daven1986

I find that it takes me a huge amount of time to get my stuff out of my bag (lights etc.) put them on my bike, take off all the locks, then put my cycle jacket on etc. that I am sure I am in the minority. So I was wondering how long does it take everyone to go from their locked bike and all their stuff in their bag, to riding home?

JPprivate

same here, too long...

mustang1

I voted 2-4 mins. I never lock my bike at work as we have secure storage, but on the odd occasion I leave it on the street, I have 4 locks (2 chain, 1 D, 1 combi) so take a few mins to get them off.

FasterThanCops

I ride in my street clothes, and my bike gets stored in a secure card key accessed room in a parking structure while I'm at work, so it's really just a matter of popping off my one U-lock and hoping on.

devianb

I just use a cable and lock stored in my seat bag. Takes me less than a minute to lock/unlock and go. Back in the days when I used to use a U lock it took me a bit longer.

|3iker

My U locks lives on the rack at my office garage. So it's quite easy to lock and unlock.
However on the rare occasion where ride to stores and need to lock it up, then maybe 1 minute?

PaulH

Undo the U-lock, bungee it to the rack, put on the helmet, hop on and ride. Less than one minute. Lights are built in, no bag, no stuff.

Paul

electrik

Probably going to get some strange results here, winter commuters have layers to put on and gaps to seal!

cyclokitty 

I have a u lock and 2 cables as well as need to reattach my lights so I'm guessing about 3 minutes. I park on the street and it can take up a bit of time to wrangle my bike off of the bike posts when I have to share the post.

buzzman

I'm a 1-2 and sometimes a 2-4.

In the winter and at night it can take me some time to undergo the mini-rituals before I'm off and riding.

Basically, it goes like this:

1) Remove gloves and take lights out of my messenger bag and clip onto their mounts- 20 secs.

2) Turn on blinkies, one is attached to my helmet, one to my clothing, one to my rack- 10 secs.

3) Get out the key to the NYC Krypto lock- 10 secs.

4) Undo lock and reattach base to "U"- Put key back 15 secs.

5) Undo cable that was locking the wheels (in winter it's slower because it is literally harder to coil)- 15 secs.

6) Put lock, cable and messenger bag in back basket/milk crate and strap down- 15 secs.

7) Put on helmet. (adjust for hood/balaclava if necessary)- 10 secs.

8) Put on gloves/mittens- 10 secs.

The ride home- Priceless.

K6-III

Take out keys 10 sec. Unlock U lock, 10s. Stow U lock, 5s.

Helps that I have drum brakes and dynamo lights that I don't have to worry about. Just lock the frame to something with the U-lock.

slcbob

Check the rules again, no need to start out naked. Task starting condition: fully clad and fully locked. End: stowed and rolling. It still takes me forever.

daven1986

Well glad to see I'm not the only one. My mate just took his bike and was ready in about 30 seconds! However he didn't have a jacket, helmet, only had one lock etc.! Ah well, even with the locking up / unlocking it is still quicker to take a bike than public transport so I'm not about to change it any time soon!

I have dynamo lights too, but I like to put a couple of blinkies on too also I need a u-lock and a cable lock and a cable - extra deterrent (I hope)!

alr

To me, how long you take is highly dependent on how many locks you use and whether or not you need to reattach lights, etc. I use a mini u lock which nicely stows in my rack, U side down, and I leave my lights on the bike when I am working (so far so good with no thieving-- lights are not super expensive anyway). So-- less than 1 minute, and off I go.

Schnayke

When I am running errands I don't take my cycle stuff off. I just leave it all on. I ride a bike worth less then 100 bucks, so I just throw u lock on it and I am on my way. 30 seconds or so. If I am parking it for awhile like I am going to a movie or something I bring a cable lock as well and those take more time to deal with. and I take off my helmet and stuff so that takes some time. So I would say around 2 min's max.
At work I roll in a door that is easy to open hang my bike on the wall and take off my cycle specific stuff I am waring and that takes about 1 min. All of these take less time then when I drive and have to find parking and park, then walk to where ever I am going. I would say if you are using lights that are too spendy to loose, and a bike that needs 4 locks, then you might want to down grade to more functional stuff. I say if it needs more then a u lock and a cable then you are riding something too nice, or you are too paranoid. Ether way cheaper equipment sounds like the ticket. You can always ride your nice stuff when you are not going to leave it locked up.

daven1986

Yeah I am definitely looking at the cheaper equipment route. My two bikes at the moment I use for commuting and occasionally going out, at work we have secure parking so it doesn't matter about the cost. I will probably get a beater or a folding bike ... or both!

interested

Despite having two locks and two rear lights it takes me very little time; Dynamo lights front and rear are permanently attached, and are quick to turn off. (They turn them self off after a while, but to avoid comments I often turn them off manually), I have a permanently attached Basta "Click" frame lock that unlocks with a turn of a key. My Abus U-lock is attached to the frame with an excellent holder: a simple push and it locks itself firmly to the holder. My Ortlieb Back-Roller pannier are attached by just lowering it onto the rack where it auto-locks. What takes me most time is probably that to turn of my very cheap spare rear light, since I have to cycle it through 5 useless blinkie modes to turn it off.

So my bike is ready for action in under a minute. In the winter however, it may take a long time before I myself is ready. Balaclava, ski gloves, winter boots etc. all take their time put on.

--
Regards

Metzinger

I use a rear wheel lock only on my inexpensive commuter. Bolted on dyno and f+r lights.
Older version of this type of thing:

Key is captive while riding. Walking to riding in under 5 seconds.
But not every city is like the Hague.

qualla

Dynamo lights, Abus chain, Otlieb office bag. Just a few seconds. Of course, that is after I get out the door and how long THAT takes depends on the weather. Single digits with wind means a longer time getting dressed than milder conditions. But, once out the door it's drop the bag on the rack (love that QL-2 attachment system). Unlock the chain and wrap it around the seatpost. Hop on the bike and off I go!

ItsJustMe

5 seconds; I don't have to lock where I live, even on the sidewalks.

HardyWeinberg

When I lock I usually have a trailer or trail-a-bike tangled in and kids to supervise, it just takes a while. Otherwise I tend not to lock at all.

mickey85

LUckily I can park it in front of my desk, so I don't even have a lock. Riding time is as long as it takes me to put on my clothes and walk out the door!

JPprivate

You don't lock your bike???? Wow!

TwoShort

Well, I voted <1 minute before I read the post. Putting on layers, etc. takes longer in the winter, but I do that at home or office where I bring the bike inside. If I locked it, it's outside some store or something, and I keep all that on. So it's just a cable lock that stays wrapped around my top & head tubes, and I just pull the coils a bit tighter to get enough slack to go around a rack.

RaleighComp

We have a secure bike room at work, so there's no security delay. For me the biggest time consumers are the cold weather head hands and foot accessories.

Feet
1. Wool socks
2. Gore-tex socks
3. Shimano SPD sandals
4. Performance neoprene booties.

Head
1. iPod earbuds
2. Polypro balaclava
3. Thin Mountain Hardwear Polartec beanie
4. Cycling glasses
5. Knit neck gaiter (when it's under 20F)
6. Helmet

Hands
1. Pearl Izumi Cyclone gloves.
2. REI Fleece "Glittens"
3. Outdoor Research Gore-Tex Shell Mittens (when it's under 20F)