On 8/13/2018 11:03 AM, Tanguy Ortolo wrote:
Hello all,

A couple of months ago, I wrote a message about making a very simple
U-lock support on the rack, but without the pictures, it was quite
useless. I eventually remembered about this, so here is one:
https://tanguy.ortolo.eu/tmp/rack+u-lock.jpg.

U-lock usually come with a support to be mounted somewhere on the
bicycle frame. Most of these supports, however, will not withstand the
torque from the lock weight, and will break after a couple of years. You
are then left with a lock with no support.

Well, here is a homemade support that uses the rack, with many
advantages:
- it uses very simple material: a PVC tube and some tape;
- it takes 10 minutes to make;
- it does not have to withstand any significant torque and should
therefore last many years;
- it is easy to use: open the lock, raise the rack clamp, insert the
lock into the tube, then close it;
- it can stabilize some of the rack load you put over it!

There are a few drawbacks, of course:
- it is incompatible with panniers (you have to put the lock somewhere
else, though you can keep the support where it is);
- it is not exactly beautiful, due to using some tape to hold it;
- you have to remove the load from the rack to free the lock (but when
you are locking your bicycle, you usually do not want to leave your
load on your rack for people to steal it).

Just to explain, the tape in this support is just here to keep it in
place, and it will not withstand any significant constraint. The lock
weight is directly transmitted to the rack, on four stable points. Not
all racks can be equiped this way though.

Nice. If the appearance was bothersome, you could use a black tube held
in place with black zip ties.


--
- Frank Krygowski