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We’ve probably all suffered from scallywags stealing bikes, or know someone who has. And while nothing is completely theft-proof, there are plenty of things you can do to significantly reduce the risk, like using the best bike lock you can find.
The thought of your two-wheeled pride and joy disappearing off into the night is a horrifying thought, and as a result mountain bikers are security-conscious bunch. To beef up your protection and reduce the risk of theft, these are some of the best bike locks and bike security devices, plus some other practical measures you can take.
Kryptonite Stronghold Ground Anchor
Kryptonite Stronghold Ground Anchor
Great for tying your bikes to, the Kryptonite Stronghold Anchor has a 16mm hardened carbon alloy steel shackle. Set it into concrete, but make sure it’s in the right spot because there’s no getting it out again.
Kryptonite Evolution Series Integrated Chain
Kryptonite Evolution Series Integrated Chain
Goes perfectly with the ground anchor, Kryptonite’s Evolution Series Integrated Chain hides the padlock away in the end of the chain so there’s less to attack. Comes in a range of lengths.
Pragmasis Shed Shackle
Pragmasis Shed Shackle
What about if you’ve got no concrete floor for an anchor… The Shed Shackle from Pragmasis reinforces a large area of shed wall, meaning a thief has to cut or smash out a huge section if they want the Shackle out.
Asgard Access E Plus
Asgard Access E Plus
Investing in a shed? Asgard makes some of the best, like the Access E Plus that features charging points for e-bikes (or your lights or Di2 if you’re not into e-bikes). It’s made from weatherproof steel and weighs 19 stone so there’s be no shifting it when it’s anchored to the ground.
What to look for in a bike lock
Cost and security level
Types of bike lock
D-lock
Chain lock
How to lock your bike up securely
7 things you can do to avoid bike theft
1. Think like a thief
Unpleasant, but necessary. Spend some time looking at your shed or garage in a new light, and think about the weak points. “They don’t care about collateral damage,” says Steve Briggs, who designs top end bike locks for engineering firm Pragmasis. “We know of a case where thieves attacked six bikes that were chained together and the owner thought he didn’t need a ground anchor — the thieves hacked through five frames to get one bike out, with the chain still attached.”
Do you leave a spade next to the shed that could be a handy crowbar? Are there windows so thieves can see what’s inside? Is your garden gate old and falling off its hinges? Does the shed have secure doors and windows but a roof that’s easy to get through? Grab your virtual swag bag and probe your property for weak points.
2. Do the simple stuff: replace bolts, design for difficulty
Not all security has to mean alarm systems and complex safe-like sheds. There are plenty of things you can do to make your bike a less alluring target, by making it harder, more awkward and uncomfortable, and more time consuming for the would-be thief.
Security screws with rounded ends that secure hinges, bolts and padlocks to sheds don’t work, according to Briggs. “Thieves don’t muck about with screwdrivers, they use a crowbar and rip it all out,” Briggs says.
Replace them with long, round-headed coach bolts that secure on the inside to a bolt with a washer, with one bolt on each side of the hinge and one bolt on each side of any lock. “It doesn’t cost much to do that, but all of a sudden the thief has to work hard,” Steve says. “In terms of overall cost effectiveness things like this are the best.”
Think things like gravel paths which are noisy to walk on, spiky plants which are painful to get through, and automatic or movement-triggered security lights.
3. New locks and bolts
Simple sliding bolts with a padlock are vulnerable, so replace them with a hasp and staple — that’s the thing with a flap of metal that shuts over a ring bolt. “Get a good one. Sometimes the staple is so slim it can be cut with bolt cutters,” Briggs shares. “And make sure the staple is vertical, not horizontal, because it lets the padlock hang downwards and not stick up, inviting attack.”
Up and over garage doors are pretty puny, but if you’ve got another way in to the garage it’s easy to just put sliding bolts on the inside. If not, buy some garage locking door bolts.
What about a Garage Defender? “It’s tricky,” says Briggs. “If you’re a row of six lockups and everyone has one, get one. If you’re the only one who’ll have one, then don’t get one because it’ll advertise you have something in there. Then again, if you’ve already had a theft then get one, because they know you have valuable stuff and there’s a pretty good chance they’ll come back.”
4. Think security inside as well as out
If the thief gets inside your garage or shed, you need level two security. “You’re always looking to tie the bikes down, so get a ground anchor and chain,” Briggs says.
Locks are heavy though so make sure you invest in something you can handle, and actually use it, rather than something huge and clunky that gathers dust. “The idea is for the thief to take one look and walk away.”
Ideally use more than one type of lock (chain, D-lock etc) and secure your bikes through the frame and wheels too.
5. Don’t advertise what you’ve got
Who doesn’t love posting pictures of their bike? And while it’s gratifying to share the adulation of online friends who are as impressed with your bike as you are, others could be watching.
“Don’t advertise what you’ve got,” Briggs says. That means no bike brand stickers on the windows of your shed, car, van and so on, and don’t work on your bike on the front drive. Do what you can to make your stuff look
“If people are careless on social media thieves can tell where you live, and see what bikes you’ve got too,” according to Briggs. This means try to avoid posting anything that associates your nice bike with exactly where you live, if you can avoid it.
Also think about things like Strava, which, if you have a publicly viewable profile and you’ve added the details, means that people could see what bike you ride and where your journeys start and end. Either make your profile private, don’t post what bike you have and set up a zone around your start point that will obscure where you live.
So should you shout about how much security you have? Yes and no, Steve says. You don’t want it to draw people in so it needs to be unobtrusive from a distance. “But it needs to be bloody secure and obviously so, if someone’s close up and in your garden looking around.”
6. Join a bike registration organisation
If you’re in the UK, the national, police approved registration scheme is called Bike Register. It’s free to join and has close to one millions registrations. You’ll receive a free sticker to add to your bike to deter thieves.
If your bike is stolen, you can report it online and share details via social media.
7. Remove accessories
Always remove things like lights, bags and other valuable attachments that would be easy for a thief to remove and sell. While not as valuable a full bike, those 200 quid Exposure lights or fancy bikepacking frame bag are expensive to replace.
This also means components. Designer saddles and front wheels are prime targets, especially if they’re pricy and high quality.