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Bikes are great things. Unfortunately, no bike lock is going to stop someone from stealing your bike. Locks are only deterrents that make it more of a hassle for someone to steal your bike. This article from Slate magazine will show you how much you need to spend to protect your bike from hand tools. The only ones which stood up to those tools were at least 90 dollars and can still be broken in under a minute by inexpensive power tools that real thieves know how to use.
With that said, you can save some cash by making your own deterrent out of some chain, a padlock, and (optional, but very nice to have) some cloth. It will provide similar security to many cheaper bike locks and could save you 10 to 20 dollars in the process.
With that said, you can save some cash by making your own deterrent out of some chain, a padlock, and (optional, but very nice to have) some cloth. It will provide similar security to many cheaper bike locks and could save you 10 to 20 dollars in the process.
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Obtain some chain (0 to 10 dollars):
A friend had some extra chain laying around - it was 5mm thick and about 3 meters long (.2 inches and 9.8 feet long). You can use chain of any thickness - the thicker it is, the more hassle it will be to cut and the less . However it will also become more and more of a hassle to carry around with you.
You can pick up chain for 1-4 dollars/foot at most hardware stores. Decide how much you need for the lock - I used about .8m (2.5 feet) for my lock.
Get a padlock (0 to 10 dollars):
I spent about 10 dollars on a Master D-1 padlock. It is pretty hefty, but don't let that fool you. It can be cut by a 10 year old with a bolt-cutter if they know what they're doing. You can get a dial-based padlock, but I chose one operated by a key for no real substantive reason.
Get some fabric (really? you must have something lying around...):
Anything will do here. Make sure you can cut it into a long strip which can be wrapped around the chain so that it doesn't pinch skin or scratch paint as it swings around.
A friend had some extra chain laying around - it was 5mm thick and about 3 meters long (.2 inches and 9.8 feet long). You can use chain of any thickness - the thicker it is, the more hassle it will be to cut and the less . However it will also become more and more of a hassle to carry around with you.
You can pick up chain for 1-4 dollars/foot at most hardware stores. Decide how much you need for the lock - I used about .8m (2.5 feet) for my lock.
Get a padlock (0 to 10 dollars):
I spent about 10 dollars on a Master D-1 padlock. It is pretty hefty, but don't let that fool you. It can be cut by a 10 year old with a bolt-cutter if they know what they're doing. You can get a dial-based padlock, but I chose one operated by a key for no real substantive reason.
Get some fabric (really? you must have something lying around...):
Anything will do here. Make sure you can cut it into a long strip which can be wrapped around the chain so that it doesn't pinch skin or scratch paint as it swings around.
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First off, if you really want to save "a few bucks" at least get hardened steel chain and lock. Other stuff will just crumble with the cruddiest of bolt cutters.
But honestly for about 30-40 bucks you can get a good quality lock. U-Shaped locks are the best, and you should know the proper way of locking your bike.
and that said, i will make soon a how to lock you bike instructable.
Also I think you can get coldsore temporary tattoos somewhere, or maybe that was just for jamming public ads.
Oh, another tip I learned after I got my current bike is to loop the lock through the frame and then through any wheels that can be detached. That'll make the whole bike secured, and be more of a deterrent to thieves if they have to go through more effort.
Also I think you can get coldsore temporary tattoos somewhere, or maybe that was just for jamming public ads.
Also I think you can get coldsore temporary tattoos somewhere, or maybe that was just for jamming public ads.
Leave your bike lock @ your destination(s) locked... ie - @ school, @ your 30 mile rest stop, @ work...
that way you can just carry the key or combo... you might want to check with the owner of your pitstop... probably safe to leave a lock attached to a bike rack. Never hurts to keep a cheap mini cable lock for those times you just need a 5-10 minute stop... or just in case your real lock is missing...
:)
Bike thieves suck!
- use redundant locking systems. I usually use 2 of them, sometimes 3.
- use DIFFERENT locking systems: breaking 3 chains takes 3 times the time of breaking one, while breaking a chain and a cable and a D/U-Lock takes more time and MORE TOOLS the thief might not have with him.
- use MOTORBike security devices. It's odd, but the oddness is the key: surprise!
Most of all learn how to lock it properly!
- both wheels
- secure the frame to ad unmovable oject
- remember to secure the seat too.
bicicletas
bicicleta
motor para bicicleta
bicicleta con motor
I told my cousin to make this and he said no it's a waste and the next day his bike got stolen and i lol'd at him he made it the next day to put on his new bike.
I eventually gave him his first bike back XD
I don't comment much so pardon me if I'm a bit wooden.
I would heartily recommend an old inner tube beneath the cloth. It will protect the bike more, and your hands.
Cheers.
If you leave your bike completely unlocked, you are asking for it to be stolen, as any thief simply has to get on it and ride it away. I occasionally do this with my $40 backup bike for period of 60 seconds but wouldn't do it for any longer or with a more expensive bike.
If you lock your bike with a chain like this, the casual pick-up-and-ride thief *will be prevented* from stealing your bike. This is effective theft prevention in, say, a highly visible public place- even ten seconds with some bolt cutters isn't exactly inconspicuous on a busy street.
If you leave your bike in an obscured location or out overnight, thieves will have the ability to use tools so you will need a higher class of lock. If I'm leaving my bike out overnight I use a >$100 D-lock (which cost me more than my bike and I expect will last longer than it) and a thick cable lock just around the front wheel.
I do totally agree with the technique of making a bike look less attractive. My current roadie has been inexpertly resprayed (not by me) so has peeling black paint with gold patches showing through, ancient tyres and is covered in little bits of duct tape and a set of LED fairy lights (yes, really). Additional bonus points if you can leave functional bits hanging off the bike looking like they are broken- maybe unhook your brake cable so it looks like it doesn't work, even if it actually does.
Or an old garden hose...
Charlie Flowers
DailyHack.net