Are bike locks a complete scam, or have I missed something?
Discussion
Having got an email to say my CTW voucher will be posted to me tomorrow, my mind turns to making sure my new beastie is nice and secure.
Looking on Wiggle, I find this....
It's 1m long.
Over on the B&Q website, I find this...
It's also 1m long.
From what I can see, both have padlocks, and both padlocks use disc keys, which I understand to be less prone to picking.
There are two obvious differences - the first lock has 10mm diameter links to the second one's 9mm, and the first lock is selling for £99, as opposed to the second one's £23.48.
Am I missing something obvious???
At around 3kg, I wouldn't exactly want to lug either of them around on long rides, but at £23.48, I can just leave one permanently in the bike cage in the office to keep the bike extra secure there.
Of course, the follow on question would be where can I find something more portable at a non-scam price!
Looking on Wiggle, I find this....
It's 1m long.
Over on the B&Q website, I find this...
It's also 1m long.
From what I can see, both have padlocks, and both padlocks use disc keys, which I understand to be less prone to picking.
There are two obvious differences - the first lock has 10mm diameter links to the second one's 9mm, and the first lock is selling for £99, as opposed to the second one's £23.48.
Am I missing something obvious???
At around 3kg, I wouldn't exactly want to lug either of them around on long rides, but at £23.48, I can just leave one permanently in the bike cage in the office to keep the bike extra secure there.
Of course, the follow on question would be where can I find something more portable at a non-scam price!
as others have said, the difference will be the quality of the steel and the linkages.
bike thieves will target a high value bike or an easy opportunity. They will most likely ignore a bike if they recognise the lock. they know about branded locks and when to not bother. as an example, pretty much anything with abus or kryptonite on it is unlikely to be worth their effort, especially in populated areas. the opportunistic thief will go for something that has a cheaper lock that doesnt require much effort or where they will be undisturbed.
shop around, the cheapest place i found the particular kryptonite lock i wanted was amazon. i wouldnt have thought looking there had i not been buying some books and things.
B&Q sell kryptonite locks so go an have a look and feel, if you know someone retired, get them to pick one up on a wednesday with 15% off... they also sell pretty good locks and chains for site security, if you can keep a lock in one place, these might be ideal...
bike thieves will target a high value bike or an easy opportunity. They will most likely ignore a bike if they recognise the lock. they know about branded locks and when to not bother. as an example, pretty much anything with abus or kryptonite on it is unlikely to be worth their effort, especially in populated areas. the opportunistic thief will go for something that has a cheaper lock that doesnt require much effort or where they will be undisturbed.
shop around, the cheapest place i found the particular kryptonite lock i wanted was amazon. i wouldnt have thought looking there had i not been buying some books and things.
B&Q sell kryptonite locks so go an have a look and feel, if you know someone retired, get them to pick one up on a wednesday with 15% off... they also sell pretty good locks and chains for site security, if you can keep a lock in one place, these might be ideal...
I read a group test on various locks where they attacked them with an angle grinder and gave them a star rating based on the time they withstood it. None of them, in all price ranges achieved more than 3 stars.
The conclusion I drew from that is that any lock light enough to carry around with you is nothing more than a deterrent. Which is why I use a cheap, light cable lock and have insurance that covers me even if I leave the bike in a city centre unlocked with a sign saying please steal me.
The conclusion I drew from that is that any lock light enough to carry around with you is nothing more than a deterrent. Which is why I use a cheap, light cable lock and have insurance that covers me even if I leave the bike in a city centre unlocked with a sign saying please steal me.
American iv said:
bike insurance contracts insist that you use an approved lock otherwise your policy is invalid - you'll find the one from B&Q isn't on that list of "approved" locks.
I don't know what house content insurance says...
My bikes are insured on contents insurance. No stipulation at all about lock type. I don't know what house content insurance says...
The price difference does pose a good question. Lots of bike accessories are vastly overpriced. I guess if bikes are sold at bargain prices, the shops have to recoup this by charging OTT prices for accessories...
I use something very similar to the B&Q 'Masterlock' branded item in my shed, to chain 3 bikes together to the floor.
I also use Masterlock padlocks on my sheds and garden gate and the quality is excelent and backed up with a lifetime guarantee, they aren't a B&Q 'ownbrand' they are a respected lock manufacture, if there isn't any insurance related small print to adhere to it's just a bike tax going for the 'bike shop' item.
http://www.masterlock.eu/customer-support
I also use Masterlock padlocks on my sheds and garden gate and the quality is excelent and backed up with a lifetime guarantee, they aren't a B&Q 'ownbrand' they are a respected lock manufacture, if there isn't any insurance related small print to adhere to it's just a bike tax going for the 'bike shop' item.
http://www.masterlock.eu/customer-support
The trouble with Gucci locks is that they won't stop determined thieves. As an example, last year I had a decent mountain bike and road bike attached to a solid "scaffolding pole" style stand in the secure bike store at home. 2 decent D-locks around both bikes and pole and loads of cable intertwined.
