Wherever you park your bicycle, you want to know that it’ll be there when you get back. Bike thefts are on the up locally and nationally, partly caused by the increase in sales and reduction in supply during the pandemic. Bikes of all types are being stolen, to sell on or to break up for parts.
It’s an unfortunate fact of owning a bike that one day it might get stolen, and based on the statistics, it might seem hard to know what you can actually do about it. But there are ways you can make your bike less attractive to a thief when you leave it parked.
First, think about the type of lock you use. There are so many locks on the market and getting one that is appropriate can feel like wading through treacle, so here are a few tips on what to look for:
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Cable locks should only ever be used as secondary locks, as they are so easy to cut.
Chain locks can be good for odd shaped bikes, and allow locking to wide objects, but Sold Secure-rated chain locks tend to be very heavy due to the size of the links.
D-Locks are by far the best solution as a primary lock, and the smaller the better to prevent access for car jacks and crowbars, which are regularly used to lever them off.
Protect your wheels with locking skewers, just remember to have a skewer key with you if you get a puncture.
Next, consider where you park your bike. Don’t hide it away, thieves love dark corners where pedestrians fear to tread, so they can quietly work on your lock for hours if necessary. Make your bike visible, and lock it to an immovable object, a Sheffield Stand is best, but never lock to a bollard. If you are near to one of our high security cycle hubs, use that but remember to lock your bike up in there too.
Other things to consider are using removable pedals, which are easy to take off and replace, pop them in your bag when you leave your bike: if it can’t be ridden away it’s unlikely to be taken.
Make sure you have photos of your bike and note down any frame numbers. Using Bike Register can also help with recovery if the worst happens, and will also make the bike less saleable on the secondhand market.
If you use your bicycle regularly you’ll understand how important it is, and regardless of how much your bike cost you, its value to you will far outweigh the price of replacing it.
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