10 Ways To Prevent Your Bike From Being Stolen

Source: Complex

 Like me I'm sure you consider your bicycle is a precious vehicle. As such, you should take care of it, and that doesn't just mean maintenance. After all, pimping up your ride ends up being a futile effort if it ends up getting jacked!

A combination of common sense, good equipment, street smarts, and frankly, a little bit of luck will ultimately keep your ride where you parked it. But hey, it never hurts to be prepared. Here are 10 Ways To Prevent Your Bike From Getting Stolen.

Serial victims of bicycle theft take note

One: Always Lock Your Bike

A no-brainer right? You'd be surprised how many people don't even do this. Whether you're stopping by the post office to drop off a letter or the coffee shop for a quick cup, you should always lock your bike! This isn't your neighborhood cul-de-sac. An unlocked bike at a storefront is like a tramp stamp on a lonely bridesmaid: a signifier that it's practically there for the taking.

Two: Secure The Frame

Securing the frame means you just don't lock the front wheel or back wheel. You've heard steel is real, but you know what's even realer? Steel to steel, as in, locking your frame to a sturdy metal object. Don't risk coming back to your ride only to find one wheel.

Three: Be Mindful What You Lock Up To

What we mean by this is: Don't lock up your bike to just anything. Think about it. Nothing pisses us off more than seeing bikes locked up to objects like headless parking meters. The only thing standing between your ride and getting stolen is the thief's ability to lift the bike over the empty pole. Go for bike racks, street signs (though you risk getting your bike hit by a car), and non chain-link fences. Also, if you ever lock your bike up to a stranger's bike without their consent, there is a special place in hell reserved for you.

Four: Mind Your Quick-Release Parts

Quick release parts like wheels and saddles are great for weekend warriors, but horrible for urban commuters. While there are a variety of kits to secure your quick release gear, like skewer sets and binder bolts, if you insist on keeping these convenient features on your ride, at least take them with you into work.

Five: Take Your Bike Indoors If Possible

Keep your bike inside the office, or at least a parking garage, if you can. It'll save you the worry of having to think about whether it'll still be there when you clock out for the day. Of course, when you get home, you should absolutely keep your ride indoors (unless you have the convenience of having a garage). If you're using your bike heavily, or have a particularly nice ride, there's really no good reason to be storing it outside.

Six: Invest In A Good Lock

If you're gonna ride in a metropolitan area, you're gonna need a U-lock. Ditch the cable lock and invest in a good one. Kryptonite Locks have had a bit of a spotty history, but the protection afforded by their New York "Fahgeddaboutit" locks has stood the test of time — so does the £3,000 warranty attached to them. Sure, one will set you back about £60, but that's much less than the cost of having to cop a replacement bike.

Seven: Park In A Visible Spot

Another no-brainer. If you're having brunch or a cup of coffee with some friends, lock up somewhere that you can easily keep an eye on your ride while you dine. That way, if someone tries to do something, you can easily walk up to them and ask if there's a problem.

Eight: Personalize Your Bike

Know what's really attractive to thieves? A subtle stock bike. The more you make a bike your own, the more recognizable it becomes, meaning people can spot it easier and it'll be easier to recover. We're not saying to go completely overboard in tricking out your ride, but a few signature design touches to make it really stand out from the pack could be just the deterrent you need.

Nine: Park Next To A Nicer Bike

Kind of a dick move, but there are far, far worse things you could do. If you see an empty spot on a rack next to a Cinelli frame with Campagnolo parts, and your ride is a kitted-out Mercier frame, it's pretty safe to say most people won't be looking at your bike. That isn't to say you should take less precaution when locking up though.

Ten: Don't Keep Parking In The Same Spot

Keep it moving when it comes to locking up on the daily. Unless you work in an office with designated bicycle parking, when you have to lock up outside, it's best to switch it up to avoid making yourself an easy target. It might be worth the extra block or two to walk to work in order to have the ability to bike back home afterwards.