| A bicycle lock is a physical security
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| | Chains vary widely in their security
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| device used on bicycles to prevent theft.
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| | level. If the chain is made from basic
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| They are generally used to fasten the
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| | iron or steel, perhaps bought from a
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| bicycle to a bicycle rack or any
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| | hardware store, it can easily be cut with
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| immovable object.
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| | a relatively inexpensive pair of bolt
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| An important difficulty in preventing the
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| | cutters. Chains specifically designed for
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| theft of a bicycle is that the wheels are
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| | use in locking bicycles are also
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| easily detachable from the frame, and
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| | available. These chains are made of a
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| that unless the bicycle frame is attached
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| | much harder steel alloys and the links
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| to an immobile object it can easily be
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| | are often shaped in a manner that deters
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| carried away after being detached from
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| | bolt cutters, such as with a hexagonal
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| the wheel. However, if only the frame is
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| | cross-section. A chain is also a
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| locked, a wheel or wheels may be stolen.
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| | convenient way to secure the cycle's
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| The most secure locking systems therefore
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| | wheels.
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| lock the wheels and frame to each other
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| | As the saying goes, a chain is only as
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| and to an immovable object.
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| | strong as its weakest link, which may be
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| Most portable locking devices need to be
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| | the lock. Although a cheap keyed or
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| quite large and substantial to discourage
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| | combination lock would be an appropriate
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| a serious theft attempt. Bicycle locks
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| | match for a hardware store chain, a
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| are generally inconvenient and heavy;
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| | specialized chain necessitates a
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| although, some are made of materials
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| | specialized lock such as a mini u-lock.
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| chosen for their strength and low
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| | Many chains are far too big and heavy to
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| density. An alternate solution is the
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| | be practically carried around by a
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| provision of lockable boxes where the
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| | cyclist, so it is common for cyclists to
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| whole bicycle is locked in. This
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| | leave such chains permanently at a
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| safeguards other equipment such as lamps,
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| | convenient location, such as near their
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| tools, spare tubes etc.
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| | place of work.
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| A U-lock is a rigid metal ring in the
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| | Cable locks
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| shape of the letter U. The U part of the
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| | Cable locks are in many ways similar to
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| lock attaches to a crossbar section, and
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| | chain locks. Cable locks often come with
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| for this reason they are also called
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| | the locking mechanism already permanently
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| D-locks. To lock the bicycle, one either
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| | integrated. Otherwise, a length of cable
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| locks it physically to some other object,
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| | with loops on both ends can also be used.
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| or locks the frame to the rim of the
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| | The main advantage of cable locks over
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| wheel between the spokes, rendering the
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| | chains is the ease of transporting them.
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| entire bicycle immobile.
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| | Many cable locks are made of spring cable
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| U-locks are more secure than most other
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| | that automatically coils itself when
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| kinds of locking mechanism because they
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| | released. Even a straight cable can be
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| are more resistant to cutting with
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| | coiled by the user into a more manageable
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| high-leverage hand tools such as bolt
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| | shape than a chain.
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| cutters. However, they are still
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| | Simple cable locks, however, are only
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| vunerable to some types of exploit. For
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| | sufficient for use in low-risk areas.
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| instance, if there is enough space for a
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| | Even the largest diameter unprotected
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| thief to fit a jack into the U, the jack
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| | cable can be quickly cut with bolt
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| can produce enough leverage to break the
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| | cutters. Better cable locks such as the
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| lock. U-Locks are also vulnerable to
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| | one shown on the right have overlapping
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| power tools, and more exotic methods such
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| | steel jackets threaded over the cable.
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| as freezing the lock mechanism using
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| | This can make it much harder to cut the
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| liquid nitrogen to make it brittle and
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| | central cable.
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| shattering it with a hammer.
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| | Many cyclists use a long cable to secure
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| Chain
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| | bicycle components (such as the wheels or
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| A chain lock is a lockable chain. It
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| | seat) in conjunction with a bicycle lock
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| often has a key or a combination lock
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| | or pad lock, which can be used to secure
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| attached to it. A long enough chain can
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| | the frame. Special strong cables are
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| pass through both wheels, the frame and
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| | available which are made with a loop at
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| attach the bicycle to an immovable
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| | each end continuous with the cable, which
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| object.
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| | enable linking with a locking device.
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