Advice please - bicycle locks

Everlong1

Just returned to cycling after many years and for the first time, I have a reasonably expensive bike - a Trek hybrid. I plan to avoid parking it in public but for occasions when this is unavoidable, what's the best lock to get? I keep hearing scary stories about supposedly safe, secure locks being popped open with biro caps etc. Currently using a Trelock U - shaped job.

NickFromTipp

I use a kryptonite u lock. So far so good. Came with a clip for the frame.

rollingscone

Lock quality and technique are a big part of it. As well as your parking strategy.

Generally speaking the Yellow Kryptonite U-locks are the standard although you can check http://www.soldsecure.com/ for an idea of how good other brands are.

The normal combo is a single U-lock with a cable to secure your front wheel, there is a trade off in lock size, the bigger the U, the easier you'll find it to lock the bike to things, but the smaller the U, the harder it is for a potential thief to get leverage on it. What I would usually do is lock my hybrid through the chain/seat stays (The rear triangle) to a post, with the cable looped though the front wheel and onto the lock just to make it more trouble than it's worth to steal my front wheel.

If you lock the U-lock across the top tube (crossbar) it's like inviting a thief to use your bike as a lever to break your lock, if you lock the wheel, they'll just take the wheel out.

Any lock can be broken given sufficient time and thieves can be pretty brazen and the general public are rarely moved to intervene.

The trick is to pick somewhere that doesn't give thieves any privacy to work, where there are other bikes to choose from, and make your bike not the easiest or most attractive bike to take in that location.

When I'm locking my bikes I usually aim to do it in sight of CCTV or in a street with a lot of foot traffic, in front of a shop and as bad as it sounds, next to other nicer, or more poorly locked bikes.

rflynnr

The biro caps thing was true of the barrel locks Kryptonite used to use but they've long long phased them out. If you're only getting one lock, make it a D-Lock. Trelocks are generally fine but there are better brands - Kryptonite and Abus spring to mind. However my general advice is to have/use two different types of locks, namely D-Lock and Cable/Chain like this or this. The thinking here is that:

a) a thief is less likely to come equipped with the variety of tools required for popping both types.
b) confronted with two locks, a thief will generally look for an easier target.

How much you spend on locks is a moveable feast but my general rule of thumb is to spend between €100 and €150. It sounds like a lot but it's much cheaper than a new bike.

Other bits of advice: if locking the bike in public try to avoid locking it in the same place on a regular basis. Never (ever) leave a bike locked in public overnight.

Finally: know that even if you follow all the advice above, a determined thief will get through virtually any lock given enough time. This is dispiriting but it suggests establishing now if your home contents policy will cover bike theft. (Some insurers do, some don't.)

rollingscone

Or don't take it from me.

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

http://www.kryptonitelock.com/pages/howtosecure.aspx

Everlong1

Thanks for that folks.

AltAccount

Start with a U lock , don't spend less than €50 online (or the equivalent price if you're buying in a shop here), watch the "Hal" videos on Youtube - educational!