I've been looking for a lock for my daily commuter that was lightconvenient, secure, and affordable. I used to bring a cable lock, but it was a little bit of a hassle, and most of the time I'd forget to bring the U-lock. The OttoLock is on the pricey side, but it is very light and secure enough for my purposes. I leave it attached to my bike all the time now. It's less of a hassle compared to cable locks (less time untanglingwrapping) and much, much lighter compared to a U-lock.
Some early reviews have indicated that the lock can be defeated by just yanking one end of the loop, even when the lock has already been engaged. It seems like this was fixed some time ago, because I can't replicate that problem with the lock shipped by Western Bike Works. I will be the first to admit I wouldn't leave my bike locked with just the OttoLock overnight.
Pros
- Light
- Secure enough for shortmedium-ish unattended
- Can be stored in your rear jersey pocket, or wrapped around your frame
Cons
- A tad pricey, especially for the longer versions
- 3-digit PIN only
Notes
- Double check the length you'll need for your bike. The 30 version is just enough to secure a typical road bike MTB frame to a post. It may not be enough to wrap the frame and wheel. The 60 version fixes this, but it becomes too bigbulky to be stored in a jersey pocket
The mirror folds and unfolds with just enough resistance to keep it from slipping once it is adjusted. It's easy to adjust while riding and large enough to give a clear view of approaching riders or traffic.
I love being able to passively (you don't have to manually ring the bell) alert my presence to other trail users. The bell immediately starts interactions with other trail users off to a positive start, even with other riders. It always other riders that might be slower to hear you coming and find a safe spot to move over and let you pass. It also alerts hikers that you are coming down the trail before you can see them. And the best part is when you are climbing you can completely silence the bell. The only negative is you need to place it on the bar so in the event of a crash the bell can't smack into your top tube. Aside from this, all good.
