Empty D-Locks

[Chris S]

I keep seeing empty D-Locks attached to bicycle stands. Do these indicate that the bike has been stolen?

Also, are there any D-locks on the market with dead-bolts (as opposed to spring-bolts)?

 

[Rob3rt]

People sometimes leave their lock where they lock their bike up, so they dont have to carry it.

 

[Norm]

People sometimes leave their lock where they lock their bike up, so they dont have to carry it.

That's my assumption too, as they are nasty things to be carrying if you fall off. The downsides of leaving them somewhere are also well publicised, though, so I don't think leaving them at your destination is a good solution.

 

[ianrauk]

I once had a ding dong with another cyclist who left his lock at the station stands. I was padlocking my bike up where his lock was when he turned up. He said that he parks his bike in the space I was locking my bike to and asked me to move my bike. I said it's not his space it's anyone's. He was in a right strop when he had to remove his lock and put his bike in a different stand lol.. of course I made a point of watching him in case he kicked my bike or something.

 

[ohnovino]

I heard a story a while ago (which may have been an urban myth) that bike thieves would look out for empty locks and practice on them when nobody was around, so when the bike returned they could steal it in seconds.

 

[Hop3y]

I've seen a few this last couple of weeks, one cyclist locked his own D-Lock to one on the rail, if the first person came back and unlocked theirs, they could just swipe the bike straight away.

Stupid!

 

[summerdays]

I leave a spare cable lock at my son's school so that if I forget the D-lock, I can still lock up his bike temporarily and then nip back with the D-lock 10 mins later. It also serves as a front wheel lock (as he has quick release wheels) or occasionally is lent out to other children who have forgotten their lock.

I don't leave a D-lock in situ as I lock my bike up all over the place such as if I stop to do some shopping on the way home, but I would be wary of leaving the lock and turning up to find it had been tampered with and that I had no means of locking up my bike properly.

 

[carlgorse]

I heard once before that thieves where putting there own lock on other peoples bikes knowing that there could not remove it then steal the bike later that evening .

I certanlty wouldnt be leaving my Canondale Six on a bike stand

 

[Davidc]

With "Sold Secure Gold" D locks costing £35 for the cheapest I can find I certainly wouldn't leave one locked to a stand.

I just put up with the weight penalty and carry them around (one for each bike).

I use the carrying clamp supplied, put some self amalgamating tape on the frame where the D is closest then a velcro strap to hold the D tight to that so it doesn't rattle and can't work its way out of the clamp. No problems I can recall with that.

 

[Banjo]

I use a heavy bit of chain if leaving the bike in town .It sits nicely in the bottom of a pannier and chain is hard to cut without 3 ft bolt cutters as it moves around jamming the blade of a disc cutter or hacksaw.

it is pulled into a bit of old mtb innertube to make it frame friendly and use a yale padlock.

Chain is 8mm diameter links so its not light

 

[Davidc]

it is pulled into a bit of old mtb innertube to make it frame friendly and use a yale padlock.

Several alarm padlocks are available including Yale, which increase thief unfriendliness.

 

[AuraTodd]

Several alarm padlocks are available including Yale, which increase thief unfriendliness.

Where can you buy those please?

 

[david1701]

erm I use a relatively cheap combination lock - fail

in my defense I live in the country where people don't nick stuff

 

[cyberknight]

I leave my 2 locks in the work bike stand , threaded through the rafters in the apex of roof/wall so it sits on a ledge out of the way.

I should say i use a d lock and a cable lock with the cable through the rafter beam and the d lock attached to the cable lock .

The whole bike shed is enclosed and locked during shift time and its under cctv so my locks should not be fiddled with and its out of the way.

I carry enough cr*p without carrying my locks as well

 

[snailracer]

When locking with a chain, I close the padlock on the wheel spokes for extra security.