How to keep your bike from being stolen

You've just spend a lot of money on a new bike, or you feel rather sentimentally attached to your old beater, either way you want to do everything you can to keep in in your possession.

Just a note, this won't work in an extremely high crime area, if you live in a place where people are willing to strip the parts off your bike, don't let it out of your sight. If your lucky enough to live in a city where you can just leave your bike unlocked, then you probably live in a city with more cows than people. For those moderate crime areas, this should work.

There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding here. People keep on recommending better locks under the assumption that they are harder to break. Any lock can be broken, but if the thief has the time to take a car jack out and spend the ten minutes prying it open, its your fault for leaving your bike there.

People also suggest doing things like rounding off all the screws on your bike, or filling them with epoxy. Good idea until it breaks and you can't remove it.

The safest place for your bike is under your legs, short of that, by your side. At least within your sight. Locks, no matter how nice, will only help so much.

Step 1: Evaluate your bike

This is hard, take a step back and forget how much you love that hunk of steel or aluminum, and try to actually evaluate its worth.
Some hints:
If its not made out of steel or aluminum, its likely worth a lot.
triple butted anything, expensive
Carbon fiber anything, expensive
If it even thinks words like 'Campy' or Dura-Ace, its worth a lot.
Anything handmade (you don't count)

If your bike really is worth that much, and not just to you, the best and only way to ensure it doesn't get stolen is to never let it out of your site. Take it into your house with you at night and keep it next to your bed.
Otherwise you will probably be fine leaving it outside overnight.
Then again, if you couldn't bear to part with it, inside is always best.

Comments

[hollowmike]

i laughed so hard with this xD very helpfull though

[the.goat]

The bikes with a cable through the frame and wheel is a deterrent. They're there only to stop joy riders. In my home town a bike is less likey to be stolen for it's parts (high end cycles excluded) then taken to ride and ditch. It's important to know what type of thieves are in your area; Boise, Idaho has joyriders while Eugene, Oregon has big dollar chop shops.

[lrohret]

LOL This instructable was worth reading just for the hilarious writing! Keep it up!

[The Old Fart]

This is a very good stuctable and one that is needed very much. I thank you for posting it.

I make custom bikes and I use hardened steel rods for trikes and I also use a 7 foot logging chain to go threw all tires and frame and around a light post. I use a stainless steel abus discus lock with S. Steel inserts that can not be drilled with basic bits.

I avoid solid locks like brass that have a plate on he side that with a light tap of a screw driver will expose the pins that can then be dumped out. Some big solid looking ones have a plate holding the locking mechanism in place, A small file notching the rivet and it can be unscrewed with a screwdriver dumping out he goods and then opened. I can brake a master combination lock open in less than 30 seconds with a fork. Two large screwdrivers put threw a shackle can open almost any lock faster than if you had the key. Most lock have a hardened shackle but the locking pin that holds it is aluminum or zink and takes nothing to brake. I have tools that can open just about any lock you can think of. A big U-lock can be opened in about 45 seconds. the way that I lock up my bikes can be broken in about an hour or maybe 30 minutes if you were me. Remember this: LOCKS ONLY KEEP HONEST PEOPLE HONEST. Your job is to slow them down or have them move onto anothers bike that the owner just doesn't care about. If you spend $1000.00 or more on a bike and buy the cheapest lock then you are STUPID.People put money in banks to keep it safe. Spending around $50 and you may just be able to find your bike when you get back.
If your bike oes get pinched then there is a way that you could get it back. Go buy yourself a Low-Jack for your bike. Some pet stores sell a GPS device that attaches to your dogs coller and it's battery will last for 72 hours when charged. Buy this then change the battery so that it will last all year long then intall in th frame while using the fram8e as the antenia. get online with the collers supplied website and go film the Police aresting them then post on you tube.

[soy_bean]

Is that UCDavis?

[SeanPatrick]

You've got it all wrong! That person was just using that bike to keep someone from stealing their U-lock

[Kemerd]

Finally, someone who understands me!

[Hazzard2theworld911]

I love in Lowell, MA, and here we have one of the highest bike theft rates in the US. I once watched my Huffy Lifestyler get stolen, followed the guy to his house, and then I stole it back.
I have a new bike now [worth more than i care to say] and i Installed a Lojack system in the 'Gas Tank' on the top tube. I'll know where it is [within 3 feet of it's location] in 5 minutes. Can't beat that.

[ReddWolf]

This step is not very helpful since I am a small, short girl... I don't think I would be much of a threat deterrant. Now my 75 lb German Shepherd may be...

[EvilDefman]

LOL... Inspector Rex to the rescue!!! LOL

[bendog38]

 a german shepard will make ANY criminal run for their LIFE

[batvans46]

just lock that puppy up with your bike ;)

my rottweiler is well enough trained that if i lock his chain to my bike and tell him to sit, he wont do a damned thing till i get back. that is, of course, unless someone causes any movement to his chain...

havent needed to search for a bike rack in 5 years. best theft deterrent EVAR

[bendog38]

That's just plain awesome. If my Aussie were that well trained, he might do just as well. But a Rottweiler?! It can't be overkill if it is that successful!

