You return one day to find your bike has been stolen. Then, you spot it for sale on eBay.

What do you do?

• Confront the seller directly?
• Just pay them?
• Contact eBay? Contact the police?

Sometimes miraculous recoveries do happen.

This is the story of how one London cyclist, Stuart, got his bike back.

In the early hours of Thursday 11th of April, Stuart discovered that a thief had cut through two padlock straps on his bike shed. They’d managed to free the bike in the same way as three other bikes in his local area.

Stuart immediately registered his stolen bike with Bike Shepherd and then used www.findthatbike.co.uk.

Find That Bike along with Bikeshd are two websites that give you an easy way to glance through the listings on online auction websites such as eBay.

The Cannondale Supersix bike was quickly spotted for sale on eBay. The distinctive wheels were easy to spot as they’d been bought to replace the standard wheels that come with the bike. This little customisation was to prove crucial in the recovery.

With the bike listing in hand, he called and emailed the Cycle Task Force.

Time was of the essence and the listing only had two days left.

When he was able to describe the non-standard parts and was able to provide receipts, the police had enough to be able to execute a search warrant on the address that they found.

Fortunately, the bike was there as expected and it was returned to Stuart almost immediately. The thief was apprehended and the police believe there’s a good chance of a prosecution.

Key takeways:

• Register your bike
• Non-standard features on your bike make it easier to identify
• Always keep receipts
• If you are in London, contact the Cycle Task Force: cycletaskforce@met.police.uk. They are often better equipped to deal with bike theft.
• Bike sheds are not necessarily as secure as you may be lead to believe. Stuart had his bike locked in a Trimetal bike shed.

This wasn’t the first time..

This wasn’t the first time Stuart had experienced a bike theft and has managed to beat the thieves.

After a bump with a van, Stuart was hailing down a black cab on Victoria Embankment. When he turned round to pickup his bike, his damaged bike had been stolen.

Despite looking away only for a couple of minutes, that’s all it took and his bike was gone.

Three months later, Stuart is cycling along near Clapham South on his replacement bike. Unbelievably, he spots a guy riding his old bike.

His Scott Expert Hardtail mountain bike had a very distinctive paint job and graphics. When he spotted the big dent on the top tube and the replacement hand grips he’d bought, he was certain this was his bike.

He went over to the thief and ran his hand over the top tube to check for the familiar dent.

Confronting the thief, he asked what he was doing with a stolen bike and that he would be getting the police involved. After a short sharp conversation, he told the thief that he wasn’t going anywhere with his bike.

The thief ran off and Stuart got his bike back.

The story proves that if your bike is stolen, there is always hope you can get it back.

The post How one London cyclist got his stolen bike back from eBay appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

If you sat and thought now about the number of times you’ve been riding happily along, minding your own manners and rules of the road, only to have an angry driver honk, scowl or shout a few colourful words your way?

Ever wondered why? Was that guy just having a bad day or did you unknowingly swerve in front of his vehicle?

A recent article by BBC writer and Cognitive Science and Psychology lecturer at the University of Sheffield, Tom Stafford puts forth an interesting theory.

Social Order Interrupted

Stafford’s theory, is that motorists get angry at cyclists simply because they interrupt the natural social order of driving, and therefore society.

When we get behind the wheel or a pair of handlebars, there is a direct and indirect set of rules to which we all agree.

It’s similar to when you arrive at the post office and there’s a huge queue. You don’t just skip to the front of the queue, you join the back. (Especially as you are British).

However, cyclists are sometimes above those rules. In both a legal and illegal sense.

For example, in a queue, a cyclist can very easily get to the front.

Already that disrupts the social order.

In more extreme cases, a cyclist can jump a red light, ride on the pavement or cycle the wrong way up a one way street.

All of this leaves a driver thinking: “Blood cyclists”.

When they say “bloody cyclists” what they are really saying is: “Why should I have to sit here in a queue while the cyclist jumps to the front?”.

Indeed, car drivers get just as angry at other drivers who sneak into the queue without signalling, drive recklessly and otherwise ignore widely accepted road rules.

Interestingly, in Mexico, I made the mistake of driving the wrong way up a one way street. I inconvenienced four motorists, yet not a single one seemed angry at me. Perhaps as rule breaking on the road is more prevalent here, there’s less of a “social order” from which to deviate.

“Bloody cyclists”

Another psychological principle is at work on our roads.

To make sense of the complex world around us our minds like to simplify things. The result is we overgeneralise.

