What's the best.....

[JohnClimber]

Light weight bike lock for solo rides when you have to nip in to a shop or grab a meal?

[atk]

By "best" do you mean the lightest? Cheapest? Most secure? Most compact? Closest colour match?

[cyclingtiger]

Kind of depends on where that shop or meal is.

In town I use a lightweight Abus coil that I picked up from Evans. Fits in a jersey pocket and doesn't weight too much. Enough to stop a determined scally from grabbing your iron horse and running off with it.
Out in the country, where the scally density is much lower, I've been using a retractable wire lock which is a bit smaller and lighter. Of course it's all a bit silly going for the lightest weight in my pocket while failing to address the spare D-lock in weight that I'm carrying in lard and the lock does more to signify the foolishness of mankind than provide any real security.

[JohnClimber]

By "best" do you mean the lightest? Cheapest? Most secure? Most compact? Closest colour match?

Let's say I need to nip into a spar or a coop in Dolgellau. Something to slow down the opertunity who hasn't come tooled up.

[johnnystorm]

One or two of these:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Kryptonite-R2-R ... AizH8P8HAQ

[Ian]

Why not a small padlock through the disc rotor/ chainstay?

[whitestone]

Dolgellau you say? (Draws breath)

It'll be one of these you'll be wanting then

[deft punk]

Why not a small padlock through the disc rotor/ chainstay?

I thought about that, but decided a wee wire lock was a more obvious deterrent & could be used to lock it to something. You can probably bite through it, but it removes temptation for most.

[atk]

Why not a small padlock through the disc rotor/ chainstay?

Isn't visible enough... opportunistic thief/drunk kid/drunk adult etc. wouldn't spot it as they throw a leg over the bike to pedal away. They'll fall off as soon as they try and pedal away, and you can point and laugh at them lying tangled in a Lauf fork on the floor... until you notice the horrible dent in your chainstay...

[atk]

I tend to either use a Knog lock https://euro.knog.com.au/bike/locks/cab ... frank.html (although I have a feeling they may have run a sleazy ad campaign, and if there's a similar product from another company I'd buy that instead now...)

Or a little cafe lock something like: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/abus-combiflex- ... bike-lock/

The former being quite a visible shade of purple, good for audax use, locking up at supermarkets in a slightly larger towns. The latter being handy for remote pubs when you need to pop in to order/use the facilities.

These look like they might work well as a deterrent while touring in some areas, expect you could pry them open with a big stick though... 250g d-lock http://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/palmy-mini-u-locks

[Bearbonesnorm]

This is John's bike we're talking about right?

[HaYWiRe]

I use a small abus retractable wire lock, very small and light, quick to set up too.

It provides little security, it'll take seconds to bolt crop, but acts as a perfect deterrent.
Wont be of any use parked in an alley or overnight but for quick shop/cafe trips its worked so far.

I always park up in public, clear view and never leave it long. Its mostly to stop people just hopping on pretending its theirs or walking away with it.

[benp1]

Park it with the forks facing out John. You'll have little gnomes puking all over any that gets close

A lot of folks don't seem to mind leaving their bikes out unlocked, but I'm from London so I can't help but keep watching it and wanting to pop outside every time it's not locked

I have 3 locks that I use for this, all are basically the same design. 2 Abus combiflexs and a Knog Milkman. The Abus is the best one as I once took the Knog with me and forgot the key in the car, I just schlepped a paperweight around. The Abus are combination ones, and the way they retract is neat. You can leave it loose or have it tight against what you're locking.

I have
- one in my commuting bag for if I need to lock my lid
- one in my Brompton bag (so I can attach the bike to the pole in the tube so it doesn't fall over when folded if the driver suddenly brakes)
- one on my MTB for if I need to duck into a shop

They definitely don't replace a proper lock, but it's a tiny extra piece of mind and might put off the opportunist

[Dan_K]

I have a combination lock like the kryptonite one. Decided on a combination lock over a key in case I lost the key whilst out on trips.

[GregMay]

I have faith in humanity in small country towns.

It's worked well for the past 20 years.

And yes, I've been to Dolgellau.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I have faith in humanity in small country towns.

It's worked well for the past 20 years.

And yes, I've been to Dolgellau.

I agree with Greg, wouldn't dream of carrying a lock round these parts. Usually all my belongings inc' helmet, gps etc sit on the bike while I go indoors. If I'm feeling paranoid, I sometimes sit my helmet over my gps, you know, just to be sure

[Wotsits]

If you've no lock just take your front axle out, only takes a minute & will stop anyone trying to ride away on it..
Really easy to do with 15mmQR..
Add a retractable lock & remove anything like a Garmin if anywhere dodgy..

[Ian]

This is John's bike we're talking about right?

Which is why I thought atk's "closest colour match" comment was as good as it was subtle

[benp1]

To be fair, there chances of your bike getting nicked are fairly minimal, but it's not exactly heavy or big so it's pretty easy to pack one for peace of mind depending where you're going

PS - I have a couple of those Knog Party Franks linked to above, I'd recommend the retractable thin cable locks for bikepacking over those. Yes, I realise I have a lot of bike locks )

[JohnClimber]

This is John's bike we're talking about right?

Git ;-)

Got a wire combination lock thing from Halfrauds today.
Cheers for your help

[Mariner]

I also include saddle - B17 - Jones loops and wheels all to frame and frame to something solid.
Not that I am paranoid you understand.
To achieve that I need a meter plus and just use a Squires lock.

Halfway to Exeter there is loo where they have taken out the wash basins and fitted those all in one contraptions on another wall.
I can wheel my bike in and park it where the basins used to be.
No need to strip off gps etc or lock it.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Halfway to Exeter there is loo where they have taken out the wash basins and fitted those all in one contraptions on another wall.
I can wheel my bike in and park it where the basins used to be.
No need to strip off gps etc or lock it.

That's probably a bit too far for John to go over the course of a weekend.

[Ian]

Halfway to Exeter there is loo where they have taken out the wash basins and fitted those all in one contraptions on another wall.
I can wheel my bike in and park it where the basins used to be.
No need to strip off gps etc or lock it.

That's probably a bit too far for John to go over the course of a weekend.

Does it not depend where you're starting from?

[Mariner]

To and from Bearstock stopped in Brecon at the big coaching hotel in the center for a meal.
Locked the bike though.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Does it not depend where you're starting from?

I just assumed seeing as how Dol' was mentioned .......