Any suggestion for Bicycle Lock?

Hello,

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for the
day while I am at work (9 hours).

I was told that if I do that, even if I get the best lock, my bike will
not be there when I return.

Does anyone havea suggestion for a lock that has replacement insurance
or anti-theft insurance)?

It seems kind of ridiculous to pay $100 / year for the insurance when
the bike only cost $200. My home deductible is $300, so the lock would
have to cover the entire cost of the bike.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Mark

"buddd" wrote in
oups.com:

Hello,

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for
the day while I am at work (9 hours).

I was told that if I do that, even if I get the best lock, my bike
will not be there when I return.

Did a reliable source tell you that? Did you have a chat with the
Mounties or the Station Security folks?


Does anyone havea suggestion for a lock that has replacement insurance
or anti-theft insurance)?

Try a U-Lock and a cable lock; hopefully the bicycle thief (is there
really crime in Canada?) will pass you by for a $400 bike with only one
lock.

--ag

buddd wrote:
Hello,

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for the
day while I am at work (9 hours).

Besides locks with insurance, double lock it (cable and ulock), don't
leave accessories on it that you don't want to lose (computer, lights,
water bottles), and don't park it in exactly the same spot every day,
if you can.

Sheldon Brown (as usual) has a good page about locking:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

One thing - Sheldon and others suggest leaving a heavy lock at the bike
rack, rather than carrying it on the bike all the time. If you do do
that, remember you still should park in different slot in the racks
each day, and, more importantly, please DON'T block one of the rack
slots with your lock when you're not there, as everyone will correctly
assume you're an ass.

buddd wrote:
Hello,

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for the
day while I am at work (9 hours).

I was told that if I do that, even if I get the best lock, my bike will
not be there when I return.

Err, who's telling you this? It sounds a bit exagerated to me but I
don't live in T.O. On the other hand I have lived in T.O. long time
ago, in London ON, Ottawa and other places and never had a locked bike
stolen.

Does anyone havea suggestion for a lock that has replacement insurance
or anti-theft insurance)?

It seems kind of ridiculous to pay $100 / year for the insurance when
the bike only cost $200. My home deductible is $300, so the lock would
have to cover the entire cost of the bike.

A good solid U-bolt usually works as long as it is attached to
something solid. I would take off/not put on a computer and a
detachable headlight is probably a good idea. Try to park in a highly
visable area.

John Kane
Kingston ON

On 6 Sep 2005 04:18:22 -0700, "buddd" wrote:

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for the
day while I am at work (9 hours).

I was told that if I do that, even if I get the best lock, my bike will
not be there when I return.

For a CA$200 bike? I doubt it's that bad. Some other tips that may help:
Don't wash it, aside from where that has function (ie, the chain). Mud and
rust are better than the third lock (get some of that mud and
rust-in-a-can they make for SUVs if you have to, but, really, there's
bound to be easier ways). Two different kinds of locks (most thieves
specialise in one kind of, sometimes even brand of, lock). A (good) ring
lock at your rear brake bridge would be relatively easy and light,
especially compared to the U. Axa SL7 is good, a regular AXA is not quite
as good. Not sure about canadian availaibility of these.

Does your bike have quick releases? If it does, you need to make sure the
quickly released wheels and saddle don't walk off. Lock them to the bike
frame, especially the front. Better yet, put a longer nutted axle nuts on
them and remove the quick releases from the equation altogether, if you
can do this for yourself.

The most important thing you can do is ensure that desireability times
ease of stealing is low. Lowering desirability of your bike by making it
look visibly ugly in any way that doesn't impact function helps nearly as
much as the second lock. Also, park your bike next to a more expensive one
with less good locks. That will work a *lot* of the time.


Jasper

Brian Huntley wrote:
buddd wrote:

Hello,

I just purchased a new Hybrid bicycle for $200 (CDN). My plan is to
drive it to the subway and leave it in the bicycle parking area for the
day while I am at work (9 hours).


Besides locks with insurance, double lock it (cable and ulock), don't
leave accessories on it that you don't want to lose (computer, lights,
water bottles), and don't park it in exactly the same spot every day,
if you can.

Sheldon Brown (as usual) has a good page about locking:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

One thing - Sheldon and others suggest leaving a heavy lock at the bike
rack, rather than carrying it on the bike all the time. If you do do
that, remember you still should park in different slot in the racks
each day, and, more importantly, please DON'T block one of the rack
slots with your lock when you're not there, as everyone will correctly
assume you're an ass.


A note about Sheldon's tactic though: Even though I lock my rear wheel
through the triangle with a Kryptonite Mini, one morning I came outside
to find that someone had tried to grab my bike and run! The rear wheel
was trashed. The thief must have been in for a shock when the bike
didn't go with him, but it cost me $90 for a decent replacement wheel.