One of the problems with locks is that in the long run, they’re fairly easy to open if you know what you’re doing. That’s especially problematic for cyclists, who often find themselves short a bike when a quick picker is in the area. The “Forever” Lock is built to stop cyclist losses, with a clever design.
Lockpicking 101
First, you need to understand how a standard lock works. When you fit a key into a lock, a series of tumblers are moved up and down based on the ridges of the key. Line up the tumblers properly, and you can turn the cylinder, opening the lock. Lockpicks simply lift the tumblers in the proper order without the key. Which, in turn, means any lock can be opened if you’ve got the right tools, which are generally about twenty bucks on eBay. Granted you’re unlikely to run into a master thief who wants your bike, but expert lockpickers can get a standard lock open in seconds.
No Keyway, No Go
The Forever Lock essentially makes it impossible to get a pick in there. Instead of slotting the key directly into the lock, you have to rotate it into the lock by inserting in in a chamber. Once that’s slotted in, you have to turn another lever to pop the lock. In other words, it’s currently unpickable. You can get the lock off with power tools or a sledgehammer, but you aren’t picking it.
No More Missing Bikes
Unfortunately, right now this lock is hard to get. It doesn’t appear to be available in the US and you’ll notice the demonstrator had to special-order it just to get one to mess around with. But if you’re sick of getting your bike stolen, it might be worth it simply to see the look on a thief’s face as he struggles to figure out where the key goes.
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