Bicycle Locks For Touring

I came off the twelve hour ferry from north Cyprus, tired, a little crumpled from the lack of sleep. I made my way to the station as I was about to cheat to make haste, wanting to catch the apricot harvest and spend three days at Cappadocia before shooting east, pretty much non-stop over the mountains and into Iran to be part of the action unfolding. The bike was just behind me and in plain view while I went to get the ticket. Turned around -GONE! –Keith Hallagan 

Don’t worry too much about your bike being stolen. Although it’s every bike tourist’s worst nightmare, this is one thing that honestly is very unlikely to happen.

Bicycle tourists tend to stay with their bikes most of the time and are drawn to rural areas instead of high-risk big cities. Also, a loaded touring bike is a fairly obvious thing. It’s not easy to ‘fade into the crowd’ or make a quick getaway with such a big, weighty bicycle.

If you’re worried about your bike in places where poverty is relatively common we have one word of advice: relax. We had no bike security issues when we cycled through some of the world’s poorest countries. The people there were among the most hospitable of our trip.

In general, they would not steal a bike because the traveller is an honoured guest and because your bike would be very obviously something stolen, when compared with local bicycles. Also, if your bike is taken in these countries then community leaders are likely to launch a search to find the offenders! Often the thief is known to the community and has taken things from locals before.

The biggest chance of your bike being stolen is when you leave it unattended for ‘just a second’ in a town or city. “I’ll only be a minute. It’ll be fine,” you think but that’s all the time an opportunistic thief needs to hop on and ride away. It’s in these situations when you need a lock to secure your bike so it’s there when you return.

Here are some of our favourite locks:

1. Cable Lock

A good cable lock is perhaps the most useful type of lock for touring. It’s relatively lightweight, not too expensive and can be stretched around anything from bike racks to telephone poles. Make sure you get one that’s long enough (over 1 meter) and don’t go for the cheapest one. The very thin, flimsy cable locks that tend to be sold in supermarkets won’t slow a thief down at all. There are many types of cable locks. We like two locks from the Kryptonite KryptoFlex range: the 1007 Looped 7’ cable and the 815 Combo Cable Lock. Both can be used in combination with a U-lock or separate padlock.

Locks
Two locks from Kryptonite: the 1007 Looped 7’ cable (left) and the 815 Combo Cable Lock (right).

2. U-Lock or D-Lock

These locks are effective and secure but very heavy to carry on a bike tour. It’s up to you, whether the extra security is worth the added bulk. If you plan on passing through a lot of cities on your tour, a big lock like this may be worth it. For many bike tourists, however, a U-Lock is probably overkill. We like the Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 U-Lock.

U Lock
If you’re going to get a U-lock go for a heavy-duty one that will be of use to you in high-risk areas such as cities.

3. Wheel Lock

cablelock.jpeg

This type of lock is known by at least 4 names: o-lock, ring lock, wheel lock or frame lock. It’s standard equipment on many bikes in Europe. The varying names all refer to the same thing: a lock that attaches to your frame. You put the key in and push down on a lever so that a metal ring slides between the spokes of your back tire, locking the bike.

We love wheel locks because they’re so darn convenient for quick stops while on tour. Coupled with a cable lock, they also make for a fairly secure setup. Our current touring setup includes the ABUS 4850 LH NKR wheel lock, plus a compatible cable lock that slots into the wheel lock.

Read more:

In addition to buying a good lock, there are several things you can do to make your bike more secure:

1. Tip a local shopkeeper $1-2 U.S. to be your ‘bicycle security guard’.
2. Get a hotel room when staying in a city (instead of staying at a campground or in a hostel dorm room) and keep the bike in your room.
3. Lock your bike to something secure in a highly visible place – not down a dark alley.
4. Make the bicycle look undesirable. Cover brand names with tape and string your laundry across the back to dry.
5. When wild camping, lock the bike to something solid like a picnic table or tree.
6. On trains and buses, take responsibility (where possible) for loading your own bike into the cargo area. On a train, lock it inside the luggage car or take off the saddle and turn the handlebars so it can’t be easily ridden away.

For a humorous look at bike theft, read this story about a bike being dragged away by horses in Mongolia.

Read more:

Comments

  1. bape outlet
    18th June 2022 at 11:10 am #

    Needed to post you one little observation in order to give thanks the moment again regarding the wonderful guidelines you have featured at this time. This has been certainly surprisingly open-handed of you to give extensively precisely what some people could have distributed for an ebook in order to make some profit for themselves, specifically now that you might have done it in case you considered necessary. These advice also served to be a good way to realize that most people have the identical interest the same as my very own to figure out a little more concerning this problem. I’m sure there are some more enjoyable moments ahead for individuals who looked at your site.

  2. kyrie 6 shoes
    18th June 2022 at 11:16 am #

    I want to express some appreciation to the writer for bailing me out of this crisis. As a result of scouting through the the web and finding recommendations which were not powerful, I was thinking my entire life was over. Existing devoid of the answers to the difficulties you’ve solved by means of the short article is a serious case, and ones that would have in a wrong way affected my career if I hadn’t come across the website. Your own personal training and kindness in maneuvering every part was excellent. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t encountered such a thing like this. I can at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot very much for the high quality and effective guide. I will not think twice to refer the sites to anyone who should have recommendations about this issue.

