How do you protect your bike?
How do you protect your bike?
So my dilemma: I bought my eBike to help me get around the city, because I don’t have a car and our transit has been going downhill since the pandemic.
HOWEVER, I keep hearing how awful bike thefts are here, and the only way to keep my bike safe is to never let it out of my sight. Which severely limits the types of errand I can use it for.
So — how do you keep your bike safe? Insurance? Alarm? System of expensive locks? Never leave it unattended? Have you ever had your bike stolen? Anything you wish you’d done differently?
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Here's a few tips that I either use myself, or see lots of people recommending:
- For quick lockups, I use a U-lock (or D-lock, whatever you want to call it) around the seat tube and whatever I'm locking to. My e-bike is a fat-tire model, so I can't really get the rear tire in there too, but bonus points if you can get the rear wheel, seat tube, and what you're locking to inside of it.
- For longer lockups or stops in higher risk areas, adding in a chain lock or cable lock and doing something similar to what @PugJesus suggested can be a good idea. Essentially, the idea is to get both wheels and the frame interconnected and attached to something secure.
- General rule of thumb suggested to me once: invest in a lock that's about 10% of the cost of your bike (making sure it's a good quality lock, of course). I personally use an Abus Granit X-Plus 540, which has served me very well so far.
Edit to add: Also might not be a bad idea to register your bike on something like Project529. Doesn't really prevent someone from taking the bike, but might help make it easier to get it back.
Great tips, thank you! I’ve got a U-lock/D-lock and a freaking heavy chain (Kryptonite New York Noose), so I really should probably stop stressing!
I am registered with the police and Project529, but you’re right that those are worth mentioning!
Pretty much my logic, but I also have a vibration sensing alarm. In my extremely safe neighborhood (where most people don't lock their bikes up) I'll sometimes dip into a quick stop with the u-lock through the rear wheel to the frame, keeping it from rolling, and the alarm set.
Once in a pinch I wrapped my chain around a huge concrete pillar - it barely fit - and the u-lock between the chain and my frame.