Register Them All?

Justine Valinotti, in Mid-Life Cycling, here, talks about bicycle registration. That got me thinking . As when it came to licensing, I pondered things from the viewpoint of someone that likes to take a "small government" approach, as well as someone that might want to recover his own bicycle if it were to be stolen sometime in the future. Accordingly, I started to look into things. This is PART 1 of the ugly story about bicycle registration.

For bicycle registration to be effective, two things need to happen. First, you need to register your bike. Second, the police in the jurisdiction where your stolen bike is recovered need to use the service you registered with. So far, this is entirely consistent with "small government" since you'll note that I've not suggested that anybody set up some sort of government regulations or whatever. In fact, there ARE national registries for bicycles in the US. While the Bike League is silent on the topic, Seattle's Cascade Bicycle Club has a page, here, where they attempt to shut the door after the horse has left the barn. I use that analogy since most people won't have their registration number in the databases and an already stolen bike is not available to copy that vital identification number down.

When it comes to the police, the "National Bike Registry" has a list of law enforcement agencies that use (maybe) their database. It can be seen here. Bike Index also has a list of "Partners," but Index law enforcement partners are rare, with Los Angeles PD, Berkely, and Saint Louis being the only major participants. It isn't hard to see why - the Index web site doesn't seem oriented towards getting the police on board and they have no provisions for police to actually sign up. Their organization sign up page is here. Looking at places me and my loyal reader frequent gives the following NBR results. Places I frequently ride are in bold italic.

Participating Law Enforcement Agencies

• United Kingdom - all police agencies and register via the registration site; here
• Phoenix and Tucson - So at least the agency Justine refers to participates
• Fort Collins, Denver and Summit County in Colorado
• Winter Park and Florida Highway Patrol in Florida
• Atlanta and Roswell in Georgia
• Honolulu in Hawaii - I don't know if they transferred their old bicycle licenses to NBR or not
• Boston, Cambridge and Somerville in Massachusetts
• Santa Fe and Santa Rosa, NM
• At least a half dozen New York City PD Precincts and the New York State Police
• Ontario Provincial Police
• Portland, Salem, and Oregon State Police
• Austin, Denton, Euless, Plano,  Tarrant County Sheriff, and Wichita Falls in Texas
• Hoquiam, Olympia, Seattle,

Not Listed as Participants

• Breckenridge, Colorado so my little sister is probably out of luck unless the sheriff recovers her bike
• Springfield, Missouri and MSU, so Andy ought to be careful
• Los Alamos and Tucumcari, NM
• Dayton, Ohio (home of the Wright Brothers; bicycle manufacturers)
• Tulsa, OK
• No local jurisdictions listed in Ontario
• Bedford, Colleyville, Dallas, Ennis, Fort Worth, Hurst, Irving, and Southlake, Texas
• Aberdeen, Everett, Ocean Shores, Tacoma, and Washington State Police in WA

Hmm, looks like places I ride the most are mostly non participants by a 7 to 2 ratio. I may need to make some quiet inquiries to see what happens when these 7 recover stolen bikes. I imagine that if they recover a bike reported stolen they'll send it own home, but what if the bike was reported stolen in another jurisdiction? As an example, while my Texas house is in Colleyville, Bedford and Euless are both only blocks away. There are hundreds of cities and towns around DFW. Stay tuned for future developments.

Bike Lesson – Another Reason(s) to Carry a Good Lock

Bike Lock Kept the Rear Wheel From Bouncing Out of a Short Bus Bike Carrier

Actually, based on my post count, this is bike lesson number 968. Some of those I have attempted to pass along from long experience and learning from others. Others have been learned by me by experience I gained without any explicit attempt to do so. Put this one in the second category.

To make a long story less so, this morning I was asked by the motoring part of the family to take the family SUV in to Aberdeen for some fixing. It seems that at least the rear differential was hemorrhaging oil from one or more seals. I brought my wife’s bike along, figuring to visit the local Aberdeen Library, do some grocery shopping, and then catching the bus back to Ocean Shores.

