Where do you keep your bike lock?

It just occurred to me recently that there's limited space to carry my U-lock (D-lock in other countries which actually makes more sense than what we call it here in North America). I have a small diamond frame and once the water bottle is in place, there really isn't much room for even a small lock. I know lots of you carry your batteries in the center frame which probably makes even less space available for lock. I'm sure a portion of you don't need a lock b/c you never plan to have it out of site, but for those of you who do carry locks, where do you keep it?

Pictures would be great. Please participate in the poll and say a few words on your decision b/c I hope to be buying a lock soon and could really use some advice/opinions/feedback. Also note what type of lock you have (d-lock, cable lock, etc). Share brand name and model if you don't mind. Thanks!

I keep them in my cargo pods along with everything else I need for a particular trip.

I have a box mounted on the rear rack on the TidalForce bike that I carry it in, and when I'm on the Bike E I throw it in a back pack that hangs on the back of the seat.

When the first two votes are "Other," that's how you know the poll choices were incomplete or incorrect. I added your choices to the list. Please revote if you get a chance. Thanks so much for your responses.

I keep mine in the center frame, of my body. I wear my huge chain around my waist because I put it anywhere else it throws off my balance. I can ride tens of miles and not really feel that it is a bother to me and with the key clipped onto my belt it is quick to be brandished at ruffians.

I thought I'd post some photos I've found for record and maybe some inspiration for y'all.

Bike locks are incredibly easy to defeat. Don't ask me why i know but i wasn't doing anything illegal

I don't even carry one on my ebike. If i can't bring it inside where i am shopping, i don't shop there anymore.
95% of the time, it is not a problem and employees know me as the guy with the crazy bicycle.

I use a monster cable lock I don't like it on my frame or on my seat post. Its so big it just kinda gets in the way so I just lock it on the top strap on the bag mounted offa my seat post that also houses my battery. It just hangs offa the side and I don't notice it.

Sounds unusual which is interesting to me. Would you mind sharing a photo?

Here's a new photo of a new method I found:

I forget the reason why I keep it in the backpack cos I have two: A daypack and a true backpack. Sometimes I forget to pull it out of one and put it on the other. Since I’m commuting, I suppose it would make sense to remount it back onto the bike so it doesn’t happen again. Thanks for making me think of the obvious solution…

More coffee <slurp> KF

I plan to mount mine like the photo above with the gas engine. It'll be a variation of it. Hope it turns out. Waiting for parts and the lock. I'll post it all up when complete.

I keep my 2LB chain and lock in my backpack with my extra battery. Had a lighter cable lock wound up behind the seat for awhile but even the best cable units are easy to cut. Hardened chains take a bigger tool or some technology to cut although no lock is really secure these days. I can get my chain around my QR front wheel and frame so they both be reasonably safe.

`Tween bikes at the moment but thank you for asking
l0cK

kmxtornado said:

Sounds unusual which is interesting to me. Would you mind sharing a photo?

Here's a new photo of a new method I found:

Click to expand...

How much shock travel is there? I foresee bad things if the fat part of the lock could intersect with a spinning, loaded, rising tire.

Flipping it over so teh thinner part is on the bottom seems safer.

The Abus Bordo comes with a holster that fits water-bottle bosses.
Mine is mounted to the underside of the down tube. It rattles a little on the rough stuff.

neptronix said:

Bike locks are incredibly easy to defeat...
I don't even carry one on my ebike. If i can't bring it inside where i am shopping, i don't shop there anymore...

Click to expand...

In most parts of Kansas City, and in many other places in the US, if you left your bike outside unattended, you wouldn't have to worry about what to do with the bike the next time you shopped there.

When I get a little time, I'm going to start a Boycott-Businesses for Bikes site. If a store refuses to allow a bike inside (when it's reasonable to do so), then we list the business as one to boycott.

Not sure I'm clear on what you're getting at? Are you saying the bike would be safe parked outside w/o a lock in your area of Kansas? If so, I wish people here in California were that honest!

My locks should be arriving in the mail sometime today. I'll do a review here, a new thread or on my build thread (most likely a new thread). I'll post the mounting technique here though for sure since it's completely related to the original topic.

Sorry kmx, I don't have a working digi cam ATM.

To all of you who are affraid to leave your bike locked up outside, it must suck to live in an area that has a crime rate that high. For the most part, with a few exceptions, all of Jacksonville is relatively safe for locking a bike up. Sure I wouldn't leave one over night in a parking lot. But wile I run in for some groceries or wile I go see or movie, or eat some lunch, yeah, no problem.

No question about it. It sucks even more to be surrounded by turds who can't even give you the time of day. I said hello to someone walking outside my house and they just gave me a dismissive look. Even the non-English speaking ones at least smile. This isn't typical, but it happens. I guess that's the price to pay to live in a big city with cool stuff to do. Problem is it attracts everyone and their mom which means you get a handful of jerks who ruin it for everyone else.

The other day, I saw a motor scooter parked with its headlights on. I've seen this before and so when I walked up to it to turn off the light for the owner, I found there were keys in it! No one does that. I bet it was a bait bike being watched by cops. I should've stuck around to see what would happen next but to my surprise, no one stole it. I suppose it's b/c the store was for families and there probably aren't a lot of customers who would ride a scooter away - being that they probably got there by car and would have to return to fetch it anyway.

