Bought one of the £5 retractable locks at EBC today - not so much for bike as for locking things like trailer and buggy (not that my buggy's worth anything, but I don't want to have to replace it either). But it doesn't actually retract particularly well. Anyone have any experience with these? Should I take it back, or all they all like that?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
EBC retractable lock - advice?
(7 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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Somtimes EBC sells good quality Endura kit under their own logo, but sometimes they sell cheap stuff that is rubbish. I bought a pair of glasses from them, ones with interchangeable lenses - cheap, lasted a good while. When they finally broke I bought another pair, but they had obviously changed manufacturers and I went through three pairs (they replaced them each time) before I gave up and bought the endura ones that are just as cheap but can't change the blades I beleive the young ones call them.
Options - take back and ask for money back as doesn't retract (you can cut through them with nail scissors they are about as big a deterrent as a piece of string)
Or if you have the time and you like the idea of retractable string (it does avoid the undoing of knots) go to the shop and get about ten of them and test them til you find one that works, as long as not at peak time for the shop they might let you - depends on packaging I suppose. I was in Blacks once buying sealskinz socks and had all the pairs out until I found two that I thought might last - both left feet actually but they are really the same left or right. It was quite fun and the shop keeper didn't seem bothered. Quality control on that batch of sealskinz was ropey.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I have one and it stopped retracting soon after I bought it. I just pass the flex through the key ring to keep it tidy. It is fine if you are wanting a deterrent while you nip into a shop, but it would with stand any real attack...
Posted 14 years ago # -
I almost got one a year or two ago and one of the shop staff convinced me not to! But at £5, I figured it would keep me from worrying about the buggy, trailer etc if I left them outside the shops.
I suspect Kim's experience/approach the most practical, even if Gembo's is more hard-nosed!
Posted 14 years ago # -
one of the shop staff convinced me not to!
that is quite compelling - for my fiver I'd want it retracting. I'd say the EBC needs feedback but the staff seem to know already
Deterrence - just enough to move the thief on to the next bike? My partners family in Bedford use one to keep the garage locked (it does retract but doesn't need to in this instance). Bedford must have at least the national average of thieves.
I take my lights, empty pannier and would take my bike computer off my bike [my bike computer was nicked] - but I see people l;eave them on.
I have a Python lock that is for securing large bulky objects I bought in the EBC asale - I will take it back one day as I have no use for it.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I usually ride a heavy old faithful with hefty lock, bags and mudguards attached. Occasionally I enjoy the difference of nipping out on my new stripped-down lightweight road bike (thanks, Bike to Work) without any of these encumbrances.
I take the lightweight out on rides where I won't be leaving it unattended - say when I go to watch the grandson play fitba in the park. I'm happy to rely on the EBC back-pocketable retractable lock then. I might also use it to lock the bike outside a shop when I can keep the bike in view. The bike has yet to be liberated by a thieving manicurist wielding his/her nail scissors.
Occasionally the retractable cable has to be coaxed back into its case. Best way to do this is to pull the cable out a little more, then push it back in while pressing the button. This technique will be familiar to anyone who has ever used a cheap tape measure that required persuasion to retract.
If you want an inexpensive lock that's compact and near weightless, the EBC retractable is a better-than-nothing deterrent against opportunists. It has its place if the most important factor is portability. Just like you might carry a mini pump - even though you generally rely on a track pump to inflate your tyres.
Posted 14 years ago # -
SRD "one of the shop staff convinced me not to!"...
Gembo: "that is quite compelling - for my fiver I'd want it retracting. I'd say the EBC needs feedback but the staff seem to know already"True 'nuff, but since then I have several times I wish I had it along.
Posted 14 years ago #
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