Bike stolen!

I_M_Weasel

I_M_Weasel

I_M_Weasel

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10 Sep 2008
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I've been suffering a miserable train commute for the last 4 months, the one positive has been a quick bike ride between the station and work.

But arrived at the station this morning to find a sawn through lock and no bike. Annoyingly bikes with no or very flimsy locks had been left untouched.

Wasn't really worth anything, 9 years old and nothing special, still I'll miss it, especially as i walk those miles between the station.

Just venting, rubbish start to the day.
 
:(

Speaking of locks - I don't have one. Well I do, but it's a specialized one and it's kinda flexible, and I've lost it anyway. I want something I can take on club rides that involve a cafe stop and it's not possible to take the bikes right up to the cafe... so need to lock them to a railing or something. But in sight... probably. Just to stop people walking away with them unhindered.

There's one guy that has a thin cable - bit thicker than piano wire, it looks like... but I can't imagine that's very strong... but I guess I'm more after a deterrent.

Also I need a strong D lock/chain to potentially lock my bike up outside work.
 
A Kryptonite mini-D is quite good for this sort of thing. Alternatively, a hiplock might be worth looking at.

Personally I don't see the value in the thin cable locks that you could cut with a pair of scissors. If you're leaving your bike out of sight you need a proper lock and if you're not leaving it out of sight then you don't need any.

edit: If you're planning on leaving your bike unattended for long periods of time and don't mind leaving a lock there overnight I'd probably get as beefy a gold-rated lock as you can for work.
 
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Kryptonite kryptoflex for the cafe lock, but it really is nothing more than a deterrent and any remotely prepared thief will chop it no bother.

Kryptonite series 7 mini for your serious business lock.
 
The lock was a steel cable type one, about an inch thick overall, the metal core being about 3/4 of an inch, I was under no illusions that it would stop a determined thief, but hoped they'd pick an easier target - one of the bikes with no locks for example, plus it wasn't new, certainly well worn, not much value left in it. But they've clearly come equipped and patiently sawed through, taking all the time they needed.
 
Quick update,

Police told me they had nothing to go on so case was closed but transport police investigated and eventually found 2 equipped people on CCTV taking the bike, they passed the case back to regular police who have identified the two thieves.

Don't know where it'll go from here but hopefully they'll face some penalty, still don't expect to get the bike back.
 
Posting this a bit late to the party, but I think it's important to point out that a small pair of these will snip through any cable lock, no matter the thickness, in a matter of seconds:

AK8516.jpg


Snip, snip, snip, snip and you're through even the biggest one. Never ever use a cable unless you're sat there watching the bike!

For trips to the shops, use a conventional D lock as a minimum or a mini D for a bit more security because it's harder to prise. For your overnight locking or if you're leaving it at the station, if you don't want it to be stolen use nothing smaller than a 16mm thick D lock (e.g. a Fahgettaboutit) and lock the frame and both wheels.
 
It was only my old spare bike so not desperate to replace it but I might get an entry level road bike in the summer. I'll be using my nicer mountain bike over the winter but it'll either be safe at home or locked up at work.

*Although it'll be pretty safe at work I do want to invest in a very strong lock for it while it's there. Any suggestions? (links appreciated) - I've asked in the main bike thread, but doesn't hurt to ask again.

Thanks
 
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I used to use Kryptonite Series 2 D locks like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252175606073

Good value and good-ish level of security but it can be cropped quite easily because of the thin shackle, so you wouldn't want to use this as your main lock in a permanent overnight storage place outdoors.

I've recently switched to a Kryptonite Evolution Mini which is a bit shorter and a bit thicker. It's more secure because it's tight up against whatever you lock it to and therefore harder to prise open, as well as being harder to cut because it'll put up much more of a fight to cropping. I think it works out a very good value lock for a road bike.

One of THE most secure D locks is the New York Fahgettaboudit Mini. It's like the Evolution Mini but with much thicker bar and it's well recognised as being almost impossible to cut unless you use power tools. The disadvantage is it's heavy, so it's a lot to lug around with you, and it's quite a bit more expensive, hence I compromised on the Evo Mini. Also, if you've got a mountain bike, the Fahg will probably be too small to get round the frame and wheel, so the Abus Granit Extreme 59 is more suitable which is a longer D.

My recommendation is the Kryptonite Evolution Mini, but if you've got somewhere to leave the lock where you take the bike to or don't mind the additional weight in your bag then get the Fahg. If someone really wants your bike then they'll get it if you've got the Kryptonite Evolution Mini, but there's no chance if you use the Fahg.

There's a good round-up of the monster locks and chains on LFGSS: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/
 
Vonhelmet said:
Kryptonite kryptoflex for the cafe lock
Click to expand...

This lock might be heavier than the evolution mini! I ordered one and returned it as it was so heavy and didn't want to carry it in my commuting bag. I'd also rather carry the mini strapped to my frame than try to fit the kryptoflex in a pocket. It's so bulky & wide I couldn't find a good place to fit the bracket, the mini is much flatter and easier to fit.
 
I use a mini 7 that's on the frame permanent and put the kryptoflex cable in back pack when I feel nessesary.

Only thing is that the barrel sticks a bit sometimes which is annoying.
 

no matter what lock you buy if the thief is determined he will take your bike.

2 d-locks and a flex cable to tangle between wheel should be standard.

heck with some people i know who have 1k bikes. they have 3 d-locks
 
That really sucks to hear you lost your bike.

I very rarely leave my bike anywhere and have two locks. One is a tiny cable lock that I could cut with a pair of nail clippers. It's only purpose is to live in my MTB backpack, not weigh much or take up much space and stop some opportunist wheeling my bike off while I turn round to pay for my bacon bap. My local trail centre has much more expensive machinery parked up without locks so I feel that is adequate.

My other one is a Hiplock Lite which I've used a grand total of once. It is a good design but I didn't really think through how it works with jersey pockets. The answer is... it doesn't. It tends to either sit above the stuff in your pocket and annoyingly tug your jersey down or sits under it and pushes your stuff out.
 
Need a GPS chip embedded somewhere and possibily an alarm, also a chip that will text you when bike is moved if you haven't entered a code. A big nosy alarm, 'THIS THIEF IS STEALING MY BIKE, THIS....'
Maybe even an exploding dye pack attatched to lock'
 
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