Locking up a Burly child trailer?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 278 Times
in
108 Posts
Locking up a Burly child trailer?
I have a question for those of you who live in urban areas and regularly pull a trailer, either for kids or groceries. Do you lock it, and how do you lock it? When you go to the grocery store, or the library, or wherever the bike is out of your direct view. Do you use a double-loop steel cable in addition to your U-Lock? I see mainly 6 ft, 15 ft, and 30 ft for cables. What is the best length for this? If you have a Burly with the push-button, quick-release wheels, do you thread cable through the wheels and the frame somehow?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Last edited by riverdrifter; 10-09-19 at 07:10 AM.
#2
Senior Member
It has been many years, but I pulled my daughter (and occasionally her friends and our dog) in a Winchester trailer in the Maryland/Washington DC area and occasionally on vacation. I never felt the need to lock the trailer when we locked up the bikes and never had it stolen.
In this day and age of Craig's List and eBay making it easier to sell just about anything, I might. I would use that steel cable that I now have with my U lock - it is a "keep the honest people honest" thing, as it is pretty easy to cut through. But, I'll bet most of the bike thieves carrying bolt cutters wouldn't be going after your trailer...
In this day and age of Craig's List and eBay making it easier to sell just about anything, I might. I would use that steel cable that I now have with my U lock - it is a "keep the honest people honest" thing, as it is pretty easy to cut through. But, I'll bet most of the bike thieves carrying bolt cutters wouldn't be going after your trailer...
Likes For jpescatore:
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 278 Times
in
108 Posts
It has been many years, but I pulled my daughter (and occasionally her friends and our dog) in a Winchester trailer in the Maryland/Washington DC area and occasionally on vacation. I never felt the need to lock the trailer when we locked up the bikes and never had it stolen.
In this day and age of Craig's List and eBay making it easier to sell just about anything, I might. I would use that steel cable that I now have with my U lock - it is a "keep the honest people honest" thing, as it is pretty easy to cut through. But, I'll bet most of the bike thieves carrying bolt cutters wouldn't be going after your trailer...
In this day and age of Craig's List and eBay making it easier to sell just about anything, I might. I would use that steel cable that I now have with my U lock - it is a "keep the honest people honest" thing, as it is pretty easy to cut through. But, I'll bet most of the bike thieves carrying bolt cutters wouldn't be going after your trailer...
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
I had two Norco trailers stolen in Toronto. There was an attempted theft when I walked away without locking the trailer but the bike was locked. They almost had it off the bike but I think I must have scared them off as I was returning. Then it was stolen a few months later but it was unlocked again. My fault.
Second trailer was locked with a Kryptonite Cable and it was cut and that was the last I saw of that trailer.
With the third trailer, a Chariot, I was much more careful of where I parked it, and how I parked it. I would fold it up and run the cable through the frame and the two wheels so you just couldn't ride away with it. It never got stolen and I had that one the longest.
Toronto is a high risk city for bike thefts. My son had his tricycle stolen, my two trailers and I had two expensive bikes stolen. Knock on wood nothing has been stolen lately.
Second trailer was locked with a Kryptonite Cable and it was cut and that was the last I saw of that trailer.
With the third trailer, a Chariot, I was much more careful of where I parked it, and how I parked it. I would fold it up and run the cable through the frame and the two wheels so you just couldn't ride away with it. It never got stolen and I had that one the longest.
Toronto is a high risk city for bike thefts. My son had his tricycle stolen, my two trailers and I had two expensive bikes stolen. Knock on wood nothing has been stolen lately.
Likes For blakcloud:
#5
Cycleway town
I never locked the trailer as long as it was attached to the locked bike, but then i always used a custom hitch because the standard designs were rubbish.
It would always have been possible to pin the hitch to the bike with a small long-shackle padlock, I just never did.
It would always have been possible to pin the hitch to the bike with a small long-shackle padlock, I just never did.
Last edited by MikeyMK; 10-13-19 at 07:47 PM.
Likes For MikeyMK:
#6
Junior Member
We never locked our trailer but we also were never away from it very long. You say your trailer has push button quick-release wheels. I'd consider just removing one or both wheels and locking with the bike and not carrying the 15 foot cable. s
Likes For honcho:
Likes For Reynolds:
#8
Cycleway town
Mine had push-button wheels but I took the rubber caps off, and they just look like bolted wheels underneath.
Atleast in the case of my Avenir Cleveland the cap covers a 19mm hex bolt - the button is the end of a shaft that releases a securing bearing the inner end.
Atleast in the case of my Avenir Cleveland the cap covers a 19mm hex bolt - the button is the end of a shaft that releases a securing bearing the inner end.
Likes For MikeyMK:
#9
vespertine member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
163 Posts
I usually just used a cable lock through the frame of the trailer and the rear triangle of the bicycle.
It's definitely a 'keep people honest' kinda thing, and I'm not sure it is entirely necessary. I'm guessing that most people who just want a quick ride off wouldn't want to deal with unhitching a trailer, and professional thieves would not be interested in the kinds of bikes I use to pull a trailer.
It's definitely a 'keep people honest' kinda thing, and I'm not sure it is entirely necessary. I'm guessing that most people who just want a quick ride off wouldn't want to deal with unhitching a trailer, and professional thieves would not be interested in the kinds of bikes I use to pull a trailer.
Likes For wipekitty:
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 278 Times
in
108 Posts
Remove the trailer wheel and lock it (the wheel) to the frame with the u-lock? I had not considered that. That might be a great idea! Thanks!
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Likes For himespau:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
I’ve never locked the trailer when attached to the bike, but when using it as a jogger I’ve cable locked through the handlebars around a tree/lamp post/whatever.
if I still lived in a large city I’d probably have a U-lock for it.
if I still lived in a large city I’d probably have a U-lock for it.
Likes For Leinster:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
I’ve found that you need to regrease the shaft on the push button wheels every time you remove and replace them. Carrying a tube of grease, applying every time you unlock and reassemble, and then cleaning your hands again seems more hassle to me that just having a slightly longer cable lock.
Likes For Leinster:
#15
Junior Member
I’ve found that you need to regrease the shaft on the push button wheels every time you remove and replace them. Carrying a tube of grease, applying every time you unlock and reassemble, and then cleaning your hands again seems more hassle to me that just having a slightly longer cable lock.
Likes For honcho:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
I use a 8’ Kryptoite cable looped through the frame of my trailer and have eyelet on the other end in the cable going through my U lock. I don’t bother running the cable through the wheels.
Likes For Ghazmh: