Tag: Bike Lock

Knog U-Lock Protects You and Your Bike

Knog has already impressed us with a few products including bicycle lights, but now the company from down under has some bicycle locks that look like they’d be tough enough for just about any American or Australian city – and probably just about anywhere else short of an actual warzone.

U-locks tend to have weak points that make them easy to break, but the Knog Strongman features a silicone-molded steel frame that passed the Gold Standard for the security-testing firm, Sold Secure. In the company’s own in-house rating it was found that the Strongman was strong indeed – and could be used as a hitch to lift a car. Actually to the company it has a security rating of 90 out of 100, and features a 13mm hardened steel shackle, UV resistant silicone body and high security disc style lock cylinder. Video after the jump

Lock the Pedals

We’re not sure if bicycle theft is a big problem in Taiwan but Cheng-Tsung Feng of the National Taiwan University of Science & Technology. As part of the Department of Industrial and Commercial Design he developed the Pedal Lock, which is exactly what it sounds like – a bicycle lock that is actually two flat platform pedals.

The designers claim that it takes about 13 seconds to install, which seems optimistic given that users have to remove the pedals from the cranks. The idea here is that the two pedals can essentially make a “boot” of sorts for the rear wheel, making it impossible to ride away. Continue reading Lock the Pedals

Senza-ble Bike Lock

There is no denying that there are a lot of different concepts with bike locks. We’ve seen a lot of locks, and one issue remains that it means bringing something “extra” along for the ride or daily commute. But Jaryn Miller’s Senza has interesting twist, it is a bike lock that is also the bike’s handle bars.

Essentially, the bars come off the bike and are locked together to form a U-Lock. The idea is that it provides dual security, because if the lock is cut the bike is much harder to ride away with, as there is nothing to hold on to!

We like the idea and think the designers are on to something, but as others have mentioned there are some problems to be resolved. The most notable is that the handle bar has to be durable enough to be a lock and that could add weight for those times when you don’t need to lock the bike. It also means that riders have to like the style of the drop bar – and this could be a problem for the mountain biker who usually prefers a straight bar with bar ends. Continue reading Senza-ble Bike Lock

New Titanium Bike Lock Design

 

We’ve seen some new designs for bike locks. One new design from TiGr uses a flexible strip of titanium with a lock mechanism. Titanium is a strong metal composite and will likely stand up to the needs of any cyclist. A video on the TiGr web site shows the inventor using a hacksaw to cut through a typical U-Lock, and then the same with a strip of titanium. It took 1:26 to cut through the U-lock, compared to 2:36 and more huffing and puffing to cut through the titanium strip. Continue reading New Titanium Bike Lock Design

Indoor Bike Lock Solutions

For cramped apartment dwellers, those who live in dorms while away at college, regular commuter or just don’t who don’t trust their roommates, locking up a bike inside can be a problem. Roommates probably won’t want the bike locked to the kitchen table, and office managers may frown on a bike tethered to a desk. But if you can’t keep an eye on your bike you need not worry that out of sight mean out for a joyride.

Rodd Industrial Design in the UK has created two new locking solutions. The first is Armlock, which is great for multi-occupancy houses and apartments where a bike can be stashed in a common hallway. It is fixed and wall mounted, where the frame is placed in the lock, which is then engaged. When not in use the Armlock can be folded back to the wall.

For a less semi-permanent solution there is the Lupin, a flexible sleeve that slides in the door frame near the hinges. A plastic block makes it impossible for the device to slide all the way through and thus provides an anchor. The other end features loops that a bike lock can pass through, making for a handy place to lock a bike. This can turn a utility closet into a handy bike storage locker. Instead of lock and load, this is lock and go.

[Via Dexigner: New Solutions to Residential Bicycle Theft Unveiled]

Park Your Bike up a Pole

It’s often difficult to find a bike rack. And when you do, your bike still takes up valuable space on the sidewalk. A German hobby supply company has the answer for you. A stand that raises the bicycle up a lamp post or other pole. So far, this is strictly a DIY project, but this company, Conrad, has the supplies and instructions for you to make your own. Check out how the mechanism works, and how it’s put together (in German).

[via Cyclelicious]

Bike Lock Not Needed For Bendable Bike

Serious cyclists often talk about how rigid their bike frame is, and often times a bike that is too “flexy” is considered a bad thing. Likewise, the serious cyclist also knows that the best lock is not leaving he bike locked up. So it is interesting to consider a new design from Kevin Scott, 21, a De Montfort University graduate who has created a very revolutionary folding bicycle.

Scott’s design means a bike that is both rigid whilst riding, but can actually be folding to wrap around lampposts when you need to run into a shop or otherwise stop. Obviously this bike isn’t meant for racing, or probably even serious training, but as a commuter ride it’s a great Scott of an idea. The bike utilizes a ratchet system built into the frame, which allows it to wrap around a pole, something that can come in handy in cities that lack adequate bike racks. A locking mechanism is built into the frame as well, which means one less thing to carry.

The bendable bike is currently on display at the New Designers Show at the Business Design Centre in Islington in North London, where Scott hopes to attract investors. Given that more than 52 bikes are stolen daily in London, we hope Scott’s invention gets a backer.

[Via The Daily Mail: The incredible ‘bendy bicycle': British designer, 21, invents a bike you can FOLD around a lamp post]