Fuckety fuck fuck: Has this ever happened to you?

[taterguy]

You're leaving work. You put your key in the Kryptonite lock that's securing your bicycle to a post. The key falls out with the mechanism halfway in between lock and unlock. The mechanism ain't budging and your key won't fit back in, due to the ingenious nature of Kryptonite locks.

And since it's quitting time you know you won't be able to find / wait for a locksmith.

So you just bum a ride home, leave the bike in the parking lot and hope tomorrow is better.

I repeat: fuckety fuck fuck.

And it was such a nice day to ride to work.

Grrrrrrrrrr

[IndianaJones]

1. how about a miracle, saint? nt

[taterguy]

3. How about some sympathy for a fellow DUer that's having a mini-crisis?

And maybe a trip to the convenience store for some beer and smokes

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Not with my Kryptonite lock, but with a combo chain lock.

The cylinders jammed with the lock half engaged. It took me an hour to coax the damn thing back into position so that I could unlock it and throw the cheap POS away.

Shit -- I didn't know that Kryptonites could jam that way.

[taterguy]

4. Well, the Kryptonite lock and key is 17 years old

The key is a bit worn, but only because it's such a quality product that I've held onto it and never needed to replace it. Until now.

[trof]

5. Kryptonite lock? Why do you hate Superman?

[taterguy]

6. Kryptonite locks were the best available in 1991

It was reasonably priced. My bike was never stolen and it served me well.

Until now.

[trof]

10. Yeah, but that crap is POISON to Superman.

I wouldn't have one.

[taterguy]

11. Superman's a fictional character

Maybe he hangs around your neighborhood but not mine

[DarkTirade]

7. Was it a U-shaped lock or a chain lock?

The U shaped ones are easy to bust open. My brother was a bike messenger for a while, and a homeless guy he gave some food and clothes to repaid him by warning (and showing) him that it was really easy to bust the U shaped locks. All you need is a sturdy stick or piece of wood or metal. Apply a little leverage and... POP. Off it goes.

Of course, this was AFTER he'd already had three or four of his bikes stolen... :) Needless to say, once he switched to a good quality chain type lock he only lost one or two bikes. And those were all when he forgot/didn't bother to lock them up.

[taterguy]

9. It's a U-lock

I'll try some stuff tomorrow, and hope that the bike forgives me for leaving it outside all alone tonight.

[DarkTirade]

13. Well, when in doubt... there are always sledgehammers. >:)

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Was this the older U locks? Kryptonite did a recall a few years back

and they reconfigured the lock bar. I have the new type which is impervious to the soda straw "unlock." Don't know if the stick trick worked the same way.

I use both a U lock and a chain lock because the first rule of security is make it a pain-in-the-ass for the thief and they may choose a different and easier target.

[DarkTirade]

14. I don't know how old his lock was, but this was at least three years ago.

Probably four or five.

[redqueen]

8. Not in a few years.

Oh, wait...