  3. yeezy 700
    9th July 2022 at 5:59 pm #

    I would like to show some thanks to the writer for bailing me out of such a instance. After surfing throughout the internet and obtaining opinions which were not productive, I believed my life was done. Existing devoid of the solutions to the issues you have sorted out all through your good short article is a serious case, and the ones that might have in a negative way damaged my career if I had not discovered the blog. That expertise and kindness in playing with all the pieces was invaluable. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come across such a solution like this. I can at this time look ahead to my future. Thank you very much for your reliable and amazing guide. I will not be reluctant to refer the blog to any person who ought to have guidance on this subject matter.

  4. ggdb
    11th July 2022 at 1:41 am #

    I want to express my appreciation for your kindness for persons who need guidance on your field. Your real commitment to getting the solution across became wonderfully productive and have usually enabled others just like me to realize their pursuits. The valuable help and advice means much to me and substantially more to my peers. Thank you; from all of us.

  5. off white nike
    11th July 2022 at 1:42 am #

    I would like to point out my appreciation for your kind-heartedness for those people who really need help with that field. Your very own dedication to getting the message across had been particularly effective and has usually permitted workers much like me to attain their targets. Your personal warm and friendly guidelines implies a great deal a person like me and a whole lot more to my office workers. Thanks a lot; from each one of us.

  6. off white nike
    15th July 2022 at 2:35 am #

    I must express my admiration for your generosity supporting men and women who absolutely need help on the area. Your special commitment to passing the solution up and down appeared to be rather good and has surely allowed many people just like me to reach their dreams. Your entire useful facts indicates a whole lot a person like me and a whole lot more to my fellow workers. With thanks; from all of us.

  7. steph curry shoes
    15th July 2022 at 2:36 am #

    I as well as my guys ended up looking through the nice secrets on your website while instantly I had an awful suspicion I had not thanked you for those strategies. Those boys happened to be certainly joyful to study all of them and have now absolutely been having fun with these things. Appreciation for getting really accommodating and then for picking out these kinds of outstanding subject areas millions of individuals are really desperate to discover. Our honest regret for not saying thanks to you earlier.

  8. kd 12
    2nd August 2022 at 2:44 am #

    I simply desired to say thanks all over again. I do not know what I would have taken care of in the absence of these pointers provided by you directly on my theme. Entirely was the challenging issue in my view, nevertheless being able to see the very specialised style you treated that took me to leap with delight. I am happier for the assistance as well as wish you find out what a great job you are always carrying out training many others thru your webpage. More than likely you haven’t come across all of us.

  9. kd 12
    2nd August 2022 at 2:45 am #

    Needed to write you one bit of note to be able to thank you the moment again for all the precious techniques you have provided above. It was quite extremely generous with you to grant easily all that many of us would’ve made available for an e-book to make some dough for their own end, certainly seeing that you could possibly have tried it in the event you considered necessary. These secrets additionally worked to become good way to realize that other people have similar dream like my very own to figure out a great deal more concerning this condition. I’m certain there are several more fun periods up front for those who find out your website.

  10. golden goose
    20th August 2022 at 11:46 pm #

    I wanted to draft you a little bit of note just to say thanks once again with the pretty ideas you have provided in this article. It has been so tremendously generous with people like you to present without restraint all a lot of people could have offered for sale as an e-book to generate some cash for their own end, and in particular considering that you could have done it in the event you decided. Those concepts likewise acted like a good way to recognize that the rest have a similar keenness just like my very own to find out a good deal more on the subject of this issue. I believe there are millions of more enjoyable moments up front for folks who looked over your website.

  11. yeezy 500
    20th August 2022 at 11:46 pm #

    I wish to express my affection for your kindness giving support to those individuals that absolutely need guidance on the niche. Your special commitment to getting the solution along had been certainly significant and have continuously encouraged folks much like me to attain their targets. Your personal insightful guideline can mean a lot a person like me and further more to my office workers. Warm regards; from all of us.

  12. cheap kd shoes
    26th August 2022 at 5:16 pm #

    I would like to get across my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to men and women that actually need help with this area of interest. Your real dedication to getting the solution across appeared to be incredibly interesting and has encouraged some individuals much like me to arrive at their goals. The warm and friendly guide denotes a whole lot to me and somewhat more to my fellow workers. With thanks; from everyone of us.

  13. off white clothing
    26th August 2022 at 5:16 pm #

    My spouse and i have been now glad that Albert managed to carry out his survey through your precious recommendations he grabbed out of the weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to simply always be giving away methods which usually some others may have been trying to sell. Therefore we fully grasp we need the writer to appreciate because of that. The specific explanations you made, the straightforward web site menu, the friendships you give support to instill – it’s got mostly powerful, and it is making our son and us recognize that this idea is interesting, and that’s extraordinarily vital. Thanks for the whole thing!