Bendog38

[batvans46]

he isnt particularly well trained, he just knows how to guard my bike lol. hes a smart dog, he knows i love my bike and that im not as fast as he is without it. i just trained him with a bone locking him up outside my house with my bike every couple of days for an hour at a time.

[ReddWolf]

Yeah unfortunately my bike was stolen with the K9 Cruiser dog attachment on it (for the dog to run with the bike while you ride.) It was in my backyard locked up but unfortunately above mentioned German Shepherd was not in the yard when this happened, and I was not in the state.

[batvans46]

frank castle just runs right next to me (yes thats who i named him after lol). sorry for your loss :(

[robbied]

you could also carry a small length of rope. If you lock your bike using a U-lock and cable lock, then tie the whole lot together with a piece of rope, that would make it way more annoying for a thief to try and get around. I'm not sure bolt cutters would cut through rope.

[pyro=fire]

Where would won lock his bike here because it doesnt look like any other lock can reach

[countrygiri]

I wouldn't actually advise u-locks- I myself know how to break them open. A really strong,well placed stomp normally does the trick.

Then again-you get what to pay for. If you have a really good u-lock,chances are it'll be ok.

[Napole]

Two words of wisdom: Presa Canario.

[jarrelb]

i actually had to google Presa Canario. and i agree.

[MrHacks]

I've been following such security measure even before I read this article. My problem is my town lacks places to hook a bike up while I'm in a store. (My U-Lock can't reach around certain things whenever a bike rack isn't around.)

Since I live just outside of town, how do I get the folks in the city to listen to someone living just outside of city limits to get more bike racks?

[batvans46]

buy a cheap 20$ bike off craigslist, plant it, "steal" it. complain, repaint it, repeat.

[cry_wolf]

Buddy i stumbled upon this picture and im wondering, if this secure enough? :D
U-Lock Madness

[mickryobe]

Wow!
He stole the bike, the locks and the bike stand.
A truly ambitious bikenapper.

[Derin]

LOL U CANT SEE THE BIKE ITSELF>:D NOW THAT IS Overkill.

[cry_wolf]

The best part is, that none of the U-Locks are attached to the rail, however one U-Lock is attached to the rail by a pull-tie. LOL

[NuclearDog]

Yeah, only one is attached, but surely no one will be riding that away. Those wheels aren't turning!

[bad ass pope]

And it's got flat tires.

[Richie15]

But you could pop that attaced one, throw it in the back of a van and drive off somewhere you'd have time to work on the rest. But of course you or I would never do that... ;)

[Fuzz2050]

What's really ironic, under all those locks, it's a huffy

[I smell bacon]

lol

[cry_wolf]

Haha true.

[Derin]

I saw that!it is pretty epic,but you would have to spend your week there 24/7 to get that bike

[Gamernotnerd]

I am pretty sure all of those locks cost more than the bike itself.

[langston p. landman]

I wouldn't just have "U" locks on a bike to lock just a wheel and frame, but have a 6' cable and a good meddle resistance lock to lock the frame and both wheels as well as keeping the bike in my site. The wheels can also be as expensive as well as the bike, especially if the bike is a expensive one. The pad lock I would use is the one that has no screws nor reverts or shows anything that is holding the lock together and an key hole that is difficult to pick.

[thehumble1]

that's actually a pretty nice setup. alum rims, single speed, nice canti brakes, good straight bars and probably a deceptively great frame under that paint camo. I'd kinda like to take it for a ride.

[kjones5]

Looks like a Nishiki. My wife has one very similar. A few minor changes to the frame and, of course, she still has the 21 speeds. The grips are the same as the ones we took off her bike.

She's getting into sprint triathalons. She needed a road bike as the mountain bike simply put her at a huge disadvantage. She found her Nishiki and was immediately a lot faster. She had the tires swapped out for true road tires and gained even more speed. It's pretty fast for what it is. She's still building skill and power, so it's plenty of bike for her right now. In fact, she's beating a lot of folks, in all age groups, with bikes priced in the multi-thousand dollar range. Next step is to add tri-bars.

[frisbeechamp1983]

Hey,I just wanted to put out there, that this article is good at the first, until all the stuff about how not to lock up a bike, It's just a little too much. I mean, It's a good idea to lock up your bike, but unless you live in a really bad area, and I mean BAD, there is no need to take off the front wheel, and use four different locks, where I live, which is like a suburban area, my bike wont get stolen just because I didn't lock the front wheel, and my crankshaft. I mean, who would want to just take the front wheel on my bike, I can always get a replacement, no big harm, it's not like I didn't lock up my bike at all. so to whoever feels like they need to lock up their bike, but does not want to go out of there way, just lock the frame, and run the cable lock through your front wheel as wheel, problem solved. it takes less than thirty seconds. thanks

[jimboburgess]

I don't know how many times walking back drunk at night i've longed for a bike to ride. If it's not locked up there is no problem if I borrow it, you just got to come pick it up outside of my place.