Drivers will often lump everyone who rides a bicycle in to one big group labelled “cyclists”. They see a cyclist behaving badly, and then conclude “all cyclists break the rules”.

Indeed, the angry wrath of the driver that you are receiving may be the result of another cyclist they saw earlier in the day.

This is further exacerbated by the way we tend to better remember the scenarios where someone breaks the rules, as it makes an impression on us. In contrast, when someone follows the rules, we don’t notice, as there is little to notice.

See also: How to make your next bike ride safer than the last.

Venting anger on Twitter

A cursory check on Twitter reveals what people really think.

One man wrote, “20,000 points to the first person who hits an annoying bloody cyclist!”

Meanwhile a woman posted this seconds later: “Almost hit a cyclist who ran a red light, was tempted to speed up and grant his death wish. Ha!”

These comments were angry, but tame compared to many others.

The question then becomes, is this anger warranted or are bicyclists simply the new group to hate?

The anger is mostly irrational. Most cyclists obey the rules. Indeed, we don’t get angry when the driver has the advantage, and they can accelerate on a clear road, so why should they get angry at a cyclist who can get to the front of a queue?

If you’re the cyclist who makes up your own road rules, with little regard for your road mates, you probably think they’re overreacting.

If you often bear the brunt of motorist hostility, simply because you travel on two wheels, you probably wish your fellow cyclists would try a little harder to share the road amicably.

Is there anything we, as cyclists, can do to make motorists a little less angry?

There are the basics, such as sticking to the rules and showing a little politeness.

In the mean time, they’ll continue to be angry cyclists and angry motorists. Sharing the road inevitably means these conflicts will arise. As we start to see better infrastructure for cyclists, we may also see a drop in conflicts.

See also: 7 things you should give up in order to be a happy cyclist.

The post Why do drivers get angry at cyclists appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

One of the perils of cycling in London is the likelihood of experiencing some bad driving, and the chances are that you’ve been on the wrong end of a careless taxi driver, a wreckless motorcyclist or a tired TFL bus driver who’s thoughtlessly crept into the bike lane.

Of course, having a close call due to bad driving isn’t as bad as actually having the collision (and we’ve written on the steps to keep in mind if you are ever in an accident), but you’ll no doubt want to make sure that where there’s a driver to blame, they can’t do it again.

Obviously, your insurance company can’t do anything when you’ve not actually been hit (and that’s a good thing!) but for the good of the cyclists union and for the safety of all road users, you should consider making a complaint to the relevant authority. Below are details of how to make that complaint, depending on what sort of vehicle it was.

Private vehicles

So you’re cycling along and get pushed into the curb by a boy racer in a Citroen Saxo. You somehow manage to keep cycling, but are shocked that the driver is allowed on the road. What do you do?

• Make a note of the registration number (worth pulling over and saving it on your phone)
• At the next opportunity write down your recollection of exactly what happened

When it comes to complaining, the first thing is to contact your local police station. Your statement will help with the Metropolitan Police’s RoadSafeLondon campaign, but don’t go thinking the driver will face immediate punishment: if it’s the first note against the registration number then police will see your complaint next time a complaint is made – and it may well be a matter of time.

While not an official measure, you should also consider reporting the incident to the CTC, whose ‘Stop SMIDSY’ campaign is aimed at making streets safer.

Taxis

Taxi drivers have much more to lose if they’re reported – driving isn’t just a mode of transport for them, but their livelihood. In the first instance you should contact the Public Carriage Office, although they will only look into cases where there may have been discourtesy or abuse.

If possible, take a note too of the driver number (black writing in a white box, usually on the rear of the cab) as this will be helpful to the PCO.

Follow the same steps above and report the taxi driver to the police. Given many taxi drivers often work the same areas, make sure you’re certain where the incident happened as it may be a regular occurrence that police can then look out for.

Buses

There are a number of details you need to take if you’re planning on making a complaint to TFL about a bus. As with other vehicles, you need the registration number, but you should also get as much of the following as possible:

• The route number (from the front or back of the bus)
• The bus’ serial number (usually on the front or back, but could be anywhere)
• The driver number (usually in the driver’s window)

Of these three, the driver number is the most important as it shows who was driving the bus at the time of the incident – and makes it much easier (and more likely) that TFL will take action.

Think outside of the box

While you’re fairly restricted when it comes to complaining about buses, with private vehicles and cabs you can use a bit of initiative. In the case of company vans or cars, note which company the driver is working for and make a complaint to them directly. While you might not see a result directly, the driver might get a warning and drive more carefully as a result. Likewise with taxis, contact the businesses which have paid to advertise on the side – it’s unlikely they’ll want to be associated with reckless driving.