Bike stand/angle grinder- Gone!
Bike stand/angle grinder- Gone!
Turn up with an official looking hi-viz a clipboard and your angle grinder and i bet people would give you a hand, its about looking like you should be doing it.
I've heard of bike thefts from trail centers where they dress the part park a supermarket special bike in the rack then retrieve the best bike from the rack when they leave. If you look legit no one will notice anything wrong.
I've heard of bike thefts from trail centers where they dress the part park a supermarket special bike in the rack then retrieve the best bike from the rack when they leave. If you look legit no one will notice anything wrong.
Last place of work, we worked right next to a train station in Surrey. We had a contractor who locks his bike up at the bike stands (which can be seen from the office), in winter. Come home time, he couldnt unlock the lock, it had completely frozen. 6pm(ish), the train station's packed, people waiting etc.
The boss who lived down the road went there, got his angle grinder, so contractor (and a few of us to watch for hilarity) set to work - walzed out to the bike stands, and just starts angle grinding his D Lock. One D Lock cut in about 30 seconds, bike free'd, and contractor's on his way home.
Only person to say anything to us was a taxi driver who just said "You guys have balls"
The boss who lived down the road went there, got his angle grinder, so contractor (and a few of us to watch for hilarity) set to work - walzed out to the bike stands, and just starts angle grinding his D Lock. One D Lock cut in about 30 seconds, bike free'd, and contractor's on his way home.
Only person to say anything to us was a taxi driver who just said "You guys have balls"
PintOfKittens said:
Last place of work, we worked right next to a train station in Surrey. We had a contractor who locks his bike up at the bike stands (which can be seen from the office), in winter. Come home time, he couldnt unlock the lock, it had completely frozen. 6pm(ish), the train station's packed, people waiting etc.
The boss who lived down the road went there, got his angle grinder, so contractor (and a few of us to watch for hilarity) set to work - walzed out to the bike stands, and just starts angle grinding his D Lock. One D Lock cut in about 30 seconds, bike free'd, and contractor's on his way home.
Only person to say anything to us was a taxi driver who just said "You guys have balls"
In the time it took them to do that, could they not have found someone with a cigarette lighter to thaw the lock out?The boss who lived down the road went there, got his angle grinder, so contractor (and a few of us to watch for hilarity) set to work - walzed out to the bike stands, and just starts angle grinding his D Lock. One D Lock cut in about 30 seconds, bike free'd, and contractor's on his way home.
Only person to say anything to us was a taxi driver who just said "You guys have balls"
ratbane said:
There are not very many circumstances that someone will have the time, and inclination to use an angle grinder on a lock. The noise alone would attract some strange glances at least.
You would like to think so wouldn't you? Although sadly you would be mistakenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7zb8YXrmIA
Answering your first question, no I think you are bang on! Anything involving bikes and middle aged men has a different pricing structure to the rest of the retail world! Apply it to anything bike related, clothing, backpacks, lights, locks – the list goes on!, if its ‘bike specific’ then add 30-80% over a similar ‘non-bike’ item!
That said, I have just spent £80 odd quid on a Abus Granite X-plus D-lock and a Kryptonite cable lock (to take care of the wheels). Why? I have just bought a CAADX for my commute and my insurance insists on a ‘certified lock’.
Also – most of the other bikes in the rack use cheapy Halfrauds locks that would give a lot less resistance than mine – so the theory is that if an opportunist tea-leaf decides to knick a bike from the rack they are more likely to pinch one that is easy to take.
I accept that if a scrote who knows what he is after decides to take his pick of our bike rack, he will be better equip for the job, and mine will probably be first to go.......
That said, I have just spent £80 odd quid on a Abus Granite X-plus D-lock and a Kryptonite cable lock (to take care of the wheels). Why? I have just bought a CAADX for my commute and my insurance insists on a ‘certified lock’.
Also – most of the other bikes in the rack use cheapy Halfrauds locks that would give a lot less resistance than mine – so the theory is that if an opportunist tea-leaf decides to knick a bike from the rack they are more likely to pinch one that is easy to take.
I accept that if a scrote who knows what he is after decides to take his pick of our bike rack, he will be better equip for the job, and mine will probably be first to go.......
For a home lock or a left at work lock try going to your local lifting equipment supplier and get a wire rope lifting strop made to the required length with a soft eye at each end then source a padlock to suit
For the wire rope size anything over two ton is hard to cut with anything less that the proper gear or angle grinder, sometimes they have plastic covered wire rope which is harder to cut.
For a lock to use outside the cafe a short 3 or 4mm stainless steel wire and a small lock therefore light enough to put in your back pocket and stops the opportunist walking off with your bike.
For the wire rope size anything over two ton is hard to cut with anything less that the proper gear or angle grinder, sometimes they have plastic covered wire rope which is harder to cut.
For a lock to use outside the cafe a short 3 or 4mm stainless steel wire and a small lock therefore light enough to put in your back pocket and stops the opportunist walking off with your bike.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff