Top 3 tips for locking your bikes
With bike theft accounting for 57% of their claims in 2022, our official cycling insurance partner Bikmo knows a thing or two about how to lock your bikes properly, at home or away with your outfit.
Check out their top 3 tips and best locks to use, plus, find out how Club members can access exclusive discounts on bicycle and e-bike insurance.
1. Use a Sold Secure Rated lock
"At Bikmo, we always recommend locks that are accredited as Sold Secure. Sold Secure is the premier testing and certification house for security products. As such, we use their ratings system as a minimum requirement for a lock used to secure a cycle “away from home”."
But which Sold Secure rating lock do I need?
With Bikmo policies, it’s dependent on the ‘as new’ replacement value of the bike as to which lock rating you’ll need:
- Bike value up to £250 – Bronze Rating
- Bike value £251- £1500 – Silver Rating
- Bike value over £1500 – Gold Rating
The rating is based on the amount of time and the tools required to try to break the lock, so it’s always worth buying the highest rating. The higher the rating, the longer it took to break into.
Recently, Diamond level locks have been introduced. Locks rated this level of security are tested against an angle grinder and are even more secure than Gold.
Top tip: Gold locks are often a similar price as Silver locks, so it’s worth getting a Gold one.
2. What type of lock to use
Overall, it’s your personal preference what brand or type of lock you choose, as long as it has the correct Sold Secure rating for your bike’s value. Also, as we will mention later, it’s crucial that your bike is locked correctly.
That said, “D locks” (D shaped when locked) often come out on top due to their strength, reliability and weight. D locks can fit easily into a backpack or clip onto a bike when away with your bike.
3. How to lock it correctly
Lock your bike through its frame – never lock your bike by the wheel! Most bikes these days have quick release wheels, so always lock your bike through its frame.
Bike lock position – make sure you position the lock where it’s impossible for a thief to use leverage or force against another surface to smash/strike a lock open.
Top tip: Consider running an additional cable lock through the saddle rails to prevent saddle and wheel theft.
Always lock your bike to a solid and immovable object – think secure railings and dedicated bike hangers. Not all insurance will cover your bikes when away with your outfit. Policies bought with Bikmo through the Club also benefit from the following enhanced cover^:
These include:
- Bikes in locked vehicles and caravans
- Bikes locked to bike racks
- Bikes locked to your caravan or trailer
Available to members and non-members.
Check out Bikmo’s handy video and full locking requirements here.
Is my bike insured when locked to my motor vehicle?
Many home insurance policies will not cover bike theft or accidental damage away from home, particularly when away with your motor vehicle.
There’s also often a low maximum value of bike on these policies, and a risk of your excess going up if you need to claim (check your policy!)
That's why we've partnered with Bikmo cycle insurance to offer enhanced cover^ and exclusive discounts on policies bought through the Club, with members' needs in mind, to cover you worldwide, 24/7.
Policies bought through the Club include:
- 12 months for the price of 11* for Caravan and Motorhome Club members
- 25% discount** on e-bike policies (compared to regular bicycles ones)
- 50% saving when insuring multiple bikes, covering the whole family on the same policy
+ 14 days FREE insurance on ALL new bikes. No card details or cancellation required! Activation required. This can be activated through our main bike insurance page here.
Bikmo offers different levels of cover to suit your needs, including personal cover options. As standard, with policies bought through the Club, their hassle-free cover includes:
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* 12 months for the price of 11 is applied as an 8.33% discount. Minimum premium £3.73/mo and
policy wording applies. This promotion is provided by Bikmo Limited, 1 Minerva Court, Minerva
Avenue, Chester, CH1 4QT, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ref.745230
** Data and reduction on e-bike policies from 2020. Full announcement can be found here - https://bikmo.com/uk/blog/e-bike-insurance-cost-reduction/
^ Subject to Bikmo’s locking requirements. Enhanced cover benefits: Available to all members and non members; available only when purchasing a Bikmo policy via https://www.caravanclub.co.uk; enhanced cover benefits will be applied as endorsements and shown on your schedule