Bike locks and / or insurance

[VictorL]

I currently have a £5.99 coil lock (with keys) picked up from Wilkinsons. This was absolutely fine for my old bike. I have now purchased a Trek for £400 and am unsure as to what sort of lock to buy.

I am tempted to buy one lock which I can just keep at work (so don't mind if it is heavy) and another one to keep when I go out and about.

Any thoughts.

Also is bike insurance worth it? Obviously I guess it is if it gets stolen, but am I just better off getting a better lock and ensuring that I lock it correctly.

Finally, do bikes get stolen a lot still - and should I be taking the front wheel with me if I leave it for a while?

 

[marinyork]

I've not heard of Great Yarmouth being a bicycle theft hotspot, however you should always be vigilant. Abus granit/one of better Kryptonite D locks.

 

[HJ]

A D Lock is the best thing to get. As for bike insurance, it is cheapest simply to add it to your household insurance. If you are worried about the wheels being stolen, then put the coil lock around then, but use the D Lock to secure the bike. If you do decide to take the front wheel with you, remember not to leave it in the pub, unlike us on here (mentioning no names, but he does have a lot of videos youtube)...

 

[nigelnorris]

Two locks of different types, a d-lock round an immovable object+frame+rear wheel, plus a cable lock round the frame+front wheel.

 

[fossyant]

Halfords do some Magnum ones - £35-£40 - with front wheel cable (gold rated)

 

[g00se]

Bikes still get stolen - so insurance is really a must. Adding it to a home insurance policy isn't too expensive.

The best locks are D-locks but they still can get opened by someone determined enough. A lot use D-locks and also a cable to run through the wheels - especially if you have quick release hubs. But make sure you lock the frame to something solid and if you can, have it so the keyhole is facing downwards and cannot be turned upwards - as some folks use chemicals poured into the keyhole to break it. They pour the liquid in, come back 30 minutes later and force it open.

Often, D-locks have insurance policies with then (guaranteed to pay up to £x) but I'd rather go with a home contents policy.

 

[RedBike]

If you're going to insure your bike then you will probably have to use a lock thats approved by your insurance company. Sadly a £5 wilkinson lock is unlikely to be on the approved list.

Sadly bikes do seem to get stolen alot, but normally any reasonable lock is enough to deter an opportunist thief from trying to run off with the bike.

People coming equipped to steel tend to only target 'hot' spots where they are guaranteed large numbers of expensive bikes left unattended.
They are probably going to nick your bike no matter how well you've secured it. All you do is make it less attractive / harder work than the one parked next to it.

 

[VictorL]

Thanks people.

Funnily enough, to add the bike to my home contents insurance will cost over £40 to get it covered away from home (automatically covered at home) whereas the specialist bike insurance quotes are about 20% cheaper. That said when I asked about the type of lock needed for the home insurance policy, they said 'any', no standard is required!

Will have a look at a couple of bike shops tomorrow.

Cheers

 

[Bigtwin]

Cable lock + *snip* = gone. Virtually useless.

Should you get a decent lock?

Depends how much you like being without a bike and dealing with insurance companies.

 

[2Loose]

I have a motorcycle Thatcham approved cable lock and a bicycle gold approved U-lock - while recently telling a work colleague about the supposed ease of snipping a cable lock and showing off my mega-thick cable lock, he turned and pointed out the almost cut through section of the cable that I hadn't seen...my jaw hit the floor.

U-Locks FTW, atleast one!

 

[Davidc]

You need a good lock. (Usually required by insurers). It needs to be a secure silver or gold D lock.

As I know from personal experience even a good lock fixing your bike to a huge block of concrete won't stop a determined thief. You can defeat the casual ones, and many pros.

I also use a very loud alarm on mine. (120dBA at 1m). At least any thief will have damaged hearing by the time he gets the D lock off!

 

[VictorL]

You need a good lock. (Usually required by insurers). It needs to be a secure silver or gold D lock.

As I know from personal experience even a good lock fixing your bike to a huge block of concrete won't stop a determined thief. You can defeat the casual ones, and many pros.

I also use a very loud alarm on mine. (120dBA at 1m). At least any thief will have damaged hearing by the time he gets the D lock off!

What sort of alarm?

 

[swee'pea99]

Casual scrotes will be thwarted by anything (and that's probably 90%); really serious thieves will beat anything (bolt cutters/car jacks.) Your best solution is a small U-bolt, locked like this

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/locktechnique1.jpg

...so no room for a jack. Add a cable if you're concerned for your wheels, tho' I suspect that wheel thieves are actually pretty rare. Not so easy to fence down the pub.

 

[g00se]

A tip on location - try to find a flash, expensive bike tied up with a cr4p lock - and lock yours up near that.

 

[swee'pea99]

"Always try to park next to a Sierra Cosworth."