Which locks have the best weight to security ratio?

Pete Biggs

aquachimp wrote:
>
> perhaps the ratio should be simply weight to strengh, but weight to
> possibly awkward to break.
> I'm in Belgium, here, most bikes seem to come with a lock that sits
> just under the seat. I'm sure someone here must be familiar with it.
> When you want to lock-up, you turn the key slightly and push down a
> knob/lever. A curved bar comes out one end and into the other between
> the spokes (spelling?) of the wheel. When the lever is fully down, the
> key is released (can't get it out otherwise). On return, insert key,
> turn slightly and the lever pops up again releasing the back wheel.
> Because the key is 'stuck' untill next use, you never have to
> 'remember' to bring it, which is also handy because you can attach the
> key for another cable lock.
> Only problem being, I've never tried to smash one of these rear seat
> locks so I've no idea how good they really are.

I would be concerned about spoke damage if the bike was accidentally or
deliberately pushed.

Also of course these kind of locks don't stop anyone picking up the bike and
putting it into the back of a car or van.

~PB

Rob Morley

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:05:30 +0200
"Pete Biggs" <p@pomegranateremovehighlyimpracticalfruitbiggs.tc> wrote:
>
> Also of course these kind of locks don't stop anyone picking up the
> bike and putting it into the back of a car or van.
>
They do if you use them to attach a loop of cable to something.

Thunderbug

aquachimp wrote:
> I'm in Belgium, here, most bikes seem to come with a lock that sits
> just under the seat. I'm sure someone here must be familiar with it.
> When you want to lock-up, you turn the key slightly and push down a
> knob/lever. A curved bar comes out one end and into the other between
> the spokes (spelling?) of the wheel. When the lever is fully down, the
> key is released (can't get it out otherwise). On return, insert key,
> turn slightly and the lever pops up again releasing the back wheel.
> Because the key is 'stuck' untill next use, you never have to
> 'remember' to bring it, which is also handy because you can attach the
> key for another cable lock.

I just bought a Pashley Roadster Sovereign and it has such a lock.
While not relying on it for security, it is as you say a good reminder
that you have to lock your bike. Especially since I rarely locked my
bike at home... so with the keys 'locked' to the bike, I can't open my
front door until I lock the bike and retrieve my house key

While in Holland earlier in the year, I noticed that practically all of
their bikes have similar locks - and while most people used a chain/loop
of cable/D-lock as well, while sitting in the street I saw that people
popping into a shop quickly would typically use only the back wheel
lock. OK I guess in a pedestrianised are where no white van can take
your bike away, but I'm not going to chance the same here. Insured or
not, I don't want to wait another 6 weeks for a replacement Pashley!

aquachimp

On Jun 28, 8:14*pm, Thunderbug <thunderbu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> aquachimp wrote:
> > I'm in Belgium, here, most bikes seem to come with a lock that sits
> > just under the seat. I'm sure someone here must be familiar with it.
> > When you want to lock-up, you turn the key slightly and push down a
> > knob/lever. A curved bar comes out one end and into the other between
> > the spokes (spelling?) of the wheel. When the lever is fully down, the
> > key is released (can't get it out otherwise). On return, insert key,
> > turn slightly and the lever pops up again releasing the back wheel.
> > Because the key is 'stuck' untill next use, you never have to
> > 'remember' to bring it, which is also handy because you can attach the
> > key for another cable lock.
>
> I just bought a Pashley Roadster Sovereign and it has such a lock.
> While not relying on it for security, it is as you say a good reminder
> that you have to lock your bike. *Especially since I rarely locked my
> bike at home... so with the keys 'locked' to the bike, I can't open my
> front door until I lock the bike and retrieve my house key

Lovely. But so true.
Also, like some of those momentary shoppers, it would be tempting to
not bother with locking at all. But then, the keys are dangling there
and a sense of ... well.... I'm not going to GIVE the thief a bike
with lock AND key and throw in a decent cable and its key with it too!
Click, clunk, slide.

>
> While in Holland earlier in the year, I noticed that practically all of
> their bikes have similar locks - and while most people used a chain/loop
> of cable/D-lock as well, while sitting in the street I saw that people
> popping into a shop quickly would typically use only the back wheel
> lock. *OK I guess in a pedestrianised are where no white van can take
> your bike away, but I'm not going to chance the same here. *Insured or
> not, I don't want to wait another 6 weeks for a replacement Pashley!