Bike Security

ianianian

Hello,

I will soon be purchasing a nice shiny new bike. It's going to cost about £600, which may not be a huge amount in the world of bikes, but it’s a lot for me!
I'm not really sure what type of bike lock/ security device to buy for the bike. I work for a big company with offices all over the world, yet they have virtually no provisions for bike users.... just a little post in the corner of the car park.
According to office legend this post has had bikes stolen from it in the past, so I don’t want to go for a cheap rubbish option.

Is there a stand out type of bike security that I can buy with my bike?

Also, save me writing another post, can anyone recommend somewhere for me to get me bike insured?

Thanks

Ian

patchy

First key point is location:You're best off parking somewhere in plain view where there are other (more nickable) bikes. The more people there are around the less likely it is that someone will try and filch your bike.

Second, get two locks - one should be a good quality D lock, (I'm a big fan of the kryptonite New York 3000, but it is heavy). The other should be a reasonable, but not excessive chain.

to lock up, put the d lock around whatever you're locking it to, around the frame and the back wheel, as low down as you can, with as little free space inside the 'D' of the lock as poss. The chain should loop around the frame, around the front wheel, and either through the D or around the post (or both).

Basically, most bike thieves will only carry equipment to do one type of lock: putting two on deters the casuals. Also, while a d lock can be blown in less that a minute by using a bottle jack, you need space to be able to use them.

even so, if some is determined to nick your bike then they will. Get insurance - i use cycleguard, but there are several other schemes available too.

oh, and one other thing – even if your bike isn't nicked, that doesn't mean its not been tampered with. Before setting off, check brakes, gears, saddle etc to ensure that some little scrote hasn't undone your cables and so on. the last thing you want to do is end up hurtling down a steep hill with no brakes... it hurts.

beverick

How secure is the site where you will be storing the bike? If the general public cannot gain access then you may not need to go to the lengths mentioned above.

For example, access to our site is fairly secure (two general entrances both covered by security gurads on a 24/7 basis). So I make do with a 'sold secure' Gold standard cable lock.


In general get a lock that you've seen reviewed against one of the several standards knocking around. The 'Sold Secure' scheme is perhaps one of the most obvious and is UK Home Office endorsed, but there are others. (nb avoid so called 'standards' defined by the manufacturer, they usually aren't worth the price of the ink!)

See also:
http://www.soldsecure.com/Leisure.htm
http://www.whycycle.co.uk/safety_and_se ... cle_locks/

Bob

ianianian

Much appreciated guys!

Our office is quite out of the way, so we don't have that many people passing through.This is obviously both a good and bad thing (less robbers, less people passing to spot robbers).

Also, the bike rack is a pretty half measure, i think the CCTV will be firmly focused on the bosses cars as opposed to my bike!

Think i'll have a browse on those sites and get two locks!
Thanks again!

CanterburyTailwind

It might be worth leaving the heavy lock at the office, so you don't have to carry it around with you (assuming you're just going between home and work, and you're home already has some security provision). There's no point in getting a shiny, light new bike, only to be weighed down with a lock that's as heavy as the bike itself!

patchy

ianianian wrote:

Also, the bike rack is a pretty half measure, i think the CCTV will be firmly focused on the bosses cars as opposed to my bike!

!

Is there anywhere inside you could potentially store your bike - storerooms, etc? Always good to be mates with the facilities manager in these situations, i find...

jedster

I'd just say that Patchy's advice is spot on. I don't know the D-lock he suggests but Abus Granite-X would be a good alternative.

J

fossyant

I use a heavy 10lb Onguard chain - which stays locked to the sheffield stand and another gold standard d-lock (carried with me) - make sure you fill your d'lock with frame, wheels etc so they can't get a bottle jack in.

I have had the chain lock 'moved' a few times and someone has put the weather switch over the keyhole on occasions - might be security/grounds staff wondering what the hell is the big thing, but that's why one lock travels with me in case of tampering.

steve_pushbiker

Yes as CanterburyTailwind and fossyant suggest, keep a serious lock locked to something at work to save you carting it in everyday. Just take it away if you are going to be away from work for a week or so. This was standard practice at the last place I worked. When you came in early in the morning there were just a few abandoned bikes and 40 or so locks dangling from the roof.

abbots_mike

lock it to the bosses front wheel :twisted:

JoeSoap76

Sorry, this is a little OT.

fossyant wrote:

I use a heavy 10lb Onguard chain - which stays locked to the sheffield stand...

<seethe>

I have to confess, this is something that's really getting on my wick with the stands at the office where I work. We have ten stands and there are, I estimate, around 15 of us who come in by bike regularly (so not enough stands).

It really pees me off that there are large locks permanently attached to eight of the ten stands. There are plenty of immovable objects (drain pipes, trees, railings) next to the stands where locks could be left (but where we are forbidden from locking our actual bikes lest they constitute a health&safety risk in the event of fire). They aren't big buildings and there aren't any desks more than a couple of minutes walk from the stands. Why, then, do I - who am in before most cyclists and leave after most - still struggle some mornings to be able to lock my bike securely just so that these eight inconsiderate ****s don't have to carry their locks around with them (like the rest of us do)?

Oh, and on a similar note... one shower room with one towel rail... what the **** makes the idiot cyclist in my building think that towel rail is his personal clothes horse?!?!?

Sorry - the red mist is clearing now... :oops:

Belv

A cycle cover might be a worthwhile addition, preferably covering the bike, the locks and the post. It's obviously not going to stop anyone on its own, but it adds other considerations to a theft (is the bike under there worth nicking? is it locked? do i have the balls to check these things first?) and does hide components which would probably still be easily nickable with an allen key.

patchy

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Sorry, this is a little OT.

fossyant wrote:

I use a heavy 10lb Onguard chain - which stays locked to the sheffield stand...

<seethe>

I have to confess, this is something that's really getting on my wick with the stands at the office where I work. We have ten stands and there are, I estimate, around 15 of us who come in by bike regularly (so not enough stands).

It really pees me off that there are large locks permanently attached to eight of the ten stands. There are plenty of immovable objects (drain pipes, trees, railings) next to the stands where locks could be left (but where we are forbidden from locking our actual bikes lest they constitute a health&safety risk in the event of fire). They aren't big buildings and there aren't any desks more than a couple of minutes walk from the stands. Why, then, do I - who am in before most cyclists and leave after most - still struggle some mornings to be able to lock my bike securely just so that these eight inconsiderate ****s don't have to carry their locks around with them (like the rest of us do)?

Oh, and on a similar note... one shower room with one towel rail... what the **** makes the idiot cyclist in my building think that towel rail is his personal clothes horse?!?!?

Sorry - the red mist is clearing now... :oops:

i think leaving a nice friendly note should sort out the situation - like these: www.passiveaggressivenotes.com.

patchy

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Sorry, this is a little OT.

fossyant wrote:

I use a heavy 10lb Onguard chain - which stays locked to the sheffield stand...

<seethe>

I have to confess, this is something that's really getting on my wick with the stands at the office where I work. We have ten stands and there are, I estimate, around 15 of us who come in by bike regularly (so not enough stands).

It really pees me off that there are large locks permanently attached to eight of the ten stands. There are plenty of immovable objects (drain pipes, trees, railings) next to the stands where locks could be left (but where we are forbidden from locking our actual bikes lest they constitute a health&safety risk in the event of fire). They aren't big buildings and there aren't any desks more than a couple of minutes walk from the stands. Why, then, do I - who am in before most cyclists and leave after most - still struggle some mornings to be able to lock my bike securely just so that these eight inconsiderate ****s don't have to carry their locks around with them (like the rest of us do)?

Oh, and on a similar note... one shower room with one towel rail... what the **** makes the idiot cyclist in my building think that towel rail is his personal clothes horse?!?!?

