Best Bike Lock Headquarters

Welcome to Best Bike Lock Headquarters, your home for information on the best bicycle locks available. Bike theft is one of the most common crimes you might experience and with the cost of bicycle replacement being as high as it is especially for higher end models, your best bet is to buy a good quality bike lock to protect your investment.

The problem is that many locks simply offer peace of mind and a false sense of security. You feel good about locking about your bike but may not be aware of exactly how good the actual lock is. While you'll typically find that the bigger and heavier the lock the better - i.e. the harder it is to break the lock - you also want to know which ones are actually tested and rated to do what you buy them for.

Here at Best Bike Lock Headquarters, we talk about the best bike locks on the market so you can make the best choice for your needs. The more you leave your bike unattended whether in a public or private place and the more expensive your ride, the greater the likelihood that it's going to attract the attention of thieves and anyone else who likes what you have.

Best Bike Lock Types

Chain Lock:

The type of bike lock that most people are probably familiar with dating back to their childhood is a chain-style lock that typically comes with a key or number combination to lock and unlock the chain. In years gone by, you tended to see the chain used to simply chain the frame of the bike to a non-moving object like a bike rack or wall. This was when bike tires and bike seats tended to be more permanently secured with nuts and bolts whereas these days tires and seats have quick release options that make it much more likely that they will be stolen. A chain lock is one of the best bike lock options to include amongst your purchases especially when used (for example) with a U-Lock too.

U-Lock:

A U-Lock is exactly as it sounds. It's a lock that is shaped like the letter U that is typically used to lock the frame or wheels to a non-moving object like a bike rack or wall. Kryptonite is one of the best bike lock manufacturers and their U-Locks are well known although a number of other excellent brands exist too.

Cable Lock:

Cable locks are similar to chain locks but tend to be made these days with a self-coiling design that enables them to be more compact, possibly lighter and therefore easier to transport. Cable locks tend to be secured with either a key or combination lock. Cable locks can be used to secure the frame and wheels to each other or to a non-moving object.

Wheel Lock:

A wheel lock or ring lock is used to immobilize the rear wheel that wraps around the wheel and through the spokes to prevent the wheel from rotating. The real purpose of this sort of lock is to prevent a bike from being ridden away by a thief. It doesn't secure the bike to a non-moving object so is really only good for situations where you leave the bike unattended for a very short period of time and want to deter a potential thief from riding the bike away.

Locking Skewers:

With the prevalence of quick release parts on a bike these days - tires and seats most commonly - a locking skewer is used to more permanently secure the part so that it either has to be removed with tools. While people often unhitch their bike seat and take it with them or unlock a tire and chain it to the other tire, a locking skewer enables you to avoid having to carry your bike parts with you when you leave your bike unattended. Skewers aren't as commonly used as other bicycle locks but savvy bike owners incorporate them into their bicycle security to help protect the easily removable parts such as the ones mentioned above.

Alarm Locks:

You can get bike alarm locks that combine lock functionality with a security alarm including cable lock alarms, padlock alarms and U-Locks among others. An alarm lock typically features a loud (i.e. 100dB) siren, shock & movement sensor and two-tone alarm options to help combine a locking and alarm-based security functionality. This means that not only is your bike protected with its lock but is also further protected by the alarm which will dissuade if not prevent someone from physically trying to even move your bike for fear of setting off the alarm if the bike is moved.

Water Bottle Lock and Hitch Locks:

And getting a great bike lock doesn't just mean getting the best locking device for your bicycle either. You can get even get locks that look like a water bottle! Water bottle locks look like a nice water bottle but in fact it contains an internally coiled cable that locks back into itself as well as a compartment underneath for storage of keys and other stuff. Typically you can lock both your bike frame and wheels with a good water bottle lock. So if you're concerned about finding the best bike lock you can but also want something stylish, you might consider such an option.

Thanks again for visiting Best Bike Lock Headquarters and be sure to check out each section of the site to learn about all available options. Remember to check out the list of major lock brands available on the right column of the website including the best compact bike locks too in case you require smaller sized locks for your needs.