12
Just realized I've been locking my bike wrong for 2 years in Seattle
So last Tuesday I walk out of work and my front wheel is gone. Just the wheel, frame was still locked to the rack. I always did the classic through the rear triangle and around the frame thing but never through the front wheel. Some dude at the bus stop said 'you gotta loop it through both wheels, man.' I felt so dumb. Now I'm looking at U-locks that are longer but I'm worried about weight on my commute up Queen Anne hill. Anyone switch to a bigger lock and regret it? Or is there a trick to lock both wheels without carrying a brick around?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
miles82529d ago
Does that thin cable actually stop anyone though, or is it just a false sense of security?
7
The whole "you gotta loop it through both wheels" thing sounds like advice from someone who's never actually hauled a U-lock up a hill. I see it differently, a heavy lock is a bigger pain in the ass than losing a wheel every couple years. That front wheel trick is a real thing, but there's a simpler way. Get a cable lock for the front wheel and keep your main U-lock for the frame and rear. A thin cable weighs almost nothing and it's enough to stop a quick grab. Yeah, a thief with bolt cutters can get through it, but they can cut through a U-lock too if they're determined. You're not stopping the pros, you're just making your bike a worse target than the one parked next to it. I ride up hills too and I'd rather carry a little extra cable than a brick that throws off my whole ride.
1