[jimboburgess]

Many people who steal bikes aren't in it to make several hundred dollars parting it out or even selling the whole thing. They want to make $20 bucks to get high or they are kids that do it cause they don't know any better.

My strategy is the same as if I was running from a bear I just have to be faster than my slowest friend.

In the case of bikes, I make my bike more complecated to steal than other bikes i park around. I take the front wheel off, lock that to the back wheel/frame and to something cemented to the ground with a U-lock. I also use a cable lock that is largely superficial but it loops around my seat, frame, wheels and whatever i locked it too also. It takes me about 2/3 minutes to do it all but I have peace of mind. I live in NYC commute to work but store my bike inside at night.

[Ma77h3w]

Would connecting a charged camera flash circuit to a bike lock take out a potential robber? Or would that be considered too illegal?

[elrodqfudp]

I use a folding bike because I live on my sailboat and it makes it easy to store the bike inside out of the salt air.

When I go into a store I fold the bike, put it in a shopping cart and take it in with me. If the store to which I am going does not have shopping carts, then I pick one up near by and return it when I am finished with it.

[inquist]

I agree with this article and this page, although the mere threat of violence is enough without actually resorting to it. I once had to chase a guy down, who was riding off on my bike, because I left it unlocked. Never again in public!

[Screamo]

I don't see any lock on it.

[Hallmar]

Hey dude, Its between the front of the rear rim and the center tube.

[sockeye101]

Where do you get your attack cats from? The suppliers here in Ontario charge waaayy to much for shipping...

[simonguy27]

"I've always wanted a Varsity" hey i got a varsity thats in good shape for 140 bucks
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/1997990596.html

[dinglballs]

hahahaha im beginning to think you were once a bike thief from the way you are talking about all this...

[koos42]

How is this bike locked poorly? The back wheel is locked to the frame and the bike rack. Furthermore the front wheel is more secure than your bike from Step 2, because it doesn't have quick releases.

[Fuzz2050]

It's not locked poorly, it's just ugly.

[.happy.hippie.]

i think it's beautiful

[koos42]

Definitely not ugly. Fuzz probably doesn't like fixed gears.  The only ugly bit on the bike is the routing for the front brake, but at least it has one.

[fleeterhousen]

that's funny.. it ONLY has a front brake...

[Hob Hayward]

Yep, cause it's a fixie... Your legs are the back brake.

[wwong3]

what security?

[Dude567]

The owner of the bike is standing next to it with a camera taking a picture of the bike. You try stealing a car while thee driver is sitting in the drivers seat and he has the engine started.

[Helder4u]

 Rather childish suggestions - a waste of time reading this instructable..

Sorry.

[Verboten]

I agree. The "instructions", especially the "not-to-do" reeks of adolescent defiance and jealousy, by suggesting vandalism/theft to "teach them a lesson". This kind of debased attitude is immature and purile. "I will end you"? Please... gimme a break. The End.

[flite]

"if the thief has the time to take a car jack out and spend the ten minutes prying it open, its your fault for leaving your bike there." This comment I hate!! Always blaming the victim!!

[drphilthay]

If your refering to any weapon you might have on the bike, the would be thief could just as easily become a robber with the implements you've provided for them.

[nomadiq]

This is pretty daft. It's not hard for a would-be thief to pretend to look for his keys, swear loudly, "where are my #$%^&* keys?" look around in fake despair and just lift up the bike and walk off.

[abadfart]

your bike looks old i know this because i have the same one and it is at least 40 year old but i love it

[capsaicinrain]

theft deterring u-lock its useless unless you use it properly.

what an alliteration!

[al9595]

i think that bike looks nice and must be worth a small fortune

[Notbob]

Something i have seen around London, on occasion;

A bike is locked up quite securely, front wheel/back wheel/frame/rack are all locked together with a cable/cables. So what does someone do when they can't steal said bike? They slash the tires, and sometimes the seat too (it is isn't already gone).

Pisses me off, as the only way to prevent it is to keep your bike with you.

[bad ass pope]

I wish to congratulate you on an incredibly enjoyable instructable :-)

I completely relate to what you said in Step 5, the idea of a hoarde of ugly men having their way with my precious Pippa fills me with fear almost every day.
I even worry that people might kick her, or push her over, or draw on her seat or act out some other malevolent irreversible evil whilst she stands (securely locked up) in the street. There would be nothing I could have done to prevent it!
I think I'd rather she was stolen and sold on to a good home than beaten up and left for dead by the road...
Oh no! She's outside now, I hope she's ok!

Anyway, great Instructable! Thouroughly informative and enjoyable :-)

Now to go and check that she hasn't been vandalised...

[realanthillkit]

It appears that they also made the mistake from your previous step: locking only the front wheel. At a quick first glance it may appear as if it's locked through the frame, but actually the owner lazily lopped it OVER the top of the frame. A little noodling around the handlebars, pop out the wheel, and abra cadabra! LeMond disappears!
I made this mistake once, lock AROUND not THROUGH the triangle--won't do it again...

