In case it isn't obvious, I would strongly recommend a *compact* U- lock. My ex-g-friend's cheapo bright yellow Cannondale locked with a full-size Krypto was car-jacked in front of Rainbow Grocery in the Mission in broad daylight while she was inside for 15 minutes. Fortunately the lock broke the car-jack, which was still jammed in the lock when she came out, but her front rim got destroyed in the process. You can't fit a car-jack inside a compact U lock.
I like the Soma compact u-lock in particular (http://store.somafab.com/ anlosy.html), as it is a tad bigger than the Krypto I used to have, but still fits in a jeans pocket. Also, when we had that Bic pen fiasco a few years back, and I only found out about it a few months later, Krypto basically said "You're sh*t out of luck, free replacement period is over, go buy a new lock", while Soma did (and *still* does) sell you a new cross beam and new keys for $5! Won't buy another Krypto ever again. Another data point: 1995 Bianchi Veloce lugged racer stolen on SFCU campus while locked outside class room for one hour mid-day, plenty ped traffic, with a cable lock (Couldn't find the u-lock for several days; didn't happen on the first day. Shoulda just bought a new u- lock). The thieves were nasty enough to clean up after themselves, meaning they stole the presumably cut cable and my presumably undamaged heavy duty Krypto motorcycle disk lock with which I had secured the cable as well. :( Gernot Now in Chiang Mai, where I still use the Soma lock on the Sam, but use a $5 cable on my 1990 Fisher monster cross. On Nov 13, 2:19 pm, jose <jose.cor...@gmail.com> wrote: > Ha! Thanks for all the info guys. > > I think I'll go with Sheldon's method for low security stops, and > Lee's lock up method for longer/sketchier stops. The bike-link card > for BART parking sounds interesting. > > That's a good point Lee made about Sheldon's method being susceptible > to damage by the know-nothing crackhead though. > > Here's a picture of my bike at a coffee stop in Houston: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/southgatephotos/4628678724/ > > I don't think that would be the best lock-up method to use here. :) > > On Nov 12, 3:31 pm, Lee <leec...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Maybe a "This Bike is a Pipe Bomb" sticker? > > > On Nov 12, 3:27 pm, William <tapebu...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Oh snap! That's genius right there. Like poison! Skull and bones! > > > Who would steal that? A 'beware of dog' sign might even enhance it > > > more. Or a "this bike has a posse" sticker. > > > > On Nov 12, 1:59 pm, John Bennett <johnat...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > William, How right you are. Works wonders. Vaughn added a crudely > > > > painted skull and crossbones next to my name: Insurance. > > > > > On Nov 12, 9:25 am, William <tapebu...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > You should just follow Rivendell's own IRONCLAD security system. Just > > > > > paint your name on a spot on the pavement. Park your bike unlocked on > > > > > your claimed spot. Nobody will touch it. Nobody ever gets their bike > > > > > stolen at Riv HQ. Why wouldn't that system work elsewhere? > > > > > > On Nov 11, 6:23 pm, Corwin <ernf...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > You may think I am paranoid, but I would never use a U lock or a > > > > > > cable > > > > > > lock on a bike I am leaving outside. I see way too many broken > > > > > > u-locks > > > > > > and cut cables. > > > > > > > Whenever possible, I use attended bike parking - we are very > > > > > > fortunate > > > > > > in the SF Bay Area to have several such facilities. If you frequent > > > > > > downtown Berkeley, you can get a smart card, enabling you to use the > > > > > > downtown Berkeley (or any other) Bikestation at the rate of one > > > > > > penny > > > > > > per hour. This is especially convenient if I am coming home after a > > > > > > concert, play movie, etc. and the attended parking area of the > > > > > > Bikestation is closed. The Bikestation has restrooms, lots of racks > > > > > > and several small lockers (for personal items other than bikes). > > > > > > > When I take my bike to work, I park it in my office. > > > > > > > When I there is no alternative but to park my bike outside, I use a > > > > > > Quadrachain together with a Mul-t-lock. This is a rather heavy > > > > > > solution, but is easily carried in my Burley Nomad. The Mul-t-lock > > > > > > is > > > > > > virtually unbeatable. Boron hasp, unpickable keyway, keyed like the > > > > > > rest of my Mul-t-locks. > > > > > > > CZ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
