Many people I know sing the praises of the clever locking method developed by the late, great cycling guru Sheldon Brown. By putting a U-lock through your rear wheel, you can avoid scratching up your paint or needing an extra long lock.
Personally, I never quite trusted this method, and as this video shows, less than 30 seconds with a hack saw can mean your bike is gone.
Sheldon Brown’s online glossary is a great resource, but I’m afraid this recommendation does not come good.
on Jun 24th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Hmm, I guess I’ll stop locking my bike that way.
Sheldon: “Since the rim is under substantial compression due to the tension on the spokes, it would pinch a hacksaw blade tight as soon as it cut partway through.”
I wonder if SB was only considering cutting from inside the rim outwards.
on Jun 24th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
One more Sheldon Brown gospel debunked.
on Jun 24th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Now do it with a carbon fiber or aluminum frame and show why you shouldn’t lock around the top tube, either.
on Jun 24th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Lee,
As a framebuilder, I know cutting a steel top tube would be about the same amount of time as the wheel cut. The truth is that if the thief just wants parts off the bike, no locking method is safe.