I am amazed at the Tate Unilock

Bicycle security locks are big business. Even with a gold standard (and expensive) Kryptonite lock, my bicycle got stolen last year in San Francisco, from in front of the Cartoon Art Museum. It sucked, on several different fronts. The kryptonite lock warranty only applies within 1 year of purchase and registration. In addition, you must present a piece of the lock to prove it was compromised. Both reasonable, but both insufficient comfort to assuage that sinking feeling of not finding the bicycle where it was parked.

Good bye, my beloved Trek. You were a part of my life I will never have back. The thieves had taken the bike, lock and all.

So the nicer of a bicycle I get, the more significant of protection I need to keep it safe. The 40$ for a new lock every year to re-up the kryptonite protection would be almost worth it, if it were not for the utter waste of piling up old U-locks. Given that there is no bicycle theft insurance available in California, this is the closest I can think of protecting myself financially against theft. Even if there were bicycle theft insurance, I'd imagine the premiums in the SF area would be higher than the bike's worth in short order. (There apparently is bicycle theft insurance in the UK. One more idea I'd like to have stolen from across the Atlantic.)

The heft and amount of metal that goes into the locks and chains are amazing, as the war between thieves and locks continue to escalate. To the burden of the bicycle owner. Literally so, as 4.6 pounds of hardened steel in the New York Fahgettaboudit, the ultimate of kryptonite's offerings, deters thieves. 2.2lb for the smaller Evolution Mini, with a corresponding drop in sturdiness.

I mention all of this, because it isn't like this everywhere in the world. For instance, the country of Japan. The bicycle thieves there are nonexistent, or not very well armed. With nary a u-lock in sight, the bicycles are "locked" in place by immobilizing the rear wheel. For the more security minded, there are portable locks to secure the bicycle to something. Dear Goodness Me. Understandable, as not everywhere has a handy anchor to secure a bicycle to it. To this end, there is a very cool product.

the Tate (pronounced Tah-Tey) Unilock. The concept is based on a pocket sized instrument of folding steel plates. 330 grams, or 0.7lb. It is compact, and has high carbon tempered steel sheets inside the plastic skin. The steel sheets even have cutouts to reduce the weight. The unit has a slight curve to it, to make it less uncomfortable in a pocket. Portability and convenience has been maximized. It is a completely different concept from the 13mm thick hardened steel shackle of the kryptonite U-lock. It is meant to be reasonably fashionable, to the traditional sense. Whereas a U-lock hanging off the belt, or a heavy duty chain around the waist as a belt combined with a Chrome messenger bag or pack is the fashion of the cyclist in San Francisco, this lock attempts to fit into a normal person's life.

And this lock, which I cannot imagine surviving for more than a few short moments in SF, is something I envy. I really wish I were in a place where 330g of tempered steel can be expected to protect a bicycle. Instead, I'm destined to carry 3 additional pounds of weight wherever I am going, with security cables and ties to hold down my nice seat and wheels.

The cultural expectations, and the role placed onto the bicycle is radically different.

I'm just tempted to spend 30$ on the tate lock, and see how long it will take to destroy it, all while filming it to post on youtube. I bet I could crack that unilock open with a steel pipe! anything, to warn the Japanese; Stay away from these shores full of thieves. You've got it far better where it would be unthinkable to take a bolt cutter out on the streets to steal a bicycle. Perhaps if I had parked my bike in Japan, my old bicycle would still be with me.