Cycle security

[KathyJM]

I have bought a folding bike fod use when caravannjng and insured it under my home insurance.   However, when not being ridden, it it not covered unless fastened to an immovable object.  Technically, it's not covered if left in the locked car, either. 

 

I was thinking about getting a motion-sensitive alarm like the ones designed for travellers to hang on a door, for use at night when the bike is locked to the draw bar.

 

Does anyone have any comments, or better ideas, please?

[Stevan]

Sounds like a sensible precaution, also useful for when you park the bike to go into a shop.

You could also consider insuring the bike separately.

[Griff]

We have two electric mountain bikes which we store behind the caravan under a waterproof cover chained together and to the caravan with a 10mm motor bike chain, downside its a real heavy chain, both bikes have kick stands.

 

Pedals, saddles and batteries removed.

 

I have a got a two piece shed alarm which makes a right racket if I forget to unset it and did think about one of those tie wrapped somewhere convenient.

 

Would need a bit of planning to thieve them.

 

 

[Lost in the wilderness]

Just put them in the awning. Out of site out of mind

[colin h]

As a motorcyclist I have been very conscious of bike theft albeit a slightly bigger bike and looked at different types of locks/chains etc. There is a video on youtube about breaking into these locks with angle grinders etc. 

 

there appears to be 2 types of deterrent, The physical one with a big old chain but often so heavy its impractical or the visual/audio deterrent. 

 

Even a 16mm oxford lock is defeated in just 32 seconds with an angle grinder and in a city no one would bat an eye.

But on a campsite with fellow campers i would like to think they would get something mangled with the BBQ tongs.

 

Personally i use a 13mm cable lock at just 11.99 from eBay and whilst it would not hold them back for long if they are determined, it may stop the casual thief. 

 

I do like the shed alarm idea though and you can get cable locks that have a 120db shriek, its just wether anyone will react

[Stevan]

Whatever you do there is no way to defeat a determined and skilful thief, that leaves three options:-

1. Use something that is noisy and/or difficult enough to deter the opportunist.

2. Make sure that you have insurance to cover.

3. Both the above.

Edited June 13, 2020 by Stevan

[Guest]

5 hours ago, KathyJM said:

However, when not being ridden, it it not covered unless fastened to an immovable object.  Technically, it's not covered if left in the locked car, either.

Time to reconsider an insurance policy with alternative 'small print' maybe?

At home our mountain bikes are normally locked in the garage but not locked to the garage. Similarly the folding bikes are locked in the motorhome rear locker (garage) but not locked to anything other than each other (that actually makes them too large to remove via the access hatch) but additionally they are also trapped in place with a BBQ and a couple of lounge chairs, none of which can be removed quietly, especially at night our bed is directly over the 'garage' area.

Our bikes are all insured (with frame numbers individually registered) not part of the house insurance.

Here's an example of what's available but there are other companies that offer similar cover at around the same price.

[Mr Plodd]

We have two folding electric bikes that go away with us. 

 

When not in use (and on a campsite) I use a plastic coated steel cable and a decent D lock. The bikes are D locked together through the frames, and then the cable goes through the frames, and through one of the bases of a corner steady before being secured with a decent padlock. 

 

Much to the amusement of some I also use a padlock and chain  to secure my waste hog and aquaroll (through the handles) to the caravan chassis. They are not cheap items and are very easily purloined. It’s only a cheap padlock and chain but it makes my kit just a little bit harder to nick  than next doors, and that’s all it needs  

 

Maybe I’ve spent too much time dealing with petty crooks ? 

 

Andy

[George&Ade]

Big hairy rottweiller??? ?

[Jaydug]

6 hours ago, KathyJM said:

Does anyone have any comments, or better ideas, please?

 

If I know I'm going to leave my bike unattended, I carry two locks.   A 'D' shackle which secures the back (motor) wheel to the support struts of the frame, and a combination cable lock which secures the frame to a immovable object like a piece of street furniture or a tree.  

[Mr Plodd]

Forgot to say in my previous post, always ALWAYS lock your bike to an immovable object like a lamp column or tree. If you “just” use a lock through a wheel a thief can take it away and spend as long as it takes, in their shed etc, to defeat any lock. 

 

A bike rack on the back of a motorhome or caravan is NOT good enough as most just lift off! 

 

Andy

[Babstreefern]

I'd look at the d-rings.  When visiting my hubby in hospital last year, we were sat outside in the lovely hot sunshine, and a nurse came to get his back, which was attached to the bike racks situated around the hospital, and he couldn't find his key to unlock his d-ring.  He went inside and come out after about 10 minutes, and not long after, a bloke came in his van, and went and got his bolt cutters to undo the bike.  He ended up using a angle-grinder to cut it off, and even, it took some cutting.  Apologies, but I didn't get the type.  Was going to ask so I could get the same make and use it to attach to my caravan wheel as a deterant

[Jaydug]

38 minutes ago, Babstreefern said:

I'd look at the d-rings. 

 

"You get what you pay for" is certainly true when it comes to D-shackles.   Cheap ones can be prised off with a screwdriver - so to secure my electric bike I went for a solid one.   I chose one of these

 

[SuperRed]

We have two identical electric bikes that were not cheap. We purchased compact bikes as they just fit into the car with the front wheels removed. The bikes are insured with the house insurance but are named items. They are insured for £2k each. It was cheaper to get them insured this way than on specialist cycle insurance. Part of the insurance T&C's is that they must be padlocked to a fixed immovable object. I spoke to the insurers about when we are away in the 'van and there being no immovable object other than the caravan, they considered the 'vans wheel as being sufficient. The other stipulation is they must be locked using a Secure Gold approved lock, we have three Kryptonite locks, a D lock each and a chain. In the garage I have a hasp-and staple fixed to the wall with a wire rope through it and the bikes, and a CCTV camera. The plus point of the D locks is that they come with their own insurance that will pay out if the bolts are forcibly removed. https://www.kryptonitelock.com/content/kryt-us-2/en/products/product-information/current-key/002154.html?type=bicycle

[Mr Plodd]

Check VERY carefully the exact wording of the locks “Guarantee” I purchased a similar type lock for our two bikes and, on reading the very small print it said that in order to make a claim I would have to produce ALL of pieces of their lock that had been defeated in order to carry out the theft. So if a thief takes a bit of the lock away (or any bits are removed by a road sweeper etc,) they won’t pay out.  

 

Andy 

[SuperRed]

34 minutes ago, Mr Plodd said:

Check VERY carefully the exact wording of the locks “Guarantee” I purchased a similar type lock for our two bikes and, on reading the very small print it said that in order to make a claim I would have to produce ALL of pieces of their lock that had been defeated in order to carry out the theft. So if a thief takes a bit of the lock away (or any bits are removed by a road sweeper etc,) they won’t pay out.  

 

Andy 

Thats why we have the separate insurance as well, belts and braces.

[Guest]

 

3 hours ago, Mr Plodd said:

A bike rack on the back of a motorhome or caravan is NOT good enough as most just lift off! 

Agreed but owt's better than nowt, a bit like your chained up water containers  

Once hooked over the top mounting the bike racks on our caravan rears could either be bolted in place at the bottom fitting or locked in place with padlocks. If they want it though, they'll have it, so make it as difficult as possible to get and back it with a good quality insurance policy.