this post was submitted on 10 May 2025
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tips for keeping your bike, safe and secure by @shifter (video.canadiancivil.com)
submitted 1 month ago by lgsp@feddit.it to c/bicycles@lemmy.ca
8 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A short video with dos and fonts to properly lock your bike. Tom from shifter, as good as always!

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[–] kattfisk 2 points 3 days ago

Something not mentioned in the video is that you want to use the smallest U-lock you can.

This is because one of the easiest ways of defeating a U-lock is to use either leverage or a jack to force it open. But for that to work there usually needs to be extra space inside the loop. If the lock is snug around the bike and post it's hard to get a tool in there, or to manipulate the frame into a position where it can be used for leverage.

It might be tempting to get a large U-lock to make it easier to lock it to things, but you should know that's a trade off for security.

[–] duhbasser@lemm.ee 4 points 1 month ago

All good advice! As a cyclist I’d recommend living by the rule of N +1 (or 2,3,4). You can do everything correctly and still get your bike stolen so make sure you have a backup cause these thieves are determined little fuckers. Also commute bike should be used and cost <$500. If your bike costs more than $1k (or whatever currency you use) then someone’s gonna try to steal it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a work garage or apartment garage, someone’s gonna try to steal it. My rule of thumb, bring it inside. You can hang it on the wall like the piece of art it is and rest assured these thieves will have a harder time trying to steal it.

[–] Opinionhaver@feddit.uk 1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I’m slightly unsure whether the average U-lock is actually safer than a heavy-duty chain. If the chain is thick enough, you’d need massive bolt cutters or an angle grinder - and with a chain, cutting with angle grinder is trickier. You usually need someone holding the link with pliers while you cut, and you have to cut both sides to get through it.

With many U-locks, you only need to cut one side for it to fall off, and it’s much easier to keep steady while grinding.

[–] lgsp@feddit.it 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I generally agree with you except nowadays there are "grinder resisting" u-locks that are very expensive, bit also effective. As usual it's not like they are indestructible, but its just just a matter of more time and effort to get throught them

Here in this video there is one example, but it's easy to find others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO4h385PPUY

Personally I use an heavy duty chain, I don't care much about weight (I already load my city bike with lot of stuff) and I can secure relatively quickly a around the frame. But if I had a more expensive bike I would probably use one of those fancy U-lock

[–] Smaagi@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

Damn that was impressive! Shame it's hard to find places where you can actually use a u-lock because the hoop is so tiny.. I have AXA foldable 800 which has been pretty good, long loop so it's easy to lock around posts and what not.

[–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Personally, I just use a u-lock in combination with a small chain lock (well my chain lock actually borked recently, so I've been using one of those foldable locks, but you get the idea).

U-lock through the rear triangle, securing the frame and the rear wheel to a solid bike rack or post, with the secondary lock binding my front wheel to the frame is enough to make me feel safe leaving my bike out in most scenarios, even in my city with really high levels of bike theft.

People have laughed at me for using two locks, even for daytime stops that last less than 5 minutes and where my bike stays more or less in my line of sight the entire time. I don't care if I look paranoid, though. I've lost one bike to my city already, I'm not losing another one.

[–] kattfisk 1 points 3 days ago

I also use this combination, that way I can even lock my seat and helmet if I want. And the wire lock means I can always lock it around something, even if the only option is like a thick tree.

[–] Etnaphele@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

That’s true, but with a good quality U-lock you get a significant weight reduction in comparison to a chain, plus it’s usually easy to attach and detach them to the bike. Less easy to secure the bike to whatever structure, though.

As a rule of thumb, attaching it high up away from the ground makes it more difficult to cut it, without the leverage from the ground.