friends then one person stays with the bikes as we take turns to use the bathroom, and someone gets the cake/coffee

 

[Brandane]

For casual rides when I won't be away from the bike for long, I have a reasonably thick cabled Kryptonite combination lock which is carried on a bracket attached to the seat tube. For touring or when I know I'm going into a city, I will carry my Abus U lock, but it's heavy!

Ideally you should carry a long heavy duty chain and padlock. Hold it in your right hand and swing it around wildly as you ride - it helps to prevent close passes as well as theft.

 

[Herbie]

Hi all - I'm interested to know what everyone does about carrying a lock?

I only ask as I start to venture further outwards from my home the more I think about stopping at a nice pub or cafe along the way. The reason I don't is that I don't carry any locks with me. Now obviously the answer is to simply carry a lock but I'm interested in whether people go out with bag and place it in there, wrap it around the frame, saddle bag, etc.

My preference is to not wear a bag or have a large saddle bag but I need to lock the bike up as I'm petrified of having it stolen. I haven't been with her long but we have a strong bond.. haha.

I'm interested in whether I'm just being stupid or if anyone else was presented with this issue when they first started.

I carry 3 locks with me a Abus D lock a Knog Strongman lock and a Knog coil lock thingy....the Abus and Strongman are tied with bungee rope thingys to my back pannier rack and the coiled lock thingy is wrapped around my seat post or just under my handlebars...I take no chances with my bike...I think 3 locks and different ones at that is quite a good deterent to thieving wee scrotes..

 

[Michael Orvis]

...
Ideally you should carry a long heavy duty chain and padlock. Hold it in your right hand and swing it around wildly as you ride - it helps to prevent close passes as well as theft.

Took me right back in time there to Road Rash! haha!