THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CYCLING
BEATING
THE THIEVES ney in the You wouldn’t leave a suitcase full of mo street. Why do the same for your bike?
SECURE YOUR BIKE WHEN IT COMES to bike security, the most obvious advice is to use a bike lock. Even if you’re only popping into a shop for a moment, always use a lock as it only take a moment to steal a bike. Go for a lock that’s been rated by Sold Secure, as this will guarantee a good level of theft resistance. Brands with a strong reputation include Abus, Kryptonite and Litelok. Look for a lock which is easy to handle. Ideally, you should be able to lock and unlock it with gloved hands. If you ride whatever the weather, check for weatherproofing around the key barrel. You also need to think about how you are going to carry the lock. Many locks have mounts for fitting the bike to a bicycle frame, which saves the hassle of finding room in a bag. Think twice about carrying the lock on your body unless it has been designed to be worn this way (for example, Hiploks are designed to sit flat against the body, and so reduce the chance of being injured by the lock in a fall). GO FOR A QUALITY LOCK There are plenty of cheap, thin and flexible
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locks on the market. On the face of it these look tempting, as they are easy to carry and straightforward to use. But these inexpensive and lightweight locks rarely offer good security – you’re much better off spending more on something really tough and robust. It might seem like overkill, but using more than one lock is a smart move. That’s especially true if you have quick-release skewers on your wheels. These make it easier to remove a wheel to fix a puncture, but also make life easy for a bike thief. Make sure a lock passes through your frame and one of the wheels, securing to something solid like a bike stand. Then use the second lock to secure the other wheel to the bicycle frame. LEAVING YOUR BIKE Where you lock your bike can also make a difference. At school, college or work, if there are dedicated bike parking facilities then use them, especially if they are monitored by CCTV, or behind a security barrier. If you need to leave your bike in a public place, the more public the better: don’t put it somewhere a
