safely locking your bike

[Soltydog]

I have the self same cable lock, but I only ever use it at short cafe stops on rides.
If you cant afford an expensive lock at present then THISwas posted in the found a bargain thread yesterday & would certainly be a big improvement

 

[ColinJ]

 I prefer not to leave my bike out of sight anywhere, but when I have to, I use a cable lock for protection from casual thieves or to support my insurance claim if a professional thief gets it. 

 

[Wobblers]

As others have said, use a good D lock round the rear wheel and seat stay to an immovable object. But probably the best protection is to lock your bike next to a more desirable nice shiny bike as it most likely will be stolen first!! Depressing but all too often true, unfortunately. Also it's a very good idea to lock your bike in a busy public place: having lots of people around acts as a very good deterrent.

 

[potsy]

Please listen to the advice you're getting Sarah,you really don't want to lock a nice bike up with just a cable lock.
My Secteur is now 10 months old and has never been locked up,use my hybrid if I have to leave the bike outside,with a D-lock and a cable lock.

 

[mcshroom]

I'll join everyone else in saying that if you are locking the bike then use that lock at the front and get a d-lock for the back. I currently use a cheap tesco cable lock and a Kriptonite Evolution Mini.

To be fair my bike would probably be pretty safe round here anyway but the D-lock meets my insurance requirements.

I would suggest getting the D-lock through the seat tube, back wheel and a secure point (stand etc) and then the cable through the front wheel.

 

[sarahpink]

hi thanks for all the replies and the advice much apprecaited. will get the d lock, thanks for the links btw. also will look into insurance. I don't want to not use my bike, as well didn't buy it for that. ive sent an email to the college im going to and they have somehwhere to store bikes. will see how safe it looks to leave it their.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Just reading the stolen bikes forum is a horror story. Professional theives seem to have all the right tools. If they want your bike they'll get it.

Just best to have a tatty commuter bike if you're leaving it locked up.

I've seen some pretty good bikes on ebay in the last few days for under £50

 

[gaz]

Two good videos from the London Cycling Campaign
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dscni2TTbYA[/media]



[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPDHPpnXPv8[/media]

 

[mcshroom]

Good videos.

Some of the bikes on the second video were amazingly insecure.

 

[Howard]

+1 to Krypto Evo Mini + kryptoflex for front wheel.

If you aren't comfortable with the evo mini try the New York 3000. If you feel you need the Fahgettaboutit...you are riding the wrong bike.

LFGSS forum has some excellent resources on this:

[url="http://www.lfgss.com/thread17938.html"]The "London safe" locks thread[/url] (note Evo Mini is not on it, however author admits it's "a good compromise")
The how to not lock your bike thread - funny.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Good videos.

Some of the bikes on the second video were amazingly insecure.

Very true, although if I was the owner of the best locked up bike, I'd be annoyed at the way Barry Mason was flicking the heavy chain lock against the frame, possibly chipping it.

 

[marinyork]

I've got a 3000 but they are very expensive nowawadays and weigh about 2kg. I feel it's overkill for my hack bike but would certainly be about right for something more expensive.

 

[a_n_t]

My winter bike goes in the shed with this badboy http://www.torc-anchors.com/products.php?cat=14

Locked to a 4ft length of 100x100 thick walled steel box section full of concrete. Good luck shifting that!

 

[Tynan]

if you lock up regular at the same place, say college, buy a cheap and heavy duty motorbike lock, or even a big chain and padlock from a hardware place and leave it there 24/7

 

[HLaB]

I've got a 3000 but they are very expensive nowawadays and weigh about 2kg. I feel it's overkill for my hack bike but would certainly be about right for something more expensive.

I've got the New York 3000 too, I picked up with a free 7ft Kyrptoflex cable from Wiggle for just over half the price of what they are charging now . I feel it is overkill too, when I'm locking up my old Ridgeback Velocity next to brand new Spesh Allez's, Marin Fairfax's, etc that are secured with cheap cable locks outside the uni but I'm too paranoid to carry something lighter when I'm having to leave it for a long time. I've also bother about removing every last removable part whereas others don't seem to bother.