Keeping Your Bicycle Secure From Thieves

A friend of mine had his bicycle stolen and he was more than heartbroken. At home, his bike was stored on his wall like art. It was always clean and in great shape, as was he and that was part of his relationship with it as well. He lost his bike while “locked” on a rack on the back of his jeep, but there are things you can do to help save your investment. And make no mistake, they are an investment.

“The average retail price of rigs sold in specialty bike shops increased from $410 in 2005 (or $499 to adjust for inflation) to $714 in 2014. And many high-performance bicycles sell for four and five figures these days.” Says outsideonline.com.

They offer several pieces of advice but here are some key points.

Be wary of cable locks, which are easily chopped with wire cutters.

Always bring your bike inside at night.

Two or three locks (even cables) are better than one.

Park your bike with other bikes when you lock it up. If you have a good-quality lock and other cyclists have poorer security, their bikes will be targeted first.

And finally, if you like tech, “Consider investing in a GPS tracking device, such as the Helios handlebar, the Spot Trace, or the forthcoming BikeTrak.”

Your serial number is the only thing that connects you to your bike! Record serial numbers, receipts, and photos. And register with a nationwide database like the National Bike Registry. Bikeshepard.org has more on security and getting your wheels back.

Don’t forget to secure your helmet, seat, wheels and other detachable items. If your bike is expensive, your lock should be too. No lock can stop everyone, but slowing a thief down will persuade a thief to look for an easier target.

Locks are rated at bicycling.com. Proper use of locks is discussed at jimlangley.net. Getting it back is the subject at gizmodo.com.

Good luck and happy trails to you! Here are some simple but clever quick ways to be able to get home without walking.