Questions tagged [security]
Locking your bike and keeping it safe, especially from being stolen.
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Locking your bike in public areas
I recently saw a small clip about how to securely lock your bike.
I was wondering what are your tips for minimizing the chances of getting your bike stolen.
Here ...
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votes
9
answers
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Best type of bike lock (materials, style, etc.)
I recently lost the keys to my lock and had to borrow a bolt cutter to free my bike. It was a bit of an eye opener to realise a) just how easy it was for the bolt cutters to cut through my D Lock (<...
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votes
14
answers
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My bike got stolen a second time (in Amsterdam) - what should I do? [duplicate]
I've moved to Amsterdam a few months ago, and have started using bicycles; I mostly cycle from home to work.
I've been using typical old(ish) used bikes, black-color omafiets of some obscure make, ...
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13
answers
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Theft deterrents (in addition to locking up a bike)
Besides locking a bike up properly, are there other deterrents against theft (such as engraving) that make a bicycle less attractive to a potential bike thief?
UPDATE
It was stolen. :-(
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answers
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Evidence on "Uglify Your Bike: Effective Theft Deterrent?"
Does anyone have any evidence that uglyfying does or does not work as a theft deterrent? It doesn't have to be scientific: even anecdotal evidence helps (and maybe well-founded opinions)?
This ...
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9
answers
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How can I offer a test ride while selling a bike?
I am selling a bike to someone I don't know from Craigslist. I expect that the prospective purchaser will want to test ride the bike before making the purchase.
How can I prevent them from riding ...
22
votes
5
answers
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How to keep a huge cargo bike safe in the city?
I have been biking for transportation and pleasure the whole time I've lived in Chicago, and I'm familiar with the basics of locking up and storing my commuter bike.
Yesterday I added a Yuba Mundo to ...
21
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3
answers
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Why should little kids not have back mirrors on their bicycles?
In a paper from the mid-1980s, there is a kind of PSA box listing some things that small children should NOT have on their bicycle. Most of them make sense, but there's one that confuses me: "...
21
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Deterrents against partial (component) theft
Big question: Is there any way to increase the security of bolted on portions of a bicycle?
Specifics: I cycle as my primary mode of transport (in East London) on a early 90s steel road bike with ...
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10
answers
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How can I keep my bike safe in my garage?
I just got a brand new bike. I keep it in the garage, but my wife has a habit of leaving the garage door up. Right now, there's nothing in my garage that I can really lock the bike to.
How can I ...
20
votes
8
answers
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Properly locking on a floor mount rack with a U-lock
I have read recommendations to lock both the bike's frame and wheel. That's quite easy to do on larger racks, such as Sheffield stands.
The place I work in, however, has a floor mount rack to store ...
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7
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Lock my bicycle on busy or quiet places?
When I lock my bicycle I try to lock it on quiet spots, usually on street racks situated on secondary streets.
I think it will be less visible so it will attract less looks. On the other hand, if a ...
18
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9
answers
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What is the best bicycle lock on the market?
What is the best bicycle lock on the market, defined by:
Best security
Easiest usability when securing your bike
Easiest method of transport
Lightest without other compromises
Edit:
In addition, ...
18
votes
11
answers
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Protecting quick-release seats and wheels from theft
I have to say I am not a fan of quick-release, especially for seats. I do not need to raise and lower my seat nearly enough (almost never) to justify the annoyance of having to take my seat with me or ...
18
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6
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Suggestions for outdoor commercial (security/parking) stands
I'm looking for suggestions for space efficient stands for parking multiple bikes.
A sports club (not cycling) for which I sit on the committee is looking to solve a bit of a problem. At the moment ...
18
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5
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Reduce Resale Value to Avoid Theft? (Uglify)
"Uglify your bike" was mentioned here as a theft deterrent.
I have a 20102009 Canondale F3 and I'm thinking about locking it up in Manhattan from time to time. I think that Uglifying will help.
How ...
