Bicycle lock
A bicycle lock is a special lock to protect against bicycle theft . Different designs and their designs offer different levels of protection against various types of attack. When choosing a bike, a compromise must therefore always be made between weight and handling, the price, also in relation to the bike, and the desired protection.
Categories
U-lock
Similar to a padlock , a padlock consists of a large plastic-coated metal shackle and the actual lock, a metal body with two openings.
U-locks offer the comparatively best protection against theft and weigh, for example, around 1.7 to 2.8 kg with a shackle thickness greater than 14 mm, depending on the shackle dimensions. The temples are up to 18 mm thick. The shackles of high-quality padlocks are hardened on the outside in order to be secured against severing, but a little softer in the middle in order to be able to withstand cold spray attacks.
U-locks are similar in use to cable and chain locks. The lock can be guided through the spokes or the wheel frame, but can also be placed around fixed objects (lanterns, wheel stands, fence slats, etc.), which, in contrast to the spoke lock, prevents the wheel from protruding.
Folding lock
Folding or joint locks have been on the market since 2005. This type of lock consists of rigid links which, like the folding rule , can be folded up using joints. This joint construction makes it much more flexible than a U-lock, but according to the manufacturer it should achieve similar strength values. One of the reasons for this is that the moving links make it difficult to attach saws, and the flat profile also makes it difficult to attach bolt cutters .
Depending on the version, different length and security classes are available, and both number and cylinder locks are offered. The lengths available range from 70 cm to 120 cm and the weights range from 590 g to 1625 g.
Chain locks
A heavy metal chain, like the cable and U-lock, is used for theft protection. A padlock can be used as a lock. Chain links are often only up to ten millimeters thick, so they can be cut through with correspondingly large bolt cutters. The chain links of high-quality chain locks are hardened on the outside and a little softer in the middle of the material, as with high-quality padlocks.
The term chain lock also refers to the connecting link of the bicycle chain , which instead of being riveted is closed with a snap ring on one side so that the two ends of the chain can be joined together.
Chain lock with sheathing
Simple chain lock
Cable lock
A cable lock is a plastic-sheathed steel cable that is usually provided with an integrated lock. Cable locks are very flexible and easy to use. Smaller diameters of a few millimeters, however, offer little protection against severing. Armored cable locks offer a significant increase in protection here, as they have a steel jacket that is too thick for bolt cutters. The lock loses its elasticity.
Cable locks are also often used to protect other easily transportable objects, such as furniture in garden rooms, from theft.
Cable locks (a) plastic coated (b) with sheet steel sleeves and shrink film
Combination lock (plastic-coated steel cable spiral)
Mortise lock
A mortise lock is a bicycle lock or spoke lock, which consists of a lockable metal pin or metal pin inserted into the spoke path on one side. Due to their construction, mortise locks are often relatively easy to dismantle with a little force.
Locks and spoke locks prevent the bike from turning when locked, but cannot prevent theft by carrying the bike away.
Frame lock
A frame lock on the seat stays prevents the rear wheel from turning with a bow or ring-shaped bolt in the spoke path. Ring-shaped locks are made of sheet steel, the internal bolt is pushed out by means of a toggle on a circular path, engages in the end position and, as a circular arc segment, bridges the gap in the ring that then encloses the rim.
A lock mounted in the same place can alternatively consist of a frame-mounted U / V bracket and a locking bolt that can be folded in from below using a 95 ° pivot. Some steel frames have integrated this function by means of two soldering parts.
A fixed object can only be attached to a fixed object by means of a threaded chain or a steel cable with end loops in order to prevent the bike from being carried away.
Historical forms
Until around 1980, everyday bikes were often equipped with key locks on the left seat stay as standard. The extremely compact lock, measuring 2.5 × 2.5 × 7 cm, was made of galvanized sheet steel. The approximately 7 cm long bar was pushed 3 cm horizontally with thumb pressure and then protrudes about 1.5 cm into the spoke path. If the bar is tangible on a spoke when it is pushed in, the wheel must be shifted a track. The bolt engages in the end position and only releases the inserted key there. Conversely, if the key with its flat angled handle is firmly pressed in with the thumb, the bolt pops out and opens up the spoke path and, via an opening in the bolt, the path to the fastening screw of the lock. The lock was ideally mounted in a welded base plate. A retrofit variant made the fastening clamp secure against twisting by means of a screw with a conical tip.
Locks from the 1950s that were integrated into the torque arm of the rear wheel hub had a similar effect . The spokes are closer together here, however, if you accidentally push the wheel against the locking brake, the smaller lever creates greater forces.
Bluetooth bike lock
A Bluetooth wheel lock works without a physical key or numbers. It connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth and, compared to classic locks, often offers additional functions such as an alarm, notification of movement and configurability via smartphone app.
As a rule, a Bluetooth bicycle lock is mechanically designed as a frame lock that extends through the gap between the spokes. Both mechanically operated solutions and solutions that can be completely controlled via an app are available. This fixed mounting on the bike means that it is also possible to set up a bike sharing system.
