How to Protect Your Bike Against Loss or Theft

Riding a bicycle is a great way to get some daily exercise and do your bit to prevent air pollution. Unfortunately, bicycles are easy to steal, and thousands are stolen every year. It’s very annoying when your bike suddenly disappears because you neglected to lock it or were careless about where you left it. It can be a relief to know that you have bicycle insurance to cover you against theft or loss. There are measures you can take to reduce the risks of your bicycle being stolen.

Why bike insurance is important

Bicycles and e-bikes are expensive, and they may not be completely covered under policies like homeowner or auto insurance policies. If they end up damaged or stolen, you’re on the hook for covering repairs or replacements. With bike insures, you pay a small premium each month to ensure that if something happens to your bike, it’s fully covered. The following tips can reduce your risks of having your bike stolen, but there is no 100% guarantee that it won’t happen.  

Make sure you lock your bike

This tip may seem obvious, but locking your bike is an easy measure to reduce the risk of theft. There are many riders whose bikes are stolen because they neglect to lock them properly. You should double check to make sure your bike is properly connected to the lock, and the lock is securely fastened. If you leave your bike unattended without locking it, you’re inviting bike thieves to take advantage of the situation. 

 How you lock your bike is important

Locking only the front wheel or back wheel of your bike to a pole is a very common mistake, especially for bikes with quick-release wheels. This makes it easy for someone to remove the wheel and take the frame. You should rather lock the rear wheel and the frame. If you want to be even more cautious, you could use two locks. You could thread a chain or cable lock through the wheels and use a classic u-lock for the frame. 

Lock your bike to an immovable object 

You should always lock your bike to an immovable object. Street signs can be pulled out, and thin steel can be cut with bolt cutters. If you lock your bike to construction scaffolding, you should only secure it to vertical bars, as horizontal bars can easily be unscrewed and removed. Securing your bike to a wooden fence is not a good idea either, as wood is easy to break. 

If you lock your bike to a wooden fence and go into a restaurant to eat, you may just come out and find that the wood has been broken and your bike is no longer there. It helps if you have insurance for bicycle theft. All you need to do is give the insurance company information about you, your bike and what you need. You will get a quote, and you can choose a policy that’s best for you. 

 Use a wheel lock

 It may be worthwhile for you to invest in some bike modifications that could prevent it from being stolen. You could buy a wheel lock that’s ART approved and has a quality mark accepted by insurers. Various security levels are indicated by stars, and you shouldn’t buy one with less than two stars. 

 Don’t forget about your bike’s accessories

Your bike may have expensive accessories, such as a gel-cushioned bike seat. If it has a quick-release option, it’s better to take your seat with you. You can also secure your seat by using a binder bolt instead of the quick-release option. If you have an e-bike, the battery is very valuable. If it isn’t fixed to your bike, it is best to take it with you. 

Conclusion 

Bike thieves can be innovative, which means that no lock is likely to be 100% theft-proof. Spending a little money on a good quality lock is a good preventative measure. However, having bike insurance won’t cost you too much and means that if your bike is stolen, you don’t have to carry the costs.