The biggest conundrum with bikes and security systems is devising something that is small and convenient enough to use, but strong enough to make the effort worthwhile. This is a common problem for me, who has experienced the frustration of coming back to a missing bike. There are two things we can assume about a good portion of locks (not all, of course).
First of all, the locks that are usually long enough to work in a variety of locations are often of the chain or cable variety. These are strong, but not always as impenetrable as their shackle-type brothers and sisters. Two, the problem with many shackle locks is that they are sometimes cumbersome to carry around and not as flexible with a variety of locking opportunities (thick posts, ground anchors, etc.).
The best of both worlds would incorporate the hardened stationary steel of a shackle with the flexibility and compact size of a cable. When you put these ideas together you get a design which includes a series of hardened steel bars linked together via drill-proof rivets. This system would also need to fold up into a space about 9-inches by 3-inches and open to a capable length of no less than 40-inches. And what do you know… they do have something like this and it is called the Foldylock.
water bottle installation
The company, Foldylock, sent over a sample for us to try out and I have been faithfully putting it to the test for about three months now, and my first comment is that this is just really well designed. It comes with two available methods to secure on your bike, including bolting it to your water bottle holder, or just using the available straps to wrap it around any bar. It certainly does not take up much room, and once it is strapped or bolted on, it allows you to basically forget about it until you need it.
And this is probably one of the best parts about Foldylock… When you do need it—it is always there.
strap installation
It pops out of its holder in about 3-seconds.
It unlocks in another 3-seconds (using its key), and the links roll out giving you about 40-inches of play to attach your bike to just about anything secure (not the wimpy hollow fence below, although this demonstrates how versatile it can be.)
Yeah, now this thick street post is more like it!
Wrapped around a thick post like this makes your bike practically theft-proof. And then all that is left for you to do is re-lock the mechanism and your ready to leave with peace of mind. As the website says, the whole process of locking and unlocking should take you about 30-seconds and I would say that is pretty accurate. And once it is armed, it gives your bike a fairly impenetrable look and feel to any unsavory eyes. And it certainly isn’t all bark and no bite as its hardened steel has the heft and feel of a premium bike lock.
But that is exactly what this is… a high quality premium bike lock with a great design behind it. And I’ve owned plenty of inexpensive bike locks over the years, but if a bike is desirable enough, someone will eventually get their hands on it. But for under $100, this Foldylock is a one-time solution. And if you use its strap installation, you can switch it from bike to bike in about 3-minutes (if you’re like me, and own too many bikes).
This is a great product in my opinion, and I invite you to find out more about it here.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech