Did you know that most bikes in the UK are stolen from homes and associated outbuildings such as sheds and garages?* Secure bike storage at home and offices is, unfortunately, becoming a key consideration for cyclists.
Follow our top tips for safely storing your bike when you’re not in the saddle.
1) Lock Your Bike In Garage Or Shed
Even if you have a lock on your garage door, these are often not up to the security rating expected for protecting bikes. Always lock your bike to an immovable object within the garage or shed, such as a ground or wall anchor. We recommend choosing an anchor which carries a Gold Sold Secure rating and mating it with an equally strong chain lock.
The new Hiplok ANKR can be used on ground or wall and carries a maximum GOLD Sold Secure motorcycle and bicycle rating.
2) Think Proper Lock Up
Secure your main lock through your bike frame and avoid simply locking through the wheel. Always use a good quality lock. Look for ratings from independent testing houses such as Sold Secure in the UK or ART in Europe.
Use a secondary lock to secure wheels and accessories. Extended locking cable locks, such as Hiplok POP, are ideal for this purpose.
For more information on best lock up, check out our Security Tips: https://hiplok.com/bike-security-tips/
3) Consider Space Saving Security
If you have no access to a garage or shed, a good space saving idea for storing your bike in the home is a wall hanger. There are a number of different designs available to suit your interior décor.
Even if in the home, you should lock your bike and could secure it to the hanger itself but pay attention to how the hanger fixes to the wall. A good option here is to go for the AIRLOK lockable wall hanger which is rated Gold security level and fits to the wall with secure fixings. AIRLOK provides a secure bike storage solution in one.
4) Check Your Insurance
Ensure you read the small print in your insurance policy. Many insurers now stipulate that bikes are locked with a Sold Secure rated lock when inside your home. We’d recommend taking out a policy from a cycle specific insurer such as Pedalsure – they will be able to give you specific advice to match your bike insurance requirements.
5) Tag Your Bike
If the worst happens and your bike is stolen, take precautions to give yourself the best chance of it being returned to you. You can register your bike with schemes such as Bike Register in the UK or Bike Index in the US.
Take photographs of your bike including any distinctive marks or features on it. You may also consider etching your postcode or Zip Code on to the frame.
*Data taken from the Office for National Statistics https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/overviewofbicycletheft/2017-07-20