Bicycle Locks
As locksmith specialist, we come across a wide range of locksmithing jobs. One of our most popular services is providing secure solutions for keen cyclists.
Those of you who cycle and depend on their bikes for commuting to work, keeping fit or just getting around town, know to well how important it is to lock your bike. It is frightening how common it is for people living in busy cities like London to lose at least one bike in a lifetime, or at least know someone who have had their bike stolen.
Personally, as someone who has had the unpleasant experience, I confess it is horrible. On a more positive note, as common as this phenomenal is, it can easily be avoided!
Lock your bike
Locking your bike using the appropriate means prevents plenty of aggravation. The types of locks available vary according to the type of steel used to construct the lock, the size and most importantly- the cost. As a rule of thumb, the more money you spend on a lock, the tougher the lock is and the more secure your bike will be. The looks of the lock can also help keep away the thieves; a chunky looking lock may fend off the less experienced thieves.
It is important to note that having a lock is essential, but not enough. Using the correct lock is important. Using a lock that was not designed for protecting your bike will not keep your bike safe.
Nowadays, tools are lighter and more compact and thieves, under the cover of darkness, can break very tough locks with very little effort. Once broken they can make a swift get away. So having a lock is no longer a bulletproof strategy. Do yourself a favor and use the appropriate type.
U-Lock and D-Lock
U-Locks are easy to identify thanks to their unique shape resembling the letter ‘U’. The ‘U’ part goes around the bike and connects to a crossbar section. Once secured, the lock resembles the shape of the letter D (U-Locks are often called D-Locks for that reason).
U-Locks are very popular due to their robust nature. They are considered the most secure type of lock thanks to their defiance against bolt cutters. On the flip side, they are often compact in size and limit the riders to the type of objects they can be secured to. Ideally they are designed for bike racks but some can also fit around parking posts and gates. It is important to note that they must be connected to some kind of object that is secured to the ground; merely locking the bike frame to the wheel is not enough because even though the bike cannot be pushed away, the bike can be lifted and put into a car and driven away.
Another disadvantage U-Locks have is that an ordinary jack can produce enough leverage to break the mechanism. Our recommendation is that if you do not have a secure parking for your bike, the most effective way to deter the thieves is a combination of a U-Luck and a Cable lock (see below). That way you can feel doubly secured because even though they can both be broken, each requires a different set of tools and it is unlikely that whoever comes to steal will be carrying both.
Solid U-Locks and Cable locks both together will be quite heavy to lug around. That’s way it would be wise leave one of them at work, ideally the U-Lock, and carry the Cable lock for emergency situations. From our experience the Kryptonite mini is a solid U-Lock and is also reasonably priced.
Cable Lock and Chain Lock
The most significant advantage these locks hold is their ability to bend around. They are easy to carry (some riders have them around their waists) and provide a quick and easy way to lock the bike to a secure post. If the cable or the chain is long enough, it can even be used to secure the wheels as well as the frame.
However, the levels of security these provide vary dramatically due to the wide range of both cables and chains available in the market. Also, the type of lock used changes.
Chains, as a rule of thumb are less secure than Cable locks; a simple chain bought in a hardware shop will be made of steel and can easily be cut through with a pair of bolt cutters. However Cable locks often have overlapping steel jackets threading over the wire.
Bicycle chains, which are designed for securing bikes, are case hardened and cannot be cut through quickly. So if you choose a chain instead of a cable, make sure it’s the right one!
Also, Cable locks often come with the lock integrated into the cable and coated with an extra layer of steel and plastic, providing extra security. Everyday more types of reinforced steel are being used to make Cable locks less susceptible to bolt cutters and there will be even further improvements in the future.
Finally, Combination locks are highly not advised; every amateur thieve can learn on youtube the art of deciphering a simple combination lock so don’t let your bike be the first to get tested…
Wheel Lock
Please don’t use them!