Comments on: Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning!

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:10:27 +0000

I really like that seat lock idea, I've never seen it in Toronto, are they DIY, or do you have to purchase them?

By: Bike Registry

Bike Registry — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:19:44 +0000

Very good primer on theft reduction. Definitely second the comment regarding cable; AVOID cable at all costs. Don't forget about registry for recovery, just in case.....

By: Mark K.

Mark K. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:36:13 +0000

Hal referred to a long-shackle Kryptonite lock as "garbage" in the video. As I have one, I have to ask, what's wrong with them? I think I'll be looking for a couple of auxilary cables and maybe some old chain and tube sections to copy Hal's seat anti-theft measures...

By: Mimi

Mimi — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:45:42 +0000

Thank you so much Hal! My last bike got stolen and now I know everything to do to make sure that never happens again!

By: Skratchy

Skratchy — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:43:11 +0000

Nice tip on the ballbearing Hal! I thought about putting glue on the threads of bolts and then screwing them in but that method looks way better.

Regarding the anti-theft seat device - was that an old chain with recycled innertubes you used?

By: hal ruzal

hal ruzal — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:04:11 +0000

You must use a torch, turn the bike upside down and heat the glue till the bearing falls out, most thieves don't carry torches around in order to steal handlebars, thanks, Hal

By: DynamicDeebytheSea

DynamicDeebytheSea — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:51:44 +0000

I love you HAL!

By: brian

brian — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:21:53 +0000

does anyone know more about that ball bearing in the handlebar post? I've never seen that before, how do you remove it when you need to work on your bike?

By: Scott for npGREENWAY

Scott for npGREENWAY — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:44:44 +0000

Love it. Send Hal out to Portland for a field trip of bike lock job grading...

By: Eric McClure

Eric McClure — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:36:41 +0000

This may be the best Streetfilm ever. I am not going to admit to what grade Hal might have given me, though.

But I do promise to improve my locking technique!

By: andy

andy — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:21:52 +0000

Instant classic, especially the ending sequence with Hal rhapsodizing on the green bike lane!

Happy Bike Month!

By: Clarence Eckerson, Jr.

Clarence Eckerson, Jr. — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:39:59 +0000

Actually it all depends on what type of parking meter, some probably are okay but it isn't worth the 30 seconds we used up in the video and we cut it in favor of the on-screen text warning.

NYC has many different varieties, as do other cities. If you lock to a typical single head parking meter and say you use a kryptonite chain lock to lock up - then it is possible to lift the entire bike over the parking meter head, if you use a little moxie. The bike would still be locked to itself, but you could carry the bike away. To be honest in the past, I have locked to a single head parking meter and have locked up really, really tight with no room to spare and have felt I was safe. But a few years ago, my friend swears he did the same and the thief got his bike, so I stopped doing that.

Double headed parking meters are probably a much safer bet cause the chain can't go over both, but better to stay away from them altogether if you can.

By: Darren Embry

Darren Embry — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:20:53 +0000

I'll bite... what's wrong with locking to a parking meter?

By: Quansu Dude

Quansu Dude — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:05:22 +0000

I want to watch this every morning to be happier.

By: Mr. Magwai

Mr. Magwai — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:33:57 +0000

I could watch ten episodes of Hal in action.