Any good ideas for securing a bike with your insight?

[andersbuus]

Greetings,

We are a group of master students at Copenhagen Business School, who are currently researching the topic of user driven innovation. Therefore we would appreciate any kind of feedback regarding the topic described below. It should be mentioned that while our focus is on bicycle theft prevention, we do believe that feedback from users on this forum can be of great assistance to us. That is because original and innovative ideas very often come from other markets. Thus it is possible that your expertise within the field of lock picking can benefit with new thoughts when it comes to bicycle theft prevention.

At the moment bicycle theft is a huge problem in Denmark. People forget to lock their bicycles or decide not to lock them, because it is too much of a hassle. It is our impression, that most locks currently on the market are either too easy to break or are too expensive.

Therefore we would like to know if you have any ideas as to how to secure your bicycle in a way that is easy to perform and remember without compromising the security? Any ideas – even the extraordinarily creative ones – are more than welcome

[LocksmithArmy]

ok... get a chain and a good padlock... itll be more expensive than a cheap bike lock but cheaper than the expensive one...

so you dont forget it lock the padlock to your belt loop when your riding...

[Jaakko]

Use a lock that can be closed without a key, this means it is very easy to snap it shut when parking. And yes, there are designs that prevents shimming the latch (shackle diameter is larger than the end of the shackle that interacts with the latch).

[Wizer]

I know this is not the answer you´re looking for, but the only way to make sure your bike won´t get stolen is if the lock is more expencive than the bike. So a cheap bike and expencive lock or two.

[femurat]

I know this is not the answer you´re looking for, but the only way to make sure your bike won´t get stolen is if the lock is more expencive than the bike. So a cheap bike and expencive lock or two.

This way you'll get a cut bike and a stolen lock!

[mh]

I know this is not the answer you´re looking for, but the only way to make sure your bike won´t get stolen is if the lock is more expencive than the bike. So a cheap bike and expencive lock or two.

This way you'll get a cut bike and a stolen lock!

There's a reason why I don't put my PL362 on my bike...

Seriously, a strong chain and padlock, such as the ABUS Granit series will definitely deter thieves; the high end version of the ABUS Bordo (X-Plus) will probably also do;
but if people decide to not use their locks, they should not be too surprised if their bike is stolen.

The Master Lock One http://www.masterlock.com/apps/masterlo ... OUP_1500ID has a very easy to use user interface, it's just not strong enough for this type of risk (depending on the bike, of course); but maybe in the future we will see stronger locks with that mechanism.

Cheers
mh

[straightpick]

If you are really serious about securing your bikes look at some motorcycle supply sites. Best chain is a square or hex link - the flat sides distribute the force from cutters over a wide area and are almost impossible to cut with hand tools. Take a look at the Nemesis 19mm motorcycle lock and chain, that is about 5/8" diameter hardened chain! Oh, and bring your checkbook, about $200 US.

[raimundo]

I have seen in the past, a bike made in italy that had a lockcylinder integrated into the frame, I think it locked the steering, but it looked like a simple lock, and locking the steering does not fix the bike to a post.

ideal bike locking would attach the wheels and the frame to a stationary object.
an integrated lock that would lock the wheels should be designed with the thought in mind that it cannot be tripped into locking these while the bike is being used, so that you dont hit a bump and suddenly lockup and go over the handle bars,

if a lock could be made to make the pedals disconnect so that the bike cannot be pedaled, that would be useful,

another answer would be to make something like a U lock with its heavy shackle an integrated part of the bike. and possibly secured with a padlock, so that if the user lost the key, a destructive attack could be done on the padlock and leave the bike un blemished.

Consider a U lock that is permanently attached to the bike with a swivel joint, and for storage, it could be an integral part of a rack/fender over the rear wheel. you just pick up your load from the rack and then swing out the U and attach it to some post.

Most important points on an integrated lock, strength, security, and fail safe, (not interfering when the bike is moving.) Second points are that the lock should be breakable if the key is lost and the part that is broken should be replaceable. Thus you have a system that could take many ordinary padlocks.
It should be remembered that so many people buy really cheap and small locks and cables to lock their bikes, why they do this is a mystery to me, either they are very cheap about locks or they are very naive about them.

bikes that are locked to stationary objects often have the wheels stolen especially if the wheels are on a quick disconnect. perhaps some change in the disconnect could be made to require a key to operate it.

[femurat]

This could be what you're looking for http://www.zoeman.com/eb6.html
It's a lock mounted on the frame of the bike so it's easy to lock/unlock your wheel.
By inserting the shackle with the nose up you activate an acoustic alarm. If you don't want the alarm just insert the shackle with the nose down. I bought it for 20 euro.

I'm not related to the company, I'm just giving you an idea for your project.

Cheers

[raimundo]

I think that the quick disconnect for bike wheels should be a bit harder to use, at least make it with a removable handle so the thief of wheels would have to at least have the tool with him and couldn't just flip a lever and take the wheel.

[Jaakko]

I think that the quick disconnect for bike wheels should be a bit harder to use, at least make it with a removable handle so the thief of wheels would have to at least have the tool with him and couldn't just flip a lever and take the wheel.

And then it is not quick disconnect anymore, as it requires a tool.

[mh]

Is there a market for stolen used bike wheels?

[femurat]

The moment they stole them the market could begin
It's all up to the unlucky biker... one simple tip for you: resist, don't buy it, this is the only way to make them stop!

Cheers

[raimundo]

I doubt that theres an actual market, but wheels do get stolen, probably by thieves who are not capable of taking the whole bike.
As femurat says, once a single wheel is stolen, there is at least one customer who want so buy it back. and if a thief breaks his wheel and steals a replacement, (what other use for the wheels is there unless your making picks out of the spokes?) then there is someone who needs a replaced wheel.
fortunatly here, there are whole bikes being thrown out by landlords who just want them off the property, after they have been abandoned.

[Viggs]

Any good ideas for securing a bike with your insight?

The best you can do is a hardened chain (it will be yellow or straw colored) and very high quality padlock. The reason for hardened chain is that you can drive a cold-chisel through a normal chain or even half-inch cable in one shot with a hand-held mallet.

Here's an example of a chain and lock combo that would offer extreme theft deterrence. http://www.lockitt.com/chain2.htm