How to Lock Your Bike Securely and Types of Locks for Bikes

Unfortunately, bicycle theft is a reality. Anyone who’s had their bike stolen knows how it feels to suddenly discover that their trusty steed has gone missing.

The good news is, with the right bike lock and a little know-how, you can greatly reduce the chances of losing your ride.

Read on to discover more about:

• How to lock your bike properly
• Types of locks
• Extra security measures to keep your bike safe
• General bike-locking do’s and don’ts

Why Bike Security Matters

The main reason why bike security matters is obvious: no one wants to get their ride stolen. Aside from the question of how you’ll get to your destination and the financial troubles that arise with needing to buy a replacement, there’s also the emotional turmoil. If you love biking, then obviously you love your bike, which becomes a trusted companion.

Misery loves company, though, and bike thefts are (sadly) a common occurrence. An average of 175,200 bikes are stolen every year in the United States, which means that a bike is stolen every three minutes. And that’s not counting the large number of bike thefts that go unreported. Partially because of this, less than 5% of stolen bikes are returned to their owners.

Here are some other quick facts about bike thefts in the US:

• The issue is made worse by the fact that less than 20% of victims know their bike serial number.
• Eighty percent (80%) of American cyclists have had at least one bike stolen.
• More than a quarter (26%) of bike theft victims had their bike stolen from the street/sidewalk. The majority had their bicycles stolen from an outside location on their property (yard, shed, garage, or hallway/common area).
• Thirty-eight percent (38%) of stolen bikes weren’t locked at all, while 33% were locked with cable locks.
• A little good news: the number of reported bike thefts has decreased on a yearly basis since 2015 (but that might be because victims aren’t reporting it).

Aside from the logistical and financial headaches that result from bike thefts, there’s also a mental health impact: a 2019 report found that 25% of bike theft victims cycled less and 7% gave up cycling altogether. Don’t let that happen to you! If you invest in a good lock and follow the bike-locking tips in this article, there’s a much better chance you can avoid the sting of a stolen bike.  

How to Lock Your Bike Properly

So how can you make sure bike thieves don’t get their hands on your beloved vehicle? Check out our main pointers below.

Choose a secure location.

If your bike is locked on the sidewalk, choose a busy location with a lot of pedestrians (and preferably CCTV cameras). Even better: lock it up among a lot of other bikes, ideally in the middle of the group instead of on the ends. Finally, lock it to an immovable object that a thief couldn’t lift the bike over or easily dismantle. In other words, avoid trees, wooden posts, signs, and chain link fences; instead, look for metal railings cemented into the ground.

If your bike is on your own property, the best place to store it is inside your home—i.e., not in a garage, shed, or common area, like a hallway. If you must keep your bike in one of those places, make sure you still keep it locked! Don’t have a readymade fixture to lock your bike to in a garage or common area? One option is to fill a bucket with cement and put a ground anchor or old U-lock in the cement to set, then lock your bike up to that.

Secure the bike frame.

Always lock your frame to an immovable object. Otherwise, a thief can simply remove the wheel and abscond with the rest of your bicycle.

Try to keep the lock away from the ground (where a thief could smash it with a hammer, which would destroy cheaper models) and the top tube (in which case a thief could lift and twist the whole bike to try to break the lock).

In other words, the lock should go high up around the down tube or the seat tube.

Secure the wheels.

While you should always lock the bike frame to an immovable object, the wheel(s) should be locked as well. This is why affixing the lock to the down tube or seat tube works best: you should be able to position the lock so the wheel is secured to both the frame and the bike rack/railing.

If you can only secure one of your wheels with a bike lock, the rear wheel is of utmost importance. But if possible, you should secure both wheels (more advice on how to do this below). 

Another option is to remove the front wheel (if you have quick-release wheels) and lock that to both the bike frame and the rear wheel. That way, both the front and rear wheels and the frame can be secured with one high-quality lock. You’ll need a larger-size u-lock in order to do this.

Secure additional bike components.

Remember that it’s not only the bike itself that can get stolen—components and accessories easily can be as well. Forty percent (40%) of respondents in a recent survey stated their wheels have been stolen, 16% had their seats stolen, and 15% had their lights stolen. Accessories like bags, phone holders, and pumps are also common targets. (Others reported that handlebars, brakes, and even gears had been stolen from their bikes!)

If anything can be removed from your bike with a quick-release lever, make sure you take it with you wherever you’re going or secure it with your lock alongside the frame and wheel(s). Other accessories can be locked using security skewers or nuts; while they’re not foolproof against thieves, they’re about 27% less likely to lead to theft than quick-release components.

Finally, while cable locks aren’t recommended for use on your entire bike, they can be successful deterrents on some of these components—for example, you can use a cable lock to attach bags to the u-lock or chain lock affixed to your frame.

Want more tips for maximum security?

If you’re looking for even tighter security on your bike—especially if you’ll be leaving your bike outside for a long time, or if it’s in a high-risk area—check out the pointers below:

• Take an extra lock! Securing your bike with two (or more) locks is a great way to discourage thieves. If you use different locks (for example, a chain and a u-lock), it’s harder for potential thieves to break through both kinds of security.
• If you’re seeing a movie, going to the mall, or doing something else where you’ll likely be away from your bike for several hours, it’s not a bad idea to lock it up a few blocks away. Otherwise, bike thieves may be aware that they’ll have a lot of time to work their “magic.”
• Fill the inside of a u-lock with as much “stuff” as possible; for example, make sure the wheel, frame, and railing of the bike rack occupy all the space inside the u-lock. If there’s extra room, thieves may attempt a “leverage attack” and insert a length of metal to try to pop the lock off.

