Recommended Bike Lock for solo long rides

I would (and do) just leave the bike outside unlocked. I figure it would take some very bad luck to run into a bike thief ready to take off on my bike within that short time. I guess it could happen, but I'll keep taking my chances. (I do prefer stopping in stand-alone stores where most people have had to drive to get there--harder for them to figure out how to make off with the bike even if they are so inclined--not in a downtown area with lots of people strolling around.)

You can get some lightweight lock cables and a lock.  This would help deter casual theft of opportunity.

should add I live on long island , NY...granted not in the city but lets say there are a lot of petty criminals running around

I do a lot of long solo rides and never carry a lock despite having to frequently go into convenience stores, etc. to get resupplied. It's tempting fate I suppose, but whatever.

If you're really worried, do what some folks do: carry a small (one foot) piece of cord and tie it around your rear wheel/bottom bracket. Someone running up to ride off on your bike won't be able to roll off with it, and by the time he/she looks around and finally manages to figure out the problem, you've seen the activity through the giant glass window by the register that you leaned your bike against and you're outside addressing the issue.

It's not a lock that you can leave you're bike unattended with, but it's more of a way to buy a few seconds to get back out to your bike. Never done it, but the logic seems OK.

Dan

Might be hard to find since it is out of season, but a snowboard lock sounds like an ideal solution for your situation.

http://www.rei.com/product/807540/burton-cable-snowboard-lock,-clea...

Probably won't deter serious criminals, but will keep people from walking away with your bike. Plus the cable retracts, so it would probably fit in a seat bag or jersey pocket.

You can use tsomething similar to those:

http://www.rei.com/category/4501574

Not as secure as a typical bike lock but enough to just run in and out the store or bathroom break. However it is small enough to tuck it in the back of your jersey pocket or so.

Cheers!

same idea but looks like I was to slow to type and post!

I do solo rides all the time and never carry a lock. Depending on where I am exactly (I ride in and around Philly) I will:

Take the bike all the way inside the store
Take the bike inside the first set of doors if there is a foyer of sorts
Leave the bike outside

Never had a problem.

I bought a cheap ($10) cable lock for my road bike that easily wraps around my seat post.  I have left my bike outside stores unlocked before I got the lock but I feel better locking it up. 

I just run into the store and leave the bike unlocked. Pretty low probability of anything happening unless you're stopping in the ghetto.

I will sometimes loop my helmet straps in the front wheel so that I'd get the pleasure of seeing any would-be thief going arse over teakettle when the helmet jams in the fork as they try to ride away.

Edited by JZig 2013-06-14 5:12 PM

outside unlocked in full view of where I need to go in the store.

bring the bike in the store / bathroom with you. Guess I am lucky L live in a low crime area. Also there are better things to steal then a tri bike. I will leave my bike outside a store when I can keep an eye on it. I also have set routes were I know store owners and can use there bathroom while my bike is kept safe.

You're just trying to prevent a crime of opportunity--someone walking along who sees your bike and decides to grab it and make a run for it. You can go with any cheap cable to prevent that. If a thief with bolt cutters or other tools just happens to come along, well...it just wasn't your day.

If I'm leaving my bike somewhere unlocked, I discreetly clip my helmet buckle around the wheel and set the helmet on the ground. If someone tries to grab it and run, hopefully the helmet getting caught in the frame will cause enough of a commotion that the thief will drop it and run.