Patience is a virtue

You’re unlikely to see immediate results against a driver who you complain about. But think of the greater good – the more complaints, the more chance that bad drivers will be reprimanded, either by their employer or the police. And that’s only going to be a good thing for road safety for cyclists.

See also: 7 things you should give up in order to be a happy cyclist

The post How to report bad driving appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Let me build some context about my friend DJ Sean..

Sean goes surfing and comes back with a huge cut to his forehead that needs stiches.

A few days later he goes surfing again and comes back with a sea urchin stuck in his foot.

He goes to the beach and comes back with a scorpion sting.

It won’t surprise you when I tell you that Sean is on a first name basis with his doctor. In fact, he has him in his favourite contacts.

Driving back after the scorpion incident, Sean, turns to me and says:

“Andreas, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask you about cycling”

What is it that Sean is going to ask?

Is it how do we create more liveable cities centred around public transport, cycling and walking rather than the car? Is it what do you think is behind the growth in the number of cyclists? Is it what first inspired you to start cycling?

Or perhaps Sean wants to raise some kind of controversial question: Don’t you think helmet use should be compulsory for cyclists?

No.

Sean, with a sea urchin still in his foot, stiches across his forehead and a scorpion sting on his finger asks:

“I’d love to cycle in Vancouver but isn’t it dangerous?”

I had to laugh, yet it’s a universal question on so many potential cyclists lips.

A question I’ve been asked 100s of times.

It always throws me.

Sure, cycling can be dangerous. Accidents happen.

Just as you can go surfing and end up with stiches and a sea urchin in your foot – so you can be hit by a car or you can come off your bike.

It’s not something I generally think about when I set off every morning on my bike.

Just as a surfer doesn’t go out thinking they’ll be bitten by a shark today.

Statistically speaking, surfing, cycling and a myriad of other outdoor activities involve a certain degree of danger.

Statistically speaking, these activities are far more likely to extend your life, than reduce it.

That may be little comfort but Sean and I are both logical guys, so I choose statistics to further answer his question.

Nearly 50% of cyclists deaths on London’s roads involve heavy goods vehicles. The drivers cannot see the cyclist that pulls up on the inside of the lorry. With the cyclist in the blind spot, the lorry unknowingly turns left in to the cyclists path.

Stay away from lorries and you’ve already greatly improved your safety.

Two more techniques are crucial for safe cycling.

The first is riding further out from the pavement. Drivers will generally give you as much space as you give yourself. If you hug the side of the road, drivers will attempt dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.

The second is glancing over your shoulder every 10 seconds when in traffic. This works well, as it establishes eye contact with the driver and it centres their attention on you. Our eyes are drawn to faces and it turns you from a nameless cyclist, in to a person.

The short answer to Sean’s question: I wouldn’t give up cycling. I’ve had a few minor incidents but they are vastly outweighed by the benefits and the joy it brings me.

“I’d love to try it” Sean tells me. He also shared a small parable with me:

“You don’t want to run across the finish line of life without any cuts and bruises – you should crawl across, bruised but having lived a full life”.

I’d be inclined to agree.

The post Sean and his weird question about cycling appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

If your question isn’t answered, feel free to use the form below and Ben will give you a call back to discuss your situation.

I was knocked off and the driver drove off without stopping? Could I still claim losses?

In this instance, it is very difficult to put a case together. Somebody has to be liable for costs. In the event of an injury, and so long as the accident and injuries have been reported to the police, sometimes the case can be taken on by going through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).

I hit a big pot hole and damaged my bike. Will the council pay up?

This is again a tricky one. Councils are liable for maintaining roads, however, we have to be realistic here as to how much we can expect councils to be on top of this – especially over winter, where pot holes are springing up all over the place. 

If there is a serious injury, and the pothole has been there for sometime and is over a certain depth, it may be worth pursuing a claim for damages.

A pedestrian stepped out on me, causing me to fall, is he liable?

Again, this isn’t really feasible. The pedestrian could well by liable, but if it was just an accident, and the pedestrian has no insurance. The same goes for cyclists taking each other out, if the offending rider does not have insurance, you are already on the back foot. 

Personally, I would prefer it stays this way, I like not having to pay insurance to ride my bike, or walk to the shops! 

I need my bike to get to work, I was in a non-fault accident, my bike is unrideable, and the driver has refused to acknowledge this and pay up. What can I do?

