Cyclists who want to be sure that their bikes are not stolen even in what they consider a safe town or environment can insure against theft by investing in some kind of a lock. Your choice is varied. It can be a very small cable and combination lock that fits into your hand (and into your seat bag) and can be cut rather easily with a hedge clipper, a fatter cable with a key lock that would take more work to break, a heavy duty linked chain, a U-shaped metal protective device, or a combination of these. A small investment in some kind of lock gives you a crucial accessory for biking. The best known brand is Kryptonite.
What to Look for
To prevent opportunistic swiping of a bike left outside a shop or a house for a few minutes, look for a small or medium cable made of braided strands of steel and secured with a small key lock or a combination lock similar to those used on suitcases. They cost as little as $10. For those who typically make a lunch stop or run errands that keep you away from your bicycle for an hour or more, look into either a fat linked chain or a U-lock that locks your bike to a post, or simply lock the front wheel to the bike frame. These may cost up to $100. Experienced commuters say the smartest protection is to lock your bike with two different kinds of locks---a cable plus separate U-lock--since thieves tend to carry tools to break only one of these.
Common Pitfalls
In places where theft is frequent, bicycle thieves use minivans to swipe any bike not locked to an immovable object, breaking the lock later. They also target bikes locked in the same place at the same time of day over and over, so vary your parking spot. Women and parents should consider whether the most expensive linked-chain lock is practical to carry on rides, since these can weigh 5 lbs. and more. If your bike has a "quick-release" front wheel, be sure your lock is long enough to include it as well as part of a frame when hitched to a post or rack.
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