Textile blocking agents
Up to 2017 a lock had been developed by 3 women in the SpinLab in Leipzig which, in addition to a padlock or mini U -lock, was the first to use a textile rope made of synthetic fibers with pressed steel end eyelets as a locking device . The 5-layer rope (inside: saw-proof, above: cut-proof, fire-proof, water-repellent, decor) should withstand attack by bolt cutters or gas burners for 3 minutes. Before February 17, 2017, the team went on Kickstarter and announced the expected delivery for "August 2017". Tests of prototypes were published in spring 2017.
Security levels
Some providers define security levels for their locks. The higher the number, the more secure the lock should be. The more expensive and lighter a bike is, the heavier and more expensive an adequate lock should be. It is also recommended to pay attention to the certification by VdS.
Bicycle lock tests
The Stiftung Warentest published tests which showed that even expensive bicycle locks often do not offer any security: “The bottom line is that most locks can be opened within three minutes without too much effort. “Out of a total of 18 armored cable and chain locks in the test, only three received a satisfactory rating, while the remaining 15 achieved sufficient or poor marks. In the test from April 2014, the testers emphasized that the claim of security levels, as it is made by providers, has little value. There is no standard for the classification, each provider designs its scale differently and the security promises are not very reliable. For example, within ten seconds the testers could have cracked a model that had the highest security level and was identified as a high-security U-lock. The May 2015 test booklet showed that the U-locks, folding locks, chain locks and armored cable locks that were tested included models that could withstand attempted break-ins. However, only every fourth lock in the test achieved a good test quality rating in the end. The tests and comparative evaluations by Soldsecure from Great Britain and the ART Foundation from the Netherlands are more meaningful than the self-classifications of the manufacturers and sometimes also than the tests in specialist journals.
Alarm system
Another possibility for security is an alarm system. This reacts when the bike is moved, usually with a warning signal. If this is ignored, a very loud alarm signal sounds until the bike is no longer moved. There are also cable locks that react to the cable being cut and combinations of both techniques.
Points of attack
U-lock badly deformed by jack
Spiral cable lock: steel cable with plastic coating, severed.
Forgotten bike locks
It is not uncommon to find bicycle locks (mostly cable locks) on lampposts, railings and other objects in cities without bicycles or bicycle parts attached. Despite its widespread use, this phenomenon often receives little attention; some of the locks are not removed for a long time.
An origin from bicycle theft is unlikely in the case of intact locks, since these usually destroy them. On the other hand, it is conceivable that the owner deliberately leaves a lock at a place he or she visits frequently in order to be able to do without taking it with him. In the vicinity of bicycle workshops, “interim storage” of the lock during a repair is also possible, after which the lock is simply forgotten.
literature
- Fritz Winkler, Siegfried Rauch: Bicycle technology repair, construction, production. 10th edition, BVA Bielefelder Verlagsanstalt GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, 1999, ISBN 3-87073-131-1 .
- Michael Gressmann, Franz Beck, Rüdiger Bellersheim: specialist knowledge of bicycle technology. 1st edition, Verlag Europa-Lehrmittel, Haan-Gruiten, 2006, ISBN 3-8085-2291-7 .
- Peter de Leuw: Choose the right bicycles, ride safely. 1st edition, Beuth Verlag GmbH, Berlin-Vienna-Zurich, 2006, ISBN 3-410-16487-1 .
Web links
- Stiftung Warentest : Test bicycle locks: Only five locks are good test 04/2013
- Locks and alarm systems: How cyclists can secure their bikes , article by Holger Dambeck in Spiegel Online , April 19, 2012
References and comments
- ↑ Smart security for your bike . In: I LOCK IT . ( ilockit.bike [accessed November 7, 2018]).
- ↑ e.g. Bike Sharing 4.0
- ↑ Bike sharing with I LOCK IT . In: I LOCK IT . ( ilockit.bike [accessed November 7, 2018]).
- ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tex-lock/texlock-the-bike-lock-made-of-high-tech-textiles/posts/1809993
- ↑ The fabric bicycle lock - top or flop? | Galileo | ProSieben Galileo, youtube.com, video (7:13), May 13, 2017, accessed November 8, 2017.
- ↑ the VdS-approved two-wheel locks ( Memento of the original from January 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Bicycle locks: cracked in seconds . Stiftung Warentest, April 17, 2014; Retrieved November 4, 2014
- ↑ Bicycle lock: padlocks, folding or chain locks - there are good ones everywhere . Stiftung Warentest, April 23, 2015; Retrieved April 24, 2015
- ↑ Bicycle lock test . Tabular overview of security classifications; accessed on July 23, 2020
- ↑ Brenda Strohmaier: Why are there wheelless bicycle locks everywhere? In: welt.de. May 20, 2009, accessed December 10, 2018 .
