HOW TO LOCK UP YOUR BIKE
It's always nice to find your bike where you left it after a long day's toil. And there's nothing more irritating than seeing a sad empty space where your bike used to be. Or worse still, a lonely, kicked in front wheel the only reminder left of your cherished, faithful workhorse.
You don't have to surrender to this fate though. Here you will find a few top tips to enhance the security of your bike, while you're elsewhere getting on with life.
Buy a decent lock
Don't lump out your hard earned on a great commuter bike then buy a cheap lock.Its false economy. Factor in the price of a good lock when arriving at your bikes budget. Go for a lock with a Gold Sold Secure rating if at all possible. This means that it's passed the industry's most rigorous tests. Read some lock tests and reviews in the cycle magazines to get some real world advice on the efficiency and durability of each lock. The price points may be the same for certain locks but some are more effective than others
Always secure to an immovable object
The bigger / weightier the better. Obviously the number one choice are purpose made cycle stands, These will resist all manner of cutting and hacking. Don't make the grave mistake of securing your bike to a bollard where a thief could easily lift the bike over it. (a certain Tory leader famously suffered this not too long ago)
Choose a well-overlooked location
Don't hide your bike away thinking thieves won't find it. Park in a high viz place where there is plenty of footfall, where thieves can't operate without being disturbed.
Lock through the main frame
Don't just lock through a wheel, thieves can easily take the rest of the bike and leave you with the sad, lonely kicked in front wheel as we mentioned before..
Lock up or remove easily removed items...
...or somebody will do it for you. If you've got quick release wheels, take the front wheel, place it adjacent to the rear wheel and then lock through both of the wheels, the frame and the cycle stand / immovable object. Don't leave things like lights, speedo, etc on your bike if they can be easily removed. Put them in a bag
Never risk that "I will only be 2 seconds"stop
It's well-known that the'Opportunist thief ' is the most common of the species. Don't risk leaving your bike unattended and unlocked even for a few seconds. If you do a lot of these kind of quick stops, consider a Dutch style wheel lock (like the AXA SL7 or simlar) which will immobilise the rear wheel. While not an all round security measure, they are great for rebuffing the opportunist.
Don't think riding a Rubbish bike will save you
The fact is, thieves are not fussy
Avoid locking up altogether
Have you considered a compact folding bike such as the Brompton which means that in most instances you can take your bike with you avoiding the need for a lock and the associated risks of leaving your bike unattended.