Sorry - the red mist is clearing now... :oops:

i think leaving a nice friendly note should sort out the situation - like these: www.passiveaggressivenotes.com.

patchy

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Sorry, this is a little OT.

fossyant wrote:

I use a heavy 10lb Onguard chain - which stays locked to the sheffield stand...

<seethe>

I have to confess, this is something that's really getting on my wick with the stands at the office where I work. We have ten stands and there are, I estimate, around 15 of us who come in by bike regularly (so not enough stands).

It really pees me off that there are large locks permanently attached to eight of the ten stands. There are plenty of immovable objects (drain pipes, trees, railings) next to the stands where locks could be left (but where we are forbidden from locking our actual bikes lest they constitute a health&safety risk in the event of fire). They aren't big buildings and there aren't any desks more than a couple of minutes walk from the stands. Why, then, do I - who am in before most cyclists and leave after most - still struggle some mornings to be able to lock my bike securely just so that these eight inconsiderate ****s don't have to carry their locks around with them (like the rest of us do)?

Oh, and on a similar note... one shower room with one towel rail... what the **** makes the idiot cyclist in my building think that towel rail is his personal clothes horse?!?!?

Sorry - the red mist is clearing now... :oops:

i think leaving a nice friendly note should sort out the situation - like these: www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

JoeSoap76

patchy wrote:

JoeSoap76 wrote:

Oh, and on a similar note... one shower room with one towel rail... what the **** makes the idiot cyclist in my building think that towel rail is his personal clothes horse?!?!?

i think leaving a nice friendly note should sort out the situation - like these: www.passiveaggressivenotes.com.

Funny you should say that... there's a laminated sign blue-tacked to the shower room door telling people to be considerate and take all personal belongings out with them (along with a threat that any personal property left in the room will be removed).

I took this off the door and left it balanced on this guys clothes (no way he could miss it). I went into the shower room this morning when I got to the office and, for a change, his clothes weren't on the towel rail...

...and the towel rail wasn't on the wall!!! :shock:

I don't know if it was simply removed by facilities (though can't think why) or if it broke under the weight of his sopping-wet trousers, base layer and jacket... but I can't help wonder if he didn't see the sign I left propped on his clothes and, in a hulk-like rage, tear the rail off the wall.

So now we have one shower room and no towel rail. *sigh*

CaptainCropper

A quick skim of this thread has (thankfully) shown that no one has recommended a cable. Do NOT use a cable of any sort, even the armoured ones are easily cut with a large array of easily available tools. If you use a chain, wrap it round and round till it's tight, or twist the chain till it backs up on itself and starts to shorten. I have jacked three or four Kryptonite 3000's but only when there has been access for the jack to go in. If you fill the D section of the lock to such an extent that you are unable to fit a fist in there, then you should be fine. 16mm+ shackles can't be cropped, even with huge croppers (generally speaking), anything below, can. The main thing is to fill the D and leave as little room as possible.

I bought a 3000 today, totally gutted given the amount of the things I've broken in testing, but at least I know what the guts look like and what their strengths and weaknesses are, and I am more than happy to use one now.

Oh, did I say don't use a cable?

Mithras

Some bright spark in my company has decided to tag our work bikes. They've done this by drilling two holes into the top tube near the head tube and rivetting a small metal disk to it. Lovely, we can deter thieves and track the bikes for audit! Wonder how long it will be before the first frame cracks and falls apart! :evil:

DavidTQ

Mithras wrote:

Some bright spark in my company has decided to tag our work bikes. They've done this by drilling two holes into the top tube near the head tube and rivetting a small metal disk to it. Lovely, we can deter thieves and track the bikes for audit! Wonder how long it will be before the first frame cracks and falls apart! :evil:

You know how hard it is, resisting the temptation to suggest that it is similiar to methods of thinking applied to many policies espoused by said company Management decisions of course.