One Lock or Two?

IrishFish

I recently purchased a new Trek bike.

A friend of mine advised me to buy 2 locks instead of 1 as it would put off potential thieves. However the sales person told me that one was enough if it were a good one and I bought the one he recommended. His reasoning was that he put locks on my wheels so they can't be taken off.

As it was an expensive bike I am still concerned and want to have maximum protection. So should I buy another lock? What do you guys do?

blorg

Yes, two locks is more secure. The idea is you use two different types of lock (a cable and a U-Lock) so thieves will need to be carrying two different sets of tools to steal your bike. Hopefully most will move on to a bike using only one lock.

Bunnyhopper

Generally the advice here is two locks of different sorts. So that would usually be one U-lock around the stand (or whatever immovable object it is), frame and back wheel, and a cable lock around frame and front wheel.

You can get supplementary cables like this, as well.

The more awkward you can make it for a thief the better: two different locks and they need two sets of tools and more time to work at it.

You might also want to check the clamp on the seat post to make sure it's not a quick release. If it is you can get a regular nut and bolt to replace it.

Do a search on the forum here and you'll find some fairly recent threads with advice on locks and locking techniques.

There's also this:
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Locks_&_Security

flickerx

I have an Abus steel-o-flex, cost around 80 in cyclelogical, fits around your waist:



and i also carry a kryptonite mini:



you can get a belt holster from Fabric Horse thats an exact fit for the mini:

niceonetom

OP - the number of locks comes second to their quality - what lock are you using at the moment?

IrishFish

Thanks for the advice guys i'll definitely be investing in a 2nd lock.

The lock I have at the moment is an Abus X Plus http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&sid=83370388200144091220098719838193&select=0104b01&artikel=4003318229756

niceonetom

IrishFish wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys i'll definitely be investing in a 2nd lock.

The lock I have at the moment is an Abus X Plus http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&sid=83370388200144091220098719838193&select=0104b01&artikel=4003318229756

That looks like a decent lock. That, through the frame and one of the wheels, will pose a good challenge to most opportunist bike thieves (pros will get through anything though). A secondary cable lock through the frame and the other wheel will mean that a thief would need to use two different tools and techniques to make off with your baby. Alternatively you could go with a lock you have now, and use some kind of pinhead/pitlock style thing to secure your wheels, saddle etc.

Lastly, your best defence against bike theft is riding a bike that no one else would want. This does NOT mean riding a crap bike, just one that is very recognisable, individual and eccentric. Riding a show-room-fresh trek or giant is just asking for trouble. Nitromors, spraypaint, sandpaper etc. etc. can all be effective security measures. Search this site for "uglification" if you think I'm kidding.

IrishFish

niceonetom wrote: »

That looks like a decent lock. That, through the frame and one of the wheels, will pose a good challenge to most opportunist bike thieves (pros will get through anything though). A secondary cable lock through the frame and the other wheel will mean that a thief would need to use two different tools and techniques to make off with your baby. Alternatively you could go with a lock you have now, and use some kind of pinhead/pitlock style thing to secure your wheels, saddle etc.

Lastly, your best defence against bike theft is riding a bike that no one else would want. This does NOT mean riding a crap bike, just one that is very recognisable, individual and eccentric. Riding a show-room-fresh trek or giant is just asking for trouble. Nitromors, spraypaint, sandpaper etc. etc. can all be effective security measures. Search this site for "uglification" if you think I'm kidding.

Thanks man - great tips there.

I do have pinhead style things on the wheels also.

tomasrojo

IrishFish wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys i'll definitely be investing in a 2nd lock.

The lock I have at the moment is an Abus X Plus http://www.abus.de/us/main.asp?ScreenLang=us&sid=83370388200144091220098719838193&select=0104b01&artikel=4003318229756

Yeah, that's regarded as a really good lock.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/granit-x-plus-10512

I use the Fahgettaboudit mini which gets almost but not quite as good a review:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/locks/product/new-york-fahgettaboudit-mini-16565

fixie

i was gonna buy a kryptonite mini and new york lock for my bikes
so would i just get the new york and use the cable-code lock i already have?

BryanL

Get the very best you can, a large single Abus Granite x plus,will do the lot

seamus

flickerx wrote: »

you can get a belt holster from Fabric Horse thats an exact fit for the mini:

Do you also have to look like a complete fncking gimp to wear one?

cosmic

I use three Abus locks so that I never have to be worrying about my bike if it's left outside. They make the bike pretty heavy though. More locks = more weight.

blorg

cosmic wrote: »

I use three Abus locks so that I never have to be worrying about my bike if it's left outside. They make the bike pretty heavy though. More locks = more weight.

Just goes to prove the thesis that all bikes are the same weight.

tomasrojo

cosmic wrote: »

I use three Abus locks so that I never have to be worrying about my bike if it's left outside. They make the bike pretty heavy though. More locks = more weight.

When leaving my bike in town, I back up the Fahgettaboudit lock (through the rear wheel, a la Sheldon) with a Kryptolok to secure the front wheel and a Kryptoflex running from the Krytpolok to the stand. That way they have to break the Fahgettaboudit and either break the Kryptolok or cut the Kryptoflex (and carry away the bike).

I think it's safe enough, but it is a typical good-bike weight levy.

