Does anyone use a mini U-lock?

[CWJW]

I’m thinking about getting a kryptonite new york mini u-lock? The mini version is supposed to be tougher to crack supposedly because there’s not much room to work with. They’re kinda of expensive so I want to be sure the mini version won’t limit what I can lock me bike to. I keep my bike inside my apartment and in the office so I’m mainly concerned about locking it up on the street to whatever might be around. Does anyone know if the shorter length is a problem around DC? thanks

Topic

[AFHokie]

I originally looked at the mini, but opted for a regular kryptonite U-lock. I still find it 50/50 whether or not I can get the U-lock around the rear wheel and an immovable object. That includes many bike racks. For me, the mini fits so few objects it wasn’t worth it.

I use the Sheldon Brown locking method utilizing a cable as well as the U-lock. With that method, I have more options where I can use the cable to secure the bike to an object if the U-lock won’t fit around both the rear wheel and object. The cable is easier to cut than the U-lock so a thief could cut the cable and walk off with the bike, then saw the U-lock off at anther location, but least they cannot ride away after cutting the cable.

The downside; carrying a U-lock and cable is clunky and a pain figuring out how and where to stash on your bike if you don’t always ride with a pannier or backpack they fit in or cannot leave at the location you typically lock up. I leave a U-lock and cable on the rack at work, but it’s neither feasible nor practical leaving a collection of locks & cables stashed all over the city. For something I could take on rides to nonstandard destinations, etc I recently picked up an ABUS folding lock. From what I researched, its better than a cable lock and stows on the bike much better than a U-lock (or cable I’ve found), however I am concerned about the link pin strength against an attack, but since the typical lock up on my non-commute ride are bathroom breaks or food breaks I think it’s sufficient for my needs.

[CWJW]

ok, thanks. sounds like a normal u-lock would be better then. I don’t think storing it will be a problem since I plan on using a backpack most of the time.

That ABUS lock might be nice to have as an extra lock in addition to a u-lock and cable for extended parked times. Seems way lighter than carrying two u-locks.

[chris_s]

I’ve exclusively used a mini for the last 2+ years. I’ve often been unable to lock to the most obvious object at my destination, but never been completely unable to lock-up.

[Rod Smith]

Kryptonite Evolution 2000 Mini is my lock of choice.

[PotomacCyclist]

You can check out the RackSpotter map for images of bike racks around Arlington and DC. I’ve posted at least a couple hundred pictures by this point. I’m also getting to be an expert on bike racks in the region. I rarely use bike racks myself (because I use CaBi for commuting and for errands, and my personal bikes mostly for workouts where I start and finish at home), but now I’m learning about all the different types of bike racks and their variations.

For example, I’ve noticed that most of the bike racks in downtown DC (Farragut Square, McPherson Square) are of the bike hitch type. Those are a solid metal post with a thinner circle located near the top. The circle is bisected by the post. Other parts of DC have U racks, but the diameter of the bars can vary quite a bit. Many have a “standard” diameter of about 2″. But there are more than a few that have thicker bars in the 3 to 4 inch range. I don’t think there’s any way you would be able to fit a mini U-lock around those racks and your bike and tire. The mini U lock might not even fit around the bar on its own.

I haven’t seen as many of the artistic type of bike rack, where the artistic design can sometimes interfere with its use as a practical bike rack. There’s the corkscrew rack that we discussed on the RackSpotter thread. That’s located next to the Farragut North Metro station. There are a couple circular racks in front of the National Geographic headquarters where the circle is partially filled in with designs. One of the racks has nearly the entire circle filled in with a metal plate with an artistic engraving and cutouts, to the point where you could probably only fit one bike on that circle.

I had read a couple local articles about artistic bike racks, so I thought they were all over the place. They aren’t. I’d guess that the artistic bike racks only make up about 1 or 2 percent of all the bike racks I’ve seen in central DC so far (and I’ve seen several hundred this year).

[KLizotte]

I use the Sheldon Brown method meaning that I use a mini-lock through the rear triangle around the wheel rim. See photo below of Sheldon’s bike. My question is this: Is there really no way for a thief to remove the wheel and take the frame without breaking the lock? I’d feel better locking the wheel and frame but that usually isn’t possible with a mini-lock and large diameter racks.

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8754&stc=1[/IMG]

[DismalScientist]

Of course the Sheldon Brown method can be defeated. All you need to do is remove about about an inch of the rim (and tire and tube) at the location of the lock and slide the lock through that hole in the rim.:rolleyes:

[Steve O]

@KLizotte 117166 wrote:

I use the Sheldon Brown method

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8754&stc=1[/IMG]

I see you use the “rusty-frame-not-worth-your-while” strategy, too.

[PotomacCyclist]

@Steve O 117171 wrote:

I see you use the “rusty-frame-not-worth-your-while” strategy, too.

That might be the more effective strategy.

But not always. When Thomas Dolby posted the security video of someone stealing his bike in Baltimore, he pointed out that his bike was a clunker that he bought for $100-$200. There were fancy carbon-fiber racing bikes at the same bike rack that the thief ignored.

[83b]

@chris_s 117137 wrote:

I’ve exclusively used a mini for the last 2+ years. I’ve often been unable to lock to the most obvious object at my destination, but never been completely unable to lock-up.

Ditto, also with a few years anec-data.

[KLizotte]

@Steve O 117171 wrote:

I see you use the “rusty-frame-not-worth-your-while” strategy, too.

Not my bike! I copied it from Sheldon’s website as an example of my locking method.

[Author]

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