Hello,

I just want to share a very simple tinkering I made on my bicycle, in
case the idea can be useful to other people.

I always had issues with carrying U-locks: they are usually provided
with mounts, which are very useful, but every one of them I ever saw was
relying on the resistance of small pieces of plastic, subject to an
important mechanical constraint, and would not last more than a year or
two. When it eventually breaks, you are left with your U-lock to carry
e.g. in your bag, on your handlebar (yuck!) or on your rack, none of
which is really practical.

After several tries with PVC tubes of the right diameter, which I tried
to install transversally under the rack (not over it to avoid blocking
the clamp), and finding no solution to attach them in a way that would
last more than a few months, I eventually came to a solution, which is
very easy to implement and surprisingly durable.

It only uses a single section of PVC tube and a bit of gaffer tape. The
idea is to install the tube /over/ the longitudinal bars that link the
rack to the saddle point of the frame. Here, the tube will not block any
usage of the rack and it will be blocked in that position by the rack
itself. I just used some tape to hold it against the rack. Contrary to
my previous attempts, the tape does not receive much traction, as it
only maintains it in position and does not receive the weight, which is
supported by the bars.

One side of the U-lock can now be inserted into that single tube, and
the other side will lie on the rack, where it can be maintained by the
clamp. The rack can still be used, with the lock actually helping in
securing its content against falling on the side.


It looks that way:

\ \_____
\ ____
______o____/o__ // \
\ | \// \ \
\ | // \ \

The PVC tube is the little “o” right in front of the rack, and the other
one on the rack is where the other side of the lock will lie. I will
take a picture of that when I get a chance.

--
Tanguy