Eldest child is going on a light weight bike tour of Newcastle/Netherlands/Belgium/France/Dover/London/Glasgow next week. Mostly staying in youth hostels. Was planning to take the heavy u-lock used around the streets of glasgow. I’m conscious that I would want to travel lighter and with something more space efficient than that.
I’ve tasked them with finding out if there is bike storage at the hostels (I am guessing that is common on the continent - not so sure that will be the case for the London stop over). What do others normally do on these sort of trips? It’s an ok but not shiny new gravel bike.
I’ve checked the insurance just says locked, but of course that won’t stop it being nicked screwing up the mini adventure between Uni exams and summer job.
take active steps to make the bike look as s..t as possible. flat bars, gaffa tape, if its got disks or shiny components think about taking something else
hostels on the continent make have bike sheds, but security generally in hostels is lax and so it won't stop someone nicking the bike.
Weight doesn't really matter, so take the heftiest lock you can.
If the hostels have bike storage facilities I would just take one of those really skinny cable locks, perhaps not even that.
If they don't, find a different hostel.
For the Netherlands there is a website that lists bike friendly accommodation.
I had one of these on my bike for the Great Glen Way.
https://www.kryptonitelock.com/en/products/product-information/current-key/004097.html
Attaches to a bottle cage mount, hefty but less so than a D lock.
I'm taking a chain and padlock my next tour. 8mm chain. First part is San Francisco to LA.
Thereafter more remote and rural so just wondering if I will take a lighter lock as well and ditch the chain in LA.
On the other hand I'm going with full camping gear anyway. So 1/2 a Kg difference? Does it matter?
For OP if it is a group would a longer chain and padlock to lock two or more bikes at once save weight if shared along with other gear?
As I’ve mentioned on other threads, I’ve used the thick (it’s not heavy) TiGr lock in London for nearly 10 years now. It’s got scratches on it where people have tried to cut it, mates of mine had bikes stolen next to mine and once I had the pedals and seatpost nicked, but what has been locked with it has always been fine. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but it’s been a very long run of luck.
I use an abus folding lock like the Kryptonite link above.
I think it's robust enough to stop an opportunist. If a serious thief is after my bike, the lock will make little difference.
I always lock it too, even in cases where it's inside a hotel or building rather than an external store.
You have two choices
A proper bolt cropper proof d ock which will weigh a couple of kilos or a token lock. For that itinerary I would take the d lock.
Forget those folding locks or anything that has less than 16mm shackle. They are just weight without security
Take a proper D lock, id rather have to carry the extra weight than have my bike stolen mid way through a trip like that and then ethier have to come home or source another bike to finish of the adventure
Someone i know rode across France and into Spain with the aim of getting to down to Velencia with just a change of clothes, credit card and a cheap bike lock, he made it minus the bike!
I'd just take the big lock.
It’s an ok but not shiny new gravel bike.
Touch wood, I've never had a bike nicked, but I think a big part of that is never leaving a bike that looks worth nicking in scenario where it'll get nicked. I'd quite happily set off for a tour on my fixie commuter with racks, dynamos, guards etc (and a big middle of the road kryptonite D-lock) because it's a pleasure to ride, but looks like crap and it get's left outside stations for a week at a time occasionally with no bother.
My gravel bike actually cost less, but has 2x11 SRAM Rival, disk brakes, etc and I don't think would last a day locked up outside.
Also looking for a mid weight mid security lock for cafes and campsites. I have a folding lock but the frame holster rattles off road and you can feel it bashing around if you put it in your luggage.
I've seen litelok (?) Do a £100+ belt style lock and the multiple thin cables are apparently designed to squash flat and spread out when you try and chop them, are there any reasonably priced locks with similar frustrating features for an opportunist theft?
Something like a cable lock with Kevlar fibres in the sheath to frustrate bolt croppers and pliers? Kevlar generally needs a high quality sharp pliers or a knife/scissors to cut so would be a nice feature to delay the snip and run type thief.
For OP if it is a group would a longer chain and padlock to lock two or more bikes at once save weight if shared along with other gear?
Ah a man after my own heart - "if you take the chain, I'll carry the padlock ;-)". But unfortunately for him this is a solo adventure.
OK it seems there's a reasonable consensus to use the existing heavy d-lock. If it was me, I'd probably go light and take the risk but my credit card is a bit more flexible than his to buy my way out of trouble, and I've had enough life experience to see that as part of the adventure rather than a major crisis. So his plan of carrying a massive lock is probably not crazy.