City Bikers: Lock Feedback Needed

no_steeze

no_steeze

Active member
Hello friends. I am doing some work for a company that manufactures theft-proof bike accessories with the goal of making city bikers less susceptible to getting everything stolen. One of the main issues is people using cable locks as opposed to U-locks purely for the convenience factor. Most of us know that you can bang through a cable lock in about 2 seconds with a nice pair of bolt cutters, but U-locks require a saw or some extreme science skills, thus making them a much more viable option for protection. The problem is, as we know, U-locks come with those shitty mounting brackets, and if you don't want to use the bracket the lock is a pain in the ass to store while riding.

So here's where you can help us. Fill out the survey below (it will take 30 seconds) and/or post your thoughts on U-locks in here. I'm mainly trying to get a sense of why people tend not to use U-locks eventhough they know they are safer.

Survey:http://goo.gl/forms/UcrzsU5mgD

If you post a response in the thread or post to let me know you've taken the survey I'll enter you into a random lottery for some swag. The value of the swag will appreciate with the number of responses I get, so there could be some Jiberish in your future if this thread and survey get over 25 responses.

Thanks guys
 
For question one, Levi Commuter jeans.

Levis-Commuter-FallWinter-2014-5.jpg
 
13373040:omnidata said:
For question one, Levi Commuter jeans.

Levis-Commuter-FallWinter-2014-5.jpg
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I updated the survey to include hipster belts.

I also gave a couple of the questions more options and on some of them you can now select multiple answers if you have experienced several of the problems listed

Thanks for the responses so far
 
Can't do anything in the city without worrying about your shit gettin stolen. I've heard of people using 2x4s to easily break u locks, so maybe that's why?

Still a good idea to use that + a cable lock though. Defeat able, sure, but a deterrent nevertheless.

My bike lives inside at night.
 
i use a chain lock. ive had cable locks cut in the past (like last week, not making that mistake again)
 
I just have the cable lock, but then again i only ever take out my 30 year old $20 mtb into the city sooo
 
13373661:Microcosm said:
Can't do anything in the city without worrying about your shit gettin stolen. I've heard of people using 2x4s to easily break u locks, so maybe that's why?

Still a good idea to use that + a cable lock though. Defeat able, sure, but a deterrent nevertheless.

My bike lives inside at night.
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Let's put it this way, as a professional bike thief, or basically someone who friends call upon when they lost/broke their keys:

Any lock an easily be beaten.

Even heavy bricks such as the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock. Less then 30 sec with my overpowered angle grinder and around 9 sec with bolt cutters. Such a lock will put off opportunists thieves but not the pro's, against them you are essentially powerless.

If I can give one tip: put your lock up high.

Why? Well the bolt cutter technique relies on leverage, you can't cut through a Fahgettaboudit just squeezing both ends of the bolt cutter unless you are the Rock, they way you do it is by putting one arm on the ground and just hang on the other.

Also CCTV and crowds of people don't deter bike thiefs.
 
Done. U-lock, cable lock, and strategic placement of where I lock my bike have kept me theft free thus far. I've got a lot of friends who have not been quite so lucky though.
 
Used to have a superb masterlock handcuff style lock and then brought a cable along to seal the deal. Was super fukin rad til my drunk ass decided to lose it. Would recommend.
 
For those of you who commented on aesthetics, does that have to do with the ugly mount on the bike when you're not riding or is it also the idea of the lock mounted to the bike while riding as well?
 
13373881:omnidata said:
Let's put it this way, as a professional bike thief, or basically someone who friends call upon when they lost/broke their keys:

Any lock an easily be beaten.

Even heavy bricks such as the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock. Less then 30 sec with my overpowered angle grinder and around 9 sec with bolt cutters. Such a lock will put off opportunists thieves but not the pro's, against them you are essentially powerless.

If I can give one tip: put your lock up high.

Why? Well the bolt cutter technique relies on leverage, you can't cut through a Fahgettaboudit just squeezing both ends of the bolt cutter unless you are the Rock, they way you do it is by putting one arm on the ground and just hang on the other.

Also CCTV and crowds of people don't deter bike thiefs.
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Not sure how to feel about your days bike thieving, but good advice.. thanks? My bike is old and generally shitty enough it's not going to be specifically targeted. Kind of feels like the first rule of city biking. If it's crazy nice, don't let it leave the crazy nice neighborhoods.
 
I don't like u-locks just cause you can't use 1 lock to lock both wheels and your frame, so they aren't the best for bikes with quick-releases. Also you're far more limited to what you can lock your bike to.

I do have a fabulous idea for a fairly cheap bike lock that is the best of both worlds.
 
13374661:Microcosm said:
Not sure how to feel about your days bike thieving, but good advice.. thanks? My bike is old and generally shitty enough it's not going to be specifically targeted. Kind of feels like the first rule of city biking. If it's crazy nice, don't let it leave the crazy nice neighborhoods.
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I was joking, I'm merely a situational bike thief when as said friends loose keys, etc..

Old bikes, new bikes doesn't really matter, at least in Amsterdam, nor does the neighbourhood, hell if it's a crazy nice bike, most thief's might assume it's a bait bike from the police. It should look average, and if you have a Brooke's saddle, take that with you. Even crowded places don't help, as you can see in this Neistat video, people do jack shit:


13374692:Dauminator said:
Check out ABUS bike locks, expensive but worth the money.
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No better then any other expensive brand, i.e. AXA, Kryptonite, etc... I'll snap their heavy cable in seconds.

One more tip: One of the best solutions against stolen wheels is Pitlock or infiniti3D lock nuts, but then even then that doesn't always help, if they want the bike or a part, they will find a way to get it. Such as just sawing straight through your fork.
 
Why not just get a backpack and put the lock in there. I also live somewhere where no one really locks up anything. Including house and car.
 
A u-lock is required on my campus and almost everyone has one of these. Campus safety will actually put their own lock on your bike if it isn't locked up around the frame with a U lock. It's a bitch to carry without a backpack.

DSC02198.JPG
 
never had a problem putting my kryptonite u-lock in my backpack or attaching it to a camelbak. if you don't protect your shit then it's pretty much your fault when it get's stolen.
 
13378819:kung_powpow said:
A u-lock is required on my campus and almost everyone has one of these. Campus safety will actually put their own lock on your bike if it isn't locked up around the frame with a U lock. It's a bitch to carry without a backpack.

DSC02198.JPG
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That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Why force people to lock their bikes? If they don't want to, who gives a shit, it might get stolen but that's their problem.
 
Living in NyC...many friends bikes have been stolen really nothing to do about it they can get through almost any lock. I have my real nice mountain bike, and a cheapish road bike which I ride around on sometimes. But if I need to travel somewhere and want to bike I just take a citi bike. I dont care if they make you look like a squid there cheap and easy to get around
 
13380079:caucasian_chad said:
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Why force people to lock their bikes? If they don't want to, who gives a shit, it might get stolen but that's their problem.
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yeah its dumb as fuck
 
13380079:caucasian_chad said:
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Why force people to lock their bikes? If they don't want to, who gives a shit, it might get stolen but that's their problem.
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guessing the people who did have their bikes stolen thought it was someone else's problem and that's why they're mandatory
 
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