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Question about bike locks??? |
I'm about to buy a new bike, and I also need a bike lock. Do you think I need to get the metal "U" lock, or is a cable lock sufficient? Seems like everybody thinks cable locks can be cut, but is it really that easy to cut? "U" locks can be expensive. It is really important to remember that locks- regardless of what they are- can be compromised. If a crook really wants your bike, it is theirs. The argument between U locks and cable/chain locks has been around ever since U locks have been around and I'm not going to get into that for now. However, it is nearly impossible to cut a braided cable with bolt cutters since bolt cutters rely on the failure of the solid stock. Cable will simply move around and squish rather than "break". There is/was a kevlar core reinforced cable lock that Specialized used to sell that also had a good solid shroud over the lock area to prevent a bolt cutter from getting around it. This lock also had the added benefit of being able to lock the bike completely without having to take the bike halfway apart. It cost somewhere in the $40 range and was worth every penny. Think of it as cheap insurance... if your bike is worth $800 then the cost of the lock is just 5% of it's value. By the way, this ratio- 5% of the bikes value- is what we recommend when purchasing a lock, so if your bike was $59.99 then kite string and some chewed gum would likely do the trick... you get the idea. We often do our own testing of locks before offering them for sale, and this has been the toughest lock we ever tried. U locks, on the other hand, are pretty easy to break once you know how. Source(s): 27 years in the industry in my experience, Ulocks are harder to break. I can't tell you how many partially stripped bikes I've seen sometimes just a frame locked to a parking meter. I've never seen a bike like that with a cable or chain lock around it. That means to me that the cable/chains are easier to break. I like Ulocks because they're easier to work with also. If you have the chance, take a stroll around your closest large city and see what the messengers use. Most I've seen in boston use the Ulock, though a few use the chains with the square links. Cables are rare. i ride with a cable lock. i reccomend this only if you have friends biking with u. buy a thick one. u-locks are only for if u ride alone. Go to the hardware store and buy four or five feet of heavy chain and a good padlock. This will give you many options as to how you can lock up your bike and wheels. Best bet is to never let it out of your sight. Two bikes stolen |
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