machinestatic

Hey all, just popping in with a question before I commute to work tomorrow with my new lock. Today I got sick of lugging around my Kryptonite Series 2 U lock, so I picked up an Evolution Mini. I'm aware of Sheldon's strategy of locking the rear wheel inside the triangle, but I was wondering if locking a wheel is unnecessary with axle nuts (i.e. I don't have quick release).

I'm just imagining that with axle nuts, no one would steal JUST the wheels, unless they were walking around with only a 15mm wrench but NOT a saw or jack. That kind of seems unlikely.

Thanks!

Scheherezade 

Depends on where you live; I don't worry about it in Minneapolis.

MijnWraak

I'd say yes you need to secure them, but I'm no expert on cambridge. I've never secured my quick release wheels down here.

CACycling

I would say it is less likely they'd be stolen with nutted axles than with QR axles but it is certainly more likely to be stolen if it is unlocked than if it is locked. How far you need to go to protect depends on where you park, how long it is there and the level of risk you are willing to accept.

BridgeNotTunnel

Everything on lock down.

Everything there when you get back.

:|

lostarchitect 

In Boston? Yes. Same as here in NYC. Frankly, I don't leave my bike locked up where I can't see it. If I'm going to a restaurant or bar, I sit in the window if at all possible--or even better, outside if it has sidewalk tables.

machinestatic

Well, nothing much can be said after this, can it? I know you're right, I suppose I was just hoping I could be more lazy... I mean, fast. So, I'll go with Sheldon's method. If I were smart I'd also man up and carry my Kryptonite Hardwire too, for the rest of the bike. Thanks again.

bhop

I have seen MANY bikes without wheels. I always lock both my wheels.

Monster Pete

With Sheldon's method, the idea is that by locking the wheel inside the rear triangle, the rear wheel cannot be removed from the frame without cutting or breaking something, so both frame and wheel are secure. You could also run a cable lock from the U-lock through the front wheel as a further deterrant.

wolfchild

I have nutted axles and I always lock my wheels.

jsdavis

It really depends on your environment. I used to lock my bike with the U-lock through the rear wheel and either the seat or chain stays only. A modified Sheldon locking method I suppose. My front wheel was QR, but no one ever messed with my bike even though it was higher end than anything around mine. Bike was 10 years old at the time but was all STX-RC with rear derailleur except the wheels.

I think at some point I did throw a cable around the front wheel but I did not do it consistently. I had one of those cables with loops on each end and I slipped one loop through the other after wrapping around the wheel and the locked the free loop inside the U-lock.