17
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7
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How important is the MIPS safety system for a bicycle helmet? [duplicate]
I'm shopping for a bicycle helmet. The ones without this "MIPS" feature can cost 549 SEK: https://www.sportson.se/produkt/miles-69415850
But then there is an identical-looking one with "...
17
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5
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How can I protect components from being stolen off my bike?
I had my bike locked up properly so that the frame and wheels were secure, but somebody stole the 8 speed and handlebars off of my bike. I don't understand how this can have more than a $10 resale ...
17
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1
answer
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Where do stolen bikes go?
I'm looking for, ideally, an academic study or authoritative source on what happens to stolen bikes, rather than just speculation. Is there anything I can do at this point to help track mine down?
My ...
17
votes
2
answers
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Can a chain-lock be better against cutting than a U-lock?
I'm looking for a bike lock and, in 2013, Kryptonite have a new lock, the Evolution Series 4 Mini Chain:
The chain is quoted as being only 55 cm long, and 10 mm thick.
Is the blue mark below a ...
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7
answers
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How can I prevent my next bike from being stolen?
I park my bike in my building's bicycle room, in the parking garage in the basement.
The garage door can only be opened with a remote fob, and the bicycle room is locked as well.
In the garage, I ...
15
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4
answers
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Tracking my bike - How could a company offer a GPS location tracker with no recurrent service fee?
I want to add a tracker to my bicycle.
I’ve come across this and am wondering if it’s too good to be true? If not, how does it work, and why is this the only example I can find? What are folks’ ...
15
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10
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Ever seen a locking bag that could be locked to the bike?
This might take a little explaining.
I've got stuff on my bike that removes easily and could be stolen: head light, tail light, cyclometer. If I'm riding to a concert or something, I don't want to ...
14
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10
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Techniques for safely leaving a bike for 1-2 minutes in a safe-ish place
In the last year, 3 of my friends got their bikes stolen by leaving them "just for a minute" in front of a shop "while watching them through the window".
Nevertheless, sometimes I do the same. Maybe ...
13
votes
5
answers
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Lock for extremely frequent use
Are there lock products out there specifically designed for easy handling when locked unlocked dozens of times a day?
I'm using a normal, chain-based lock at the moment and I'm annoyed because
I'm ...
13
votes
1
answer
856
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Usage experience with anti-theft GPS trackers
Does anybody have any actual experience with anti-theft GPS trackers like BikeSpy? Their website looks terribly unprofessional and there are only very few testimonies online, but the idea is ...
11
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10
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If you can only secure one wheel when locking bike which wheel is better
When I lock my bike I always lock the front wheel with my bike to the rack since front wheel is easier to remove. Is this the right choice?
I have only one U-lock so can only secure one wheel, not ...
11
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5
answers
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How can I reversibly uglify a bike?
I'm likely to have to commute to somewhere that's less than ideal for security. The whole thing is less than ideal but it's only for a couple of weeks.
Using using the beater bike I already have ...
11
votes
5
answers
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Affordable security nuts and bolts [closed]
I don't ride particularly fancy bikes, but I do ride in New York City, so I'm interested in securing the components on my bikes without using a ton of locks. Most security bolts products cost a bunch ...
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Enclosed external bicycle storage for house with up to 10 bicycles
We recently bought a flat in a house (in Northern Europe) with 5 flats in total. It does not have any bicycle storage at the moment. We discussed with the other owners of the flats to build an ...
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Are bicycle registration websites any use for recovering stolen bikes?
Ther are quite a few bicycle registration websites aimed to help you recover your bike if it is stolen, such as Bike Shepherd, Bike Register and MyBikeNumber. I'm curious if these sites are of any use....
9
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3
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GPS bike tracking (locks)
I have seen a few GPS devices either in the backlight or unside the seat tube which you can track if you lose your bike (your bike gets stolen).
What do you think about this stuff. Is it worth the ...
9
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3
answers
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Biking to the airport / leaving a bike for a week
I'd like to try riding to the airport or to public transit when I travel. Does anybody do this? Any suggestions for how to secure a bike if you're going to need to leave it for a week or so?
