log in
register

Decent (Enough) Short-Duration Locks

  • Creator
    Topic
  • July 22, 2014 at 11:32 pm #21965
    Quince

    Hello! This is the first time I’ve made a plea for the road.cc forum’s collective wisdom, so I’m sorry if I’ve done someone silly – but I have a bike problem I’d like advice on ASAP. Namely, what sort of lock to use for short stops on longer rides in which you don’t want to drag along a 10 tonne Lock of Doom (and a pannier in which to hold it)?

    I do a fair amount of riding on my own, and on the longer rides it’s nice to have the assurance of being able to disappear inside a shop for a minute to top up on supplies without leaving the bike naked and vulnerable in the street. I’ll own a relatively expensive race bike within the next few weeks, and I’m struggling with the paradox of either; not taking a lock and being limited in how far I can cycle by my inability to stock up of supplies; OR by taking my ultra chunky lock and having the entire point of my racy speed machine cruely nullified. My current solution is to get some sort of lighter, flimsier lock to stick in a jersey pocket (I have a pretty large ‘ballast pocket’ in which to stick it) and hope it offers enough protection to deter people for the minute or so I may be away.

    I’d like to hear how other people manage refuelling stops outside of sportiness or having watchful riding partners, and if there are any lighter, portable locks to recommend that aren’t completely awful.

    Thank you.

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 5 replies - 16 through 20 (of 20 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • July 23, 2014 at 12:25 pm #805141
    0
    step-hent

    I wrestled with the same
    I wrestled with the same dilemma a few years back, and then gave in and decided not to carry a lock at all. I frequently stop in village shops and, in the small villages you mostly encounter in the countryside, there’s nothing to worry about from a theft point of view. Leave the bike somewhere near the door, pop in and out and you’re done. In busier areas, I stop on garage forecourts where there’s big windows (so the attendant can see all the pumps) and lots of CCTV. Again, low theft risk for those reasons. Ultimately, I didn’t want to carry anything more than I really needed, and sticking to the plans above I feel pretty comfortable that my bike won’t go anywhere without me!

    July 23, 2014 at 10:10 am #805139
    0
    Quince

    Thank you all. I’m really
    Thank you all. I’m really only interested in something that should suffice for a minute or so in broad daylight. I do own a heavy duty D-lock, which gets a lot of use, but I can only really use it when I’m carrying my backpack or panniers. The Kryptonite looks great. I’m under no illusions that it could survive anyone who actually went out intending to steal a bike, but it’s still a lot better than leaving up unlocked where ANYONE could take it, tools or not. I’m hoping that if I stop at a small village shop, there will be a decent chance that someone won’t walk past with wire clippers in the minute it takes me to buy something.

    Thanks for the advice.

    July 23, 2014 at 10:02 am #805137
    0
    Markus

    On the summerbike I have a
    On the summerbike I have a thin coiled cable combination lock, too. Folded up, its the size of two matchboxes and does not weigh much at all. Only good for stopping the occasional drunk jerk, though. But it’s only for café stops and such. The bike has no theft protection for the wheels or saddle, but then the bike and its components are so old and beaten up they probably are of no interest to a regular thief.
    Got a heavy-duty folding lock on my winter bike, which one actually might be of more interest to a bike thief. I don’t really use the lock that often, usually my winter rides are not long enough to require a pause mid ride. I can’t say the weight of the lock have bothered me much the times I’ve taken the lock with me, but then the winter bike is a chunky 29er that is somewhat heavy on its own already. The lock rides in a pocket that attaches to and reserves for it self a pair of bottle cage bosses.

    You might want to look into replacing the quick release skewers on the wheels with lockable ones. I have no experience with such, but the idea seems reasonable.

    July 23, 2014 at 8:48 am #805135
    0
    Shades

    For short stops I use a thin
    For short stops I use a thin cable (combination lock) ‘cafe lock’. Easily fits in a pocket or seat pack. If I’m stopping for longer and the bike’s out of sight, with a greater risk of theft, I’ve devised a way of carrying a mini U lock (Abus or Kryptonite do them). I use one of the strap-on (through the seat rails) seat packs, wedge the shackle between the seat and the pack, with the barrel in the seat pack. I put the U lock through the spokes and one of the seat stays (works OK with the average town bike stand); cafe lock to stop someone taking off the front wheel. I recently had a short ride back from a pub and, to save time, just shoved the shackle in a jersey pocket. Didn’t really notice it as much as I thought. The U lock is a bit of weight, but then rather that than having the bike nicked.

    July 23, 2014 at 7:08 am #805133
    0
    wakou

    I use one of these. the
    I use one of these. the cables and the lock fit in a jersey, or the cables can be wound around the steerer tube, or seat post.

    https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Pages/ProductInformation.aspx?PNumber=000440

    Certainly NOT secure for overnight locking in the Bronx!

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 5 replies - 16 through 20 (of 20 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.