So long as the drivers details, and registration number were obtained, we can help you out. We will pay for the repairs to your bike upfront, and provide a hire bike for you to use in the mean time. It can be delivered whenever most convenient.  All costs will eventually be covered by the third party insurance company. 

Will I be compensated for my injuries and loss of earnings?

If you decide to claim through a company such as CAMS then yes, this is all covered as part of the legal process. No costs will be required of you at any point.

Can I deal with the third part insurance company directly?

Presuming the driver has admitted liability, this is certainly an option. They will sometimes settle quickly and without fuss, however, this is often not the case. 

Will my bike be repaired at a dealer of my choice?

CAMS work with most independent bike shops within central London. This is all part of our service, your bike will remain at the shop, and you deal with your local guy/girl with respect to any repairs undertaken. 

I don’t have the means to get my bike to a repairer…

A few of our dealers provide a London wide courier service. 

I am not sure who was at fault?

Fill in the form at the end of this post to discuss, it is impossible to say without knowing all the details, each case is individual. 

How much compensation will I receive?

The amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the cycling incident, the effects, long and short term it has had on the individual, and many other variables. It would be unprofessional to give a guideline costs, as it can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds. 

How long will it take?

The cycling accident claim process from start to finish can be done in a few months, or could take years it all depends again on the severity of the incident. Usually, the more serious the incident, the more complicated it is, and e longer it will take. Rest assured, your bike will be sorted straight away, and we won’t leave you hanging to get back on the road. 

I can’t afford public transport, but I need to get to work…

CAMS will provide you a hire bike, if you are fit to ride. This won’t cost you anything, and you can have it as long as you need, or until the case is settled or your bike has been repaired.

The post When can you claim in a cycling accident appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Question from a reader of London Cyclist Blog:

I’m about to move into a flat that has no bike storage. This leaves me and my flatmate with a dilemma:

How to store 3 bikes, one of them a high end mountain bike.

I ran a Google search to see if there are any enterprising people out there who have set up long term bike storage rental facilities for people in the same predicament as me (of which there must be thousands…), but no joy. Your article on bike storage options in the home came up, though, so I thought I’d drop you a line to see if you knew of any such facilities? If not, I’d almost be tempted to look into it as a business opportunity, as I’m sure there would be a demand for it in certain areas of London.

I had a similar issue the last time I moved in to an apartment. There’s a few different solutions and I’d be open to hearing suggestions in the comments.

The first is to sell one of the bikes. This is the option that I ended up going with after about 6 months of a bike taking up loads of space. This isn’t ideal as you may regularly use the bike and therefore not want to sell it.

The second option is to find a self storage facility nearby. I’ve stored away a few of my belongings in a storage unit that is based in Luton. London based facilities tend to be more expensive, especially as you get closer to the centre. Again, this isn’t ideal both due to the added cost and the inconvenience of having to get to the storage facility.

Another option is to ask the council to see if there are any garages nearby available for residents. Our residential block had some but they were unavailable and there was a waiting list. I believe this is fairly typical.

You could look in to solutions such as the Cycloc. Although there may be a lack of space to store this or it might go against the contract you’ve signed on your rented apartment.

Occasionally, you can find safe bike storage locations such as The H2 gym in Soho. However, this is still a little rare and you still need to ensure your bike is well locked.

The ultimate victory would be to get the council to install secure bike parking. After all, if parking spaces are being provided for car owners, why not for cyclists?

I’d love to hear from London Cyclist readers with their suggestions. Are there any solutions I’ve not heard of?

The post Long term bike storage appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

Have you ever been cycling merrily along and suddenly an ultra bright bike light blinds you?

According to a recent spate of emails I’ve been receiving this is becoming a “hot issue” for London’s cyclists.

Cyclists tend to love their accessories. From our waterproof jackets, to our bike locks and our bike lights. It seems in the later category, people are choosing ultra bright lights, to both see the road ahead and to be seen.

There’s a stark difference between a bike light such as the Magicshine MJ-872 and your typical front bike light. The Magicshine was original designed for mountain bikers. It’s incredibly useful for late night cycling, down off road trails or even down country lanes.

The power of a bike light is typically measured in Lumens. The Magicshine provides 1600 Lumens of light. In comparison, a typical bike light will provide around 20 Lumens.

The result of any cyclists unfortunate enough to be caught in the beam is that they’ll be dazzled or even temporarily blinded.

In response, you have to slow down and avoid looking at the beam of the light. Even then, the effects can be at best irritating and at worst dangerous.

