What bike lock for the trails?

jimbo255

Member
Dec 31, 2019
13
9
London
Hi Guys,

I was wondering what you guys were using to secure your bikes for when you go to a pub or cafe? My insurance just says that it needs to be locked so theoretically I could get away with a £6 crapper but that is not my intention. So D Lock in a bag or a wearable?

Also I have a Thule Velo compact bike carrier. Do any of you lock it to the bar during transport?

Thanks
 

RustyMTB

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Jul 22, 2020
2,928
7,068
UK
The thing with locks is no matter how good they are, they'll rarely ever stop a determined thief. It boils down to where & when you leave a bike. Parking up at a country pub for a pint is not the same risk as leaving it outside a town centre 'Spoons for three hours.

I have in the past locked my bike outside a busy Sainsbury's only to lose the key, then had to buy a big set of bolt cutters to cut the lock in half while dozens of passing shoppers didn't bat an eyelid!

Any lock is better than no lock though, worth looking through sites like MBR & MBUK who regularly do decent group tests.

 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
2,935
3,027
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
We have Foldylock Compact, heavy but strong.


Edit: this is a Foldylock Compact on Mrs bike on Monday.

20250120_134511~2.jpg
 
Last edited:

jimbo255

Member
Dec 31, 2019
13
9
London
It never leaves my sight !!
I agree but even popping in to the bike shop at peaslake for 5 min is too long. I was thinking one of the liteloks or hiplok around the waist but the Onguard locks look good value and as long as I have it locked I'm not bothered. I'd rather upgrade my lights to Exposure or Magicshine!
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,228
9,732
Lincolnshire, UK
I use a one-metre wire cable with a combination lock. It is designed to secure helmets and bags to your bike, or even as a suitcase lock. I would not trust it for more than five mins, but when you absolutely have to leave the bike, it's much better than nothing. One day, five of us parked up at a pub and four of us had the same type of lock, so we interwove the cables through the bikes, sometimes connecting one cable into a different lock. The guy without a lock had his bike in the middle.

Very light, very cheap, quick and easy to use. But only for short stays. All it has to be is enough to make the thief go elsewhere, or spend more time than they want.

Google "Retractable cable lock" and see what you get. I just did this and found one by ABUS from Amazon for £9.85

Edit: Hmm Amazon links don't show up.
The ABUS lock is the

ABUS Combiflex 2503 cable lock​

 

EMTB Forums

Since 2018

The World's largest electric mountain bike community.

563K
Messages
28,539
Members
Join Our Community

Latest articles


Top