Fixed Gear and Other Bikes at Risk: How to Lock Your Bike to Prevent Bike Theft

If you’ve been paying attention to discussion boards, conversations in coffee shops and Craigslist you’ll know that the theft of fixed gear bikes (and other bikes, for that matter) has skyrocketed.  Jackings are on the rise.  You want to prevent bike theft; especially your ride?  Here’s how.

Let’s get this out of the way first, however.  I’m no Colombo or official authority.  If your sick-ass one-of-a-kind keirin frameset that was 1 of 30 made on  the international space station gets included on that tried and true 5 finger discount, I shall not take responsibility.

Step 1

Get a decent U-lock and 7” cable from Kryptonite (or some other company).  Recently, I’ve noticed that some companies are selling combos that include both.  I shove the U-Lock in my back pocket and wrap the uncoiled cable around my torso like Pancho Villa.

Step 2

Get a bike.  Ride it.  Place it next to a pole or bike rack so that you can lock it up.  If the pole is too fat, your small U-lock may not fit around it.  I use poles narrower than a parking meter pole.  If you have a bigger U-Lock you’ll have more pole options than a stripper.

Step 3

Run the cable around your rim AND around your frame.  Then run one end of the cable through the other end’s loop.  I always run the cable through the  “10 o’clock” position of the wheel.

Step 4

Wrap that cable around pole and through the “3 o’clock” position of your rear rim.  There are a few ways to do this.  I keep it simple and do it this way.  (NOTE:  if you don’t follow Step 5 (below) exactly how it is photographed, then doing step 4 this way may get your bike stolen…especially if you are using a parking meter pole.)

Step 5

Open the U-lock and ensure that it is wrapped around the pole, your seat tube AND through the loop of your cable.  All 3 are key.

Step 6

Come back to find that your bike is still there after you’ve sucked down 4 coffees at your local spot.

It sucks that so many people are getting their bikes stolen.  Fixed gear bikes are getting stolen by the ton.    Fixed riders are more at risk than other riders.  Think about it.  Road and triathlon riders never lock their bikes up when running errands.  They keep bikes in living room or garage and only ride to do training rides.

Protect yourselves and encourage your local police force to add a “Track Frame” or “Fixed Gear”  category to their stolen bike questionnaire when people have to file a report.