However, it seems that the “best laid plans…” don’t always work out. Unlike every other time I’ve taken a bike on a Gray’s Harbor Transit bus, this time, the bike was a bit longer than the bus bike rack. The driver informed me that the rear wheel would pop out during the highway trip to Ocean Shores. My first inclination was to inquire as to whether I could bring the bus on board, but I imagine I’d have been met with a curt “no.” Quickly thinking, I suggested I had a lock that could lock that back wheel to the bike carrier and make things safe for one and all. The driver said to go ahead and, in a jiffy, I locked the rear wheel tightly enough to guarantee that if the bike DID bounce off on the highway trip to Ocean Shores, that at least the rear wheel would still be aboard.

As you may see from the photo (taken upon arrival in OS) at the top of this post, the bike arrived safe and sound. John Romeo Alpha may put sad little monkey cards on bikes improperly locked, but I think he would not have dared to run out in front of the bus to tag my bike.

For the record, the photo I didn’t take would have showed the same bike PROPERLY locked for theft resistance at the Aberdeen Safeway bike rack. The U lock attached the frame and rear wheel to the rack, while the cable secured the front wheel to the lock. That MIGHT represent still another bike locking lesson – it might be MORE important to make sure your bike is securely locked at any location with needle disposal stations than in locations without same. That’s just a guess on my part since I have no personal first-hand evidence either way.

God Bless Bike Mechanics

Interior of the LaVogue Bike Shop, in Hoquiam's "Historic LaVogue Building"

This last week, I was reminded that a bike mechanic is more than simply someone who knows how to turn a wrench on a fastener. He or she is someone that can get you back on the road, whether your problem was complex, or simply minor but irritating.

I decided to “multimode” by bike and bus into Aberdeen again, taking advantage of the “local knowledge” acquisition I did here on “Steve’s Day Out.” Well, as it turned out, I had problems of a different sort. My now venerable U Lock has been getting a little cantankerous lately, but still seemed to have a lot of life in it. After getting off the bus, I rode over to the nearby Walmart to see how THEIR film processing compared to that of Rite Aid. As it turns out, their film processing is both quicker and cheaper, though it is clear that the days of quick and good film processing are sadly behind us. Rite Aid has their film developing horse and buggy come by once a week while Walmart has twice a week service. Still, either of those are better than Tall’s “Camera” in Seattle which not only doesn’t handle film developing, but didn’t know of any place closer than about ten miles away.

To make a long story short, after completing my recon at Wallyworld, I rode over to Safeway in order to get groceries either not available at IGA, or with greatly superior value. Pulling up to their bike rack, my lock would not open. Golly! I tried again. Sheesh! Suddenly, it seemed I was 25 miles from home and on a shopping trip with a lock that wouldn’t open. While I felt lucky it didn’t fail with the bike locked inside at Walmart, shopping and a library visit now seemed out of the question. After considering options, I decided that the best option would be to ride over to neighboring Hoquiam and pay a visit to the only bike shop in Gray’s Harbor County.

Front of the LaVogue Bike Shop

The ride was uneventful, retracing a route I rode the week before, and in due time, I was at the LaVogue Bike Shop counter saying “I need a lock” as I plopped the frozen U lock down. The owner indicated that usually, the locks just needed lubrication and he tried that. Apparently, however, lube doesn’t help locks where the mechanism is falling apart beyond making stuff greasy. I indicated that the only thing it would be nice to save from the old lock was the cable which I use to attach the front wheel to the frame/rear wheel/bike rack combination. The owner stated he could probably get the lock apart and proceeded to put it in a vise until a potential customer diverted his attention. It is a wise bike shop owner that will ignore a bike sale in favor of hacking into a now-greasy lock.

