Lockless Bike Security

What if you Don't have a Lock?

At some point, you will be on an outing and someone doesn't have a lock, or didn't bring it, or left it behind, or lost the key, or it broke.  What do you do?  First off, you should have brought a lock.

Don't Leave Bike Unattended

Leaving someone to guard the bikes will be very helpful.  It is possible that a thief will overpower the guard there are multiple thieves who decide to try to steal multiple bikes.

Group all the bikes tight together so they are easy to keep an eye on and so its a little harder to get to some of them.

Share Locks

You may be able to use an extra cable to lock multiple bikes together.

Nothing to Lock Bikes to?

If you have a lock, but nothing to lock it to, lock bikes together so they can't be easily ridden or carried off.  Ideally lock a wheel to the frame so that it can be ridden off. 

Things to Slow a Thief

Anything you do to slow a thief may give you a little extra time to take action and stop a theft.

• Helmet Straps

  • Use Helmet start to secure bike to anchor or at least prevent a wheel from moving

• Paracord 

  • Use Paracord and a Scout knot to secure your bike

• Strap and Carabiner

  • Using a strap and carabiner is a common way to deter thieves from snatching your backpack

  • A strap and carabiner can be stored in your seat pouch and used to secure a bike to a post or tie gear to your bike

• Zip Ties

  • They make locks that are basically fancy zip ties

    • These will slow a thief or at least stop one that doesn't have any tools

  • Actual zip ties can also be used; you'll just need something to remove them with

• Gears

  • Put bike in highest gear before stopping

  • It will be a pain to get going again...but that's the point

• Chain

  • Take chain off sprockets

  • The thief will have to put the chain back on before riding your bike

  • This is a pain because there is a good chance you will get your fingers greasy

• Hills

  • Park your bike facing uphill

  • If you are on a steep hill, a thief will have to turn the bike around to get going

• Disable Wheel

  • If you have a quick release, remove it or remove the wheel and take it with you

  • The theif will need to carry your bike away

• Seat Post

  • Removing a seat post makes the bike less desirable to take

• Flipping the Bike Upside Down

  • Flipping the Bike Upside Down add one more step for the thief and draws some attention

  • This works better if bikes are crowded together

Make Bike Less Desirable to Steal

Uglifying a bike isn't for everyone, but making a bike look really repulsive will help deter a theft

Make is Easier to Recover a Stolen Bike

Some bikes are just used for joyrides and turn up later.  Take a few steps to make it easier to recover.

• Record the Serial Number

• Take pictures of your bike

• Place Airtag tracker on bike

• Register your bike

  • bikeindex.org

  • project529.com