Cable lock Black Friday: key or code discounts

What will your cable be used for?

Start with the usage before looking at the options. A looped cable, without a lock, extends a U-lock or chain to the front wheel. A cable with a built-in lock, either key or combination, is suitable for a quick coffee stop or for securing a helmet left on the bike. A multi-metre cable links the bikes of a family on a bike rack or at a campsite. For overnight outdoor use, you need a U-lock or a chain, with the cable as an additional measure. The types and their uses are detailed on the bike cable lock page, open all year round.

Compare two cables on sale

• Length: around sixty centimetres for the front wheel, nearly two metres for frame, wheel, and post, more for a group.
• Diameter: 10 mm for a spare cable, 20 mm and above for a reinforced cable, which takes longer to cut.
• Lock: key, combination, or none for a looped cable that locks onto another lock.
• Quantity: some models are sold in packs; compare the crossed-out price and the discounted price per unit before looking at two promotions.

Brands of lock cables

Abus lists the length after the reference bar: the cable 210/185 measures 185 cm, enough to wrap around both wheels and a post.

Onguard shows length and diameter in the name of each cable, from the Combo Doberman with a code, at 185 cm for 10 mm, to the Rottweiler at 25 mm.

Master Lock, an American padlock manufacturer, offers a pack of four spiral cables with combinations, enough to equip several bikes in one household.

Kryptonite offers its braided Kryptoflex cable with loops or built-in lock, either key or combination, depending on whether it’s used alone or to reinforce a U-lock.

Auvray gathers on this page a Mega Lock cable of 100 cm and a 9 m cable in 15 mm, to be closed with a padlock for a fleet of bikes.

After Black Friday

The end-of-line cables go to the clearance sale, while the new models are the new items. For the main lock, U-lock, foldable or chain, go back to the bike locks from Black Friday.

Frequently asked questions

Is a lock cable sufficient for a night outside?

No. A cable cutter can get through it in a few seconds, even on a thick model. Keep it for the front wheel or short stops, as a complement to a U-lock or chain.

What length of cable should I choose?

Measure the distance: from the front wheel to the loop of your U-lock, count about sixty centimetres; to go around the frame, one wheel, and a post, nearly two metres; for several bikes, several metres.

Key lock or combination?

A combination won’t get lost and can be shared with the whole family. A key is quicker to handle with gloves. A four-digit code offers ten thousand combinations; change the factory set one if it’s adjustable.

How to secure the front wheel with a looped cable?

Pass one loop through the wheel, thread the other into the first, then pull the cable up to the frame and secure the free loop in the U-lock’s grip.

How long do discounts on lock cables last?

The day of Black Friday follows Thanksgiving, a Friday; on Vélo-Store, its discounts on lock cables apply for the whole month of November. For a pack meant for a family or club, also check that each cable has its own key or combination.