I have an XtraCycle so I just keep it in the inner pocket of the massive panniers. One reason I have the Xtracycle is so I can carry all the crap I need to carry to be ready for everything. Flat Tire? No problem. Spare tube, patch kit, pump, tire levers on board. Rain? No problem. Rain Pants, jacket, rubber shoe covers, and gigantic "ZipLock" for briefcase on board. Forgot key to U-Lock? No problem. Backup cable lock with combination on board. Hands dirty from changing tire? No problem. Paper towel stash on board. Expecting big rain at work? No problem. Nylon bike cover on board. I also have a few assorted other tools. This is before I load up with my briefcase and four bags of groceries and 1.5 L of Scotch. Over time, the amount of stuff I carry has increased to the above. On any given day, I usually don't need any of it. However, when I do, it is very nice to have. If you plan to ride pretty much every day, you kind of need all that crap or you have to enjoy riding in the rain or you have to not ride in the rain. I have never had to push the bike home due to a flat or other problem. Came close last week when I broke the shifter cable to the rear derailleur. It then went a little too far outboard and the chain would skip when I went up hill and mashed the cranks. However, I limped to a bike store during lunch and they even put it on for me for the cost of the cable. I guess I need to start carrying spare cables!

Oh yeah, and on the issue of locking up a bike safely, in Knoxville, TN, you are pretty much safe about anywhere go unless you are going to leave it overnight. I just U-Lock it up during the day when I am at work. So far no problems, except the day my graduate students thought it would be funny to swipe my key and hide my bike. Looks like graduate day just moved back a year or so.... (Just kidding. Actually, after I called the police back to explain my bike was not ACTUALLY stolen, we had a good laugh over it.)

I got some Streetcuffs and am pretty impressed, they fit right in my small triangle bag. I wanted a lock that was not easily defeated and had a small profile. At first I thought these were a "gimmick" but they actually have earned some respect over the years due to design improvements. I really examined the link as I thought this would be the most likely point of attack. The construction is impressive with a sandwich of plates creating a thick square that only offers enough room to wedge a small flathead and this would merely break the head as the bolt rivets holding it together are too robust. The cuffs themselves are thick and solid and the rubber covers prevent scratching. The barrel key is 8 sided and the bic pen technique doesnt apply here. Some people have complained that you have to use the key on two locks instead of one but this is moot when you realize you only have to use the key to unlock. I feel pretty confident using this lock, I'm not in a high crime area & I know an angle grinder would get through but I don't see them being compromised by an opportunistic thief, plus they look cool!

Thanks for the little blip on the Masterlock Street Cuffs. I really like your color matching bag that goes with the frame color. Very cool and the cuffs complete the cool factor on your ride. Great contribution from a new member. Awesome. Guess what?

I got the cuffs too! Just came in the mail this evening. I too read about the cuffs and originally thought it was a gimmick too. I read about a guy who had locked his bike with this and his lady friend's bike with a u-lock over night. They came back the next day and only one bike was there - the one with the cuffs. There were cut marks on the cuffs indicating an attempt at theft, but in the end it looks like the crook gave up. That sold me, so here it is. I went with the standard mounting location by getting the bracket too. Unfortunately, this means no water bottle. Sorry about the cruddy background that pretty much lets you see nothing. Better than nothing though. Zoomed in pics on my blog.


....or does it? I managed to find another mounting bracket in my pile of bike stuff and remounted it in this location as a test fit. Little weird and kinda cluttered. I'm open to feedback and suggestions. Let me know what y'all think.


The cuffs are supposed to be my secondary lock. My primary one is a Kryptonite Evolution Mini 5. If heard stories about this lock being found with cut marks on them by the owners too. Another failed attempt at breaking it by crooks. That's good. Means it works! This lock came from Amazon this evening too. I tried to fit it the bag in this orientation, but no luck:


It works on top though! Zips up just fine.


I also tried this method. It's not secure like this, but I plan to put a flashlight mounting bracket to secure the curved part of the u, but the bracket hasn't come in yet. For now, here's the fitment:


Curious how it looks zoomed back? Here ya go:



This thread is more about locations for storing the lock, but for those interested in the locks themselves, I've loaded some pics in this thread:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32668&p=495051#p495051 and more on my blog as usual. Full size pics there.

After taking some time to think through the mounting, I came up with a new idea. A bit out of the park, but I think it might actually work.


Clearance with the crankset is supertight. Not even sure the chain will be able to shift through the 3 rings w/o contact w/ the cuff bracket. We'll find out soon:


For those with a single ring crankset who want the Masterlock Street Cuff, this might be the way to go. I'm definitely all ears when it comes to feedback. Let me know what you think.

neptronix said:

Bike locks are incredibly easy to defeat...
I don't even carry one on my ebike. If i can't bring it inside where i am shopping, i don't shop there anymore...

Click to expand...

Nehmo said:

In most parts of Kansas City, and in many other places in the US, if you left your bike outside unattended, you wouldn't have to worry about what to do with the bike the next time you shopped there.

Click to expand...

kmxtornado said:

Not sure I'm clear on what you're getting at? Are you saying the bike would be safe parked outside w/o a lock in your area of Kansas? If so, I wish people here in California were that honest!

Click to expand...

That's a lesson for me in ambiguity. I think the compound-prepositional introductory phrase is the problem. Anyway, what I meant was that if you didn't lock your bike and went into the store, that would be the end of your dealings with that bike, including worrying about it. Stealing is assured in Kansas City. Even an aluminum dog dish isn't safe left outside here.

Actually, Kansas City would be an ideal place to set up a booby trap. I have a few ideas:

Somehow rigging the seat with a tube of Super Glue so that when the thief sits on it, it squirts out, ant then maybe he gets stuck to the seat.

Another idea is to position barbed fish hooks fixed around the handle grips.

Another is to have a remote control mechanism that breaks the fork apart above the wheel. You sit hidden and observe. When the thief takes the bike, you let him get up some speed. Then you press the button.