HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BICYCLE
10 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR BICYCLE FROM 'OTHER PEOPLE'S FRIENDS
Cycling has been growing with a justified boom for years because it simply fits perfectly with our times. Today, it is much more than just a fascinating sport and environmentally friendly means of transportation.
Riding a bicycle has become a thriving culture by the very diversity of people.
Both young trendsetters and adults in their golden age are aware of and appreciate new means of transportation that are uncomplicated to use, unassuming, and digitally innovative. We are creating and witnessing a small revolution in mobility where state support stands out, such as the Environmental Fund Incentive
1. Proteja a sua bicicleta com 2 tipos de cadeados
Bicycle friends usually 'specialize' in one type of lock. By using 2 locks, for example - a chain lock and a wheel lock - you immediately double the security of your bike and halve the interest in the bike because, quite simply, with the frame and wheel locked, it will be too much trouble to steal the bike.
2. Attach your bicycle to a fixed object
The principle is simple: the larger the fixed object you attach your bicycle to, the safer your bicycle is... remember: 'friends of the street' always look for the most vulnerable and easy-to-theft bicycles! If yours is attached to a large object, they will quickly lose interest in it.
3. Attach to the bike's top tube
By attaching the lock to a part of your bicycle close to the ground, the bicycle is in a position more prone to violent 'pulls' that can damage the wheels or the frame itself. If you choose to attach the lock to the top of the bicycle frame, the thief knows that he will need all his strength and even then will probably not be able to free the bicycle from the lock.
4. Wrap the lock around the frame and rear wheel
Again, the interest in protecting the bike means that the more 'work' you give the thief, the less interest he will have in stealing your bike. Rule of thumb: never attach the lock to the front wheel as it is too easy to remove!
5. Always park in a busy place
Fool's friends don't like to be watched. By parking your bicycle in busy, crowded places, you are benefiting from the free security provided by passers-by who give the cat burglar no privacy.
6. Don't always park your bicycle in the same place
Out of sight, out of mind: by parking your bicycle in different locations you avoid the interests of others on your bicycle, you avoid attention and confuse the ideas and plans of those who are making them...
7. Use the padlock even at home or in the garage
The truth is that most bike thefts happen in garages... garage doors usually have very simple locking systems and the garage environment itself is the most favorable to 'pirate' activity. Common garages are the most desirable because they have the ideal conditions to enter the basement and, silently and unnoticed, break the lock to steal your bicycle. The last thing they expect is to find a bicycle inside the garage... padlocked and attached to something fixed!
8. Maintain the lock
A few drops of oil or a little bit of multipurpose lubricant spray is enough to prevent oxidation of the lock components that can jam or make it difficult to open or latch the lock.
9. Register Your Bike
After the damage is done, this is your last resort: write down important information such as the bicycle's frame number, the lock's serial number, the key number, and possibly the anti-theft identification chip. The authorities will ask you for this kind of data to validate your ownership, besides, of course, the proof of purchase.
10. AXA Security Level: from 1 to 15
AXA uses a scale from 1 to 25 to rate the security level of bike locks. The scale ranges from basic (1) to maximum security (25) and there are several locks available in each category:
AXA SECURITY LEVEL
Basic Level 1 to 6: protection against theft in low-risk areas or when parking the bicycle for a short period of time. Locks in this category are intended for children's bikes, as a secondary deterrent or as an accessory.
Medium Level 7 to 10: locks of this level are suitable for bicycles parked in public places with foot traffic such as schools, stations or busy streets.
High Level 11 to 15: corresponding to the high security line for bicycles, these maximum protection padlocks are the most robust and include locks with cylinders that are even tamper-proof with ice spray. Always choose locks of this level to ensure maximum protection for your bicycle.
When choosing a lock, make your choice by weighing the following factors:
- What type of bicycle do you have?
- What is the value of the bicycle?
- Do you park in the city center or in rural locations?
- How long do you leave the bicycle parked?
When you can balance these four factors, you can decide which bike lock you need. Tip: Consider a bike lock as an investment rather than an expense.