Bikechain wants you to keep your bike!
Make it yours!
Before we even get into talking about how to lock your bike, some tips that will help make your bike more unique and less appealing to thieves.
But they didn't lock the wheels!
Personalizing your bike by adding a funky bell or horn, colourful basket & fenders. This will make your bike more functional, but also more distinctive.
Add stickers to your bike; fruit stickers are easy to come by, fun bike stickers can be found at most bike shops, and reflective tape will help you be seen at night!
Your bike has a serial number somewhere on the frame; usually it's on the bottom bracket, but check at all these arrows to find it;
Write it down or email it to yourself with a description of the bike. If you can't find the serial, come see us for help.
Use the serial number to register your bike with the police. Most places do it for free and online. There are also private registries available if you don't like the police.
Have a friend take a photo of you and the bike for further proof of ownership!
Lock it up!
Yes, really, lock it up.
Lock it to something that is secure.
Like a ring-and-post.
Okay, so you're running into a store real quick, or just dropping something off. If your bike isn't locked, anyone can grab it and disappear pretty quick.
So lock it up.
If you're feeling lazy or daring, lock a wheel to the frame so the bike can't be ridden, but has to be dragged away. Hopefully you'll see someone dragging your bike down the street.
So lock it to something.
That solid looking ring-and-post is too far away, just lock it to the baby tree nearby. Probably no one is going to break the tree and lift your bike over the lower half. Actually, no, that happens, and you've just killed a tree, Tree Hater!. Similarly, don't lock to anything that your bike can be lifted over and off of. Contact the City and get them to install a ring and post at that very location.
Lock it properly!
Always make sure you lock the frame of your bicycle.
Locking just your front wheel, even through your fork (the part that holds your front wheel) is typically not enough. The wheel can be loosened and the bike taken.
The same goes for the rear wheel unless you do this;
You may find it easier to just lock your front wheel and frame with a single lock. If your lock isn't big enough, consider also have a cable you can loop through the wheel (or better yet both wheels! Gold star for locking your seat too!).
Lock it well!
A U or D shaped lock is best, and be willing to spend $40-$140.
A shorter lock is better as it leaves less room to leverage the lock open with a big stick.
With some frames, especially mountain bike frames, you'll need to compromise and have a larger lock or not lock the front wheel.
Cable locks kind of suck. I'm trying to be polite too. Cable locks = easy theft. They are okay to lock low value items (which doesn't include your whole bike, even if you only paid $20), but not good for the whole vehicle.
Quick releases are convenient for easy wheel removal, but that works against you more often than for you.
Changing your quick release skewers for 'slow release' or anti-theft skewers will go a long way to ensuring your wheels stay with your bike while you're away.
delta hublox
bike attitude (available at Bikechain)
Saving Money?
If you are only going to buy a cheap lock, buy two cheap locks. Get a u-lock and a cable lock (yes, they aren't very good).
Using different types of locks means a bike thief needs more tools, and it is less likely that they will be carrying all those tools.
That being said, would you rather spend $20 more on a better lock or replace your entire bike?
So you got a bike stolen?
That sucks.
You should report it to the police. You might get it back, and you'll help police know where bikes are being stolen from so they can check there more often.
When you report your bike, make sure you have as much information as will help the police. Pictures, location, problems, distinct features and the serial number.
If your bike wasn't doing so hot (read: riding poorly), it may have been abandoned nearby after being stolen. Look for it. Nearby bikeshops might also have had it brought in for repairs, and can be asked to keep an eye out for it.
Posting
on Craigslist and Kijiji is not a bad idea either, and looking to see
if your stolen bike is being sold. Good Luck!
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