The Hub: Lock Your Bike

Be prepared.

That’s something that Mike Norris — avid bike blogger — learned not so long ago. Norris relayed his story as a PSA of sorts for those whose transportation relies less on smart keys and more on shackles.

Norris recently stopped at a Subway in Stamford for a sandwich. Nothing unusual there, except maybe the alliteration. Anyway, Norris said he leaned his bike against the glass so he could see it and went inside the shop to order.

 “Walking toward the door with my sandwich, I see a guy grab my bike, throw his leg over it, and start to take off! I ran out the door to start chasing him and yelled 'Drop it, (really bad expletive)! DROP IT!' and he dumps the bike in front of astonished outdoor diners at Zaza and sprinted away,” Norris told The Hub in an e-mail.

Norris grabbed his bike, apologized for his profanity, and went back to work. Because he didn’t get a good look at the man, and he recovered his bike, Norris didn’t file a report with the police.

Still, lesson learned.

“Always lock your bike! Even if it is locked to itself,” Norris said, adding that he’s “never have been more appreciative of businesses like Fairway that have bike racks clearly visible to cyclists and have a security camera nearby.”

Chris Gillis, owner of Chapman’s Orange Bicycle in Orange, said he finds most customers buy Kryptonite locks since it’s the leading brand.

Kryptonite makes multiple locks for all different size bicycles, from mountain bikes to road bikes. The company also has an insurance policy for customers who register their bikes. Customers just need to be sure to correctly fill out the paperwork.

Riders should also remember to be unpredictable. People shouldn’t lock their bikes in the same spot each day. This can thwart potential thieves who “case” behavior patterns. 

In the end, it doesn’t matter what the product description says - all locks can be broken, Gillis said. So riders need to make it appear that stealing the bike will take too much time and effort. In sum, slow down the thief. 

Other riders suggest marking bikes with a spot of neon nail polish or an engraving, something to distinguish it from all the other bikes on campus or at the train station. Then, after taking a photo of the bike for future identification, register or license it with local law-enforcement office. Fees may apply.

It’s also important to shop around because there are many locks to choose from.

The U-Lock is perhaps the most common. Its shape makes it tough for a thief to insert a crowbar or pipe and pop it apart. Using a specially designed chain link, chains can resist chisels and hammers.

Cableswork well with with another style of lock and the O-lock is for a specific part of the bike. Cuff locks are another option – they attach bikes to posts and can resist tampering.

Shafiq Jan at Danny’s Cycles in Stamford advises anyone considering a bike lock to do a little investigating. Ask the local bike shop whether they’re replacing whole bikes or just parts. If it’s the latter a chain lock that can loop around different parts of the bike is better.

Generally chain locks seem to be more popular on campuses because riders can wear the lock, Jan said.

“They want to emulate the messenger look,” Jan said. “It’s the new hip thing.”

At the train station a commuter would need to be able to lock the seats, the post, with something that can also withstand rain and snow.

“Is it good to have a lock on a bike?” Gillis said. “Yes, if you’re going to use it.”