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Kick-stand on a commuter bike?
If I get this commuter bike, should it have a kick-stand?
One LBS said "no": they explained that stands are difficult to attach, weigh a bit, don't stay on well, and/or scratch the frame.
I've never ...
8
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6
answers
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Is my bike safer when parked in crowded places?
Is it safer to leave a bike somewhere where there are a lot of people like Walmart parking lot or somewhere with less people like at a park?
Locked in both cases but which case is more likely to get ...
8
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5
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Flying with your bike
I am going away on a cycling holiday to the Alps and need to take my bike on the plane with me. Has anyone had experience taking bikes on planes and how did you protect your bike?
Can anyone ...
8
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4
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what is the most secure bicycle combination lock?
Which bicycle lock that is a combination lock (with a code instead of keys) is the most secure device available on the market?
Of course everything can be broken, and its only a matter of time, but ...
8
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5
answers
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What's the most secure type of bike lock that costs less than $30?
I already have the cable cable kind with the combination lock. It just seems cheap and easy to break into. Is that sufficient or are the U shaped ones better?
8
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2
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How to ensure security of panniers when touring
I'm planning a cycle tour carrying baggage in panniers on the bike. For at least some of the trip, I'll be alone, and when I need to go into shops/cafes/toilets, I can lock up the bike, but the ...
8
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Are public bicycle rack providers liable if your bicycle is stolen from their rack?
My bicycle was insured and locked to a leisure centre provided bicycle rack while I was in the leisure centre and was stolen by the time I came out. I was later informed that someone else had their ...
8
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3
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Commuting daily with an Expensive Bike, tips?
I have been commuting to work daily for years now. Sadly I just switched jobs and there is no bike parking, so I have to leave it in the street. My main problem is that I'm riding a Colnago Single ...
8
votes
2
answers
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Onguard U-lock jammed
I'm currently trying to unlock my bike that has been sitting on my porch for a while, the key works and turns, and I can hear the lock engaging/disengaging, however I cannot get the shackle to come ...
8
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2
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Installing a lock mount on a carbon fiber frame
Let's ignore the question, for a moment, of should I install a lock mount on my new TCR Advanced. But assume that I want to.
Given that the frame is carbon fiber, should I be worried about the ...
8
votes
1
answer
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Experience with GPS trackers - thieves' reactions?
I'm interested in experiences what happens in reality when a bike with a GPS tracker is targeted / stolen by thieves.
There are GPS trackers with a SIM card that will send an alarm to your mobile ...
7
votes
2
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Security skewers torque
I purchased Pinhead security skewers, and the instructions suggest to tighten them to 8 N-m (70 in-lb) of torque. However, the skewers use a special key which doesn't appear compatible with a torque ...
7
votes
1
answer
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electronic security tags
Are electronic security tags (e.g. Immobitag, Datatag) a good idea? Are the stickers likely to deter theft and does the electronic tag increase the chances of recovery in the event of theft?
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2
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When registering keys, which number is the Kryptonite key#?
I've just bought a new Kryptonite lock and am about to register the keys at www.kryptonitelock.com, but which number do I enter in the Key# box? Both? The keys each have two numbers, one LXXXX and one ...
6
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3
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Are there any locking options that lock the drive train of a bicycle?
I've been looking into the different kind of locks available, and came upon this short documentary about bike thefts in London. Seems that just about any lock on the market can be easily beaten by a ...
6
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4
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Are there electronic/active theft deterrents for bicycles?
In addition to mechanical/passive deterrents (locks, chains, etc.), what electronic/active bicycle theft deterrents exist?
* My dear bicycle was stolen two weeks ago and I then vowed to dedicate my ...
6
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1
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Help identifying frame number
On my new bike I can see two numbers stamped into the frame - one seven digits long and one eight digits long. There's also a serial number on a tag.
I'm attempting to register the Bike with the UK ...