How To Lock Your Bike In Town | GMBN Tech's Guide To Urban Bike Security

- Having

your

mountain

bike

stolen is the worst thing that can happen to any of us mountain

bike

rs, and if you're going to

lock

your

bike in public, you better make sure it's really secure. Now, we'll show you how vulnerable the mountain bike is and show you how to make your bike as safe as possible. (hissing) (knife sharpening sound) Even when your bike is

lock

ed, it is not safe. Technically, any lock can be broken, whether by cutting, breaking, picking, or opening. And really the key to having your bike stolen is the ease with which you leave it open for a thief to take.

So, I'm going to try something here. In fact, I'm going to try to steal my own bike just to prove a point to you. Let's see how that goes. You might be wondering why I'm wearing a bright yellow vest and not, say, a dark, understated hooded top. Well, my theory is that the thieves don't care. Impudence is the best policy. They go straight to what they want and take it. So, well, I thought I'd try to do the same. (quirky music) (whistles) So the coast is pretty clear to come in and blatantly steal my own bike.

Oh well, that was pretty easy and no one looked twice to be honest. Alright then, a little disclaimer: I used a really cheap and nasty lock to do this and the bolt cutters, they are good for an 8mm bolt. You can probably get a 12 with these with a little hard work. But the point is that I just wanted to prove that I could walk and take my bike without anyone paying attention to me, at all. Of course, there are different situations for this and you may have seen Casey Neistat, on his YouTube channel, making a lot more noise and still not attracting attention.

But I just want to emphasize the point: this is about riding a bike in public. So whatever you do, you need to close it properly. So let's go back to the studio and take a look at some suitable locks before I show you how to use them. (upbeat music) Now, the first step to keeping your bike secure, clearly, is to invest in a good quality lock. Now you have to think about how much your bike is worth. If it's something you really love, then you'll want to take care of it. So a couple of hundred pounds for a lock, relatively speaking, is not a lot of money to spend.

But you could spend £10 on a lock. That's totally up to you. I would always spend as much as possible and get the best lock possible, if not I would get multiple locks. But I'm just going to explain to you some of the styles of locks available on the market and what they are good at and what they are not good at. So first, let's look at the classic D lock. These are very familiar as bicycle locks, and take on the profile of a D, basically, if you place them on the side. This particular one is manufactured by ABUS.

We have a selection here, as you can see, from different brands. We have some Kryptonite locks, some ABUS locks and we also have some Hiploks. Each of them has its own quirks and its own type of individuality that will suit different types of users. Now, this is Granit, it's very strong. It is a very heavy lock. Great for locking your bike anywhere, corrosion resistant and all that. But the problem is that it is extremely heavy. It's not the type of lock you'll want to mount on your bike and you really don't want to carry it in your bag.

These are things you should keep in mind with any type of lock. This, perhaps, would be the best base to use at home, although we always say that chain locks look better at home, honestly, because you can do more with them. This could be good, perhaps, if you store your bike somewhere permanent every day, like a train station, for example, if you commute, or if you have a bike rack in your office or workplace, for example. You can leave them outside because they are corrosion resistant and generally nothing will deface a lock like this. And you may also notice something particularly with this lock, the Granit, that it has a square profile, so the square profile makes it extremely cut resistant because you have to cut both sides, you can't just cut one and then turn it. your free way.

That said, if you cut something that thick, you're a bit of a hero because it's an incredibly strong type of lock. But D locks come in much smaller sizes like these. Now, the good thing about the smaller sizes is that they are very portable. This one actually has a belt clip. It's from Hiplok, a company specializing in portable locks, so it's a pretty interesting concept. This is also a very secure lock. It's rated Sold Secure Gold, so it's basically the highest rating you can get for a lock. A very safe hut, it is nice and thick.

And to some extent, actually, a smaller sized shackle like this, while harder to use on a bike depending on where you store it, is actually more resistant to many of the methods that thieves might use to cut it. The jacks that go into lever locks are separate, you really won't find one on a lock like this. So as long as you can use this on your bike and where you lock it, it might be a good idea for you. Therefore, you can also get other compact options in new locks. This one from Kryptonite, for example, also has an extension.

So this shows that you can use this in a slightly different way even though it's quite small. Therefore, it has the advantage of having a larger lock in a smaller, more compact size. You also get some options that come with cable extensions. This is a fantastic idea. In an ideal world, you'll want to lock your head unit to the object, and preferably, if you can link your wheels in some way, you'll avoid having to remove them from the bike. So basically you can increase the protection you have by locking more parts of your bike. Now, here we have some solutions for those who travel light and basically want a compact setup.

These are folding padlocks and, like all padlocks, they are available in different standards. So this one is pretty light. Very light, you can place it inside your back even in your pocket and it gives you a lot of

security

. But they also make incredibly sturdy versions of the same thing that are very strong, very effective, and because of their shapes you're not limited to where you can lock a bike, which of course is something we'll get to later in the video and that is really very important. You need to know the capabilities of a lock. Now, I also have some lighter options here before I move on to chain locks.