U Lock in Happier Days

Still, I was not out of luck. The mechanic in the back of the shop inquired about the problem and I related how the lock was terminal, but I’d like to keep the cable or, if he couldn’t save it, to buy another to go with the new U lock. Being a guy with a golden touch, he cranked away on the lock and soon had it broken in two, with my old cable free to go with the new lock. In reply to my jesting “golly, if you don’t make it as a bike mechanic, you can always go into the business of breaking locks,” he said “yup, as long as I have a vise and a big hammer with me, I can break most any lock.” Well, perhaps a vise and a hammer is not the most subtle way to steal a bike, but I was reminded, once more, that bike mechanics are blessed. Anybody can adjust a working derailleur or replace brake pads, but fixing stuff not designed to be fixed is a talent not given to us all. And they DID sell me a new lock! I let them keep the key for the old one...

I Still Swear by the Combination of a U Lock and Cable

Sad Lonely Bikes

United Spirit Arena in Lubbock

Show 'Em Your Six Guns!

Last week, as in many other places around the US, Texas Tech University graduated their Senior Class and began summer vacation. We were proud that one of my daughters was amongst the graduates. She'd been seen on this blog, such as here and here.



Mongoose Bike Had Two Flat Tires and a Cheap Lock
The Saddle Was Worse than it Looks

Still, there was a note of sadness amongst the well-deserved happiness. That was for the poor, sad, lonely unloved bikes that were left behind by students leaving for summer vacation. Some of these bikes were "Wally World" style bikes, but some were worthy of respect.

By the time we left, I was almost wishing I'd brought along some lock breaking tools, but felt better after my daughter told me that the TTU police would cut the locks and donate the bikes. I wish them a little more love in the future.

This Bike Had No Lock at All - It'd Been "Straightened Up" at the Rack by a Sympathetic Passerby



Perhaps Saddest Was this Trek with the Rim Strip Failed on the Front Tire
The Bike is the Same Model My Daughter Has.
It Had a U Lock Around the Frame but the Wheels Were Unsecured
The Bike at Left "Appears" to be Locked but Wasn't

Desperation

Nobody Left a Yellow Card on this "Locked" Bike

Right now I'm in Ocean Shores, Washington. Thankfully, it is a low theft area and John Romeo Alpha is not lurking around with his little yellow cards. I knew my parents had no real bike pumps so we forked out $10 at the Wallyworld on the way in, but I didn't imagine there'd be no bike locks.

So I took the cheapest bike available and improvised with the bungy cord that looked most like an inadequate bike lock. In my own defense, there's no bike rack at the IGA anyway even though there are lots of people that ride bikes to go there. If I'd been serious I'd have brought the bike in with me or locked it to their "cart corral."

It worked this time.

Securely Locked Beach Cruiser

Lock Ultra FAIL

JRA, in his One Speed: Go blog, has a recurring theme, in which he hands out yellow cards to bikes at racks that were locked poorly. You can see a representative sampling of these, by clicking on THIS link. In the past, I have always shaken my head and clucked my tongue at the horrible locking jobs he captured.

Fortunately, I learned two lessons today. Both were learned cheaply, in contrast to what MIGHT have happened. Actually, I learned three lessons. The third lesson was that John Romeo Alpha does not lurk around the bike rack where I work. There are real advantages to living in North Texas rather than in Arizona.

Had JRA lived closer, I might have found a little yellow card affixed to my bike that said something like the picture below:

I came out from work to go home today, only to find my bike completely UNLOCKED. Buddy. A fairly pricey cyclocross bike I've ridden nearly 10,000 commute miles on. I was shocked. Then I was thankful. Then I remembered how it happened.

LESSON 1
When I pulled up to the rack today, I dropped my bag off the back, and THEN I noticed a crowd of pedestrians walking towards the gate. Proving that not only motorists have a powerful urge to "get there first" or "must pass" that cyclists complain about. I bundled up my stuff and got there first. Well, that would have been a bitter victory had Buddy been missing with both U locks still securely fastened to the rack in their usual "wait for Steve to come back to work" position. Better to get to the gate at the end of the line than to walk home seven miles.

LESSON 2
I work in a fairly low threat location. That is further reinforced by my typically superior locking approach. One U lock captures the frame and rear wheel. The second U lock captures the front wheel. I was told that bikes had been stolen from this location with the security guards looking on. Well, today I got lucky. It was a powerful reminder. People are mostly pretty good. Either that or they're so used to see Buddy locked well that they've stopped looking.

