Adventure Cycling Association Forum
Bicycle Travel => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Figaro on January 19, 2018, 09:47:27 pm
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I've been searching for a lightweight, good quality lock for my touring bike for a while now. Last week I ran across the Ottolock from an ad that popped up on my facebook timeline of all places. I looked up reviews on youtube and decided to order one. Got it in the mail today and although I haven't had a chance to use it yet, I think I'm going to like it. I was debating between getting the 30" or 60"...I went with the 30 and think I made the right choice. Will post back about how it works for me once I've had an opportunity to use it some.
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I'm sure its a nice enough lock. But for line of sight only.
Pretty much every drug addict bike thief knows a small pair of Felco cutters will go right through any cable lock and has a [stolen] set in their pocket. For that reason I'm going super light with the Hiplok ZLOK. Equally cut-able but lighter and easier to pack.
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I don't think this one is easily cuttable. But it's really just for added piece of mind when I stop in towns and go in a store, restaurant, etc.
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Nice to see its made in USA. I think you have a good frame of mind when it comes to locking strategy. Best of luck on your trip.
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You both voice realistic expectations for cable locks - momentary and line of sight use. Unfortunately, effective security means a lock and chain that weighs nearly as much as the bike - that's a no-go. While traveling now, if a lodging will not permit our bikes in our room then we don't do business there. A couple of years ago I got to observe our bikes being stolen on morning after video tape. We were not permitted to bring our bikes in but the hostel had a shed in their locked courtyard. Only 1 of the 3 cameras was functional but that 33% functionality was much greater than the 0% functionality of the night watchman who couldn't be bothered to look out the window that night. One of the thieves worked for several minutes to chew through the gate lock with his bolt cutters. After getting in to the court yard our bike cable locks weren't even an inconvenience for his bolt cutters.
Since the wife and I travel together we split up at grocery store resupply stops. One shops and the other does guard duty.
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Our MEC chain up in Canada (analog to REI) collected some bad reviews on these locks and stopped selling them:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5056-074/Cinch-Lock#reviews
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So, for example, you're camping somewhere and you lock your bike to the picnic table. Your tent is small, yet the handlebar bag always stays with you. But what about your panniers?
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They go inside the tent with me. Do not want a tent that does not give plenty room for me and my bags.
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So, for example, you're camping somewhere and you lock your bike to the picnic table. Your tent is small, yet the handlebar bag always stays with you. But what about your panniers?
I just leave my panniers and gear on the bike. They are full of dirty clothes and a little well used camping gear, neither of which is all that attractive to thieves.
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I just leave my panniers and gear on the bike. They are full of dirty clothes and a little well used camping gear, neither of which is all that attractive to thieves.
I've done that as well. Open up a pannier, what is this crap? Try to take the pannier, even though it's easy if you know the secret, most youfs in most remote areas I've camped won't know the secret, and the whole bike comes tumbling down. CRASH! Who knows, might even be enough to wake me up!
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I just leave my panniers and gear on the bike.
+1
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I leave the panniers on the bike. Sometimes, if it's a sketchy area, I might use a very thin cable and padlock I carry and lock the panniers to the racks but not very often Never had a problem.
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One wise guy said that all bikes and locks should weigh 50 pounds to be safe. The lighter and more expensive the bike the heavier and more robust the locks