Now, there is no way you should use something like these on their own. They are good at breaking. They are great to use, for example, on your car's bike rack to make sure your bike is locked. These particular ones are essentially cable ties with a metal closure. In fact, I carry a pair of these constantly, just in my bag, every day when I go to work because they can be very useful for those little coffee stops. Certainly, just in places where you can see your bike, you can touch it, you might look away for a second.

But never buy a lightweight lock like this one or even this small combination lock from ABUS, don't take it as an alternative to a properly secure lock. These are just a little extra you can carry when you're out cycling as a little deterrent, but deterrence is key. Now, of course, there are the chain locks. Now, these things weigh an absolute ton. They are very strong, they are made of hardened steel, they have shockproof locking mechanisms, they are acid proof, they are proof against almost everything. But the shame you have for carrying a lock like this is that they weigh a ton.

Even in a backpack they move around, so you have to consider where they are used. This is why I recommend chain locks for use at home or perhaps more permanently, as you would with something like the stronger D-locks. But there is a middle ground. Now, Hiplok makes chain locks that you can wear like a belt. They make them in different ratings. This one is lighter and meets Sold Secure Silver. But they also have a very resistant one, like the Gold standard. This is a very heavy piece of equipment, but the locking mechanism itself can be used as a belt buckle and hooked around your waist.

It has reflective details so you can ride a bike with it around your waist and, sure, it's a heavy lock, but once you get it on your waist, it's surprisingly manageable. And in fact, the peace of mind you get from having a sturdy chain is great, plus you're not limited in where you use it. So if you lock your bike in multiple places, perhaps a chain lock is a good option for you. Now, regardless of the level of protection you have in terms of a lock, the place you choose to lock your bike is equally important.

Now, for example, when you enter a small alley here, you might think that a place like this is pretty good. Here you have a nice and safe railing where you can lock your bike. But the problem with this is that it is off the beaten path, so it would give any opportunistic thief the opportunity to get to work on your lock. If you have a high quality lock, they will use angle grinders, anything that makes a little noise. So if you're making things easier for them by not being in the public eye, that's not a good look.

So let's take a look at some other examples of places to avoid. Okay, so there are a lot of bike loops here, a lot of people use this place to lock a bike and you'd think it's actually a pretty good place to lock a bike. But you would be completely wrong. This is actually a really bad place to lock a bike and the reason is because there are so many bikes here, it's a really easy place for a risky thief to come and try your bike and just blend in with what's going on. . The latest we're hearing on GMBN and GMBN Tech is that thieves are taking the place of would-be delivery drivers, so they have a big bag of delivery and they come to places like this, they bend over to pretend to unlock a bike, but actually They're trying it with bolt cutters or whatever they have and then they just ride off on said bike.

As I say, chutzpah is the best policy. That's exactly what thieves do. Now, again, just to emphasize other areas where locking your bike is questionable, the train station is a great example. Sometimes you are forced to do that. If you're going to have to store your bike near a train station, one of those massive bike queues, make sure it can be close to CCTV, where it can be seen. Now, basically what you want is for any opportunistic thief to have the least chance of riding your bike to work. Basically, you want someone else's bike stolen, not yours.

That's the name of the game. When storing bikes in city centres, there is one last thing to keep in mind and that is to lock your bike, if you are storing it overnight, for example near anywhere where there is noisy nightlife. Now, we have all seen bicycles at some point have been locked up and trampled, with the wheels bent, that is because unfortunately they are in the wrong place. It's not the owner's fault, it's the nightlife and the commotion and all that. So be sensible when storing your bike. Now, right where I am here is actually a pretty good place.

Then you have a nice, solid railing, which means there are multiple points to lock your bike. You can get it nice and close by lifting the bars over that rail. It's right near a main road so there is constant traffic which will discourage a thief and as you can probably see behind me there are a lot of people walking around. So it's definitely a good candidate for locking a bike. Let's take a quick look at the options, styles, and how you would lock a bike. And I'm going to use this as a great example. Wherever you lock your bike, there are many options with the locks you choose and how you can use them.

Nice secure railing, I have the D lock going around the railing, surrounding the rear wheel inside the rear triangle of the bike. This is key because it cannot be removed from the bike. I also have an additional

security

cable, which is Kryptonite, I have it wrapped around the fork and the front wheel, back over itself and over the lock. So the bike is pretty safe in this place. I have a handlebar resting on top, so it sits snug against it. So hopefully no one will mess with that. Now, if you don't have an extension cord with you but you do have a nice, big, long lock like that, I'm going to show you a cool little trick that I like to use just to add an extra extension cord. security layer.

Now this doesn't always work and you can annoy people if you do it in certain places, but this railing works quite well. Raise the bicycle over the railing so thatHang it basically about car height over a road and use a padlock to secure it there the same way you would on the pavement side. But the fact that the bike is on the other side of the railing makes it much more difficult to work on. If it is difficult to work on, it will take time to steal the bike and is much less likely to be worked on.