[fantastic.poison]

if you can only lock to one wheel, make it the FONT- not the rear. a front wheel with quick-release skewer can be stolen in under 30 seconds- a rear wheel takes longer (increasing the likelihood of getting noticed) since the thief would need to disengage the chain. locking around the seat tube only works if there's not a quick release there, too. if you haven't swapped out for a bolt (and ideally, filled the head of the bolt with hot glue), consider using a dollar-store cable lock or zip tie a busted inner tube from the frame rails to the frame to slow down the thief. bike theft is a crime of opportunity; make it difficult & they'll move on.

[.happy.hippie.]

i can take my back wheel off my bike in about 30 seconds.  rear wheels have more parts, and more parts = more money

[matthewloney]

fake single speed awesome

[ClayOgre]

What about something like this, perhaps in addition to a U lock?

[maurice1993]

I wan a lock like that! :P were can I find? can I buy them from mailing? cause I'm from other country....;-)

[merpius]

All of these very expensive, poorly locked bikes are various shades of pink. Is this an indicator that women are more likely to have expensive bikes? More likely to lock their expensive bikes poorly? Or are pink expensive bikes just more noticeable than other colors?

[redsuit09]

i got my new seat stolen from my bike so now i use my older downhill seat.... but when i lock it i take the seat and seat post with me

[MKohen]

Gahh!. I ride a fixed gear, and that picture of the bianchi made me so mad! If you have your handlebars like that, you have the bike as a fashion statement, not a mode of transportation. no rider worth anything would have grips that close together....

[Ciuschi]

About the carbon-bike with 2 U-locks: do you mean this kind of bikes are unsuitable for common use, which involves parking in public places? Just to be locked indoor when not riding? no alternative issues to a properly trained attack-cat?

[moecool101]

see u gotta b smart like me. Leave a sign next to ur bike saying Im BLACK! and simply walk away.... It works for me =)

[drewscreen]

When I lived in metro NYC and worked in Manhattan, I had to frequently lock up on the street, sometimes overnight. As NO bike lock company at that time would guarantee a lock used in Manhattan, I sprung ($125) for the excellent 6-ft Cobra Links motorcycle lock. Though hefty at 14 lbs, it has never let me down. There are a few chinks in the armor from over 16 years of use (3 bikes), and I have had to improvise quiet carrying brackets after I tired of slinging it bandoleer-style across my chest, but it has always protected my trusty steeds.

[elsnow77]

(removed by author or community request)

[Fuzz2050]

How'd you guess? Oh wait, is one of these your bike? Sorry...

[elsnow77]

(removed by author or community request)

[Fuzz2050]

if you don't mind my asking, what were the circumstances?

[zogworth]

this bike doesn't have quick release, though a small adjustable spanner will do just as well.

[Hycro]

I lock both front and rear wheels together, lock them to the frame, and lock the frame to something solid that would be tricky to move, such as a large tree, or a lamp post.

[rediculosis]

/slap to the person who left their bianchi pista fixie locked.. WITH A CABLE

[T3h_Muffinator]

Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but whenever I lock my bike up, I just take my seat with me, and occasionally replace it with a spiked pole.

Never had a bike stolen yet =P

[I smell bacon]

lol, once I did a similar thing to one of my mates. attached a pin to a stripped down seat, and put a sponge (cut to a seat like shape) over the top. It looked like a squishy seat, but when you sit on it you get a prick up the bum. Good for a few cheap laughs.

[Fuzz2050]

While taking your seat with you does prevent its theft, it also leaves the bicycles frame open to all sorts of nasty corrosion, well, steel at least. If its the only option available, taking your seat can work, but its not my preferred method of security.

[T3h_Muffinator]

It does add the hassle of carrying around your seat with you, but if you noticed in my original comment, I mentioned replacing the seat with a spiked/tapered pole, which prevents anything from getting into the frame =)

[Admirabilia]

This is a good common sense post and timeley... as it is spring (fresh snow in toronto is always a sign of spring!) snowbird cyclists are getting all oiled and ready in this city, but i see this kind of locking ALL the TIME! We have a bad 'stomping' problem where drunken/idiots kick wheels out of round for well, kicks i suppose. Taking bikes inside is the only surefire safe system i agree, but making your ride ugly makes it less noticeable.
It helps to have a beater to kick arround town on if you live in one of the mentioned high risk cities.

I've had my front wheel and seat stolen on separate occasions and so am a vigilant beleiver in the 1+1=safe locking system.
using two locks makes your bike less attractive when there are other people who don't care/know enough to lock properly.

I like the u-lock through the triangle/rear wheel + coil lock through basket/front wheel/front triangle.

thanks.

[sam-sam]

I was in Japan recently (Osaka and Tokyo) and no one seemed to lock their bikes up. So many bikes...barely any locked up. I wonder if people are nicer in Japan :-) I like to think so.

[I smell bacon]

No one locks bikes up in Singapore either. But then again, Singapore is full of cops.

[TheWelfareWarrior]

Two words "high voltage" just put a little sign by the bike that says "high voltage" and an extension cord running to the frame....

but then you could get sued for a booby trap...

or prison

but at least you would get the satisfaction of shocking the s*** (litteraly) out of someone.

