Lock Recommendations ?

[SerialCarpins]

My 5 year old OnGuard ULock is finally on its way out, and I wanted to solicit recommendations on getting a new one. The lock has always been a bit wonky in regards to the key never quite sliding in right, but it has never failed me (so Far) and the plastic housing is long gone…I was initially going to just get another comparable OnGuard, but I have been reading about the brand having a lot of problems with jammed keys, locksmiths having to cut the bike off and the like…so I hesitated.

I searched the forums, and most threads end up talking about locking technique (Which I am comfortable with, so I hadn’t planned on rehashing that) and one type of lock versus another. I already know I am getting a new ULock, so I’m really just curious about real-world experience: What kind of ULock are you using, and what do you think about it?

Thanks in advance!

Topic

[rcannon100]

sadly, I’ll be replacing those in 3 years to get the be eligible for the insurance.

You might want to do a bit more research. I am not sure…. but at least ask this question. Isnt your bicycle covered under either your homeowners or your rental insurance policy? Alternatively, if you bike is worth enough that you care about insurance, ask your insurance agent about coverage.

If you care about insurance, its probably better to directly insure rather than indirectly rely on a marketing program.

[hencio]

@rcannon100 22613 wrote:

Isnt your bicycle covered under either your homeowners or your rental insurance policy? Alternatively, if you bike is worth enough that you care about insurance, ask your insurance agent about coverage.

The bike was covered under my homeowners, but the deductible on my homeowners is hefty and subject to policy review if too many claims are made. It simply was not a cost effective option. I also looked into the cost of standalone bike insurance, and it was about $150 a year. Not crazy expensive, but still more expensive than replacing a lock every 3 years.

[lordofthemark]

Would a cable lock be adequate for leaving a bike for a few minutes?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@lordofthemark 22650 wrote:

Would a cable lock be adequate for leaving a bike for a few minutes?

Maybe in some suburban areas where the threat of lurking thieves is low, but in DC, I wouldn’t recommend it…they are just way too easy to defeat. But I live in Ward 6, ground zero for DC bike theft, so I’m a little paranoid.

[bikesnick]

@lordofthemark 22650 wrote:

Would a cable lock be adequate for leaving a bike for a few minutes?

at a recent “two wheel tuesday” meeting of bike arlington, a police officer stated cables and chains are not sufficient in arlington county. the officer stated that all cables can be cut in minutes with a tool that fits in a pocket and last year all [if i remembered correctly] bicycle thefts were those locked with cables.

[Mark Blacknell]

@bikesnick 22655 wrote:

and last year all [if i remembered correctly] bicycle thefts were those locked with cables.

Skepticalface. I doubt they keep stats like that. (Doubting them, not your recollection)

In any event, it’s really an individual judgment call with every spot. There are [secret!] places where I rarely lock my bike up with anything at all. Not a best practice, to be sure, but I think the Thieves Around Every Corner approach is a bit overwrought. That said, if you lock it up like there *is* a thief around every corner, I suppose your chances of being disappointed go way down.

(And just get U-locks, people. Cable locks are better than nothing, sure, but they offer significantly less protection for very little increase in convenience.)

[PotomacCyclist]

Next summer, when Capital Bikeshare expands to Montgomery County, you may not need a lock at all for many trips. Since CaBi started up, I haven’t used a bike lock once. For fitness rides, I start and end at home. For errands, one-way trips and some commutes, I use CaBi.

[consularrider]

@PotomacCyclist 22663 wrote:

Next summer, when Capital Bikeshare expands to Montgomery County, you may not need a lock at all for many trips. Since CaBi started up, I haven’t used a bike lock once. For fitness rides, I start and end at home. For errands, one-way trips and some commutes, I use CaBi.

Of course first CaBi has to be in your neighborhood. The closest CaBi station to my house is just about two miles away and there are no immediate plans to come any closer, not enough population density to make it feasible.

As far a cable locks for “just a minute,” I think it goes back to the real estate adage, location, location, location. What you are doing with a cable is making sure the bike doesn’t walk away. Are you somewhere that it is likely that someone is walking around with a pocket tool they can use to cut your cable? Even after five years of riding all over the DC metro area, I’m not sure I know where that is.

[brendan]

@Mark Blacknell 22659 wrote:

Skepticalface. I doubt they keep stats like that. (Doubting them, not your recollection)

In any event, it’s really an individual judgment call with every spot. There are [secret!] places where I rarely lock my bike up with anything at all. Not a best practice, to be sure, but I think the Thieves Around Every Corner approach is a bit overwrought. That said, if you lock it up like there *is* a thief around every corner, I suppose your chances of being disappointed go way down.

(And just get U-locks, people. Cable locks are better than nothing, sure, but they offer significantly less protection for very little increase in convenience.)

I wouldn’t be *too* skeptical, Mark. I’ve noticed that Arlington County police have started tagging bikes left for longish periods of time (and I assume they are log booking them as well) with tags like this one:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1226[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1227[/ATTACH]

I find it contradictorily heartwarming and also somewhat clever to put such a friendly face on what is, essentially, continued policing of the area for abandoned bikes on public right of ways.

But yes. Get a U-lock. Or two. Plus a cable for your wheels. And really, you don’t usually have to have the best locking strategy, you just need to not have the worst.

Brendan

[brendan]

@consularrider 22676 wrote:

As far a cable locks for “just a minute,” I think it goes back to the real estate adage, location, location, location. What you are doing with a cable is making sure the bike doesn’t walk away. Are you somewhere that it is likely that someone is walking around with a pocket tool they can use to cut your cable? Even after five years of riding all over the DC metro area, I’m not sure I know where that is.

That’s anywhere nice bikes might be locked up. The tools needed to get through a cable lock quickly are pretty lightweight (heavier if you want to do it faster). Cable locks are like door locks, they “keep honest people honest” (usually in this case “the kids”). On the other hand, good U-locks help keep dishonest people (the pros) moving on to the less well locked up bikes.

Brendan

[lordofthemark]

A friend has found an old U lock he no longer needs – but thanks to all for your thoughts.

[PotomacCyclist]

@consularrider 22676 wrote:

Of course first CaBi has to be in your neighborhood. The closest CaBi station to my house is just about two miles away and there are no immediate plans to come any closer, not enough population density to make it feasible.

As far a cable locks for “just a minute,” I think it goes back to the real estate adage, location, location, location. What you are doing with a cable is making sure the bike doesn’t walk away. Are you somewhere that it is likely that someone is walking around with a pocket tool they can use to cut your cable? Even after five years of riding all over the DC metro area, I’m not sure I know where that is.

CaBi will be in Bethesda next year, which is where the original poster lives.

[Bilsko]

One U-Lock tip I came across a few years ago that stuck with me: when you’re using a U-Lock, make sure to lock up with the crossbar of the lock up against the frame (as opposed to whatever you’re locking up to).
If a thief is going to pry the lock open, they’re going to need leverage to pop the crossarm and if its against the frame, that leverage will need to be against the frame. The idea is that rather than dent and ruin the frame, they’ll hopefully move on to the next bike.

Of course this wont help if they’re going to use an angle grinder…or if they’re just out for parts something. But since there’s really no extra effort involved, I try to remember to lock up with the crossarm up against the frame.

Something like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1228[/ATTACH]

[jopamora]

Watch out for shady characters walking around with cans of compressed air. Seems like more work and attention, but it works.

[Author]

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