So it's a little trick that I like to use quite often. Now a bike loop like this is designed specifically to lock a bike and this one is actually in a perfect spot. It's quite a busy area, lots of public seating everywhere, lots of people enjoying coffees, sandwiches and the like. So it's a really bad place for a thief to spend a lot of time working on the bike. He's going to be seen, or she's going to be seen, denting the bike. This is a great place. But there are some things you should keep in mind.

Obviously, you already have your lock, so a smaller lock like this one will work perfectly here. You want to make sure you lock your bike so that it doesn't accidentally slide and remove the paint. Now I like to rest mine on the crank. Just, for example, if I lift mine up back here, it actually has the weight of the bike on the pedal and crank and I can put the lock around it and attach it to the post so it's pretty secure. But again, your front wheel will still be vulnerable. It's up to you if you want to take the risk or if you want to connect it to the bike using an extension lock.

If you come to a listing like this and the only room available is the other side of one that's already in use, take a look and think about it a bit. Look at the style of the bike. If it's an old thing like this one here, look how they closed it up and how they treated it. Are they likely to let their bike slide on yours or not take good care of yours when they open theirs? It's something definitely worth considering. The bike on the other side wouldn't feel so bad. From the looks of it, it's a Trek, it has a Kryptonite lock and an extension cord, suggesting that the owner of that bike cares about his bike and, hopefully, cares about yours too.

So keep that in mind when you close yours, but the same rules apply. Go for the maximum security you can. In this case, you could use the Hiplok no problem, you could use the Kryptonite D lock, or you could use that crazy ABUS lock, but it's a little heavier to carry. You have to have what suits you best. But, as far as places to lock a bike go, this is a great location. (bicycle wheels whirring) Now, something I haven't touched on too much yet in this video is the way thieves break locks. There are several different ways.

The most common are picking a lock mechanism, but fortunately, most locks today, certainly Gold Secure locks, are virtually pick-proof. At least to the point of getting the bike out quickly, it's a bit of a time-consuming job. The next thing is that they can freeze and crush them with a hammer, but a very strong shackle on the lock will resist this quite a bit. Which leaves three other options: Using a bottle jack, a bottle jack is only used on a case of some type of D lock, in which case you couldn't fit one there, because it's a compact lock, so, That compact lock extension lock is a great idea for

urban

environments.

The larger a U-lock or D-lock is, the more trouble you might have with that type of attack. The others, of course, are firewalls, firewalls aren't going to come close to something like that. You're going to need huge ones and a huge guy to be able to overcome that. Bolt cutters are actually only good for cables. Although, as you've seen before, they make a cable look like a bit of butter, actually. So be careful if you use that kind of stuff. Now the final type of course is going to be an angle grinder attack. Therefore, any angle grinder attack is likely to occur when they need to get a good buy.

So doing it on the top tube is not a good place for it. So if you were to use something like a heavy duty chain, make sure the chain at any point is not close to the ground. You want it to be as high as possible. If it's in the field, they have a place to work on it. Actually, the same applies to being able to use large mowers and harvesters. You need to use a lot of leverage with them, sometimes you will have one arm on the ground and the other pushing down. So keep in mind where the lock is when locking it on your bike. (quirky music) You've probably noticed that I don't have a lock on my bike, but I'm having a coffee halfway and I have my Garmin bike alarm on and the good thing about that.

This means that if someone tampers with the bike, then hopefully the alarm will sound and stop me. Chris! It's not even an electric bike, dude. Well there you have it, that's pretty effective. I'm going to turn it off from the app. Here and there, you will have to stop and take a risk. So what I did was I turned my bike around and put it in hard gear, basically, so what happens is, if someone gets on the bike and pedals away, it's... Chris! That? That happen. What are you doing, friend? It is an electric bicycle. Bring it back.

Those EMBN guys are desperate for a proper mountain bike, what can I say? (bicycle wheels whirring) So as a last resort, if you want that daring coffee stop, I actually used my helmet as a kind of lock. So what I did was I just put it around my rear wheels. If someone moves it, it's going to skid and they're not really going to get very far. - Yuck! How unfair, God, I just want one of these bikes without a motor or battery! - Go back to EMBN, continue! And let that be a lesson to you. But seriously, don't use any of these.

Don't trust these things. What you really need is a good, solid lock and locking your bike properly. Well there you have it, I've just proven that wherever you lock your bike it's not invincible, but you can minimize the risks by using a very good selection of locks, locking it sensibly and choosing where to lock it. your bike. I hope you found it useful. To see a couple more videos along the same lines, click here if you want to see how to install a ground anchor, which, in my opinion, is an absolute must for the home. And click there for every kind of home safety tip you can imagine.

CCTV, insurance, all that. We hope you found this video entertaining. At least, hopefully, some good information for you. So give us a thumbs up and be sure to click the subscribe button and of course the little notification bell as well, so you'll be notified every time we post a video. Okay, I'm going to work. See you later. (beep) So I flipped my bike over and shifted it and put it in a gear, so basically if someone gets on it, basically all the gears are going to go out, he's not going to... (bike wheels whirring) Chris ! Chris! - Ugh, how unfair, Doddy! - It's not even an electric bike, dude! (angry growls) (laughs)