Why aren't frame locks popular in the U.S.?
#101
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I’ve also seen frame locks widely used in Europe and Japan as well. However, one major difference is that people use bikes there much more commonly for daily chores and activities (shopping, cycling to the train station, etc.) and these locks are on what could be called their “utility” bikes. They are primarily used to keep honest people honest and preventing a potential thief from jumping on a bike on a whim. I don’t think they would be much of a deterrent for high-quality bikes.
#102
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: alameda, ca
Posts: 77
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, 1990 Specialized Hardrock Sport/X-tracycle conversion, Surly Steamroller, 1995 Specialized Allez Sport, Early 90's VanTuyl TT bike, Flying Pigeon PA-06
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Liked 105 Times
in
38 Posts
Neighbor recently had their bike stolen while they were buying water at 7-11. They had leaned their bike against the glass outside and it was gone. Then I was talking to an employee of an LBS and he went for fast food and leaned his bike against the glass, within eyeshot, and some guy jump and take off with it. He gave chase (running), but couldn't catch up. I've had bikes stolen in the past by leaving it "for just a second" while I run into the store.
As easy as it is to break a lock in seconds, it appears a lot of bikes get stolen that were never locked. And that's because we get lazy. We don't want to carry heavy locks on our rides, find a poll, etc. It seems a frame lock is the perfect solution for that quick in n' out type of situation. And I do see it being used in Europe, but it's very rare in the U.S.
If you've never seen one, this is a frame lock.
I just bought two of these. One for my Sirrus hybrid and another for my cargo bike. I will not be putting one on my full suspension mountain bike (of course), but I just discovered the disc brake lock. This would be easy and light to carry in my backpack for mountain biking (I ride to the trails and love to stop for fast food on my way back).
Of course, none of these will stop anyone from picking up your bike and walking away with it, or throwing it in the back of a truck. But it seems like a lot of thefts are from people just riding it away. I'm really surprised that I don't see these locks at any of the bike shops. It seems that most average folks don't even know these types of locks exist.
As easy as it is to break a lock in seconds, it appears a lot of bikes get stolen that were never locked. And that's because we get lazy. We don't want to carry heavy locks on our rides, find a poll, etc. It seems a frame lock is the perfect solution for that quick in n' out type of situation. And I do see it being used in Europe, but it's very rare in the U.S.
If you've never seen one, this is a frame lock.
I just bought two of these. One for my Sirrus hybrid and another for my cargo bike. I will not be putting one on my full suspension mountain bike (of course), but I just discovered the disc brake lock. This would be easy and light to carry in my backpack for mountain biking (I ride to the trails and love to stop for fast food on my way back).
Of course, none of these will stop anyone from picking up your bike and walking away with it, or throwing it in the back of a truck. But it seems like a lot of thefts are from people just riding it away. I'm really surprised that I don't see these locks at any of the bike shops. It seems that most average folks don't even know these types of locks exist.
Likes For Edward1066:
#103
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,314 Times
in
707 Posts
I own a frame lock for one bike but also learned that a small padlock between the chainrings and chain itself (crankset area) stops the bike in the same way and is smaller/lighter to carry on the bike.
If commuting to the same place each day (like work) leave the heavy U lock secured at the destination if possible. No need to carry it back and forth.
No lock stops a determined thief but they do reduce the more common crime of opportunity.
I did think it would be funny to sit in a coffee shop and watch someone try to steal my FG bike with small clipless pedals... then walk up beside them and ask if they needed a hand.
If commuting to the same place each day (like work) leave the heavy U lock secured at the destination if possible. No need to carry it back and forth.
No lock stops a determined thief but they do reduce the more common crime of opportunity.
I did think it would be funny to sit in a coffee shop and watch someone try to steal my FG bike with small clipless pedals... then walk up beside them and ask if they needed a hand.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 05-18-21 at 09:47 PM.
Likes For Happy Feet:
#104
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: northWET washington
Posts: 1,197
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 383 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times
in
396 Posts
I own a frame lock for one bike but also learned that a small padlock between the chainrings and chain itself (crankset area) stops the bike in the same way and is smaller/lighter to carry on the bike.
If commuting to the same place each day (like work) leave the heavy U lock secured at the destination if possible. No need to carry it back and forth.
No lock stops a determined thief but they do reduce the more common crime of opportunity.
I did think it would be funny to sit in a coffee shop and watch someone try to steal my FG bike with small clipless pedals... then walk up beside them and ask if they needed a hand.
If commuting to the same place each day (like work) leave the heavy U lock secured at the destination if possible. No need to carry it back and forth.
No lock stops a determined thief but they do reduce the more common crime of opportunity.
I did think it would be funny to sit in a coffee shop and watch someone try to steal my FG bike with small clipless pedals... then walk up beside them and ask if they needed a hand.
I looked at disc brake locks and some have a colorful "leash" which might draw attention to the lock/deterrent.
#105
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,314 Times
in
707 Posts
I wonder if something so discreet might possibly lead to damage to the chain/rings since a potential thief would not notice it was they quickly and strenuously try to pedal away. Obvious it would stop an opportunist thief.
I looked at disc brake locks and some have a colorful "leash" which might draw attention to the lock/deterrent.
I looked at disc brake locks and some have a colorful "leash" which might draw attention to the lock/deterrent.
