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How to avoid getting your bike stolen

by bernt & torsten

The best way to avoiding your bike being stolen is to own a second-hand bike that the bike thieves do not want, but if you want an expensive bike you should try these top security tips instead …

• Invest 10-20% of the cost of your bike on the lock. You should invest in a hardened steel D-lock as the minimum protection. Use two locks. A good D-lock can be forced apart with a car jack, and the thickest chains can be cut by the biggest bolt cutter. But use one of each and the thief needs both tools. You need to make it hard for the thieves to get your bike.
• Then make sure you lock it properly. Put the lock through the frame, and secure it to something immovable. Leave as little slack in the chain as possible so it’s hard for even determined thieves to go to work. Never leave padlocks lying on the ground; they can be whacked open with a sledgehammer.
• Take the value of your bike into account. The better your bike is, the more trouble a thief will take. Don’t park it in the same spot every day, and don’t leave it where it’s obviously the most expensive bike around. If you spent more than $1,000 on it, don’t let it out of your sight.
• Disguise its worth. Some people put tape over the name or spray paint the frame an ugly color. Even if the thieves see through your camouflage, you have probably lowered the resale value of the bike, making it a less attractive target.
• Invest in a bike that isn’t worth stealing. You can get a brand new bicycle at the cycle store for $100. The thieves would rather have the lock.