Locking wheel and frame with D lock - which wheel?

[Thursday guy]

With a D lock, you can lock the frame and one of the wheels. Question is, front or back wheel.

Which wheel is more vulnerable to being stolen? Which wheel is more valuable?

EDIT: If you only had one D lock and the choice of front or back wheel to secure, which would you choose?

 

[Sharky]

Can you take the front wheel off and d lock both wheels and frame?

 

[Thursday guy]

Can you take the front wheel off and d lock both wheels and frame?

my wheels aren't quick release

 

[marzjennings]

Get two D locks.

 

[mjr]

With a D lock, you can lock the frame and one of the wheels. Question is, front or back wheel.

Which wheel is more vulnerable to being stolen? Which wheel is more valuable?

D lock through one wheel and frame; cable lock through other wheel and frame. I tend to D-lock the back wheel because most are more expensive to replace on my bikes.

If you've only got one short lock, lock the front wheel and frame to the parking stand - even some regular cyclists aren't confident at removing a back wheel - but I'd get some sort of second lock or at least a 12mm cable long enough for both wheels before leaving it unattended in an urban area for long.

 

[mjr]

Get two D locks.

Usually the same tool will defeat both. Diversity is your friend!

 

[Thursday guy]

D lock through one wheel and frame; cable lock through other wheel and frame. I tend to D-lock the back wheel because most are more expensive to replace on my bikes.

If you've only got one short lock, lock the front wheel and frame to the parking stand - even some regular cyclists aren't confident at removing a back wheel - but I'd get some sort of second lock or at least a 12mm cable long enough for both wheels before leaving it unattended in an urban area for long.

I remember hearing from somewhere that the front wheel is a lot easier to steal compared to the back. So even though the back wheel would as you say be more expensive to replace, it is the front wheel which should be locked up instead. That's what I've heard, is there any substance to this?

 

[Scoosh]

@Thursday guy - What bike have you got ?

 

[Thursday guy]

@Thursday guy - What bike have you got ?

ridgeback speed

 

[mjr]

I remember hearing from somewhere that the front wheel is a lot easier to steal compared to the back. So even though the back wheel would as you say be more expensive to replace, it is the front wheel which should be locked up instead. That's what I've heard, is there any substance to this?

Some substance, but it depends on the bike (on a couple of mine, both wheels require tools and quite a bit of time to remove) and I feel it really really is worth getting a different type of lock for the other wheel.

 

[vickster]

Back wheel with d lock, cable for front. High risk area for any length of time, two d locks

 

[fossyant]

Make sure the space in the D-lock is as full as you can get it with frame and wheel. Another good secondary lock is an ABUS Bordo, these are a solid pivoting bar type lock and are better than cables, and unusual enough to 'throw' a few thieves.

 

[summerdays]

I just use one D lock through the back wheel and rear triangle. Rear wheel is more expensive to replace and I could just walk into a bike shop and buy a few bits to get me back on the road without a front wheel. I have locking skewers on my wheels to deter the impulse their, and it's usually parked with loads of other bikes so it would be easier to take their wheel than mine.

You can't make it impossible to steal, you should just need to make it harder than the one next to it (unless yours is a very desirable bike that makes it worth the effort).

 

[mjr]

I could just walk into a bike shop and buy a few bits to get me back on the road without a front wheel.

Back on the road without a front wheel? Wheelies all the way home?

 

[summerdays]

Back on the road without a front wheel? Wheelies all the way home?

Sorry if I discovered the front wheel had been stolen. However if they start stealing bits then it could start to get expensive... Mr Summerdays had his disk brakes stolen once.