I just recently got into using a bike for commuting and I was wondering if this is a good way to secure my bike? I know, previously, people would recommend only needing to lock the back tire to a solid object, but I’ve seen videos of people easily cutting the back tire, breaking it and taking the frame/front tire. My method of locking is sort of similar, except I do lock around the splash guard. If this isn’t very secure, I’d have to get a longer ulock or chain, because there doesn’t appear to be an easy way for me to lock around the back tire, frame and solid object with my current ulock. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Some additonal images:
Nicely done. You’re probably aware of the thin cable will only stop opportunist thieves, but it’s still worthwhile if they are a local problem.
Pay no attention to the people telling you you should have locked the frame. As you probably know locking the wheel like that has locked the frame, and the only way to get the frame would be to destroy the rear wheel the drastically reduces the value to a thief. They’d angle grind the lock before they’d cut that wheel.
The front wheel is correct but I would move the D lock at the back. It is only round a wheel and a mudguard.
Your current method means the frame could be stolen by undoing the wheel bolts and lifting away. Can’t see exactly how the mudguards are fixed and they might complicate it a bit but not much.
I’d suggest low on the seat tube just above the chain ring and then loop the cable round the front and back wheels and into the D lock.
Edit: forgot. Don’t bother looping up through the seat like that. If they want to steal that with the cable there it’s only two bolts. It’s only one without the cable but if you were still worried you can get security seatpost bolts
they can’t just undo some bolts and lift away, they have to cut either the wheel or the lock itself.
it’s a safe method recommended by sheldon brown
Should have said, unbolt and damage the wheels then lift away.
Which could be done with a spanner and by standing on the back wheel to squash it to an oval and push it through.
So then you’re buying a hardened D lock and making it as strong as an aluminium and rubber wheel. If they have very basic cutters they are through both wheels in seconds and can lift the bike away. Leaving the lock intact on the bar.
No point in having a hardened lock if it is going to be used like this. Just buy a bargain basement long cable lock as all the benefits of the hardened D are being removed.
very basic cutters that cut through both wheels in seconds
i would like to see that.
Are you writing from some experience or is this theoritical?
Oh come on, it would be fantastically difficult to crush the wheel in situ and get it though the frame triangle and you’d end up with a fucked up partial bike that wasn’t that good to start with.
Locking the rear when in the frame triangle is fully secure.
I was always taught to lock around the wheel, frame, and whatever you’re locking to. Just two points leaves something vulnerable
I’m sorry I don’t understand, why is looping the cable through the seat a bad idea? Cable lock isn’t much, I agree, but i figure it at least stops someone with just an Alan wrench from taking my seat post, and would also need a cable lock cutter.
They don’t need cable cutters. They can just undo one of the bolts holding the seat together, pull the cable out and then undo the seat post bolt to remove the seat. So all you’ve really done is have them undo an extra bolt. No need to cut the cable.
Keep more cable for securing both wheels and D lock frame to post. If they’re really bothered about the seat get a security seat post bolt.
I don’t know what bike theft is like in your area, but here in nl all bikes have a rear lock that’s mounted to the bike to keep the rear wheel secure. In the big cities people also usually attach their bikes to solid objects using a chain through the frame and the front wheel. I would be more concerned about your lock- such string locks are very easy to cut through with a bolt cutter. My recommendation would be to get a strong chain link lock with a plastic sleeve. I’m sure you can find such locks online where you live.
Lock that U lock around the frame of your bike, otherwise pretty good: They do sell bigger U locks, so it would be worth investing in one.
As small as is usable is better with U locks. Larger ones can be jacked open easily. Locking the wheel like this means the frame is secure. It’s topologically impossible to get the frame without destroying the rear wheel.
They aren’t better if you can’t fit them around your frame lol, that said, yeah it’s ideal to use one they can’t get a jack under.
But there is no practical benefit to including the frame because locking the wheel like this also secures the frame.
times have changed but sheldon’s pages are still a relatively good source for bicycles
that thin cable is better than nothing and i too use it sometimes but you shouldn’t trust it.
security of your bike depends on where you lock it more than how you lock it. Most of the time a uLock around the rear wheel through the frame is enough (even in paris!)
