Bike lock: how to choose
A lock is not for protection against a professional — nothing you can carry in a backpack will save you from one. A lock is for something else: to leave the bike and stop thinking about it.
That is the whole point. As long as the bike is not locked, you are not walking through the forest — you are circling it and mentally checking whether it is still where it was.
Chain or cable
Cable. Light, compact, inexpensive. And almost useless: it is cut through with ordinary nippers in seconds. A cheap cable is even worse than no lock: it creates a sense of protection that has no basis.
Chain. Heavy, takes up space, costs more. But it is cut only with hydraulic or large bolt cutters — and that is a tool no one carries around.
Folding lock. A compromise: stronger than a cable, lighter than a chain. A good option for the city. In the forest, what matters more is tear strength and the ability to wrap around a tree — a chain is more convenient there.
Why a chain has another advantage
A chain is easy to attach to whatever is available: a tree trunk, a post, a railing. A cable is thinner and often does not wrap around a trunk of the needed diameter — and in the forest there are no other supports.
Second: a chain can be wound around the frame and carried with you without taking up backpack space. The very lock that stays at home because it is "heavy" protects nothing.
How to lock up
Through the frame, not through the wheel. A wheel is easy to remove and throw away, a frame is not. Pass the chain through the frame and around the support.
Check that the chain is not lying on the ground. It is easy to step on and pull tight, plus it gets dirty and rusts.
Do not leave the bike in plain sight. Even locked, it attracts attention if it is standing at a train car entrance or on a well-trodden path. The parking spot is chosen not by convenience but by whether anyone walks there or not.
How much it weighs
A good chain weighs from one to two kilograms. A lot? Yes. But it is the weight that pays off in peace of mind: you walk down the trail without looking back, and that is worth more than a kilogram in the backpack.
What to do if there is no lock
There are two honest options: either do not leave the bike unattended, or leave it in a way that makes it impossible to carry off — for example, hide it in the forest and remember a landmark. The second works worse than it seems: a bike that was searched for is found faster than a bike hidden from a casual glance.
If there is no lock but the bike must be left — take it with you, even if it means an extra ten minutes on foot. A stolen bike ends a trip worse than an inconvenient descent to the lake.
A common mistake
The most common mistake is to buy the lightest and cheapest lock just to have one. Such a lock creates a problem twice: it does not protect and it takes up space. Either a proper chain, or an honest decision never to leave the bike at all.
Frequently asked questions
Chain: a cable is cut through with ordinary nippers in seconds. For the forest a chain is also more convenient — it is easier to wrap around a tree trunk.
From one to two kilograms. The weight is noticeable, but it replaces the constant worry about a bike left in the forest.
Through the frame, not through the wheel, and so that the chain does not lie on the ground. A wheel is easy to remove, a frame is not.
Only if you do not let it out of sight. A hidden parking spot without a lock protects worse than it seems: a bike that was searched for is found faster than one that was hidden.
Related
- What to take on a bike trip — A big article: 15 things tested by breakdowns
- Carrying a bike on a commuter train — When it is free, when it is paid, and how to ride comfortably
- Pump, tube and patches — The kit that covers the most common breakdown
- Bike repair kit — Adjustable wrench, chain tool, and what actually breaks
- Bike first aid kit — What to put in a travel first aid kit and how to treat scrapes
- Bike light — How to choose a light to see the road and be seen
- Bike gloves — Why the palms take the impact and how to choose the size
- What to take on a 1-day hike — A short list without extra weight
Frequently asked questions
Which bike lock is better — chain or cable?
Chain: a cable is cut through with ordinary nippers in seconds. For the forest a chain is also more convenient — it is easier to wrap around a tree trunk.
How much does a good bike chain weigh?
From one to two kilograms. The weight is noticeable, but it replaces the constant worry about a bike left in the forest.
How do you lock a bike correctly?
Through the frame, not through the wheel, and so that the chain does not lie on the ground. A wheel is easy to remove, a frame is not.
Can you leave a bike without a lock?
Only if you do not let it out of sight. A hidden parking spot without a lock protects worse than it seems: a bike that was searched for is found faster than one that was hidden.