Conference noted::bicycle

    You can get through 98% of locks with a hacksaw.  I don't say 100%
    because I imagine in theory you could make a diamond lock but it'd be a
    bit expensive.
    
    The most expensive Kryponite lock is very hacksaw-resistant, but it can
    still be cut.  It takes a long time, but it can be cut.  You can buy
    little reinforcement bars that prevent the U-lock from being pryed
    apart - these help a lot for thieves who carry car jacks with them.
    
    The RPI Cycling club did a little workshop about locks and this was how
    we felt.  Basically if a thief wants your bike bad enough s/he's going
    to get it.
    
    eric
    

Should I buy the coil locks or the U-lock in your opinion?  I personally like
the coil locks because you can lock both wheels as well. 

Jim 

Does Kryptonite offer the insurance/replacement cost option these days?  It used
to come standard on some locks.  U-locks are hard to jack open if you fill them
up (put them around seat tube, stays, rear wheel and front wheel.

How much are your bikes worth?  A professional thief with an eye for what to
steal is not going to be stopped.  I've heard of frames being cut because the
components are worth $2-3K+ independent of the frame.  I try very very hard
never to leave it unattended, except at work, in the parking lot, locked to my
roof, with one wheel off and no air in the tires.  This makes it hard to ride
away.  There is a lot of foot traffic in the parking area and I think someone
would be a bit afraid to take it in broad daylight.

Tim

>>How much are your bikes worth?  A professional thief with an eye for what to
>>steal is not going to be stopped.  I've heard of frames being cut because the

My mountain bike is a Cannondale M200SE that cost $429 last week.  My road
bike is a 1973 Fuji Finest with all Campy Record components.

Jim

    Jim,
    
     Bike locks, like ski locks, are mearly a deterent. If you place some
    sort of lock on your toys the casual thief will pick one that isn't
    locked. The profesional thief would be at best slowed downed, but not
    stopped if they want your toy(s). I use a coated coiled lock when I
    need to lock the bike up. I'm sure a good cable/bolt cutter would make
    short use of it, but, how many pimply faced bike thiefs carry one of
    those around. I NEVER leave my bike unattended on the car rack without
    some sort of a lock on it and take turns doing the store thing if I
    don't have the lock with me.
    
    PM

I just bought a couple Kryptonite cable locks.  That should do fine for the
time and the locations where we leave our bikes.  The mountain bikes are
around $400 each, so we're not taking about mega-expensive gear here.  There
are millions of bikes out there in that price range.

Jim

I went to school with an NYC bike messanger.  He used a Cobra Lock.  It was
braided steel cable, with independant interlock steal casing.  The casing
sections were about 3 inches long, and fit into each other with a ball joint.
There was a tubular key.  It weighed at least 20 pounds, but he said he had
never lost a bike while using that lock.  Look for them (or at least more
info) in motorcycle shops.

--roger

    
    	20 pounds?
    
    	That'll double the weight of most bikes!!
    

He wore it bandoleer style, over the sholder opposite his bag.

>    	That'll double the weight of most bikes!!

He was more concerned with keeping his  (^;

--roger

    Securely locking the bike(s) to your vehicle is all well and good, but
    as I found out (the hard way), it only takes about 8 seconds to steal
    the whole vehicle. :^(   As added security, an important fuse removed
    from the fuse-box rendering the vehicle inoperable is now part of my
    security ritual...
    
    Doug_Paranoid about *keeping* my new ride.

>>    the whole vehicle. :^(   As added security, an important fuse removed
>>    from the fuse-box rendering the vehicle inoperable is now part of my
>>    security ritual...

My bicycles don't have electrical components, so they don't have fuses. Most
thieves simply ride off on them or put them in a van.

Jim :-)

    i have a friend who lost a Harley that he had locked with one of those
    snake chains. if they want it, they'll take it, end of story.
    
     Chip

>    snake chains. if they want it, they'll take it, end of story.
    
Very true, only question is how difficult it is.
--roger

    Then the challenge is to make your bike as unattractive as possible
    for thieves.  Huffy decals should do it !  No one wants mine, anyway...
    And it still keeps up (extra physical effort, of course) with the titanium,
    carbon fiber, aluminum machines with Campy Record.

    .13 not very long if they kknow what they're doing, believe me.
    
        Chip