I do not WANT to have to rush to build Madeleine into the bike I'd like to ride to work. And, thanks JRA, for NOT being around my work location today. And thanks to all my coworkers for not taking my bike home. And no, I did NOT forget my "just a minute" locking when I stopped at the major coffee store on the way home from work. Though that lock would certainly deserve the usual John Romeo yellow card note. But for THAT lock, the bike is within sight at all times. It just has to be good enough to slow the thief down long enough for me to run outside. Unlike the U locks, it doesn't have to protect without observation through an entire work day. And THEY only do that if you use them. Or maybe Ham's last comment "Mercy, Mercy Me," was prophecy...

Simple Cold Weather Locking Tip

Hung Like THIS, Rain Drains into the Locking Mechanism and Freezes. WD-40 Helps Some

Last winter, I related my problem of a U lock freezing so that I couldn't open it. This is a lock that I leave at the rack at work. I really do NOT like to lug heavy locks around, but I DO like to lock my bike securely. WD40 helped. The lock was left on the rack as shown above.

HOWEVER, I found an even better solution for keeping U locks operating in freezing cold weather. THAT solution is seen below. What could be simpler than simply hanging the lock so moisture drains OUT of the mechanism instead of INTO it? DUH!

NOW, all we need are some HARD freezes to test this theory out. February is coming, so I'm optimistic...

Hung Like THIS, Moisture drains Out of the Lock and Avoids Freezing the Mechanism in Place
OnGuard has a Cover that Rotates to Keep the Key Working. My Kryptonite Hasn't Got Such a Cover

Locking Like Arizona

John Romeo Alpha is a BAD influence on me. Over time, his posts on locks (go to the link and search with keyword "lock") have worn away at me, much like water erodes a rock. Last weekend, I broke down and bought yet another lock, so I could secure my front wheel, the one with the carbon hub, by more than the cable that came with my OnGuard lock.

Since my OnGuard Mini lock was too small to go around the front rim AND the frame, I went off to Wally World and got the full size Kryptonite lock. At about the same price as the OnGuard, I have to say that the Kryponite is of poorer quality than the OnGuard, but it is sure a lot better than the simple cable.

My Locking Approach at Work Up Until This Week

You might wonder how or why I carry TWO full size U locks. Well, I don't. I leave them BOTH at work and my only incremental weight is the weight of the extra key, which is also why I chose Kryptonite over OnGuard for this lock - the key is different and easy to differentiate in the early morning, whether it is completely dark or a bit brighter.

Refined Locking Approach at Work. Weight is no Obstacle.
The Remaining Question is, is that Cable Overkill  Simply to Go Through the Saddle Rails?

While I'm on the subject of locking, take a look at the video below for a test of the "Sheldon Brown Locking Technique." It is one reason I use the full size OnGuard at work - it captures the rear wheel AND the frame. The OnGuard mini captures only the wheel. The mini works well as a travel lock, but it is just a smidge too small for all-day, every day, in the same place locking.

One other bonus. Come winter, when a lock freezes, I've still got another chance to get the other loose and on to my bike. Theft is not a big problem around DFW when the temperature is below freezing.

Stealing a "Sheldon Method" Bike

Simple Stop

This post has nothing to do with brakes. Rather, it illustrates one of the simplest things you can do when locking up to make the bike more stable. Specifically, look at where the pedal is sitting - up against the pole that Buddy's getting locked to. Whether you use a solid U lock or the flimsy cable shown, what happens is that the pedal stabilizes the bike in combination with the lock and the saddle (which sits against the pole - avoiding any frame-to-pole contact) to avoid any inconvenient falling over. This technique helps whether you have a kickstand or not. It helps whether you have the drive side against the locking pole or the non-drive side. Simply rotate the pedal backwards until it locks the bike where you want it. If you have a coaster brake, the pedal will work in the position shown, but you obviously won't be able to rotate the crank backwards. You'll simply have to turn the crank until it is where it is needed.

