Pledge: Bike Chain
What?
7m 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):
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 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: 7m of 6mm chain + 2xAbus padlocks = £83.66 + p&p
- expensive: 7m of 13mm chain + 2xGranit locks = £396 + p&p
- any further padlocks wanted for loops