As a driver you tend to reserve your full beam lights for dark country lanes. The moment you notice another car, you are meant to turn them off.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy for a cyclist to do the same things as bike lights tend to be located further along the handlebars. This would mean removing your hands from your handlebars to adjust them, every time you saw another cyclist.

The common sense practise would be to reserve full power bike lights for quiet country lanes or locations where you are not likely to dazzle a fellow cyclist.

The problem tends to be focused on front bike lights that are either on the handlebars or on a helmet. However, I’ve also heard reports of issues with ultra bright rear bike lights.

I personally tend to cycle with two small bike lights of around 20 Lumens. This is enough to be seen, but won’t cause a problem for a cyclist coming towards me. I have found myself on the receiving end of ultra bright lights. While it’s a little frustrating, there’s not much I can do.

So what should be done about this “epidemic”?

There’s obviously no harm in calmly approaching a cyclist with ultra bright lights and letting them know why that might be an issue. Although, you may well be told to mind your own business!

I’m interesting in hearing your opinions in this one. Leave a comment below and I look forward to reading your thoughts.

The post The dazzling bike light epidemic appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

This week we’re covering cycling accidents on London Cyclist.

Our first post shared the results of our survey where we found that nearly 60% of cyclists have at one stage been involved in an accident.

Today, I wanted to cover some of the scenarios where you may seek to make a claim for damage to your bike, any medical expenses or for any inconvenience caused. The main message of this week is that cyclists shouldn’t just think “Oh I’m fine, no problem” they should take the time to get people’s insurance details, much like a car driver would.

Accidents with other vehicles

This is the most common scenario. Whether a vehicle bumps in to you, or you fall off your bike avoiding a vehicle, you may wish to get the details off the driver. A typical scenario is a dooring incident or one I’ve more commonly experienced is a car coming out of a side road.

The important message here is that even if the driver fails to stop or they are not insured, you can make a cycle accident claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau.

Essentially if the driver is negligent in their driving, you have grounds for action. It’s common to hear of cyclists being knocked off their bike, getting up and thinking “no harm done” and then when they arrive home they discover serious damage to their bike and injuries.

“Car turned right in front of me. I somersaulted over the bonnet. I was lucky, I was wearing a rucksack and it cushioned my fall. My bike was quite badly damaged. I didn’t claim, I was in shock, it was wet and I was cold. I cycled home as best as I could.”

Accidents involving pedestrians

If a pedestrian walks in to your path and you have to swerve to avoid them and you end up coming off your bike or damaging it, then you have a cycle accident claim. However, this isn’t quite as clear cut as an accident with a vehicle.

Potholes or bad road surfaces

Another common area is when there’s a pothole in the road and you come off your bike. However, it’s not just limited to this. It could apply to other defects in the road such as something sticking up from the surface. This claim would be against the local council, and they have been known to cause big delays to claims procedures. The best thing to do is to get a picture of the pothole or defect as the council may claim it was never there. Ideally in the picture you should include some kind of object that shows the size of the defect.

I rode through a water filled pothole and flew over the handlebars. As you can imagine I landed on my face, thank god I was wearing a helmet but I lost three front teeth they had to be replaced.

When you don’t have a cycle accident claim

There are obviously many scenarios when you can’t claim. For example, if you come off your bike due to frost on the road or black ice then there isn’t a claim. Obviously the council can’t protect against this in all scenarios.

Either way, it’s worth always talking to a specialist and see if it’s worth taking things further. The best thing to do is to get details and pictures no matter what the accident is at the time, as it’s easier to assess things when you get home.

Notice: London Cyclist is partnered with CAMS. CAMS is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities, authorisation number: CRM2490

The post When can you make a cycle accident claim appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

The survey was completed by 1,152 cyclists.

We asked:

Have you ever been in an incident with another road user?
By that I mean anything from a minor bump to a larger incident.

You said:

Minor – 47.2%
Major – 10.9%
No, I’ve never been involved in an incident – 41.9%

I personally fall in the minor incident camp. I’ve had pedestrians walk in to the bicycle path without the time to avoid, I’ve had cars pulling out of side lanes when I’m in full view. Therefore, I’m not surprised at the minor incident numbers.

The more shocking stat is that 11% of respondents have been involved in more serious incidents. This of course begs the question – did they then decide to claim?

“No, I was in shock, it was wet and I was cold. I cycled home as best as I could.”

It was an open ended question so we had to categorise answers ourselves but around 22% did launch a claim. The reasons given for not claiming were mainly that no harm was done or that they were in too much shock.

