Heavy, woven cable. Front wheel removed and woven through frame with cable. A convenient I-beam to lock to. This makes a great combination for pretty high security, and peace of mind knowing your bike will be there when you get back. I'll sometimes take my front wheel with me to make an even less inviting target, and/or seat post with seat.
5 comments:
i've read that cables, even good ones, are easily cut, and that your best bet is the combo of a quality u-lock fixing the frame to immobile object with cables securing wheels and seat. i wonder though, how much is really necessary for something like 30 minutes in the new flower market? should i be putting my wheel in the basket with me?
heather, you are correct than cables are more easily than U-lock, but in some cases, U-locks are more easily defeated than some cables. In high-theft areas, a combination of all methods is best. Dallas isn't a high-theft area, but caution and prudence are called for.
The bike racks as New Flower are easily cut, defeating the purpose os the best chain (and make no mistake, the best lost is a heavy chain with a short-shackle padlock... weighing 10 lbs).
For short-term parking in public, you want to dissuade the casual thief (the pros can't be stopped... they have even pulled into parking lots and pulled entire bike-filled racks out of the ground, lowering the whole mess onto a flatbed truck).
At New Flower, standard locking should be fine (all major components secured). Loading your front wheel into your basket makes the steal-and-ride thief move on.
I need to finish my coffee before I type. ;-)
I think you can decipher my pidgen English.
I carry a U-lock and heavy cable for parking. Whenever possible, I try to u-lock the bike to a rack, but sometimes I have to use a post or column that's too big. I lock the frame to the front wheel and wrap the cable around it. If someone cut the cable, they'd still have to carry that heavy Surly away.
I use and on-guard mastiff chainlock to lock the bike downstairs at home. I run the mini-u-lock through the Brooks, too (seems those are becoming popular theft items in some places).
I used to keep a u-lock attached to a pole at the Wal-Mart in town. It would save me hauling it the six miles to town. It was a rather central location, never too far to pick it up on the way to an errand.
I have it at home now. I've only used it once this year, and that was at the first annual Great Southern Bike Blogger's Meet-up. (Well, I thought it was great!)
Now, I just keep my bicycle with me at my side whatever my errand is. This is one of the perks of living in a community with very few transportational cyclists. (Ennis, Texas) Well, that and no lousy bicycle specific infrastructure!
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