Having a bicycle as your fundamental means of transportation is not only beneficial to your physical health but also vital in helping the environment.
Additionally, as important as it is to ride a bicycle, it's even more so necessary to protect your vehicle from theft. With the vast array of bicycle locks in the market, it can be quite difficult to decide on an option that's both cost-effective and practical.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when choosing a good bicycle lock:
The first step to choosing a good bicycle lock is taking note of the kind of environment you'd be needing it in.
Do you live in a big city? Are you bicycling to a foreign location? Do you reside in a close-knit community? If your answers to living in the urban area were affirmative then your bicycle has a higher risk of getting stolen or damaged.
Additionally, if you'd be leaving your bicycle unattended for long periods of time, it'll be important to consider options that can offer security within such time frames.
Depending on your security needs, you may need to budget about €50 to purchase a good bicycle lock. Additionally, when deciding on the type of lock to purchase, it's important to look out for bicycle locks with good rating options.
When next you decide to purchase a bicycle lock, it is vital to gauge its effectiveness with a standard metric. The most popular metrics for rating bicycle locks are the Sold Secure and ART scale.
The Sold Secure brand rates bicycle locks on the standard of gold, silver, and bronze, with gold having the highest rating and bronze the lowest.
While ART rates locks on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, the higher the star the lock gets, the better it is at protecting your bicycle.
For lower-risk environments, you may either invest in a bicycle lock with a Sold Secure Silver rating or one with 2 stars on the ART scale.
However, for higher risk environments, choose an option rated gold by Sold Secure or one with at least three stars by ART's standards.
Depending on your answers to the previously mentioned tips, you may match a bicycle lock to one that satisfies your requirements.
Currently, there are four types of bicycle locks, each of which has it's own pros and cons, so you decide which best satisfies your needs.
Now that you have an accurate list of your bicycle lock requirements, now's the time to look for a brand that's the perfect fit for your needs.
Undoubtedly there are hundreds (if not thousands) of bicycle lock brands in our world today and yes, many promise quality with price. However, the big three bicycle lock brands that have stayed true to that claim are Abus, Kryptonite, and OnGuard. Here's a helpful resource detailing some of the best bicycle locks this year.
And there you have it, your five-step guide to deciding how to choose a good bicycle lock. For added security, if you'd be interested in offering added protection to your bicycle, visit our site and get insured today!