Most people agree that U-locks are one of the best ways of locking up your bicycle.I agree with that assessment, provided that there is something strong to which to affix the lock.Whatever you lock your bike to, it has to be at the right height and of the right shape in order to be accessible by the U-lock.I have seen many bicyclists in the DC area use their $100 U-lock to secure their $3000 bicycle to things like street signs, wrought-iron fences, rusty pipes, and even wooden park benches.Street sign poles, which usually have a line of holes running down them, are designed to give and break away when hit by automobiles.A thief could easily bend and break the street sign pole to get your bike.I recently heard from a friend that their bike had been stolen because the thief merely pulled the loose pole from its decaying cement base.A coworker's bike was stolen when the thief lifted the bike off the top of the pole after removing the bolted-on street sign.Wrought iron fences can be easily broken by being kicked or leveraged at the welding points.Rusty pipes, well, need I say more?The point is, bike racks aren't always where you need them, and you can't always find something the right size to use your U-Lock on.The versatility of the chain is the best part about this locking system.When I do use bike racks, I just either wrap the chain a few times around the bike or the racks, or I fix the lock to links that are closer together on the chain - easily accomplished if you pull the black sleeve back.Now for the only complaint I have about the New York chain:It is heavy.Really heavy.The first ride I took with the New York chain, I just threw it in my messenger bag and strapped the bag diagonally across my chest.The weight was so lopsided that I felt myself leaning away from the bag just to improve my balance while riding.For the first time ever, I used the twin shoulder straps that until then had been tucked into their pocket on the messenger bag.Even then, the weight was enough to leave red chafe marks on my shoulders that evening after my ride home.If your waist is skinny enough, you can wear it on your waist like a belt.I tried it that way and if you put the lock in the back or on your non-dominant side it isn't all that bad.But my bicycle touring experience tells me that this is one of those items that you should really carry on the bike if at all possible.I don't recommend the handlebars - makes the steering sluggish.The top tube is okay, but the lock has a nasty habit of swinging into your knees as you pedal.Eventually I had to start carrying a laptop computer around for work, so I got a luggage rack with panniers.Throwing the chain in the panniers was definitely the easiest option.When you're not carrying anything else in the panniers, the trunk bag is an even better place for it - the weight is higher on the bike, yes, but it is centered.
Overall, I like this lock for its versatility in locking options, allowing me to lock my bicycle to anything large and immovable.I think this is the best way to get the highest level of Kryptonite security.However, if bike racks were more abundant in my area, I would gladly give up the extra weight by getting a standard U-Lock.
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