I made this for my touring bike some time ago as a DIY bike alarm. It's a personal alarm with the pin attached to a leash that wraps around the tire. Thief tries to make off with the bike, it pulls the pin and emits a loud alarm. Its exposed like that for the pic. IRL I hide it on the frame better.
For short stops, where I can quickly run out, if I don't have a lock I thread my helmet straps through the rear wheels and put my bike in highest gear but usually in the window. I never trust a bike out of sight having had my first "real" racing bike stolen when I ran into a bakery for thirty seconds for a muffin years ago.
Likes For Happy Feet:
#106
Otis Fan
Hmm, if I were a thief and saw handcuffs on a bike I would assume it belonged to a police officer. Might be a good deterrent.
#108
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,308
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5990 Post(s)
Liked 954 Times
in
728 Posts
The number 1 reason integral wheel locks aren't more prevalent in the US, is the private ownership of pickup trucks and vans. In the Netherlands and across Europe, petrol is prohibitively expensive, and private auto ownership tends to smaller vehicles. In the US, with gas prices kept artificially low, larger vehicles are more common. And, as bikes are seen as expensive toys, something that only someone with too many DUI's, or as an annoyance, theft is seen as a nuisance, not really a crime to be paid attention to. Just an opinion...
Only after frame locks were already common, bike theft became a problem that could not be prevented by a frame lock. That had to do with a heroin epidemic and some weird post 60's idea that (old regular) bikes were somehow not subjected to ownership and stealing one or buying a stolen one was not the same as with other goods. Among large groups of university students for example it was not frowned upon to have stolen a bike, despite it still being a privileged group in the sense of the best students and on average richer parents. That has normalized for the large part but there's still a lot of bike theft and that is and was mostly at night, it's generally safe to have just the frame lock or getting groceries or something. If you just load one in a van, very affordable, in the day time you would get caught.
So most poeple single lock for quick daytime visits where there's people around, and double or even triple lock at places and times where a thief could take his time or the bike could be thrown in a van without getting caught. Locks are not to prevent bike theft in general but to prevent your bike getting stolen. So it's a matter of someone else's bike to have a better trouble/value ratio than yours for different categories of thiefs. The modern frame locks are quite a power tool job so it's about defending against picking up the bike and brining it to a place where someone can cut the lock safely. There are very good insert cables for frame locks but I mostly use a very flimsy ligth cable lock because it's easier and is enough to have the pick up artist look for another bike. The power tool thief would prefer a less time consuming lock than my frame lock. If a thief was determined to steal my bike and brought the tools to do it, it would get stolen but that's simply not how bike thiefs operate. Know your enemy.
Likes For Stadjer:
#109
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,601
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1659 Post(s)
Liked 1,806 Times
in
1,052 Posts
About one out of every 30 adults in the Netherlands got their bike stolen last year.
Can you recommend a lock style common in a country where the rate of bike theft is lower?
Can you recommend a lock style common in a country where the rate of bike theft is lower?
Likes For tcs:
#110
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,694
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 815 Post(s)
Liked 1,647 Times
in
776 Posts
For quick stops at a convenience store, I just pick my bike up, hold it on my shoulder, and walk in with it. If the store objects, I'll find another a bit further down the road.
I've rolled my bike into public restrooms before. Just have to remember to shut off the GoPro first!
I've rolled my bike into public restrooms before. Just have to remember to shut off the GoPro first!
#111
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
I have gone electric on my trike. It now has only one chain ring in front, and the spokes to the sprocket have large open spaces between them.. I have found a padlock that the U is quite wide, and it fits right thru the chain ring. With that padlock in place the grab and runners are going now where, and unless there would be a couple of quys with a pickup close by, the trike is sure to be there when I come out of a store or restroom.
#112
Senior Member
How do you protect QR wheels when using a thru-the-chainwheel lock? I like the idea, but ... maybe Pitlock + chainwheel lock is the way to go.
I'd lossen the QR completely, but a thief would probably be able to sue me if they rode off and crashed....
I'd lossen the QR completely, but a thief would probably be able to sue me if they rode off and crashed....
#113
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,308
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5990 Post(s)
Liked 954 Times
in
728 Posts
It still is a regular inconvenience indeed, but I haven't had a bike stolen in about twenty years, don't know exactly because the last one I couldn't remember where I parked it. My recommendation is to know your enemy and then get the appropriate gear to defend against your local thieves.
Likes For Stadjer:
#114
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
A thought could be to have an errand bike without QR skewers and a sporty bike with?
Obviously only if you have space or funds to own 2 bikes. I think carrying a 15mm would not be detrimental at all if someone was already carrying a pump and tube.
Just thoughts.
#115
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,996
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2222 Post(s)
Liked 3,407 Times
in
1,779 Posts
I just set the bike alarm on my Garmin, knowing that if someone tries to take the bike, the alarm will deter them, and passers-by will instantly spring into action, restraining the perpetrator and immediately alerting the police, just like they do with car alarms.
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#117
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 11
Bikes: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Bike Parking Rack
Many cities are building more bike parking racks so that we will use cars less for getting around towns and cities,you can put a U-lock in your bag each time.Like this:
u bike rack
u bike rack
#118
moving target
yeah, in cities that are trying to become bike friendly, if you show up to store in even partial kit, or looking like you are living the lifestyle, they let you just bring it in with you, or will ask you to bring it in out of the rain. wal mart watches them if you are nice.