Simplicity itself, but something a lot of people who've been riding for many years don't know. Once you discover this, you will never forget it. I use the exact same technique when I lock at the end of a "wheel bender" bike rack. It keeps my frame and brakes from getting marred by the rack.

Tricking JRA

That Cable Lock Looks Pretty Vulnerable!

Look at the top picture. Looks like that bike's secured by an easily broken cable lock.

Now look at the picture below. A mini U with a cable secures the frame very well and the front wheel enough that a thief probably wouldn't go back to the car to get the cable cutters.

A Lightweight Mini U Lock Provides the REAL Security. The Cable Provides Some Front Wheel Security
While the Main Lock Does NOT Secure the Frame, a Thief Would Have to Either Break the U Lock or Saw the Rear Wheel Off

For reference, take a look at John Romeo Alpha's excellent video showing just how easily a cable lock is broken. For reference, I had the cable lock along so I figured it'd be of more use where shown than securely stuck inside my bag while I was at a work "offsite." One of my former bosses came by while I was adding the combo cable lock and noted it'd be easy to cut. He allowed as how the U lock might require more equipment and I just might be able to break into his new Corvette before he could nab my wife's 40 year-old bike.

Those Cables Cut Pretty Easily, Eh?

Straight Talk About Bike Locks



OnGuard Mini U Lock and Cable. Frozen Full-Size OnGuard in Background
This is Classic "Sheldon Brown" Technique. The ONLY Down Side to it
That I Have Noted is Modern Bikes Often Don't Have Much Clearance Between
The Rear Tire and the Seat Tube, Particularly With Fenders Installed

In my post about my OnGuard lock getting frozen into immobility when a “hard freeze occurs,” I noticed a wide variety of thoughts in the comments. While not as impassioned a subject as discussions about helmets or “high vis” wear, locks are a subject near and dear to many of us. This post summarizes some of the better information I’ve seen.

First off, it is widely recognized that a U-lock provides superior theft resistance for a bicycle, combined with a reasonable weight. Cable and chain locks tend to be weak, heavy, or both. Combination locks also tend to be vulnerable. I own two combination cable locks that I use frequently. I do not depend on either for more than casual security while I pop inside to pick up a coffee or similar action. They are “just a minute” and “I forgot my real lock” locks.

There are two widely available U-lock manufacturers that sell quality products in the US; Kryptonite and OnGuard, with Master Lock also offering some products that might be good, but which are less prominent. You may read reviews of locks such as Abus, but you’ll have a harder time finding such a lock unless you happen to be in Europe or are buying online. Most of the other locks readily available in the US are either made by one of the companies above, or are some “no name” knockoff that might be good and might be worthless.

While many U-locks are sold alone, it is wise to extend the protection of a U-lock with a cable in order to extend protection to expensive items that might be easily removed from the main frame (like a front wheel or a saddle). Cables alone are either weak or extremely heavy, but they make a good supplement to a U-lock. A cable won’t keep your bike safe, but it probably DOES act as a deterrent to someone simply walking off with your front wheel.

For locking approach, a variation on the approach recommended by Sheldon Brown, discussed here, is sensible. I lock the way Sheldon recommends, except that if my lock is big enough, I capture both the rear wheel AND the seat tube with the U-lock. IMO, capturing both makes the cyclist feel better and accrues the real benefit of making the lock a bit harder to leverage.

Once you have decided to get a good U-lock, you need to decide two things. First, do you get a “good enough” one or “the best” one, and do you get a full size one or a “mini.”

In making this decision, you need to consider a few factors:

• Will you regularly be carrying the lock with you?
• Is your bike going to be left unattended for long periods and be the most expensive/desirable target, and are you willing to keep your bike even if it got damaged extensively during an unsuccessful theft attempt?
• Is the solid object you attach your bike to simply too big to accommodate the “Sheldon” locking method with a Mini U?