[I smell bacon]

Or you could build a fake generator with a High Voltage sign and cord. That would make a nice Instructable actually...

[I smell bacon]

One thing i can't help noticing is that barely any high school students use locks. At my school every day there is at least five or six bikes not locked (Most of them area Avanti or Giant). I know of one kid who got his $2000 road bike stolen within a week of buying it. He held a raffle to raise money to buy a new one and guess what, it got stolen after a month or two. He now rides an old Shogun with a very big U-Lock.

[webbhost]

quite shocking how a citizen actually helped a bike thief? Then again what happens if you "do" lose your key or code? I guess we wouldn't need to worry about being stopped by anyone. Would have been nice to see in the vid if anyone stops him from stealing the seat, wheels etc from the bike - doesn't get much more olbvious what you're doing than that.

[frank26080115]

Watch this!

[TheMadTinker]

This is just another reason that society depresses me; that someone can stand a few feet away from a bike thief, light their cigarette, and not care that someone's bike is being stolen just boggles the mind. And don't get me started on the "concerned citizen."

[frank26080115]

well on the opposite side of the spectrum, you can have a situation like this
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/09/mit_student_arr.html
fear in society, it's just as depressing

[temp]

The problem is people think you forgot you lock combination or something. They don't bother telling you to stop stealing a bike because you can just say "i lost the key"

[_soapy_]

I'm amazed you can simply help yourself to power from a street lamp like that! Love the way the police only care about the traffic violation, just like here!

[Gamernotnerd]

They should have an instructible about "obtaining" power from a street lamp. ;)

[jeff-o]

I also suggest locking up to a natural gas pipe, if there is one close by. A thief would have to be pretty ballsy to pry, cut or yank on a U-lock tied to a pipe full of explosive gas!

[collard41]

my bike lock works really well, it is a car with central locking. now try and get that into the back of an unmarked van ;)

[DIYADD]

Another idea: Car battery & power inverter in your saddlebag connected to an electric fence transformer that is wired to your bike frame. Effective and gratifying.

[NuclearDog]

I find my bike lock works pretty well. It's about 3' of heavy, HEAVY chain. The chain weights probably at least 8-10lbs and the links are very thick and very large. I have a big brinks lock that's coated to be shim-resistant, etc, but not nearly big enough to use a jack to break. I have 3 middle bars on my bike and snake it around them all such that you'd need to cut at least two to get the chain off. When I plan on leaving my bike for any extended period of time, I also use a crappy cable lock to lock the front and back wheels to the frame as well, just to provide more nuisance. The chain has a few marks on it that look to be from bolt cutters or something, but has not been cut, so I'll consider it a success. I've put about as much effort as I'm willing to into locking my bike, and I think I've made it enough of a hassle to potential thieves that no one will really steal it. I'll take a picture later if I get time. Cheers, ND

[totally_screwed]

Avoid any type of padlock that snaps shut. If a padlock does not need to be locked with a key, then it's as useless as a chocolate fire guard. The snap-locking padlocks can be opened with a shim (a very thin piece of metal sheeting). Which can be slipped down the shackle and lift the spring-loaded plunger(s) that lock the shackle closed. This method doesn't work with padlocks that need to be locked with the key. Also many padlocks have spring tumbler cylinders that can be bumped in seconds with a modified bump-key that will open virtually any lock that it will fit into. Cheaper padlocks may also have other vulnerabilities. Some can be bypassed by inserting a bent piece of wire through the lock and operating the mechanism without touching the lock cylinder. This is NOT lockpicking - it's bypassing. Picking is rare, it takes too long and too much skill and expensive locks incorporate different anti-pick measures. Thieves will use any method that is quick. Cheap padlocks are rubbish.

[Derin]

I know some locks that are the snap-shut type and can't be shimmed,and lock guards made of tank steel and lock on the lock to prevent any shimming on shimmable locks,and it also prevents sawing off.Mul-t-lock makes some of those,and they test them with a couple the most heavy duty tools that even exist

[tstartrekdude]

Picking may be rare, but it dose not take too much skill, I would say that it takes about a hour to learn how to pick a cheap padlock with in 20 seconds, thats how long it took me to at that skill level me anyhow( I'm not a thief , i am just a man of many hobby's AND a cyclist )

[totally_screwed]

tstartrekdude I too am a cyclist with many hobbies and recently I've been finding-out how easily cheap locks are to open - even without the right key. Regarding picking, it all depends how good a padlock is. I agree that cheap padlocks are easily picked, but and it's a big but, as I mentioned, expensive locks incorporate numerous anti-pick measures and increased resistance to brute force attacks. In the EU, the highest category locks are CEN6. For starters, increased numbers of pins, including spool anti-pick pins (which mislead a would-be picker into believing they've been picked when they haven't), a narrow and sharply contorted keyway (which impedes the use of picks), and possibly even sidebars (which have to be operated correctly for the lock to open). There are other features. While I am not into picking locks, I understand that these features make a good padlock a great deal harder and time-consuming to pick than a cheap Chinese padlock or a typical Master padlock. With picking, it's all about time and I suspect that a thief, would not want to be taking tens of minutes picking such a lock in public, while the owner might return, and call the Police. In the UK any person found carrying lock picks without good reason i.e. not a locksmith going to a customer, is considered 'going equipped' and liable to immediate arrest and likely imprisonment. I suspect that it's not too different elsewhere. Brute force (cutting, smashing), shimming & bumping, are much easier and quicker than picking. If a bike is secure (too difficult for any reason), the thief will look for easier prey. Apparently: Carbon frames are so stiff that they can be sawn through and opened to free the frame from a lock, ridden off and stripped for expensive components.

