If you love it, lock it!
Sadly bike theft is a common problem in Santa Cruz. Luckily there is a simple and effective way to counteract it. While no lock is guaranteed, properly locking your bike will, in most cases, thwart a potential bike thief. Many of the bike theft stories we hear involve folks who run in "for just a minute" and don't lock their bike, or riders who rely on a cable lock when the bike is left for any amount of time.
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The first step in properly securing your bike is in your choosing the right lock. When ever you are locking up a bike for more than a few minutes or locking it in a place that is not constantly visible to you, a U-Lock is the best option. A U-Lock is significantly harder to break into and cut then a cable lock. |
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Cable locks are great for quickly locking up a bike when it is going to be near you - such as when Phil enjoys a snack at a cafe. One thing to always keep in mind is how easily any cable lock can be cut. |
| Another key component to proper bike locking is what parts of the bike you run the lock through. The rear wheel and the frame are the two most valuable components of any bike. And despite popular belief, with a little practice the rear wheel comes off just as fast as the front - the rear wheel is prone to theft. The best locking technique is to run a U-lock through the frame and rear wheel while running a short cable through front wheel and the lock. This way all the major components are secure. If you are leaving a bike overnight in an unsecured location and you have a quick release seat post you should bring the seat and post in with you. |
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One common mistake we often see is running the U-lock through either wheel and not getting the frame. This allows any shady character to easily get away with the rest of the bike. And don't think a busy intersection is ample protection. In this example drivers and pedestrians never noticed this masked Dan. Another common mistake is to lock the bike up to a wooden pole or parking meter. Your bike is only as secure as the item you lock it to. |