If the answer to the first question is “yes,’” I suggest you might want to forgo some of the more glamorous full size locks and get a mini/cable combination. Serious minis are much lighter than the serious full size locks and, in tests, are comparably secure to full size locks that cost much more. For a given level of protection, wouldn’t you rather lug around 2 pounds rather than 5? In most cases, a good mini U and a cable weighs less than half the weight of a full-size U without a cable. Certainly, it’ll take up less room. Don’t take it from me, Sheldon recommends the same thing.
 

The OnGuard Mini U With Cable Locks Both Shackles Separately, a Good Feature for Security

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” you might want to reconsider your bike choice, but also you will need the best possible security. This means MORE than just the U-lock that performed best in test, it means you ought to consider that MULTIPLE locking schemes provide superior security. You’ll need to use that top line U-lock, and also a chain/cable. Still, keep in mind that a strong lock and multiple locking schemes will be stronger than your bike frame (the frame may get bent when a lever attack is attempted), and will not protect most of the components. Those SRAM Red shifters and derailleurs are valuable and easy to remove. Brooks saddles are also attractive theft targets.

If the answer to the third question is “yes,” you’re stuck with a heavier and probably more vulnerable full size U lock. I have found few bike racks that would not work with a Mini lock, however.

The two best discussions of American Market locks that I’ve seen are on Slate, and on BikeForums. Some of the comments in the BikeForum post are also good, but some are less useful.

OnGuard Mini U Lock and Cable as Sold at Wally World

After digesting all this, and much more, I decided to get a Mini U Lock with a cable. I picked OnGuard over Kryptonite because the package included a cable, which comparable Kryptonites did not, and because it was available at a price and location the Kryponite was not (Wally World). Don’t get me wrong, the Kryptonite is a fine product and I would have taken the Kryptonite had circumstances differed. I also notice that Kryptonite now seems to have started including cables with some of their U locks lately. Arguably, the best Kryptonite locks may be better than Onguard, but either is a lot better than what most people use. Neither was available at my LBS. My LBS stocked a “Trek” lock, which appeared to be a relabeled mid-line Kryptonite, but it did not include a cable, it wasn’t a Mini, and it cost twice the price of the better U lock I purchased. I actually got a Trek cable lock that is a POS relabeled ski lock. The cable was too short to run through the frame and front wheel, which should have caused Trek to reconsider putting their name on an inferior product. I ordered the Trek lock from my LBS after my previous lousy ski lock, which did have sufficient cable length, broke. Had the LBS had the Trek cable lock in stock, I would have seen the cable was too short and would have kept looking for a better choice. Still, the Trek lock works wonderfully well AS a ski lock. As a bike lock, it is a bit better than nothing at all. As for the LBS, Tracy Wilkins talked about LBS not having what he needs here. He's not alone. I should have done better research - ON THE INTERNET. Regardless of where I made the final purchase. My LBS, like many, has limited choices available in stock. It's a reality of the current market.
  

"Trek by Kryptonite" - This is a Ski Lock but it'll last a Minute and Guard Accessories
It'll Also Fit in a Pocket and Weighs Very Little. Hardly Worth Leaving Behind.
It's Far Better Than the Total Security Many Bikes Get - Nothing at All



A weight comparison of various choices follows:

• OnGuard Mini U Lock and Cable 931g
• Kryptonite “Fahgettaboudit” U lock from “Slate article” 2090g without cable
• Trek “Just a Minute” cable combo ski lock 96g
• Schwinn “Not Good Security” cable combo lock 652g
• And I could go on for much longer, but you get the idea.

IMO, the Trek lock, bad as it is, is light enough to warrant carrying around all the time, and it’s better than nothing at all (though not as good as simply taking Buddy inside a store with me, which is the best security of all). It fits into a bicycle seat bag or a pocket. While the cable is too short to extend through both wheels, it will at least cause a thief to have to walk back to the car to get a pair of snippers. Moving up from the Trek, I favor the mini U lock if I have to carry a lock. I reserve the full size U lock for work, where I leave it on the rack and don’t lug it around.

