Most bicycle locks can be broken, but a sturdy lock with a smart lock strategy can greatly reduce thieves choosing your bicycle.
Using a bicycle to get around the city is one of the most efficient, healthy and versatile transportation methods.
Unfortunately, because they are often left out for hours while their users are at work or running errands, bicycles are a common goal for thieves.
Why a bicycle lock?
Very simple, avoid annoyance. For more economic bike we have, losing the bike means losing money and having to invest in a new one.
Choosing a good parking spot is not always easy, there are times that we have no other and the bike is unfortunately exposed. Parking on the street is usually the usual, not all places are safe, not all hours of the day are the best and we need that when we look for it, the bike is there.
We usually take the choice of the padlock lightly, but keep in mind that the one who steals a bicycle, the subject padlocks is something that has been very well studied. He knows that the mechanism is easier to violate, what material can be cut, which bicycle is well tied and which is not, finding only the front or rear wheel tied to the padlock is common.
Some look for places where there are many parked bikes, because they feel safer. It does not matter if one or twenty, if it is not well insured, is easy prey.
We must invest in a good padlock, think that with that money we are saving ourselves a dislike, having to invest again in another bicycle and stay on foot.
How to choose the best bike lock?
In the store you will notice different types of locks, ranging from sturdy U-shaped locks to smaller cables and chains. To find the perfect bike lock that fits your lifestyle, read the benefits of each type and then make a decision.
The objectives in a bicycle lock is to block and that this is the least attractive objective. Your bike may disappear in an instant.
However, many people simply enter stores for a second without doing so and find that their bicycle disappears when they leave, and their expensive padlock has gone with it.
Types of bicycle locks
U-Locks
One of the most popular padlocks among cyclists is the U-lock, initiated by Kryptonite padlock experts .
These locks offer the greatest protection for your bike , using a combination of hardened steel and a padlock that even the company admits it has trouble starting.
Cable locks
When you buy a cable lock , know that you are basically buying deterrence, not protection.
While they are the lightest bike locks , they can be easily cut with standard bolt cutters.
If you do not suspect that you will leave your bicycle for long periods in a part of the city known for its crime, you can get ahead with a safety cable.
Often, you will see that these are used together with a U-lock to protect different bicycle components, such as the seat or other removable parts.
The harder it is to do it for a thief, the less likely they are to try to steal it.
Chain locks
In a way, chain locks are a junction between U-locks and cables.
These bicycle locks can be used in areas known for serious crimes, and are robust enough to keep away almost all the tools that bicycle thieves normally use, but offer more mobility than wired locks.
Although they are much heavier than cables, these locks can be wrapped around the frame of a bicycle during transport, which makes them less bulky than U-locks.
Be sure to choose a chain lock that has a durable protective cover to protect your bike from scratches while driving.
Chain lock
Unfortunately, the wheels and quick-release saddles are as convenient for thieves as for bicycle owners.
Excellent for high crime areas , lock skewers disable the quick release function and make it much harder to steal.
Keys and lock combinations
Key locks use flat or cylindrical keys. The cylindrical keys obtained a bad reputation in previous years when it was discovered that some locks of this style could be chosen by a pen.
The newest models have solved that problem, so now either styles is equally effective.
Key-locked locks usually come with at least 2 keys, so you will have a backup.
Most bicycle lock manufacturers have a key replacement program if they lose their keys.
Tips for choosing a bicycle lock
- Spend everything you can for your lock: The heavier and heavier the lock, the harder it is to cut it. Unfortunately, that volume also means more weight that you will have to carry while you cycle.
A U-lock should surround the rear tire and the tire, somewhere inside the rear triangle of the frame.
- U-locks are considered safer: The tighter the padlock is, it will keep the bike close to what is locked, the less chance it will have to hit it from side to side or place a lever or 2 × 4 in the middle.
People tend to buy large U-locks because they don’t know how to use them correctly.
- Lock it together something solid: The best is a suitable bike rack. Blocking it to a tree is not a good idea; It is not good for trees and does not provide much protection.
Often, security or building managers will remove bicycles if handrails are locked, particularly if they are near wheelchair ramps
To consider
Beyond the type of lock we choose, we must take into account other factors that have to do with the environment where we leave the bicycle, the time we leave it alone and the time of day. These issues will give us a guideline of what level of security we need and what type of lock to buy.
If we are going to talk about environments, the areas where the bike is most exposed are usually those that are known in advance that thefts are frequent, if we do not have knowledge, let’s think in reverse, the safest areas are those that have surveillance or even Some residential areas closed. Rural areas and roads are usually areas of little danger; while there are urban areas such as university campuses, which depending on the influx will be more or less dangerous.
Calculating the time is very simple, the longer the bike alone and the less in sight, the more secure the padlock. If we combine many hours parked, plus a high risk zone, without hesitation we have to make a maximum security lock.
As for the hours of the day, the night always plays against, because the darkness brings some complicity and anonymity. In the same way as in the previous point, if we are going to leave the bicycle in a risky area, many hours alone and over night; or we get a very good security lock or we will have the theft guaranteed.
To compensate for the work of the locks, we can perform some extra actions that provide security, such as tying the bike always well in the frame; If the area is not very safe, everything you can remove from your bike take it with you; and if you want more peace of mind or your bike is very expensive, you can get two locks.