I would like to start cycling to work, but my workplace doesn’t have better racks and I can’t bring my bike inside. It’s a quiet private area where bike thiefs propably wouldn’t usually wander and the racks are under cameras, but my bike was quite expensive so I still want to be secure
by floralwhippet
30 Comments
If the loops are high enough to reach the frame, do that. If not, walk past this and lock my bike securely somewhere else
Chainstay and rear wheel and rack, and then another through front wheel and down tube.
I wouldn’t, these just destroy wheels on anything less than an MTB / hybrid
Rear when in the rack ulock/Chain through the rear triangle /wheel. Ie the Sheldon Brown method. If it’s a high traffic/crime area bring your front wheel into the office or get a shitty cable lock for that. Locking skewers are also an option
You put the rack inside a locked room first.
These are total bullshit. Unless you’re happy looping an extension through it (dont be), its not worth even trying.
Use a big heavy chain which you leave there when you go home.
Chain lock looped over the downtube and then through the front wheel and the rack (might need a pretty long model, measure your specific case). Additionally lock the rear wheel to the frame if you’re parked in a high risk area (D-lock, folding lock or short chain lock would suffice here).
https://preview.redd.it/ejdr715uhxye1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=884772dd16ef616711f77bc7df4c22ee3ee45bba
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to safely get my bike to work, lock it there and bring it home. It may not be the solution you’re looking for, but it works for me – I just buy a cheap bike that I wouldn’t be TOO sorry about if something happened to it. And I’m not worried about what the heavy locks will do to the frame.
https://preview.redd.it/qdu7uqw3jxye1.png?width=916&format=png&auto=webp&s=0da6cc08f520209ba108ad29809660b81fcbee2a
Like this with 3 locks :
You don’t. It’s a wheel killer.
You don’t. You find something better to lock up to.
U-lock through the rack and the chainstays. Don’t use the rack to hold the bike up as designed unless you want a bent brake rotor and rear derailleur.
These bike locks are a good gesture but almost impossible to
If that’s your only option, then get a cheaper bike that you wouldn’t be upset if it got knicked.
Even if you get the world’s heaviest chain lock to put around your bike, someone can just cut through the rack with an angle grinder and stick your bike in the back of a van to get the lock off in their own time.
Bike racks like this are just horrific, poor choices by people who don’t understand bike theft and are only worried about the aesthetic.
I wouldn’t. I’d look for something else to lock my frame to. These are awful. Complain to the organisation who installed them.
At the worst, position your bike on the end of the rack and try to lock the frame down by the bottom bracket.
You can’t. I have a long very think lock which will reach it and the frame and both wheels, but these bike stands have easy to remove bolts. So it’s not effective.
I really hate these bikestands. But, if there is nothing else nearby to lock your bike, in my experience the best thing you can do is the following:
You put your bike in with the rear wheel first, but not in between those metal thingies, but next to it. Preferably on the left side, so your rear derailleur is free. Then you put your bike lock (I have one of these D-shaped ones) through the spokes of your rear wheel and around the chainstays and the bike stand. The important part here, is that you are effectively locking your bike with the chainstays to the stand.
I hope this somehow makes sense. It’s a little hard to describe.
Through the rear triangle and rear wheel.
There’s a risk of it damaging your derailleur and/or wheel if the bike tips over, but it’s the best option in a bad situation.
If it’s actually on your workplace’s property, I’d ask for a new bike rack.
I’d try to park it by backing it in and locking the rear wheel through the chainstays—ideally both stays—and the wheel itself. Use a long Kryptonite chain instead of a U-lock, since the low height makes U-locks vulnerable to leverage attacks. Secure the front wheel with a cable. Make sure the chain is snug to avoid movement or the bike falling over. Lastly, try not to wedge your tire into the rack; use the side wall of the rack instead to prevent wheel bending (again, the snug chain should prevent the bike from falling over).
I wouldn’t. Doesn’t matter how you lock it, or how good the lock is. It won’t take long to cut through the rack.
Horizontally, so that my bike is securely locked, and protects unexperienced riders from damaging their wheels. Also, i would wreck this shit to FUBAR condition before leaving.
You buy a shitty used bike that no one wants to steal. Then buy a value brand lock. Voila you are now a commuter.
Find a nearby post.
You purchase a $200 old beater that you don’t care if it gets stolen. If a thief wants your bike, they’re going to get it.
Through the back wheel and lower triangle, or the front and upper triangle with a cable lock. A cable lock and u-lock combo is a good idea too.
Those things will trash your spokes and maybe rims as soon as someone leans on your bike.
If you want to still use it, then get some heavy locks you can leave there. Lock the wheel to the stand, and then the wheel to your frame.
I’d back the bike in and lock by the chainstay and rear wheel, then the front wheel to the frame.
These suck
i would never be happy or feel safe locking my bike to any rack that looks like that.
back in high school we only had racks like these and they looked even dinkier, bikes being stolen was a daily occurrence. I bought a motorcycle lock and looped it through my wheel and frame, and then used a smaller U-lock for the other wheel. my bike was never stolen but if your locks are good and the rack is bad, they’ll just cut the rack if they want your bike bad enough.
my recommendation is U-lock & chain lock, as well as bicycle insurance
I park my rear wheel alongside but not in the bracket, and then I use a D lock through my rear wheel and chainstay. Not putting the wheel into the slot lets the bike sit lower so you can lock the frame to the slot. You could then use a cable for the front wheel.
These are common in my area. I have put the back wheel on it. One lock loops through the frame back wheel and rack. A second lock for the front wheel and frame.