How to keep your bike safe and secure

Secure at home

Unless you use your bicycle to cycle to and from work, it’s likely your bike will be kept at home for the majority of the week. And so, whether you keep your bike in your home, shed, garage or other outbuildings, it’s important to keep your bike securely locked up when not in use.

A heavy-duty lock is an ideal option for keeping your bike locked up at home. When used with an anchor on the wall or ground, it can provide excellent protection for your pride and joy, keeping it securely in place.

When your bike is kept at home, an additional layer of security can be extremely beneficial. Installing a smart security camera to keep watch over your bicycle, lets you check your bike is secure, from anywhere at any time. Using indoor or outdoor security cameras can cover your bike from different angles. When choosing your camera, we would recommend opting for one which has motion detection functionality. This means you will be alerted if there’s any unusual activity or movement in the area.

Multi-layered security

Whether you use your bike for leisure, exercise, exploring or family days out, it’s important to consider its security and where it will be kept when you’re not using it.

Having a good multi-layered security set-up which might include an alarm, security cameras, weatherproof padlocks and bike locks, can help to ensure your bike will be exactly where you left it.

Additional security for your bike could include GPS tracking. So if your bike does unfortunately get stolen, you’re able to track where it’s gone, giving you a chance to retrieve your bike or catch who has taken it.

And, as you would with a car or a house, having insurance for your bike will let you recoup the costs if your bike is sadly stolen. Doing some research can help you find the best bike insurance for you and the cover you might require.

Secure on the go

If you’ve headed out for a long road ride, or off on an adventure with your family, it’s important to consider how to keep your bike secure if you plan to stop for a break.

Whether you stop in a busy town or down a quiet street, it’s important to feel confident your bike is securely locked up. A lightweight cable lock is ideal for carrying on a long journey or on a day out. With a self-coiling cable and small compact design, a cable lock can provide protection against pick and pull attacks.

And, if you’re concerned about any damage to your bike from the cable, choose a lock which has a vinyl cable cover, which can help to prevent any unwanted scratches on the bike.

If you’re out with the family, using a longer length cable will let you securely lock all bikes, big or small, together with one lock.

Lock it up at work

If you avoid the morning rush hour traffic or trains by cycling to work or school, it’s essential to keep your bike locked up and secure wherever you’re able to store it.

At many places of work, there’s often a dedicated bicycle shelter, which is designed for employees to keep their bikes secure. If not, make sure your bicycle is kept behind a locked door or somewhere which is out of sight from visitors or passers-by. This will help to reduce the risk of it being stolen.

When locking your bike up at work, you don’t want something which is heavy to carry and so a heavy-duty lock which is lightweight and easy to transport will be much more beneficial for you. This could be a U-lock, which is easier to transport than a chain. And if possible, when at work, lock your bike to a solid object, something which the bike can’t be lifted over. 

As you grab your helmet, plan your route and head out on the road, don’t forget to consider how to keep your bike secure, both at home and whilst you’re on an adventure.

For more information about Yale Bike Locks and the full range of security products available from Yale, please explore our website.