Outside town if I'm only locking for five minutes, I'd just use the Kryptolok and Krytpoflex.

DualFrontDiscs

cosmic wrote: »

I use three Abus locks so that I never have to be worrying about my bike if it's left outside. They make the bike pretty heavy though. More locks = more weight.

The more expensive the bike, the heavier/ more locks you need. In the end, all bikes (inc locks) weigh the same

tomasrojo

But a good bike with the extra locks is more enjoyable to cycle than a beater with one ok lock.

DualFrontDiscs

tomasrojo wrote: »

But a good bike with the extra locks is more enjoyable to cycle than a beater with one ok lock.

It's more enjoyable to cycle, but less enjoyable to leave locked up. It just depends which one you'll be doing more of through the day.

DFD.

SerialComplaint

You can always leave one lock locked to your bike parking area in work, to avoid having to carry it round all the time.

scheister

i was converted to the idea of two locks rather then one. last year locked my bike with one lock and came back about a week later. had to work the week to find the lock and front wheel still there the rest of the bike gone.

tomasrojo

SerialComplaint wrote: »

You can always leave one lock locked to your bike parking area in work, to avoid having to carry it round all the time.

I imagine in that scenario you should bring some oil in with you from time to time and put a few drops into the locking mechanism, in case it seizes one day while your bike is locked. Exposure to the elements and all that.

poochiem

I was in Italy at the weekend and noticed the bikes in the town I was visiting were just left against walls unlocked like when I was a kid.

jozi

Isn't it bad that you (nearly) have to carry around 2 locks with you to be sure it won't get nicked.

I remember last time I was home in holland I noticed nearly all bike are only locked with one of them horse shoe locks that goes through the wheel. Very few bikes locked to unmovable objects.

Wouldn't think of leaving the bike locked up on the street with just the U-lock, has to be locked onto something.

I use a New york lock and have a cable to go through the wheels, took all the QR bits of to. Find it can be hard locking the bike through the frame and wheel with the NY lock.

cdaly_

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

tomasrojo

jozi wrote: »

I remember last time I was home in holland I noticed nearly all bike are only locked with one of them horse shoe locks that goes through the wheel. Very few bikes locked to unmovable objects.

Wouldn't think of leaving the bike locked up on the street with just the U-lock, has to be locked onto something.

But bike theft is like an epidemic in the Netherlands, possibly worse than here.

So I've read anyway. My Dutch friends corroborate this picture too.

See that Sheldon Brown link posted by cdaly for how to lock with a small lock.

72hundred

cdaly_ wrote: »

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

That's a great article. I've read it before, but had forgotten an important point - leaving U-lock at work and carrying cable lock with you on the bike.

jozi

I think no bike is safe in places like train stations over there but plenty of bikes left free standing in the town where I used to live.

Read that article, thought you were supposed to lock the bike through the rear wheel and seat tube? Just the wheel shouldn't be a problem, I struggle to get the seat tube in with it at times.

tomasrojo

jozi wrote: »

I think no bike is safe in places like train stations over there but plenty of bikes left free standing in the town where I used to live.

Read that article, thought you were supposed to lock the bike through the rear wheel and seat tube? Just the wheel shouldn't be a problem, I struggle to get the seat tube in with it at times.

If you lock the rear wheel through the rear triangle then the thief cannot remove the rear wheel from the frame. Have a look at your bike and try to imagine how he could do it.

Of course, he could saw through the frame or saw through the rear wheel. Sheldon says that the latter is really quite hard to do, and is effectively knocking a massive amount of any possible resale value of the bike. The former is obviously rendering the bike worthless.

jozi

I read it and it makes sense.

I think it was the HAL video's where I got the idia of locking the wheel and seat tube to an object.

tomasrojo

jozi wrote: »

I read it and it makes sense.

I think it was the HAL video's where I got the idia of locking the wheel and seat tube to an object.

Ah, ok, sorry.

The advice of including the seat tube is the more common advice, that's true. It isn't always possible with a smaller lock.

I think you're safer with a really strong mini lock than a longer shackle, so I'd go with the strategy that allows you to use the mini.

For example, I would rather lock my rear wheel with my Fahgettaboudit lock as Sheldon describes than with my Kryptolok as HAL describes.

jozi

I got the medium size New York lock (it's not tiny but not as big as most u-locks) thinking it could use it to lock wheel and frame, proved hard so far.

But when I do get it there's no room for movement on the lock at at all, which I suppose is good

I'll have to start locking the rear wheel and not the frame when in college

cdaly_

What size of object will the Fahgettaboudit lock to? Lamp post or only traffic sign / bike loop?

tomasrojo

cdaly_ wrote: »

What size of object will the Fahgettaboudit lock to? Lamp post or only traffic sign / bike loop?

It's really quite narrow, so bike loops (i.e. Sheffield stands and the like) are fine for locking Sheldon-style, but lamp posts and even some traffic-sign poles are too wide.

tomasrojo

tomasrojo wrote: »

It's really quite narrow, so bike loops (i.e. Sheffield stands and the like) are fine for locking Sheldon-style, but lamp posts and even some traffic-sign poles are too wide.

That's the Fahgettaboudit minilock I'm talking about. Kryptonite do have a chain-based lock of the same name.