Pledge: Bike Chain

Status

This pledge has been dormant for a while so an alternative plan is in the works but is currently on hold while the walkway is being resurfaced.

We have four shortish lengths of 10mm-link chain, roughly a couple of feet each. It takes about five minutes to separate it with the angle grinder which seems fairly secure. The start of the alternative plan was to weld bits of chain to a length of steel scaffolding pole. Some high-security padlocks would be nice or the chain may just get welded to itself.

A couple of the bits of chain have cylinders on the end that could be used for a d-lock, these will probably be incorporated somehow.

This plan is not definite.

Any other ideas?

What?

8m of secure chain + 2 padlocks.

When I measured between the balcony ends it was 7.17m so if you want the chain to fit and to have enough on the end to loop the ends round and padlock them your going to need 8m. --JasperWallace 16:22, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

Why?

To allow bikes to be securely stored outside of the hackspace, on the front balcony. Currently unless you have an insanely large lock it is impossible to store a bike on the front balcony; storing bikes on the back balconies leads to problems moving bikes through the space and storing bikes inside is not really a good long term option when space is at a premium (and there is a risk of sharp objects being left on the floor eg screws).

The chain would be stretched between two of the uprights on the outside of the balcony and secured using padlocks, the keys for which would be kept in the space. The chain could then be used as a railing to attach locks to. Further padlocks can be added to create loops if people feel added security is needed (these would force both ends of the chain or at least each loop and one end to be compromised before a bike could be stolen).

Suggested

There are several options depending on how much people want to spend and how concerned about security you are. Chain-supplies are the current best option as they will sell cut lengths (know a better source? add it!). They sell 3 types of security chain (ie insurance grade):

• 6mm (£8.66/m or £69.28 for 8m)
• 8mm (£13.73/m or £109.84 for 8m)
• 13mm (£36.00/m or £288 for 8m)

Padlocks - again huge range of cost/type; these locks are, I think, the best size as they should give a tight fit to the (13mm) chain (both have inner diameters of >26mm):

• The simple: Abus padlock (50mm width made from brass and hardened steel) from chain supplies is £11.52 cost for 2: £23.04
• The medium-price: Squire Stronghold SS65 padlock - CEN 5 rated. Very good lock, I can get these for £25 Kevin. Disclaimer: This is my own shop listing! I am listing these for my brother who bought a job-lot of 25 of these locks. He will let me have some for cost price. (RRP is £85 so this is better than locksmiths can buy them for wholesale!) I only know a minimal amount about locks, but I would say this is better than the Granit padlock. Cost for 2: £50
• The expensive: Granit padlock (insurance grade) is £72 cost for 2: £144

What should we buy?

Is something being discussed on the mailing list - go there to follow/contribute.

• cheap: 8m of 6mm chain + 2xAbus padlocks = £92.32 + p&p
• expensive: 8m of 13mm chain + 2xGranit locks = £432 + p&p
• any further padlocks wanted for loops

Pledges

• £20 SamLR
• £20 Ciarán
• £10 Kevin
• £10 Solexious
• £20 bma
• £20 JasperWallace

Running total: £80

Approximate target: £?? (Depends on what security of chain/lock we go for)