How to Lock Bike with U Lock | Best Method
Do you have any idea about how to lock bike with U Lock? Because your bike is so precious to you, you must take special precautions to keep it safe from thieves.
According to 529 Garage, a website dedicated to tracking bicycle theft, over 2 million bicycles are stolen in North America each year. You don’t want to put your bike in jeopardy of becoming the next victim. Nobody wants to deal with the hassle of having to replace a bike, file a police report, and go without a bike.
Read on this article to learn how to lock bike with U Lock.
How to Lock Bike with U Lock
The best way to secure your bike is with a U-Lock but do you actually know how to lock bike with U-Lock? U-Locks are robust locks with a design that makes picking them far more difficult than other lock kinds. Here’s how to use a U-Lock to secure your bike and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your bike is safe.
Lock your bike to something solid and secure
Although your U-Lock is an effective theft deterrent, if a robber can just cut the object to which you’ve locked your bike, you’ll still lose your bike. Modern bike racks are generally sturdy and constructed thick enough to deter bike thieves. Always inspect the bike rack to ensure it hasn’t been cut or tampered with in the past, as this is another tactic criminals use to get a quick buck.
If a bike rack isn’t available, search for a substantial object that is at least six feet tall and has some thickness. Street signs with fasteners at the bottom should be avoided. Finally, if you’re securing your bike to something on private land, keep others in mind and make sure your bike isn’t blocking traffic.
It is always preferable to be in a well-lit space where people are present to be in a dark, private area. If a burglar intends to steal your bike, they’ll have a harder time doing it in an area where many people are watching. Don’t let the “crowd” cause you to lose your guard; you must always ensure that your bike is securely fastened.
Make sure that both the frame and the rear wheel are locked
Simple economics: Your bike’s frame is the most expensive component to replace; therefore, making sure it’s secure is your top priority. By the same rationale, replacing your rear wheel will be more expensive than replacing your front wheel, so kill two birds with one stone and use your U-Lock to lock both the frame and the back wheel.
Place the lock as low as possible and in a position that makes it difficult for a burglar to break it. Before leaving on your errand, double-check that the lock is securely closed.
Consider a second U-Lock
The front wheel is the next point of concern after the frame and rear-wheel are safe. While replacing the front wheel is less expensive, it is still valuable to thieves and should be secured. Many riders just purchase a second U-Lock to secure the front wheel to the frame. You can add an extra layer of security by hooking one U-Lock through the other if your U-Locks are long enough.
If you don’t have any other options for locking your bike within reach of a single U-Lock, a second U-Lock will come in handy. You can lock one U-Lock to the other and the other to your frame and rear wheel in this situation. Having a second U-Lock provides you extra alternatives for ensuring your bike’s safety.
Also Read: How Much Does a Bike Lock Cost?
Conclusion
You can assure that your bike will be waiting for you when you return by following our guidelines for how to lock a bike with U Lock.
Taking measures with your bike is not only prudent, but it will also save you time and money in the long run. Most of the time, the burglar is looking for motorcycles that are easier to steal, rather than yours particularly. When locking up your bike, follow the measures listed above to make your bike a difficult target for a bike thief.
Keep in mind that bike thieves work swiftly, so lock your bike every time you leave it unattended, even if your errand is only a few minutes long. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as the proverb goes.