[Fuzz2050]

Thats rather concerning to hear about Carbon bikes, I always figured one nick and they all turned into dust. So much for my bias...

[tstartrekdude]

Good post. so purity much if you live in newyork. your well...what's your name :)

[Derin]

do you want the name so u can stalk me?
_{S-T-A-L-K-E-R!!!!!!}

[littlechef37]

Ok so I just had my bike recently robbed from me while i was on it.... when three people approach you what do you do ??? Thanks to some neighbors and authorities I have my bike back and 1 adolescent is being charged ..

[Derin]

YA ALL THOSE THIEVES SHALL GO ROB EACH OTHER AND LEAVE US ALONE!!!!!!!

[RaynoGernsback]

To be frank, as I've unfortunately seen AND experienced on several occasions, nothing short of a police escort can ensure a bike's safety. Even in your damn garden, unseen from the road, whilst your folks are in the house! There is no measure that can stop a determined thief. Anyway, the way I see it is the point of locking up a bike is to stop opportunistic, part-timers nabbing a quick ride home. Always use 2 locks, put it somewhere pretty public and, ideally, in view of a CCTV camera so if anything happens, you don't get a patronising reply when you report it stolen.

[AndyHope]

i hear you on the garden situation, i had my nabbed just a few days ago out of view from the street in my back yard.... sigh

[BBBB3]

The most common way a bike is stolen is when the owner turns their back and the bike is gone. That is why you should lock your bike, even if you just put a cheap dollar store bike lock around the rim - Which works really good when you are watching your bike. If someone really want your bike they will find a way to get it. You just make it as hard as reasonabity possible to dieter them.

[thehumble1]

good call. I'd errantly remembered it as a SS decal. thanks for the great walkthrough for the noobs.

[thehumble1]

that's sick. someone needs a spanking. and what's the deal with the single speed decal on a triple chainring bike?

[Fuzz2050]

That's actually a crank brothers decal, but then again, whats a crank brothers decal doing on a bike with toe clips, and why is that the crank bothers logo anyway?

[thehumble1]

the real way this person locked their bike was by riding a Mongoose. The entire thing would sell for $15 at a "resale" or pawn shop, so it's just not worth it. Also note the presence of sunlight, one of the best deterrents.

[Ubergeek85]

My bike is my pride and joy (and main mode of transport). It cost me $60 from a mate. It has rust on the frame, and mud in odd places. For a lock, I use a proper chain (albeit a small gauge chain), and a $2 lock. This works better than you think. Being so cheap, it rusted pretty fast. Now, you need the key to lock it as well as unlock it, and a shim won't fit. Also, opening it is quite hard, even with the key, it sticks quite a bit. Avoid combination locks like the plague, my father taught be how to open them in under a minute (for good ones). Cheapo ones last all of 10 seconds, and I'm not a thief. The problem is cheap ones tend to have quite a bit of give, and pulling on it, then turning each wheel, you can feel when it turns to the right digit.

[totally_screwed]

Kryptonite gizmo Prevents jacking of U-locks. Due to be released mid 2008.

[totally_screwed]

