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Just buying a bike here in the U.K. on a cycle-to-work scheme. Are there things I can do or buy that are better than a fairly sturdy lock, not leaving it unatte

Just buying a bike here in the U.K. on a cycle-to-work scheme. Are there things I can do or buy that are better than a fairly sturdy lock, not leaving it unattended in stupid places, or perhaps gaffer tapping an airtag somewhere not too obvious? Also not too sure which insurance is good value.

abawany 4y ago
One minor meta-recommendation on the sturdy-lock front is to look for content from the "Lock Picking Lawyer" and find out if there are any bike locks that he recommends. He tends to make short work of most locks but there are some that gain his grudging recommendation; the number of severe vulnerabilities in many "high security" locks is eye opening. Edit0: added "front" after sturdy-lock.
- ClumsyPilot 4y ago
  Are locks ever actually picked? I have only ever seen brute force approaches. If you have the inclination, a proper, heavy chain is better than a D-lock - both should be impervious to bolt-cutters, but a D-lock can be forced open/broken with a jack and a chain usually cannot. Also a chain is more difficult to cut with an angle grinder as it moves about and might break the cutting disk.
  - riscy 4y ago
    Yep spot-on, I'll add: From a weight perspective, a well-sized D-lock used correctly should not have enough space to permit an attack with a jack, so don't get one that's too big. Also, one mistake chain-users might make is allowing enough slack that a link is close to the ground, which can be used as leverage with a bolt cutter, etc.
  - aidenn0 4y ago
    Downside to chain is weight; a robust chain is about 2x the weight of the equivalently robust d-lock; if you are allowed to leave the chain at work, it's definitely worth it though.
  - abawany 4y ago
    He tends to not just pick locks, despite the name. If there is a vulnerability due to shoddy construction, he seems to use that to break through the lock as far as I have seen.
jrockway 4y ago
I would fight to have your employer let you bring your bike inside. You will become overly familiar with freight elevators, but when your bike is sitting next to your desk all day, it's not going to get stolen.
- VerDeTerre 4y ago
  This is the way to go if you have the option. If you need to keep the bike outside but have a reliable designated area, you may want to consider leaving a heavy chain and padlock on site. If you don't have to carry it with you, you can invest in extra robustness. If you're talking about trips in addition to the commute to the office, the considerations really depend on the location. The sturdier the lock the better, but in many cases, a superior lock out of view could be considered worse security than a lesser lock with more eyes on. You'd be well-advised to secure, in addition to the frame, components like wheels and seat, especially if they're quick release. For that, a lighter cable (maybe even one with a built-in combo lock) might suffice as deterrent, but again, it depends. Some of our opportunistic friends seem to be more interested in wheels than frames.
- antihero 4y ago
  Our office is not great for cycling, but we’re only on the first floor so I’ll probably just lug the thing up the stairs. Just excitedly waiting for cyclescheme to process the payment now!
asdff 4y ago
I was able to cover my bike on my renters insurance. Zero deductible. All told its like $15/month for the peace of mind covering all my valuables, not just my bike.

abawany 4y ago

One minor meta-recommendation on the sturdy-lock front is to look for content from the "Lock Picking Lawyer" and find out if there are any bike locks that he recommends. He tends to make short work of most locks but there are some that gain his grudging recommendation; the number of severe vulnerabilities in many "high security" locks is eye opening. Edit0: added "front" after sturdy-lock.

ClumsyPilot 4y ago
Are locks ever actually picked? I have only ever seen brute force approaches. If you have the inclination, a proper, heavy chain is better than a D-lock - both should be impervious to bolt-cutters, but a D-lock can be forced open/broken with a jack and a chain usually cannot. Also a chain is more difficult to cut with an angle grinder as it moves about and might break the cutting disk.
- riscy 4y ago
  Yep spot-on, I'll add: From a weight perspective, a well-sized D-lock used correctly should not have enough space to permit an attack with a jack, so don't get one that's too big. Also, one mistake chain-users might make is allowing enough slack that a link is close to the ground, which can be used as leverage with a bolt cutter, etc.
- aidenn0 4y ago
  Downside to chain is weight; a robust chain is about 2x the weight of the equivalently robust d-lock; if you are allowed to leave the chain at work, it's definitely worth it though.
- abawany 4y ago
  He tends to not just pick locks, despite the name. If there is a vulnerability due to shoddy construction, he seems to use that to break through the lock as far as I have seen.

jrockway 4y ago

I would fight to have your employer let you bring your bike inside. You will become overly familiar with freight elevators, but when your bike is sitting next to your desk all day, it's not going to get stolen.

VerDeTerre 4y ago
This is the way to go if you have the option. If you need to keep the bike outside but have a reliable designated area, you may want to consider leaving a heavy chain and padlock on site. If you don't have to carry it with you, you can invest in extra robustness. If you're talking about trips in addition to the commute to the office, the considerations really depend on the location. The sturdier the lock the better, but in many cases, a superior lock out of view could be considered worse security than a lesser lock with more eyes on. You'd be well-advised to secure, in addition to the frame, components like wheels and seat, especially if they're quick release. For that, a lighter cable (maybe even one with a built-in combo lock) might suffice as deterrent, but again, it depends. Some of our opportunistic friends seem to be more interested in wheels than frames.
antihero 4y ago
Our office is not great for cycling, but we’re only on the first floor so I’ll probably just lug the thing up the stairs. Just excitedly waiting for cyclescheme to process the payment now!

asdff 4y ago

I was able to cover my bike on my renters insurance. Zero deductible. All told its like $15/month for the peace of mind covering all my valuables, not just my bike.