  14. golden goose sneakers
    26th August 2022 at 5:16 pm #

    I wish to convey my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to all those that require help with this one concern. Your very own commitment to getting the solution all over appears to be surprisingly powerful and have in every case helped folks like me to achieve their aims. Your own informative key points implies a great deal to me and still more to my colleagues. Many thanks; from each one of us.

  15. Nathanabses
    10th April 2023 at 10:21 pm #

    You actually reported that well!
    bluebird essay writer essay for me write your essays for you

  16. Jordan Travis Scott
    14th May 2023 at 2:39 pm #

    I happen to be writing to let you know what a terrific discovery my cousin’s daughter went through browsing yuor web blog. She came to understand a wide variety of things, most notably what it is like to possess an amazing giving mindset to make other individuals easily thoroughly grasp chosen very confusing subject matter. You really did more than our own desires. Thank you for rendering these interesting, healthy, revealing and easy tips on this topic to Lizeth.

  17. bape shirt
    19th May 2023 at 7:43 pm #

    I precisely wished to say thanks again. I am not sure the things I would have done without the points shown by you regarding this subject. It had been the distressing scenario in my opinion, but noticing the well-written manner you managed that forced me to cry over delight. I’m grateful for the advice and then hope that you really know what a powerful job you happen to be undertaking training the mediocre ones thru your websites. I know that you have never got to know all of us.

  18. kd 13
    30th May 2023 at 11:21 am #

    I in addition to my friends were viewing the excellent suggestions on the website while immediately I got an awful feeling I never expressed respect to you for those strategies. All of the women happened to be for that reason joyful to study all of them and have now really been enjoying them. Appreciate your truly being very considerate and for using varieties of ideal guides most people are really needing to be informed on. Our own honest apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.

  19. golden goose sneakers
    31st May 2023 at 10:14 am #

    I wanted to create you that very small note to finally say thanks again over the fantastic ideas you’ve shown on this site. It’s so shockingly open-handed of people like you to offer easily precisely what a lot of people would’ve supplied for an ebook to make some profit for their own end, primarily now that you might have done it if you ever decided. The inspiring ideas in addition worked to become a great way to know that someone else have the same desire like my own to figure out way more with regards to this issue. I know there are several more pleasant periods in the future for those who discover your blog.

  20. off white
    4th June 2023 at 5:08 pm #

    I am just writing to let you understand of the brilliant discovery my wife’s daughter experienced visiting your blog. She learned too many issues, most notably what it is like to have an incredible helping spirit to get the mediocre ones effortlessly know just exactly a number of impossible subject areas. You undoubtedly did more than visitors’ desires. Thank you for delivering those beneficial, dependable, informative and also cool tips on that topic to Julie.

  21. bape outlet
    18th November 2023 at 3:33 am #

    I needed to put you this very little word to finally thank you so much yet again about the exceptional advice you’ve shared here. This is seriously open-handed with people like you to make without restraint just what most people could possibly have made available for an ebook to help make some cash on their own, precisely considering that you might well have done it if you ever considered necessary. These principles also served to become a fantastic way to be sure that some people have the same zeal like my very own to understand significantly more concerning this problem. I am certain there are lots of more enjoyable occasions up front for folks who check out your blog.

  22. golden goose sliders
    9th December 2023 at 6:48 pm #

    I have to get across my gratitude for your generosity supporting men and women that require help with in this subject matter. Your special dedication to passing the solution throughout had become exceptionally effective and has constantly permitted most people much like me to realize their ambitions. The insightful facts entails this much to me and especially to my peers. Warm regards; from everyone of us.

  23. supreme clothing
    19th December 2023 at 9:01 pm #

    I simply desired to say thanks once again. I do not know the things I might have accomplished in the absence of the aspects documented by you about that theme. This was the scary difficulty for me, nevertheless being able to view the very expert technique you solved it took me to cry with fulfillment. Now i am happy for your advice and as well , sincerely hope you realize what a great job you were accomplishing training the mediocre ones by way of your webpage. I know that you’ve never got to know any of us.

  24. dtf machine
    21st December 2023 at 12:13 am #

    635997 735339I feel so. I believe your post will give those individuals a great reminding. And they will express thanks to you later 979190

  25. supreme clothing
    25th December 2023 at 10:47 am #

    I and also my friends were found to be looking at the great information and facts from the website while unexpectedly got a terrible feeling I had not expressed respect to you for those tips. My guys had been certainly passionate to learn them and have now absolutely been taking advantage of these things. Appreciate your actually being simply helpful and for having varieties of fantastic subject matter most people are really eager to be informed on. Our own honest apologies for not saying thanks to earlier.

  26. jordan outlet
    29th December 2023 at 10:53 pm #

    I have to point out my admiration for your generosity for all those that have the need for help with that idea. Your personal dedication to getting the message throughout has been extraordinarily beneficial and has all the time encouraged many people much like me to reach their ambitions. Your interesting information means this much a person like me and somewhat more to my office colleagues. Thank you; from everyone of us.

Leave a comment