What kind of bike locks are best for bikes?
Chain locks, bike cable lock, metal chain bike locks, and folding bike lock - they all have their pros and cons and it depends on your preferences. Chain locks can be heavy and less portable, but easy to use and difficult to cut through. A D- or U-bike lock is typically light and more cost-effective, but it is not malleable and won’t just ‘bundle up’ into your bag when not in use. A bike cable lock is light and super easy to get around. It’s also flexible and will get around/under/over all kinds of objects (unlike a rigid D or U lock). A folding bike lock is compact and usually lighter than U or chain bicycle locks and easy to carry.
Are D-locks better than bike chain locks?
A bicycle chain lock is what it says on the cookie tin - a metal chain you can wrap around parts of the bike and whatever you intend to affix it to. Typically, the chain is wrapped in a plastic coating to protect the bike and ensure it doesn’t scratch anything. Given the weight of the metal, it can be fairly heavy to carry around. A giant bike padlock like a D- or U-lock is thicker than the metal of a bicycle chain lock, so in theory would take thieves longer to cut through. It’s important to have a very tight fit with a cycle D-lock so that you give thieves the least amount of leverage as possible.
Is a D-lock and U bike lock the same thing?
Yes, these terms are used interchangeably and are the same thing. It just depends which way you hold it as to whether it looks like a D or a U!
