How to lock your bike

It is any cyclist’s worst nightmare to have a bike stolen. Especially when you think it has been securely locked using a trustworthy device. There are, however, many ways to make your lock do more to protect your pride and joy.

Whilst we strive to approve every claim, we still find some riders not meeting our locking requirements. These requirements are expected from most insurers. Following the tips below, cyclists can avoid the main reasons for declined claims and better protect their bikes.

Pick a suitable lock for your bike

Most insurance companies, bike shops and police forces recommend you spend what you can reasonably afford on a lock. Putting a £10 lock on a £1000 bike won’t be an effective theft deterrent. In the case of insurance, it may invalidate your cover should you try to make a claim also.

The best way to assess a lock’s suitability for your bike is by the Sold Secure Rating. Sold Secure tests the broadest range of locks in the industry to see how they stack up against most theft methods.

You can put a higher rated lock on a lower cost bike, and this is a good idea. But, putting a lower rated lock on a high value bike leaves it more vulnerable to theft. This can invalidate any claims when going through insurance.

Bikmo’s lock requirements

Your insurance policy requires you to use a lock that is appropriately rated for the value of your bike. With so many choices available, it’s always worth shopping around for a good deal. You can often get a Gold rated lock for the same price as a Silver.

Please check your policy wording, but you will be safe with a Gold rated standard lock no matter the value of your bike, and we would recommend this rating, even if your bike is low value.

Gold rating

This rating of lock provides significant protection against most thieves and the tools they’re likely to use. Tested for over 5 minutes being continually attacked, gold-rated locks are the ideal choice for high-value bikes. Or for anyone who frequently leaves their bike in a public place.

There is now a higher rating than Gold available, which is Diamond. These locks even offer protection against axle grinders and specialist tools!

Make sure you lock it up effectively

It’s common sense to lock your bike to a solid and immovable object; think lamp posts, railings (where legal) and of course, bike racks. Many people don’t consider how they lock their bikes to said object.

A common mistake which leads to a significant proportion of thefts is locking your bike by the wheel. Doing this enables any interested thief to steal your bike with minimal effort and noise. Most bikes these days have quick-release wheels, so it’s as simple to steal your bike as it is for you to fix a puncture.

Even if your bike doesn’t have quick-release wheels, a wheel is still designed to be removable. A prepared thief will likely have basic tools that make pinching bikes easier. Allen keys and spanners rank pretty high on this list. A 15mm spanner is all they need to remove most bolted wheels, and if they have an adjustable spanner, then any bolted wheel is vulnerable.

Lock your bike through the frame

The best way to avoid becoming a victim of this crime is to lock the bike through the frame. As a solid entity, the lock can’t be bypassed simply by undoing a bolt or a skewer. This makes it far more difficult for a thief to disappear with your bike in a matter of moments.

There are methods other than cutting tools to free a bike from a lock; often, the lock can be smashed against the ground and struck with a harder object, such as a hammer. This can shatter the locking mechanism and render it useless. Keep the lock in a position where it’s impossible to use leverage or force against another surface.

An effective lock position, illustrated below, helps limit the risk of your lock being compromised. Consider running a cable lock through the saddle rails and wheels for extra security.

Lock in a sensible and safe location

Dark alleys, side streets and secluded areas are perfect for thieves to work undetected. Though it may seem strange, it’s best to lock your bike in a reasonably public area with frequent pedestrian traffic. Thieves will not want to be spotted when cutting a lock from a bike. A good option is near travel hubs such as train and bus stations, with constant traffic. There is also potentially a high number of CCTV cameras around these areas. Both these factors are likely to put off most criminals.