Bike thefts are pretty high and your bike is always vulnerable when you leave it while you nip into a shop or the bank. It’s even more vulnerable today than it may have been thirty years ago because people today have been brought up under the Thatcher doctrine of me me and me and look after themselves and will be reluctant to get involved if they see a thief with bolt cutters on your bike.
We have to be realistic, a determined thief armed with an array of bolt cutters and lock opening devices will get the bike if they target it, though there’s plenty of things you can do to slow him down while you return. An opportunist thief can be stopped however, and most cycle thefts are opportunistic.
The obvious thing is to lock up your bike. I know, it’s so obvious, yet a lot of people don’t. They nip into a shop for a paper for two minutes and by the time they return their bike has gone. A thief only needs a few seconds to take off with your pride and joy.
Always lock your bike up. If I am nipping into a shop I use a cable lock to secure my bike making sure it goes through each wheel and around the frame. If there’s an immovable object about I secure it to that, if not I place it in such a way that I can see it. If I’m going to be away for a while I use better locks and definitely secure it to an immovable object. Let’s have a look at locks.
Years ago I was talking to a copper who trained at the same gym as me and we got on about bike thefts. He laughed and said; “What gets me is how people will spend a grand on a bike and leave it locked with a five quid cable lock from the market.”
This always stayed with me. Mainly because I’d got an expensive bike at the time which I secured with a five quid cable lock from the market. I nodded and said; “I know, I see it all the time.” Every day actually when I locked my own bike up.
It’s so obvious and I took this advice on board and bought an expensive lock a few days later. The funny thing I noticed was while I didn’t baulk at paying hundreds for a bike, and I wasn’t bothered about spending money on things like wheels, I did hesitate about paying a lot of money for a lock.
Anyway let’s
look at locks; I think I’ve already said that.
We’ve basically got three options when it comes to locks;
Cable, Chain, Armoured
Chain Locks:
There’s chain locks and chain locks. The strength of this lock depends on the quality of the steel it is made from and the amount of free space within the links. A cheap chain can be easily broken by twisting two links in the opposite direction. Quality chains will be made from hardened steel and the links will be thick with little space inside of each link. A good chain is an excellent way to secure your bike providing it is long enough to go through both wheels and the frame and secure the bike to an immovable object.
The problem is good quality chains are quiet heavy. This is the reason I don’t use one. I used to have a chain but I found the weight to be too much to carry around.
Cable Locks;
Again you need to pay some money to get a good cable lock. The basic difference between a good cable lock and a cheap one is the way the cable is stranded. Cheap cables tend to have strands of thick cable to make them up. More expensive and securer cables are multi braided with finer strands of cable weaved together.
The advantage of cables is that they are light and easy to thread through the bike. Obviously the thicker the cable the heavier it will be. I have an excellent cable lock from Germany which I’m very happy with.
Armoured locks
These are basically cable locks covered with metal rings. The rings are separate and prevent the cable from being seen. They also spin round so if a thief tries to saw through them they will move.
This is safer than a standard cable lock but also much heavier and not as flexible.
Once you’ve decided on your securing device you need to choose a locking mechanism. Cables and armoured locks usually have their own locking device attached. Chains however, will need to be held together with a lock.
Don’t get a good chain then weaken the security by locking it with a cheap padlock.
Shackle Locks
Shackle locks or “D” locks are a good way to secure your bike along with a cable lock for extra security. Like the other locks though buy a good solid hardened one that can’t be cut or broken easily.
When locking your bike up choose a public place. Ideally, in a busy street. Always lock it to an immovable object if you are going to be away for some time. Try to place the locks in a difficult position out of the way, so if someone does try to steal the bike they will have to do some yoga to get at the lock. This will also prevent them from using a hammer.
Also make sure the wheels are secured to the bike. Wheels are expensive and with quick release par for the course on modern wheels, easy to take off. Always make sure both your wheels are locked to the rest of the bike. I thread my cable through both wheels and around the frame.
Some people take their front wheel off and lock it to the back wheel. This is a good method but one I can’t be bothered with, maybe if I was leaving my bike for a long time I might consider it.
Use two different types of locks. A cable and a shackle lock for example combined will present a thief with problems and he may not think it worth the time.
Don’t leave your bike in a bike rack where you can only secure the front wheel, these are useless. I’d prefer to lock my bike to a lamp post.
Thieves make everybody’s life a misery so don’t make it easy for them.
Safe Cycling
Paul
