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Rocky Mounts Hendrix Lock: Quick Review- by Guitar Ted
While you may find a review of a folding lock a little strange for a site about riding on gravel, it may be good to keep in mind that you need to have a bicycle to ride. Keeping that bicycle in your possession is key. Maybe you have situations where you feel a bit, uh…..vulnerable to theft? Okay, so a lock doesn’t seem so far fetched to talk about now, right?
That’s where Rocky Mounts new line of locks comes in. They sent over their “Hendrix” lock, a folding steel linked type lock, for test and review. It rates a “7” on a security scale of 1-10, so it rates as a safer lock than others. It came with a holster which can mount on a frame via the water bottle bosses, and with two spare keys. That’s nice. I have been known to lose keys.
As with any product, we have bullet points to share. So, from the website, here are the features Rocky Mounts lists for the Hendrix lock:
- Hardened 3mm thick Rubber Coated Steel Plates
- Unfolds like origami to 70cm (27”) long
- Security Rating 7
- Ergonomic design is easy to carry and store
- Push Button, spring loaded engagement for easy opening and locking
- Security of a ULock in a more compact design
- Includes handy water bottle cage mounting bracket
The lock is easy to unfold and is coated in a nice, thick rubber so it won’t mar your frame or clank loudly as you thread it through the bicycle and whatever you are locking it to. While water bottle boss placement for the holster may not be ideal for gravel riding, it would be handy for touring or exploring, so maybe that would fly with your ideas. In my view, water is precious, and giving up a coveted water bottle boss set for a lock seems to be not such a good idea. You will have to decide there. I will say that the holster is very secure. I strapped the lock in it and it never bounced out, no matter how rough the terrain got.
The lock cylinder has a sturdy looking plastic cover, but the hinge on the cover is a bit tiny looking. I could see that getting damaged if it were handled roughly, so that could be an issue there. I had no problems with it during my testing. The lock has a smooth operation, and being able to push it in and have it lock without turning the key was nice. I did find that one key maybe had a burr or was somehow just not smooth with the lock, but that was just a fluke there, most likely.
Here’s the thing about this lock and others like it- It is meant to be used in such a way that tools cannot easily get inside of the enclosed loop of steel links when your bike is locked to something. The 27″ length reflects this. This means that you have to get your bicycle real cozy with whatever you are locking it to. In some cases, that may be rather difficult. I found that by combining this lock with a sturdy, long cable lock made for a really safe, “I can go into the store for a while” type set up. The Hendrix alone, in certain situations, can also give you that security. That said, it was a real challenge at times to find a way to get this lock around my bike and something secure to lock it to. I’ll admit that I am not an experienced urbanite when it comes to locking techniques though.
While the Hendrix lock may not be an essential item for your gravel riding, in my opinion, I think this lock really works as a way to increase security at times you are not riding. For instance, it may provide an extra bit of security when you have your bike racked up on your vehicle. It could be a way to enhance security when you bike is in your garage, or it might be a way to secure your bike before at an event in your motel room.
If you commute on the same bike that you use for gravel, then it really makes sense. It is a heavy chunk of a lock, so carrying it around on coffee shop rides, while possible, might not be desirable. But, for maximum security, I would not hesitate to bring it along. Consider it a training weight. You’ll go faster when you don’t have it on you on race day!
At The Finish: The Hendrix lock is well made, has nice features, and rates high on the security scale. It might be best suited for those who would normally use a “U” lock but prefer a more compact form factor. The gravel/back road cyclist will likely see this as a way to enhance security of their bike on a bike rack, in the garage when the bike is stored, or possibly as a coffee shop ride lock to max out security and enhance your relaxing factor while sipping your latte’. The holster is a nice feature and that may appeal to the tourist or explorer who has room for a high security, compact lock on their frame or fork.
NOTE: Rocky Mounts sent the Hendrix lock along for test and review to RidingGravel.com at no charge. We were not bribed nor paid for this review. We strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
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I’m sorry, but you’re doing a disservice to everyone by just passing along a manufacturer determined security rating. I can’t find any information about this lock being tested by any third parties that actually do security ratings, so until that happens this thing should be considered “probably more secure than a cable lock.” I’m hoping this testing is in progress, and just hasn’t finished, but they have a whole line of locks and none of them have any third party security rating. If it is as secure as they claim, it would be a nice mix of convenience, security, and cost. I would be all over this thing if it was sporting a Sold Secure logo, but not as is.