Schwinn "Not Good Security" Cable Lock. Still, It's Longer than the Trek Cable

The MIRACLE that is WD-40

Popular Uses for WD-40 on Bikes. I Can't Say I Recommend Them All, But There are a Few Good Ones That Hadn't Occurred to Me

WD-40, the popular name for "Water Displacement - 40th Attempt," has a mixed reputation in cycling circles. We're often told that it is not a lubricant, at least not one we should use on our bikes. However, such a statement is not really accurate. In truth, WD-40 is a heavy oil that is mixed up with lighter oils that evaporate easily. That is why it seems thin if you feel some freshly sprayed WD-40. That helps the stuff penetrate everywhere, displacing water and helping to clean and loosen things up. Used properly, it can make bicycle maintenance an easier and more pleasant chore. And I think it smells good as well. I've used it to free up many a frozen freewheel, among many other things.

My first job, after college, was working as an engineer at Rocketdyne. Yup, I was, more or less, a "Rocket Scientist (Engineer, actually). One of the products I worked on was the Atlas engine, which was then near the end of its lifespan. The Atlas Rocket was the application that WD-40 was originally developed for. Convair used WD-40 to coat the external rocket skin (as you might imagine, they needed a LOT) to keep water from corroding things. It worked so well that employees started smuggling the stuff home, and then they started selling it out of car trunks around San Diego. By the time that WD-40 helped John Glenn become the first American to orbit the Earth, WD-40 had become available to regular consumers. To make a long story short, the company that made WD-40, the Rocket Chemical Company, bowed to the inevitable and BECAME the WD-40 company. And it's still going strong. Pretty good for something we "shouldn't use."

WD-40 Showing a Major Early Application - Sending the Atlas Rocket and John Glenn Into Orbit

While I really don't recommend that you use WD-40 as a primary chain lubricant, it CAN be helpful in getting a wet chain dried off and clean, especially if used in conjunction with an excellent product such as Simple Green. Sprayed on the bottom of the frame, it can help winter splatter and moisture from attacking the metal in a bike frame. And, yes, WD-40 lists BICYCLE U-LOCKS as one of the favorite consumer uses.

So, if someone tries to tell you that WD-40 isn't good enough for your bike, you tell THEM that, properly used, WD-40 is one of the most successful spinoffs of the manned space program - EVER. I'll bet John Glenn keeps some around HIS house.

HARD Freeze

This Is the Lock that DIDN'T Freeze Shut

I like my OnGuard locks that I got at Wally World. Somehow, I wound up with a full size one with a cable and, what's even better - a Mini U-Lock that includes a cable. The mini has never given me a hint ofa problem other than the velcro for the cable coming off.

HOWEVER, unlike the full size one, the mini either stays where it's nice and warm or it travels along for remote duty. The full size OnGuard has led a harder life. It stays at work, in the sun, or rain, or, as I've discovered recently, until a HARD FREEZE immobilizes it. That could be REAL INCONVENIENT to show up at work and find a lock that won't open or to be all ready to ride home and find a lock that won't let go of the bike.

Last week, the big U lock wouldn't unlock. Fortunately, I tested it in the cold the day before and discovered the problem under controlled circumstances. Well, today, it is frozen shut once again. For the moment, my mini is staying at work as a backup, but in a warm dry location. Anybody else have a problem with a U-lock freezing in the locked position?

FWIW, I notice that my local Wally World has the OnGuard mini locks once again. At $15, it is a real bargain! I just wish I knew how to keep them from freezing up if they've gotten wet and then exposed to a hard freeze.

Fort Worth Infrastructure We Can ALL Use

For your consideration, it looks as if Fort Worth has come into some cash to put in bike racks. I have no idea what this money has to do with the Department of Energy, but there you have it.

Click on Photo for Larger Map. The Blue Circles are Existing Racks
Unlike the Fort Worth Bike Plan, Maybe the City is Really Looking for Input Here
instead of uncritical praise!

------------------
From: McCleeary, Julia
Subject: Where do you need a bike rack in Downtown Fort Worth?

Voice your opinion on bike rack locations in downtown Fort Worth!

