My bike is being held hostage by a Schwinn cable lock. To get to where I store my bike, not only do you have to get through a locked basement door (outside entrance) and a separate locked inside door (they both use the same key, thank goodness), but my bike itself has two locks on it — the previously mentioned Schwinn and an OnGuard u-lock.
(The bike is light enough that I can carry it up and down the stairs without a lot of trouble. I’ve learned where to grasp it so I can carry it up high, next to my shoulder.)
The OnGuard lock is heavy-duty. The Schwinn lock was something I bought from Target, just to ensure that my front tire wouldn’t be carried off (it’s very easy to remove). But the Schwinn lock will not unlock!
If I turn it to the wrong combination, it doesn’t move at all. When I turn it to the correct combination, it only releases about a quarter of an inch and refuses to budge any further. I discovered this last night when I was all set to go for a ride. I’d gotten dressed; I had my helmet on; I had my water bottle at the ready. I spent ten minutes tugging on that lock, twisting the numbers back and forth (and maybe cursing just a bit).
So I went for a run instead. I returned to the basement a few hours later, hoping the lock had decided to give me a break — but no. It looks like I’ll have to have it cut off. I found the receipt for the lock in my bedroom trashcan, and you’d better believe I’m taking it back to Target to get my money back — once I can figure out how to get it off, that is — even if it is in two separate pieces.
17 Comments
Oh no…your bike is probably as aggrevated as you about being locked up!
Seriously though, how crazy is that? Your lock won’t even budge, guess you better get the heavy duty clippers!
~K
haha! Does your basement have power? I used my recriprocating saw to help a fellow blogger (who shall remain nameless) cut the locks off several bikes that didn’t belong to tenants but were being stored illegally in her parking garage.
Aw, that sucks! Well, I hope your run was nice!
That sucks. Did you try bolt cutters?
Oh, hell no! (hug)
That’s too bad about the bike! But good for you for going for the run instead.
well that is awfully annoying. especially since you were all ready to go and all..
toooottaallly get your money back for the lock though!
Geez! That’s frustrating! That’s the thing I like best about running–no gear required…
Have you tried pushing the lock down before pulling up? (As in, pushing the looped section toward the locking section and then pull it away.) I had a bike lock once that worked that way.
Well, technically the lock is doing it’s job pretty well
this is SO SOMETHING which would happen to me…..
If you get the lock off, I can show you how to tie it down to your car since I spent a year of my life with my bike hanging off the back of a Honda Accord.
I sucks when you’re all ready to do something and then it falls through. At least you have a place to keep your bike…mine has a home next to my dining room table
Did you try some WD-40?
How frustrating! Hope you got it to unlock for you!
Hi, I don’t know if you have tried this already, but you can buy something called “graphite powder” -> http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/ags-mr-zip-graphite-powdered-lubricant-p-70368.html?ref=42
It’s a powder but it works like a lubricant for the locking mechanism. you sort just pour it as close as you can to the inside and work the lock until some gets inside.
You can probably find this stuff at any home improvement or auto parts store.
I had the same problem with the same Schwinn lock from target. I opened it by putting it on the right combination and then prying it open by placing the back side of a hammer in the 1/4 inch wiggle room.
If that does not work use the front side of the hammer and smash it on the right combination.
Good luck!