Idle thought: Padlock with built in cable

D

DeadManWalking

Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
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I'm curious if anyone has ever encountered a padlock (either key or combination) with a built in length of steel cable that wasn't a piece of junk. That seems like an awfully handy thing to have and I've seen a couple but they were of poor quality.

Yeah I know I could just get a quality padlock with some cable but I'm just curious if there's a quality one piece unit that allows the cable to retract into the padlock housing.
 
I have one of those retracting cable locks for my snowboard like this one. Only problem is that it is made to be lightweight and thus the cable is thin and probably wouldn't make for the best security device.
 
DeadManWalking said:
I'm curious if anyone has ever encountered a padlock (either key or combination) with a built in length of steel cable that wasn't a piece of junk. That seems like an awfully handy thing to have and I've seen a couple but they were of poor quality.

Yeah I know I could just get a quality padlock with some cable but I'm just curious if there's a quality one piece unit that allows the cable to retract into the padlock housing.
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I don't know about where you are but for me I'd go into any bicycle shop for the lighter weight types and any of the larger motorcycle shops or accessories places for heavier duty units.
 
Occasionally I use one of the lightweight units when travelling - it will probably stop any amateur thief whose prime concern is being detected. I figure a pro will get your stuff, no matter what you use. :(
 
powells85 said:
I have one of those retracting cable locks for my snowboard like this one. Only problem is that it is made to be lightweight and thus the cable is thin and probably wouldn't make for the best security device.
Click to expand...

Hey that might work... thanks!

The only reason I ask is because I can think of a number of situations I encountered while traveling where I really wanted to secure something and didn't have anything to do it with. This isn't the best security but it's compact and better than nothing.
 
Motorcycles and bicycles use devices similar to what your talking about.

I've heard a steel mesh bag with a lock and a cable around a tree is a theft deterant for packs... :cool:
 
Being in campus law enforcement, I'm intimatly familiar with cable-type locks.

They are usually lying on the ground where the bicycle used to be. I have seen determined 12-year olds armed with nothing more than a pair of pliers defeat these things.

The cable as a whole is pretty strong, but with a sharp pair of nippers one need only snip away at the cable, cutting a few strands at a time. A decent 14" bolt-cutter snips em' easily. (that's what the last guy we arrested was using)

The only good cables are the huge, near 1" thick numbers that would take forever to chew through.
 
Well my thinking is this: Say I'm in an airport. If my bag has this crappy lock on it and the bag next to me has nothing, guess which one is getting stolen.

Any lock can be defeated. All they're really good for is keeping an honest man honest.
 
I have a Kryptonite version that I lock my bike with when out and about. I know it's not as solid as one of the solid models, but I try to always lock it in a very public place where someone cutting it would be obvious.

John
 
Beware!


mwerner said it right.



This is quite coincedental, but for the past year I've seen this beautiful bianchi road bike parked by the computer labs every day. I think the owner works in the building or something. I stick my lowly fuji by it every day and admire what a cool bike his is.

And yesterday when I pulled up the labs, all there was left was a chopped kryptonite U-lock hanging on the bike stands. I feel really bad for whomever it belonged.




Depends what you are locking, I say. If it's something expensive, maybe it's worth the 130+ to go for the kryptonite NY EV disc lock:
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/ineti...s@public?artid=2736&atf=products_item&pgrp=20


I'm certain someone could still get by this chain, but it's the best cycle lock I've seen on the market. The real security is it is insured for 3000USD by kryptonite. It sucks because the friggin thing is like 10 lbs. or more. That weight can be the difference between a 500.00 bike and a 1500.00 bike, you know? Sucks that we can't ride a nice bike in the city without the fear of it getting jacked from some shitforbrains kid.



jmxcpter, don't trust the "public." Find a decent lock if your cycle is worth it. If it's an easy cut, theives will go ahead and cut it right in broad daylight. If he does it fast enough, nobody may even notice. And even if a stranger does, they are usually too timid to confront a theif.
 
Going a bit OT:

We used to have an old school trick with padlocked bags... Bags are flexible so you get some slack to open a little hole between the 2 locked zippers and then you worked the hole bigger by pulling either side, effectively unzipping it completely despite the fact the lock was still on the zips and the distance between the 2 zips remained the same. You then inserted your choice of heavy object(s) or if you were desperate "borrow" a pen before closing the bag again. It takes approximately 3 seconds longer than openning the bag and it isn't very obvious. Of course airport thieves just take the whole damn thing... Isn't it reassuring to know that your bag can go missing, be returned STILL APPARENTLY SECURE and Still have things missing from inside or items planted in it? :p

Cable locks suck. You can work the same sort of trick with them or cut it if you're uninventive. If they're desperate they'll just take a knife to your bag.
 
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