Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
"Ablang" wrote in message
...
Do you have any other ideas?

Here's some links:

http://www.mechbgon.com/lock/
http://www.missinglink.org/Pages/bike_locking.html

The biggest problems I see is that they do not focus on the
strength of the item the bike is being locked to.

First item, first article:
"Lock the bike to something that is very strong, very securely anchored,
and cannot be disassembled by thieves, such as a parking meter."


Most parking meter poles can be cut with a portable
sawsall in a matter of minutes,

If someone's going to dehead a meter to get your bike, there's almost
nothing safe to lock to. I'd guess that almost 100% of locks are easier
than meter posts, though.


Once at a shop, a compressed air cut-off wheel will
cut through a U bike lock like a knife through butter, no
matter how hardened it is.

Or an electric angle grinder. I went through a typical u-lock in 10 min,
with a Dremel. Hardened steel stops most saws but not abrasive cutters.


Another trick is with people who lock bikes to the
same pole or whatever all of the time. Thieves who
cruise around, casing places, will come back late at
night, cut the pole at the base, insert a slipper inside
the pole, then replace the pole. Next day the bike
appears locked to the pole the thieves come by and
lift up the pole and snatch the bike.

A lot of signposts are telescoped into a base tube, typically secured
with only a bolt.


Still another trick is a small oxy/acetylene torch, a
thief skilled with a cutting torch can cut through any
lock in a few minutes.

Grinders and torches make a lot of noise and/or sparks. Less obvious
tools like compound cutters and even prybars are more commonly used.
Cable and light chain locks are popular and easily cut.


All in all your best bet is to take the bike indoors if
your not simply going to be gone inside a store for a
few minutes.

The most effective strategy if you have to leave a bike outside is to
ride a beater and watch where you park it (park it near nicer bikes).

I have an original Kryptonite, made from flat stainless bar stock, using
a vending machine lock. It hasn't failed me in 35 years. Of course it
weighs almost as much as the bike, but that's the way bike locks go.

Almost as bike a problem as bike theft is component theft. These days,
with removable faceplate stems, it's a quick job to walk away with a
handlebar & brifters, suspension forks are easy, too.