Comments on: Unconventional ways of preventing your bike from being stolen

By: Calanish

Calanish — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:40:09 +0000

I wish that were the case in Copenhagen, bikes and parts do get stolen.

My son even had his saddle stolen from the Bike store in the basement bike park which is inside a couple of locked doors.

By: dukiebiddle

dukiebiddle — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:52:18 +0000

I read that the Netherlands has a horrible problem with bike theft, to the point where police will periodically stop bicyclists to make sure their serial numbers have not been filed off.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:08:53 +0000

Absolutely LondonLover, two locks is a major deterrent to bike thieves. They rarely carry around two different types. If I’m leaving my bike for a long period of time in a high risk area I put three locks on my bike.

For more bike locking tips:
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/secure/how-to-lock-your-bike/ – includes the one to have two different types of lock

By: LondonLover

LondonLover — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:43:18 +0000

I read on the Transport for London site this morning, that they recommend securing your bike with two different types of locks. So that not only will a thief have to break two locks, but they might also need two separate sets of tools to combat each device, which is theoretically not an attractive prospect for them. Anyone think this might work?

By: Andreas

Andreas — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:13:21 +0000

I personally think that it is essential you have a good lock. CCTV is not enough to put people off from stealing it. For all you know the operator may not even be there watching the camera, the camera could be turned off etc etc.

By: James

James — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:36:53 +0000

You can weigh up the mild inconvenience of only leaving your bike in 100% secure locations, or in those where you can see it, with the greater convenience of a bike that is never stolen, and worry that is never had.

It requires a philosophical shift that takes place long before you leave the saddle.

Every day I see cycle couriers pop into company receptions leaving their bike unlocked outside. This looks like madness, but it means they do not dally and will keep an eye on it from the window. But park it round the corner with a mid-range lock, and spend a leisurely 5 minutes delivering a letter, lo and behold the bike is gone.

The better you think your lock is, the less attention you will pay to where you use it, and vice versa. I think it’s a sliding scale.

By: david

david — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:23:46 +0000

James, wouldn’t that mean that you would only park the bike at home? Or given the number of people who’ve had their bike nicked from their home, maybe you’re suggesting not having a bike at all, which would surely be the ulitmate way of ensuring you don’t suffer from having a bike stolen. Unconventional, sure. Unconvenient, definitely.

Give me a good lock, some insurance and something sturdy to lock the bike to anyday.

By: James

James — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:41:53 +0000

There is of course an even more unconventional approach: to use the absolute cheapest lock you can get your hands on. Then simply allow this fact to dominate your strategy regards cycle parking.

I think it’s the best way to secure a prized bicycle:

http://www.guvnorownersclub.com/cycling/how-to-lock-a-prized-bicycle/

By: Andreas

Andreas — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Yeah, seems to be something pretty common in this country. I recon as per usual its probably like 20% of the bike thieves steal 80% of the bikes so if the police could target them it would solve most the problem.

In most other countries I have visited people will leave a bike locked with a tiny chain lock and it won’t get stolen.

By: Murray

Murray — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:34:54 +0000

I have, however, been to the Netherlands many, many times and seen people leaving bikes unlocked. But, yes, these were cheap or old models. New ones were locked. In this country, though, even knackered old bikes get nicked…