The City of Fort Worth is installing bike racks in downtown Fort Worth, thanks to a grant from the Department of Energy. The website below is a google-based map showing the existing locations of bike racks and locations we have proposed. We will be installing black “inverted u” bike racks (link below for image).

Bike Rack Locations Map
Bike Rack Design

In order to comment or add markers to the map, a google account is required. However, feel free to email your downtown bike rack locations to bikefw at fortworthgov dot org. Instructions on adding or editing information to the map are located at the google map website.

Please feel free to forward this email on to anyone who rides (or would like to ride) their bike downtown.

Bike Fort Worth is the City’s comprehensive bicycle transportation plan for developing a friendlier bicycle environment. Recommendations for supportive policies, programs and facilities are intended to increase bicycle transportation within the City of Fort Worth.

Implementation of the Bike Fort Worth plan will promote bicycling as a safe, attractive and healthy transportation alternative. A bicycle transportation network will improve livability in Fort Worth by providing an alternative travel option to residents of the City and improved access to other modes of transit.

As a first step to the implementation of the Bike Fort Worth plan, the City of Fort Worth has received, as part of a larger award, $400,000 from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for the construction of on-street bicycle lanes, routes and bicycle racks.

Julia M. McCleeary
Senior Planner
City of Fort Worth
Planning and Development

Exploring



Google Satellite was Right, There's Really a Bridge, But it is Still an Impractical Shortcut

My new commute, known as "v3," got rolling this week. Though almost all of this commute route has been ridden by me many times in the past, looking at maps and satellite photos with fresh eyes revealed some potential route enhancements. One that looked like a shortcut, turned out to be illusory. There was indeed a bridge across a creek that shortened the route between Don Dodson and Bedford. However, as you will note, the bridge, for unknown reasons, included a locked gate in the middle, complete with a sign to let the unwary know that attempting to climb over the fence could be hazardous. Considering that the bridge runs from one street to another, it seems odd that it was blocked off from public use. Perhaps it's some property rights thing or something. Perhaps they just don't like people that don't have a key. I don't know. All I know is not all shortcuts work out. Too bad.



Shortcut Looked Attractive on Google Maps Satellite View


The other potential enhancement involved an alley that went behind a small mall. Taking this alley reduces traffic interactions significantly, albeit at a cost of slightly greater travel distance. I've not decided if this alley will become a regular commute route feature, but it is certainly more straightforward than either cutting through a parking lot or dealing with a long stack of cars at a traffic light.

And, I found some more. But I didn't get any photos of those enhancements. The moral of this story is: even a route you know well can sometimes get even better, or at least there are things to try and things to do.



This Alley Allows a Cyclist to Avoid Arterial Congestion
Where Bedford Road Crosses the Airport Freeway



Less Piggy Parking

Now I'm Only Using Half the Rack. You can See how Close the Hedge Is

In my earlier post, PM Summer commented that I was locking properly, if not correctly. He was polite enough to not mention that I was sorta hogging the whole bike rack; a byproduct of never seeing other bikes at the gym. Well, I've reformed - a bit. Below, you can see a closeup of the actual locking technique. As you can see, the mini U lock goes around the rear rim and the cable secures the front wheel. A thief would have to saw through the rear rim to get the frame. Even someone wanting to walk off with the front wheel, would have to get through the cable. It isn't really necessary to lock to the frame itself because few thieves are going to want to take the time to hacksaw through a rim and inflated rear tire. Slightly more secure, would be to use the U lock to go around both the rear rim and the chain stays. The lock is just a bit too small to go around the rim and the seat tube. By the way, the lock is the same one I got at the Wally World in Lubbock for $15, as recounted here. I guess I'm now locking correctly, though still not properly, but hey, it's greener since the rack can now hold TWO bikes. Kumbaya!

If you go visit Rat Trap Press, look here, or shown in the second photo down, here. He put together a holster for  his U lock and such are also available in "Etsy." I'm hoping I can get a holster that will carry my lock AND the cable neatly. The stuff that came with the lock only works until you actually use the lock.

No, the Shrub Isn't Actually Overgrowing the Lock Cable, It's Just Keeping it Company