I recently bought an OnGuard Rocksolid for my ebike. Because the frame is a bit bulky I can't fit the lock around the seatpost and rear wheel at the same time, which from what I understand is the most secure locking method. I read Sheldon Brown's blog post explaining that locking just the rear wheel between the rear triangle is secure because the rear wheel needs to be destroyed to steal the bike.
This doesn't seem like a bad method, but that's just the thing; however unlikely it may be, the rear wheel can be cut through to steal the entire bike. It may still be profitable for a thief to replace the rear wheel and sell off the bike at full value. My question is, does including one or both of the rear chainstays/seatstays between the lock fully alleviate this issue? I'm having a hard time visualizing it but I would imagine this requires a potential thief to cut through the frame, potentially twice, and the rear wheel. Is this how it would work in practice?
The reason I ask is because this seems like a much simpler and potentially more effective alternative to locking the seatpost and rear wheel together, but that's the strategy I see in most videos. I provided a crude illustration to demonstrate what I'm asking.
by redditnessdude
4 Comments
If you lock through the frame, then they would have to cut either the frame or the lock to get the bike. But they can take the wheels if they want without having to cut anything.
I don’t like to lock through the wheels, because if someone does happen to move it for any reason, then maybe the spokes get damaged.
I live for this topic.
The reason you lock it through JUST the wheel, in this scenario between the red circles is simple. You’re making the thief at least carry a tool. Like a saw or grinder. Those people will cut the lock anyways unless you have an angle grinder resistant lock. The bike is the getaway vehicle so cutting the wheel doesn’t make sense in most cases.
If you lock it around ANY part of the frame, they will flip your bike upside down on the bike rack and push down on the bike. If the bike breaks, they walk away. Lock breaks and they ride away.
Good thieves will walk around looking for grey kryptonite locks around the frame. Most of the time the lock breaks especially if it’s an old steel frame.
So don’t get the lock around the seat stays or chain stays. JUST the back wheel INSIDE the rear triangle.
20 years in Oakland/San Francisco proves this is right as I’ve never had a bike stolen and ride Every. Single. Day. My last bike was stolen in 1992 and I was 10.
Good post. Thanks