I was recently investigating bicycle security and what follows is some of what I discovered. I apologise if you find this post rambling (it is), but I feel there's some value in this to amateur cyclists who wish to keep their steeds. I write from a UK perspective, but I am fairly confident (but I'm probably wrong) that bike security is not too different anywhere in the western world. Basically, when looking at whether something is really secure, you must stop thinking like a law-abiding person, and consider how to steal it quickly and what you would need to succeed, as if your life absolutely depended upon it. I'm pretty sure that is how thieves think and it leads to very different and novel solutions. This is where the idea for sawing through carbon frames arose so that they could be ridden off and stripped. Destruction of part of your pride and joy is of no concern to a thief, if he gets a part of it to sell. If you think like a bike thief, I'm pretty sure you will change where, when and how you lock your bike – and it will be more secure as a result. Clearly thieves buy locks and examine them at leisure to reveal weaknesses and find how to break or defeat them. I'm sure you've heard of the tubular keyed D & U-lock fiasco. I have several of these locks – none by Kryptonite. I like many others was fooled by the novel key and thought they were secure. Well I couldn't see how to open one without the key. But it seems that the way these locks were designed and manufactured meant that the pins were correctly set for opening when bottomed-out in the lock. (Neither very smart, nor very secure!) This led to the discovery of the ball-point pen vulnerability. It is clearly possible to make tubular keyed locks that are much more secure – but would they sell after such a fiasco? Appearances can be deceptive A lock is always designed with the appearance of being as secure as possible because unsurprisingly, insecure looking locks don't sell very well, but whether the locks really are secure is a different matter. Independent security certification & assessment is a good start, especially if numerous test houses agree – but may not be enough. Always match the lock to your bike. Expensive bikes need expensive locks and very expensive bikes need very expensive locks. The general advice in the UK is to spend ~10% of the price of your bike on security! So a $2000 bike needs ~$200 spent on locks. The lock, security skewers, security tagging / registration, ground anchor for security at home, it all adds-up! Expensive Bikes attract the attention of Professional Thieves Professional thieves are very determined and have a much wider range of techniques and tools to employ. After all, this is their job! Make the bast**ds earn their money! Where are you thinking of locking your bike? What is OK in a low crime area, may not work well in a high crime area. Large bike parks are anonymous, there are lots of people coming and going and bike thieves can work undisturbed. Darkness is the thief's friend Even properly locked, an expensive bike may be stripped of its valuable components, or stolen if left overnight. Darkness is very bad for security. Portable power saws can cut through many locks, noisy but quick! Rubbish bikes attract only opportunist thieves All bikes weigh 50 pounds Unfortunately, an expensive bike needs an expensive and heavy lock or locks. A cheap & nasty bike may not need any lock. For an expensive bike - and an expensive bike is one that you cannot afford to replace, you should ideally use at least two different types of locks (requiring entirely different types of attack and different tools and time to defeat), but never use a cable as a primary security for an expensive bike. Armoured cables are clearly better than un-armoured cables because they are resistant to bolt cutters (too large to fit between the jaws), but I'm uneasy about them. I've seen a video (I think it was on YouTube) of an attack on cable locks that relies upon winding-up the cable with a lever (screwdriver, cutters & etc). What seems to be happening is that this places all the stresses on a small number of the wires, which break progressively until the cable is broken. Simple, but takes only seconds, effective and makes little noise. Should work equally-well on armoured cables too. Learn how to lock your bike properly to an immovable object, that means an immovable object that cannot be easily broken or cut and the bike cannot be lifted off (poles). You must think like a thief. If you can steal it – so can a bike thief. For a lock to work, it must be used and used properly! Opportunist thieves are far more numerous than the 'pros' and they will happily help themselves to an expensive bike that is left unlocked, while the owner just pops into a store 'for a few moments'. Remember no-one can run as far or as fast as a thief can ride a bike! D & U-locks Who would have thought that the thieving bast**ds would use hydraulic jacks to break these? Kryptonite apparently has a new gizmo – a diagonal brace that fits on the U-lock, if I remember correctly, it's due to be released sometime around mid 2008. It prevents the insertion of a jack. It looks interesting. Padlock & Chain If you use a padlock & chain, keep the padlock and chain tight and off the ground. If it's loose or on the ground, it is vulnerable to hammering and freeze attacks. Why freezing? – it makes the metal highly prone to brittle fracture. I'm led to believe that liquid N is as cheap as milk and can be carried in a vacuum flask.

[Yerboogieman]

i used to use a huge chain and a giant master lock at school, and on top of it i'd put in a very inconvenient sopt on the grounds just to piss the school off.

[ljacts]

I always lock my mini u directly into the frame. I hadn't thought about just locking into the wheel in the rear triangle. I live in downtown Atlanta where bike theft is an issue, and one of the tactics I use is urban camo. If you spray painted that fancy bike in step eight the bike thieves would see it as unsellable and thus not worth the time to cut the lock. Granted I guess that you loose out on resale that way but it's super effective. My bike has hundreds of dollars of nice parts but a pawn shop wouldn't even think about buying it. Anyone who looks at it knows that.

[Fuzz2050]

I don't think thats an effective method, spray painted bikes go on craigslist all the time, I should know, I just sold one. It was my own bike, no theft involved, but there was no visible make, model or serial number. The person had no issue buying it. As well, even if you somehow made your frame unsellable, there is nothing to stop the thief from keeping the cool bike frame for himself and just selling the hundreds of dollars in parts. Bike thieves can tell a good bike from a bad bike, and a good bike made to look bad from a real bad bike.

[fantastic.poison]

this is bad advice. most U-locks can be broken in under 10 minutes with a simple scissor jack (the kind that comes with every car or truck). bolt cutters eat cable locks no problem. additionally, the limited reach of a U-lock means 1) you can't secure frame and wheel and 2) you're probably locking up to something even easier to cut open than the lock, like a rusty old decorative bannister or chain link fence. do yourself the favor and spend the $75 on a hardened, square-link bike chain- the kind designed specifically for bikes & motorcycles. it's expensive, but it will last longer than the bike, or for that matter, you. pass the chain around something thick enough that it can't be snapped or cut down with an angle grinder in under 10 minutes, and through your front wheel.

[Fuzz2050]

Thats bad advice, If you just lock around the rear wheel inside of the rear triangle of the bike, and lock it to something, as I instructed, then both the frame and the rear wheel are secured. As for the durability of a U-lock, well, if someone is going around with a scissor jack, you just shouldn't leave your bike outside. No lock is unbreakable, even those fancy square link chains.

