Rear wheel lock

On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 15:18:49 -0700, Andy wrote (in message
<[email hidden]>😉:

Quoted message said:

Yesterday night I had my bike stolen (in the USA). It was from inside my garage, and thus it was
not locked to a fixed point.

A few weeks ago I was in Amsterdam. I saw that many bikes have a special rear wheel lock. The
bicycle I rented there had it, and I really liked the operation of the lock. It is permanently
attached to the frame. The key stays in place until the lock is on. It is kind of an immobilizer,
the bike can be lifted and taken away, but not ridden on. So it is to be used as a second lock, in
addition to a cable or U-lock.

Questions:

1) Does this lock exist as an add-on, or is it only a factory installed device ?

It is available as an "add-on", but I think you will have difficulty finding it at a bike shop. Most
that I have seen are pretty flimsy... the point being that if someone has the tools to get through a
U-lock, then one of thes wouldn't offer much protection.

Quoted message said:

2) Is it compatible with bicycles with rear caliper brakes ? Most US bikes have caliper brakes,
but most of the bikes in Holland, including the one I rented, have rear coaster brakes.

3) Is this type of lock being sold in the USA ?

I've seen them for sale in toy-stores and 99Cent stores, which should give you an idea of
their quality.

Under what circumstances are you thinking of using one of these things?

P

Andy said:

1) Does this lock exist as an add-on, or is it only a factory installed device ?

Yes. Assa and Abus both make a fixed lock that is approved by Finnish (and most EU) Insurance
Companies.

Quoted message said:

2) Is it compatible with bicycles with rear caliper brakes ? Most US bikes have caliper brakes,
but most of the bikes in Holland, including the one I rented, have rear coaster brakes.

Frame can have mounting screws for the lock, if so, there's a model to fit them. If there are no
mounting screws on the frame, another lock model exists to attach it with zip-ties (like). Both work
nicely and are compatible with caliper brakes, I use them.

Quoted message said:

3) Is this type of lock being sold in the USA ?

No idea.

Jan

(Andy) said:

A few weeks ago I was in Amsterdam. I saw that many bikes have a special rear wheel lock. The
bicycle I rented there had it, and I really liked the operation of the lock. It is permanently
attached to the frame. The key stays in place until the lock is on. It is kind of an immobilizer,
the bike can be lifted and taken away, but not ridden on. So it is to be used as a second lock, in
addition to a cable or U-lock.

You're looking for an AXA ring lock, there. The cheaper versions (AXA brand -- the nonbrand $2 ones
you can open with a clothespin -- not a good idea) work just fine, the more expensive ones take
slightly longer to break open, and can be fitted with a cable that locks into the lock. A separate
cable lock is a better idea, though, the cables aren't particularly strong, fairly expensive, and if
you break open the cylinder of the AXA lock the cable drops out as well, plus you can't secure the
cable to the bike for storage while riding, such that when you're only dashing into the shop for 5
minutes, it's usually loose somewhere and can be stolen.

Quoted message said:

Questions:

1) Does this lock exist as an add-on, or is it only a factory installed device ?

On dutch bikes, the seatstays usually have holes drilled in them in the right place to install these
locks using self-tapping "parker" screws. For when the holes are damaged or your bike doesn't have
them, you can buy a mounting kit that will allow you to mount them on most standard seatstays. I
think there's also a differently sized kit that fits oversized stays.

Quoted message said:

2) Is it compatible with bicycles with rear caliper brakes ? Most US bikes have caliper brakes, but
most of the bikes in Holland, including the one I rented, have rear coaster brakes.

Actually, the majority have drum brakes, with a 3 speed sturmey AW hub -- the coaster brake ones are
in the minority as far as I can tell, and basically just cheaper models.

But yes, they can be mounted with calipers. You mount them on the other side of the stays from the
calipers. Waaaay back I've briefly had a bike with calipers, as I remember brake pads and
pain-in-the-assedness of them, and I've always had a ring lock on all of my bikes, for convenience.
They are *very* handy for small distance shopping traffic.

Quoted message said:

3) Is this type of lock being sold in the USA ?

That's a good question, and I don't know. Looking at harris, QBP doesn't carry ring locks. Keying
"axa ring lock" into google mainly seems to find british shops.

amba-marketing.comproducts.phpOpen ↗ That's the SL-7, the expensive one mentioned
above. There's also the SL-9, which is apparently more permanently (but not welded, or anything)
attached to the frame, but can't be bought retail.

The cheaper version is found here on the amnufacturer site: axaveilig.nlaxafiets.htmOpen ↗ ;
"Veiligheidssloten" (safety locks), "veiligheidsslot". Product info shows that you can get a
mounting kit for
12/14 mm stays or 16/7.

If you really can't find any shops anywhere, I can go into my LBS and get one for you. Mail me, if
necessary.

Jasper

Paul Hays said:

It is available as an "add-on", but I think you will have difficulty finding it at a bike shop.
Most that I have seen are pretty flimsy... the point being that if someone has the tools to get
through a U-lock, then one of thes wouldn't offer much protection.

U-locks you generally break by using leverage to shear off internal parts in the locking parts, not
by hacking through the U itself. The good quality AXA ring locks have exposed metal bolts that are
13 mm hardened steel. Slightly thinner than most U-locks, but not excessively so, and it's very hard
to get significant leverage on them without damasging the seatstays and/or the rim.

You can use a heavy duty angle grinder to cut through them within a minute or so, but most thieves
don't carry portable heavy duty angle grinders.

Quoted message said:

I've seen them for sale in toy-stores and 99Cent stores, which should give you an idea of
their quality.

You're thinking of *completely* the wrong quality levels. The ones with the 'keys' that are flat
bits of metal with a protrusion which can be unlocked with a hairpin, style? Or maybe something like
goldstarind.comgs107.jpgOpen ↗ ? Had one of those on my kiddie bike, back when. It sucked, but
then again, if I lost the key -- and I did so regularly -- I could unlock with a paperclip.

In the Netherlands, with 900.000 bike thefts a year on a bike population of 17 million and a people
population of 16 million, a ring lock alone, even a good one, isn't enough to keep a nice bike,
especially because it doesn't lock to the outside world, and especially in high risk areas. Most
bike theft insurance policies exclude being parked in front of a stations, for example. It's usually
enough for a beater bike, though. Especially the Axa SL-7/9, that one is pretty much good for 3-5
minutes of a bike thief's time -- and that's a *lot*.

amba-marketing.comproducts.phpOpen ↗

Jasper