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Abus Steel O Flex 1000 |
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To survive city streets on two wheels you need the right kit. Sunday Times reporter and bike nut, Jonathan Ungoed-Thomas, lists the 'must haves' for the urban cyclist Click to view Top 5 Urban Bike Accessories.
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Best Lock (Abus Steel-O-Flex 1000, £49.99) |
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 The lock of choice among London couriers, the Abus Steel-O-Flex offers the ideal combination of muscle, agility and portability for city riding. It’s long enough to get round the fattest lamp-posts, it’s seriously tough and you can sling it round your hips between stops. |
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Originally designed for scooters, the Steel-O-Flex 1000 packs massive strength for its weight and ease of use. There are stronger locks available but none of them can be carried about town with as little fuss or effort. It takes only a second to lock the armored Steel-O-Flex cable round your waist and it will sit comfortably on your hips for the journey.
The cable comes with an integrated lock and is protected by an outer layer of PVC so it won’t scratch your bike. Cyclists who use it often report that opportunist thieves cut through the plastic only to give up in despair when faced with hardened steel underneath.
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Strong |
 Picking the lock, say experts, is also out of the question given the special patented design of the cylinder which allows for more than 250,000 key variations. Abus, the manufacturer, says the lock has never been picked in the 17 years since its creation.
"There are many cycling couriers in and around London using this lock because they can put it around there hips which is easy and saves them time", said Fidi Schnoor of Zyro, one of biggest wholesalers of cycling equipment in the UK. "I have heard about some of them who had to contact fire service for a hydraulic bolt cutter after they lost the keys."
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Convenient |
Cycling Plus Magazine made the Steel-O-Flex 1000 a "best buy" after conducting tests which showed that only power tools could get through it - something that normally demands time and privacy. Even after a "sustained five minute attack" with a "full arsenal of manual tools" the lock was nowhere near failing, the magazine said.
But the real advantage of the Steel-O-Flex is its ease of use. Unlike a U-lock, you have about a meter of cable to play with which means you can lock your bike to almost anything. It also means that you can secure not just the bike’s frame but the rear wheel as well. If you remove the front wheel you can lock that up too.
Cycleguard, the insurance company, approves Steel-O-Flex 1000 to protect bikes worth up to £1,500. Abus makes two stronger models - the Steel-O-Flex 1025 and 1050 - which we would reccomend if you intend to leave your bike out overnight but they are not as comfortable to carry.
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Flexible |
If you want something stronger still, the ultimate is probably the New York Kryptonite 3000 U-lock. Cycling Plus rated it "the strongest bicycle lock"; for high crime areas in 2005. But, like most U-locks, it’s not easy to carry and can only be used to secure your bike to relatively narrow lamp-posts or rails because of its size.
The Abus Steeloflex 1000 comes in 80cm, 100cm and 170cm lengths. Go for the one which feels most comfortable round your waist. The 110cm version weighs just over 2kg. In our view it's the best lock on the market. |
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Pros:
- Requires bulky power tools to break
- Easy to carry round waist
- Nice simple lock/release mechanism
- Will reach round most anchor points
- PVC coating protects bike from scratches
Cons:
- Not the very strongest or most compact lock |
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Other great reviews in Sport:
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