How most bikes are stolen
What lock to buy
How to lock your bike
Quick-release parts
Other deterrents

How most bikes are stolen

The bad news is that over 2,000 bikes per year are stolen in Oxford. The good news is that it's really pretty easy to avoid having your bike nicked. Believe it or not, one third of all bikes stolen in London last year were left unattended on the street without being locked at all! Of bikes that are locked, most are stolen either because they're only locked to themselves (i.e. through a wheel and the frame) or because only a wheel is locked to another object. In the former case a theif just walks off carrying the bike, and breaks the lock later. In the latter, they undo the locked wheel and take the rest of the bike - usually stealing a wheel from another nearby bike to replace it.

Some theives do break locks, but they'll start with the poor quality ones, of which there are many. So, read the rest of this page, choose a suitable lock, use it properly, and you're very unlikely to have your bike stolen.

What lock to buy

As a rule of thumb, be prepared to spend 10% of the cost of your bike on a lock. And we would suggest that regardless of the cost of your bike you spend at least £10, as we haven't seen any sub £10 lock that would stop a thief for more than 30 seconds. Always buy a purpose made cycle lock - unless you spend a lot of money a padlock and chain will not be up to the job.

The most reliable lock is generally a 'D-lock', a solid hoop of metal. Partly this is because even a poor quality D-lock looks tougher than a cable, and has a greater deterrent effect. Shorter D-locks are more secure than long ones, as there will be less exposed lock for a thief to work on with saw, jack or hammer. For around £30-35 you can buy a D-lock which will resist even determined attack.

Cables are OK, and sometimes it can be easier to find something to lock to with a cable. However, we wouldn't recommend locking a bike outside overnight with one unless it's quite expensive (£30+). Always get one with a key - combination locks are very easy to crack, and we won't sell them at all.

How to lock your bike

Through the frame, and round an immovable object. That's it. It's amazing how many people don't understand this simple advice. 'Through the frame' means that the lock should pass through one of the 'closed' sections of the frame - i.e. the front triangle, or one of the two triangles at the back, either side of the rear wheel. Many people don't like short D-locks because they can't get the bike close enough to railings or whatever. If you lock through the rear of the frame then the handlebars don't get in the way and you'll find you can get your bike right up close to almost anything. This has the added bonus of making the lock very hard for a thief to get at.

'Immovable object' means anything which is securely bolted down, and at least as hard to break as your lock - e.g. cycle racks or iron railings. If you're locking to a post (e.g. a signpost) then make sure it's tall enough that a thief can't just lift your bike over the top.

Although they're being removed, the city still has quite a few 'wheelbender' racks left (e.g. outside Tesco's on Cowley Road, and outside the library). DO NOT put your front wheel in them and lock through it. Either you'll come back to find only a wheel, or someone will bump into your bike and bend your wheel (hence the name). You can lock a bike to them, put the back of the frame up to the rack and put a D-lock through one rear triangle and one hoop of the rack.

Quick releases

Lots of bikes now have quick release axles on the wheels, and quick release bolts on the seatpost. These are very useful for mending punctures, putting bikes in small spaces and adjusting riding position. They also make it very easy for thieves to steel your wheels and saddle. You can replace them with normal nuts and bolts, but in the case of wheels this requires quite a lot of labour and is costly, and it's very easy for thieves to carry a couple of spanners and undo them anyway. Much better is to fit locking skewers (£10 per set from Oxford Cycle Workshop). You carry a key on your keyring which lets you adjust everything, you retain the benefit of skewered wheels being stronger than bolt-on axles, and no mug with a spanner can nick your wheels.

Other deterrents

Other deterrents
- If you can possibly help it, don't leave your bike outside overnight. If you have to, talk to Oxford Cycle Workshop about having a proper stand fitted at your house [More...]
- Have two bikes. If you want a nice bike for long weekend rides etc., buy one. Keep it at home and use a cheap second-hand 'hack' bike around town, for locking up at the station, outside the pub etc.
- Make your pride and joy look as unattractive as possible (if you can bear it). Bikes are nicked to be sold, and a bike covered in tape, crappy looking paint or whatever will not sell for much.