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Man talking on mobile phone while unlocking bicycle in city.

How to safely lock-up your bike

Having a bike stolen is infuriating but you can’t keep an eye on it at every moment, so what can you do to thwart bike thieves? Here is our essential advice on protecting your bike, locking it up and keeping it safe.

More people getting into cycling plus a national shortage of new bikes have led to an increased demand for second-hand bikes. Unfortunately, this thriving second-hand market has meant an increase in bike thefts. Follow these tips to make sure yours doesn’t get into the wrong hands…

 

Lock up your bike somewhere visible

When choosing somewhere to lock up your bike take a good look around first – if there are other bikes parked up with parts missing or even a solitary back-wheel it’s best to move on and find somewhere safer. Look for CCTV or street lighting that will act as a deterrent. Somewhere with a heavy footfall, with lots of people passing-by can also help, as it will make it harder for a thief to work without being spotted. Be particularly careful around places like cafes where there are lots of other cyclists and bikes – canny bike thieves will turn up in cycling clothing to steal a bike unspotted.

 

Keep your bike safe from prying eyes

When you lock up your bike at home make sure there is no way a thief can see into your garage or shed to check out its contents. Likewise, don’t clean your bike or do any maintenance on it in full view of passers-by who might take an interest or pass on information to a thief, even accidentally.

 

Sadly, stealing bikes has become such an industry that thieves will follow cyclists on Strava to find out where bikes are kept. There have been stories of bikes ‘stolen to order’, with thieves looking for specific brands through a cyclist’s social media. If you put up photos of you and your bike on any social media, but especially tracking apps such as Strava or Garmin, be careful of sharing locations and ensure you keep your privacy settings high.

 

Use different locations to lock up your bike

If you commute the same journey regularly, try to vary where your bike is locked. Bike thieves will patrol areas and will spot where desirable bikes are frequently stored. Putting it in the same place each day will give them time to work out how to break your lock and even find a waiting buyer.

 

Lock through the frame

How you lock up your bike plays a big part in making it as difficult as possible for a thief to take it. The most important thing is to put a lock through the main triangle of your frame, not just through a wheel. Try to position the lock so it is difficult to access and limit the amount of working space around it. If you have a long-cable lock, wind it round your bike to make it harder to use bolt croppers. Use additional locks for wheels and take-off anything valuable that could be easily removed.

It’s common sense, but always lock your bike onto something strong and immoveable so the bike cannot be lifted over it. We once saw a bike stolen from a metal fence – the thieves used the bolt-cropper on the fence instead of the bike lock, leaving a hole in the fence and carrying away the bike with the fencing still attached!

 

Use a Sold Secure bike lock

Sold Secure are considered the industry standard for lock and security system testing. It is a condition of many bike insurance policies that you use a Sold Secure rated lock. Formed by Northumbria and Essex Police, and now owned by the Master Locksmith Association, they know what makes a really good lock. They come in four different grades, depending on the value of your bike, and are well worth the investment.

 

Get bike insurance

This feels a bit defeatist but bike thieves are very determined. If you live in a high-risk area, or frequently lock up your bike outside your home, it is well worth getting bike insurance. It’s not just the financial loss of your bike but the frustration of missing rides or losing your transport. An insurance company will help you get back on the road faster.

 

Got any more tips for us? Or even stories of bike security failing? Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter feed.

For more information about our services or to start your claim, call 0808 100 9995 and speak to one of our specialist solicitors. We’re here to help. You can email us or schedule a callback.

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.