Master Lock Street Cuffs
By James Sharp

Thieves are getting smarter. They continually think of new ways to bust into cars, houses and break bicycle locks. Fortunately for us, lock companies are one step ahead. For years, if you wanted to keep your bike in your possession you used a u-style lock to do it. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be keeping the thieves away anymore. Oh, there are some u-locks that are big and bad, but they all have the same weakness, the open space inside the shackle. Care must be taken to leave as little room as possible in there when you lock up your bike. Master Lock has come up with another solution.

The Street Cuffs by Master Lock look like a big set of handcuffs, hence the name. By changing the style of lock, they have eliminated any open space where a pry bar might go. Lock one cuff around your frame and the other one around any post or bike rack and, viola’, your bike is safe and secure, backed by a $3500 anti-theft guarantee.

Another benefit to the shape is that it folds up nice and compact, a real change from u-style locks. Master Lock makes an optional carrier bracket for the Street Cuffs that attaches to water bottle mounts. This conveniently holds the lock rattle free and secure until you need it. This is everything a lock should be.

Summary: Master Lock has created a new style of lock, one that folds for easy carrying, doesn’t provide leverage for would-be thieves and is a joy to use. How much did our testers like it? One of them won’t return it! He doesn’t want to go back to using a u-type lock. This is from a daily commuter, too. Who would I recommend this to? Anyone who likes his bike, period. It is simply the most convenient design to date. The Street Cuffs sell for $60 and the optional carrier is an additional $10.

James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
BikeMine
1639 West Sheridan Ave.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106
Phone: 1-800-223-3207
E-mail: req@bikemine.com
www.bikemine.com