[TheMadTinker]

Agreed, nothing is totally indestructible, and people who think otherwise are fooling themselves.

[totally_screwed]

For
Lock it or lose it Or lock it and still lose it?

An article on locking techniques and how thieves can still steal your bike!

http://quickrelease.tv/?p=327

[sixminus4is5]

The Freezepop song Bike Thief comes to mind :)

[moreice]

maybe someone should post an instructable showing us all how to electrify the bike--- so that any unsuspecting fellow who touches it gets a nice lesson

[fantastic.poison]

cheap bikes still get stolen. i once had a very cheap steel mtb covered in stickers while parked next to a carbon fiber tri bike. why? 1) cheap bikes are easy to turn around without asking questions (that carbon bike is probly registered w/ the cops) 2) cheap bikes are usually secured improperly. takes only a few seconds.

[omnibot]

I've found a use for small laminated padlocks .. I put them on the chain and gears locking it to itself. Also pretty hard to remove without damaging the bike. After adding lock upon lock I find that a coplu of wirelocks, some u-locks and a chain and padlock are starting to weigh down my bike. I'm a bit paranoid.

[frank26080115]

add these to the list: fill all screws with a bead of solder or epoxy puddy and round off every hexagon and octagon shapes :-P

[bedbugg2]

and then you need to replace the brakes lol

[Prometheus]

Also, locks to never use with a chain are small laminated padlocks and ANY type of combination lock. Master-Lock combination padlocks can be defeated with one quick blow of a sledgehammer. Lock the rear wheel to the seat-tube and to the largest-gauge tubing of the bike rack that you can, not the guide rails of it, and if your front wheel has a quick-release, undo it and lock it to the group as well. Try not to leave any bags behind with anything valuable as they might as well rifle through those and steal your tools as well. I have also used a long-shackle padlock to lock the front wheel to the fork on bikes with cantilever brakes by simply locking it over the fork and above the brake gussets. This makes a lock less expected, and would certainly increase the difficulty when the lock is not easily accessible with pliers and the thief tries to ride off on a bike with an immobile front wheel. If it was your bike, you should have remembered that lock, shouldn't you have? Hopefully others might notice this fact as well. Other things can complicate matters for the thief, such as tightening your brakes on the wheels, undoing your brakes' quick-release, taking your seat with you, derailing your chain, shifting to the highest gear before you park it, or even (evil) loosening your steerer-tube bolt to make the thief crash (drawing attention to themselves and creating a situation they didn't plan for, such as a bike that comes apart on them)...Anything you can easily fix yourself that would slow them down increases the chances of your bike being noticeably-stolen and the theft intercepted by a good citizen. Taking one of your pedals with you can also keep the pair from being stolen, as well as make the bike fairly unrideable (I suggest the right as most people would "sidecar" a bike on the right pedal if they are right-handed). If you can take your brake's straddle-cables with you without needing tools, take them and the bike has no brakes. If the brakes have a quick-release lever (for easy removal of the wheel), set your brakes with them in the open position and use the closed position to apply "parking brakes". This won't lock the wheel, but will sure make it an exhaustive getaway, to which they might quit. I was a professional bike thief before, and have alot of experience stealing hundreds of bikes and mopeds. The way to beat a bike thief is to think like one. If you could steal your own bike, then someone else can. Use unconventional methods, and you increase the chances of your bike left-behind/quickly-abandoned, or even the thief being caught. Just don't leave a bike unattended that you cannot afford to lose, or as above, have someone working there that knows you own it. Good thing for the rest of you I now use my knowledge to help others not have their rides stolen, or I'd still be stealing yours....

[_soapy_]

Far smarter to go with a security head bit where you can, the Torx 5 pointed star or any other restricted system would be best, but even just an anti-tamper hex head is better than nothing.

[Fuzz2050]

I'd really prefer not to do those things to my bike, i like to upgrade stuff, and replace worn out components and things like that. If it comes down to having to do that, just don't leave your bike outside.

[jbmarsh]

In high-crime areas and where thieves carry cutting tools, extra insurance is provided by locking around both the rim and the seat tube.

[_soapy_]

There was a kid at uni with me who had a stunningly nice Cannondale, and he did exactly that. He also had the pedal that was still attached to his foot when they got him to the ER after he got hit by an HGV. But that's another story.

[evy-wevy]

oh the brooks saddle! most people wouldn't have a clue in what goes in to making one of those! awesome saddles! $$$

[jongscx]

...now we do...

[briang]

Your method of using the u-lock is okay, but I would lock through the rear wheel and the seat tube. If you use your method, and I really, really wanted your bike, then I would take the back wheel off and then stomp and bend it so it fit through the rear triangle. couple other ideas: a) look for the super secure bike stands. There are some out there, where the bike fits in and you use your lock to lock the bars around and through your bike. You can't beat these. b) park in as a well visable spot as possible - thieves don't ike to be watched. c) Find a parking lot - most don't have bike parking, but if you ask the attendant if you can lock your bike up near the booth, if you spot them a few $$ they'll usually be happy to watch it for you.