“Nope – didn’t know how to as the car drove off”

Some people said they didn’t know how to because the car drove off. In fact in this scenario you can claim against the motor insurers bureau.

Onwards to the rest of the results…

We asked:

Who was involved in the incident?

You said:

By far the vast majority were incidents involving cars. Interestingly, many of the other answers given were another cyclist.

We asked:

Was your bike damaged in the incident?

You said:

No – 56%
Yes – 44%

This highlighted the importance of getting the other individuals details in an incident.

We asked:

Did you get witness details?

You said:

No – 82.9%
Yes – 17.1%

Witness details are not always necessary but can be helpful if you needed to claim for damages.

We asked:

Are you aware that accident claims can be filed for incidents that happened up to 3 years ago?

You said:

No – 75.7%
Yes –  24.3%

Most people don’t realise they can claim for a cycling accident up to three years in the past.

Main takeaways from survey

1. There’s no way to sugar coat the issue that cycling can at times be dangerous. Fortunately, the majority of people reported they have either never been in an incident or they have been in a minor incident. More should be done to create the kind of environment that makes cycling as safe as possible.
2. If you are injured in an accident or your bike is damaged, then you should get the drivers details and make a claim. Most people don’t realise that this is fairly easy to do. We’ve partnered with CAMS to offer London Cyclist readers this option, but there are many alternative companies out there.

CAMS is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities, authorisation number: CRM2490

The post 58.1% of cyclists have been involved in an accident appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.

These headlines make me want to haul up inside my new BMW X6M “Chelsea Tractor” and hide in my secured compound with 24 hour armed guard security.

Except, I don’t have a BMW X6M and I don’t have a secured compound.

What I do have is a bicycle that I’d very much like to keep. Fortunately, for the past three years I’ve managed to achieve just that.

That’s despite the apparent theft epidemic hitting our city.

I’d put that down to a few simple steps that I take to keep my bike safe. If you’d like to copy them and use them, here they are…

London Cyclist 5 step guide to the un-stealable bike

Step 1: Eat my Kryptonite

Choose between the Kryptonite New York 3000 and the Abus Granit X Plus 54 and you’ll have taken the single biggest step in the quest to keep your bike safe.

Both the locks always tend to top the lists of the toughest locks to crack in tests by cycling magazines.

Many thieves will take one look at them and choose an easier target.

However, you can’t use these locks on their own. You also need to use a secondary lock. I’d recommend the Abus Centuro. The combination of two different locking systems should present major problems for most thieves, who are likely to just carry the tools to break one type of system.

Step 2: Don’t lock your bike like an idiot!

The right way to lock a bike is to lock the frame and both wheels to the bike stand. To do that you pass your d-lock around the rear triangle, the rear wheel and the object you are locking to.

This makes it tough for thieves to remove and steal your wheels and it also makes it hard to leverage the lock for attack, without damaging the bike.

Furthermore, you should avoid locking your bike at the same place for prolonged periods of time. Ideally, your bike should be stored indoors and out of sight. However, if you have to leave it outside, don’t always lock it to the same spot, as thieves can target your bike and wait for the perfect time to strike.

Ideally, leave your bike in a busy location, with CCTV coverage.

Avoiding locking your bike to old Victorian railings, as these can be easy to break and don’t lock your bike to sign posts where the sign could potentially be removed and your bike lifted over.

Step 3: Keep the Piranhas at bay

As thieves become increasingly annoying, they have been to know to “Piranha attack” bikes, whereby they’ll steal components such as seat posts, forks and handlebars.

To protect yourself you could use a system such as the Pinhead Headset lock which costs £21.99. You could also get the same system for your wheels and seatpost.

The pinhead system means that you can no longer remove these components with an Allen key or quick release. Instead, you need a key that is specific to your personal Pinhead system.

If you don’t wish to invest in this, at least remove your quick releases and replace them with bolts.

Also, make sure that when you leave your bike you remove any removable components such as bike lights.

Step 4: Get your bike registered

Google “Cycle Marking Events” and head along to the one nearest to you to get your bike marked.

If you can’t get to one of the marking events, order a kit through Bike Register and add it to your bike. Anecdotal evidence suggests that thieves will avoid bikes that have a security tag. This is a simple way to make your bike less attractive to thieves.

Step 5: Insure it!

For the ultimate in piece of mind, you can get your bike insured with a service such as ETA. We recommend good bicycle insurance providers here.

The post The secrets to the un-stealable bike appeared first on London Cyclist Blog.