Types of Bike Locks

It’s no surprise that the kind of lock you use greatly impacts how easy it is to steal your bike (or e-bike, or its components). Read on for an overview of the different kinds.

U-LOCKS

The u-lock (basically a giant padlock) is considered by many to be the best bike lock, first developed in the 1970s by the company that would become Kryptonite. With a heavy-duty shackle and reinforced locking mechanism, a u-lock is going to provide you with a high level of security along with practicality at a decent price.

There are a variety of u-lock sizes, weights, brands, and prices, but there’s no definitive “best u-lock.” Find the right thickness, size, and security level that works for you. Do you live in the city or in a rural area? How will you carry your u-lock? Is it your primary or secondary lock? These are all considerations that will lead you to the proper lock.

That said, poorly made u-locks do exist. Whatever kind of lock you’re using, check the security rating of independent testers like Sold Secure or ART to verify its effectiveness.

CABLE LOCKS

A very common type of lock is the cable lock. This is a lightweight, easy-to-carry, easy-to-use lock. But a cable lock is also the easiest lock to defeat. With little more than a wire cutter or angle grinder, a bike thief can take your property from you!

Practically speaking, a cable lock should only be used in conjunction with a stronger lock (like a u-lock or chain) to secure additional bike components. For example, you can loop a cable lock around the unsecured wheel and the u-lock or chain lock. But even then, a cable lock (regardless of its thickness) provides little to no actual security.

CHAIN LOCKS

A lightweight chain lock offers more protection than a cable lock, but even this variety (especially on the cheaper end) can easily be defeated with a small bolt cutter.

If you’re looking for the ease and transportability of a chain lock, it’s better to go with a heavy-duty chain. The links on these chains are hardened to make them difficult to cut through. They’re also shaped in a way that makes it very hard to get a prying device between them. Add to that a super-strong locking mechanism and you have an effective, trustworthy method for locking your bike, with more flexibility (but less surefire security) than a u-lock.

FOLDING LOCKS

A folding lock offers much more protection than a cable lock or a lightweight chain. Newer than most other varieties, they’re quite convenient as they fold up to be smaller and easier to carry than a u-lock while still offering a high level of security.

Folding locks are made of connected steel plates that can be moved around to give you numerous locking options. Although they’re heavier than u-locks of a similar size (but lighter than chains), they’re compact and can be manipulated to work with almost any size or shape constraints.

Although folding locks take longer to put into place (and they’re slightly more expensive than u-locks), they’re a trustworthy and convenient option.

Bike Locking Do’s and Don’ts

Bikes are often stolen right out from underneath your nose. Follow these key guidelines for when and how to lock up your bike to make sure that doesn’t happen!

• Even if you’re only going to be gone for “a second,” be sure to secure your bicycle. It only takes a second for an opportunist thief to get on your bike and ride away.
• Never store bikes unsecured on a porch. These areas are targets for bike thieves, even though they are technically on your property.
• Use extra caution when locking a bike in a common parking area like those found in apartment buildings or parking garages. These areas are actually targets for bike thieves and can provide a false sense of security to those using them.
• Remember to remove any lights and electronics along with any other accessories that can be easily removed!

Help! My Bike Was Stolen!

Remember, no bike lock is 100% foolproof. If a bike thief really wants your bike, they’ll get it. But there are things you can do to get your bike back should it be recovered.

• Be sure to file your purchase receipts and communications for reference later.
• Take note (or a picture) of your bike’s serial number and frame number. While you’re at it, register your bike with the city government or reputable online networks like BikeRegister or Bike Index.
• Use a GPS tracker on your bike. A number of new trackers have entered the market, ranging from small devices that use Bluetooth to establish their location, to larger trackers that can work anywhere in the world (but are more expensive and require a subscription).
• Take a picture of your bike and any distinguishing features.

Bike Locks and Security with ERIK’S

No one wants their bike to get stolen, whether it’s a much-used mountain bike splattered with mud or a brand-new, shiny e-bike. But purchasing at least one high-level bike lock and following the advice above makes it much less likely you’ll have to experience that pain. So remember:

• For the highest level of security, go for at least one u-lock, heavy chain lock, or folding lock.
• Cable locks can be useful in attaching accessories or components to heavier locks, but they shouldn’t be used on their own.
• If locking your bike on the street, choose a secure location (preferably in a busy, well-lit area) and make sure you’re locking your bike to an immovable object (like a metal bike rack set into concrete).
• When your bike is kept on your property, you should still lock it up! Avoid common areas and porches if possible.
• Make sure your lock secures both your frame and at least the rear wheel, and take any electronics (like lights) and other small accessories with you.
• Register your bike and make note of the serial number to make it easier to recover if anything unfortunate happens.

Still looking for more info about bike locks and effective bike security? Watch our video below!

Your bike is like a member of the family, so keep it safe and secure so you can enjoy its company as long as possible.

Learn more about ERIK’S bike locks, stop into one of our bike shops, or reach out through one of the methods below for more information!

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