Securing bikes

[tuono001]

Later this year I'll be doing some trips with the mountain bike. I have the bike rack but my question is where/how do people secure theirs bikes through the night?
Can I put them back on the carrier once the roof is up? Don't want to leave them lying around as they aren't cheap bikes.
Any suggestions welcome, though inside won't be an option.

 

[estresao]

Also interested

 

[calikev]

I just chain them to the back wheel

 

[normg]

Mostly chain mine to a nearby tree or a secure fence post. :hello

 

[Alan]

Don't relie to much on bike cables.....in France 2013 Niece ,I disturbed thieves trying to nick our 2 bikes 4-30 in morning.
They were almost through our bike cables. They were so silent as well,they must have been using something like a pipe cutter!

Also be carefull if you lift the tailgate up with a bike on and the pop roof is up or your likely to scratch the roof on the handlebars,speaking from experience

Alan

 

[caliman]

I use a hefty motorbike cable and padlock not cheap but goes round our five mountain bikes and a solid tree. I usually thread it through all wheels and bike frames. Much easier than on and off the carrier.

 

[tuono001]

Thanks folks.
I usually have a couple of motorcycle u locks/chain with me when the bike is on the roof rack of the car, if I have to leave it for any length of time.
Hadn't thought of through the wheel with a chain and I only use a cable that's with the ulock.

 

[owen_h]

I use a plastic covered cable originally bought to lock windsurfers up with. Its about 2m long and 10mm diameter with swaged on ends.
As mentioned earlier thread it through as many parts of the bikes as you can and then either secure using a tree/post/etc if available or if not then the towing eye at the rear of the van or even threaded through the van wheels is an option.
If someone is determined to steal the bikes then they will almost certainly be able to, a set of bolt croppers or battery angle grinder will get through most cables other than the very heavy duty motorbike ones.
Try and keep the bikes out of sight as well, in an awning, utility tent or even a groundsheet over them might make a thief look for easier pickings.

 

[NZCol]

I have an Atera rack and when i am leaving the bikes i use a combination of cable locks through the hole in the chassis at the back, the rack locks itself and then 2 big motorbike chains. They are also covered in a tarp cover mainly to protect them. As said before if someone wants them they will get them off.

 

[acer]

nine years later, here’s an idea: a string of sleigh bells threaded through the bikes to wake you if they’re tampered with in the night

 

[Corradobrit]

There are locks with alarm systems integrated. Some go as high as 130dB That should wake up the neighbours.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TG7N19D/

 

[acer]

There are locks with alarm systems integrated. Some go as high as 130dB That should wake up the neighbours.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TG7N19D/

Very good! Although I would worry about the inevitable false alarms.

 

[SpuffingtonMe]

This is my solution - Thule wheel locks, plus armoured flexi cable around the whole rack, bike and D-lock to rack & cable.

 

[Busdarren]

As above with cable locks and silent thieves - when travelling abroad, especially in cities, bevery careful..
Also 2 top tips:
Take photo of locked bikes on rack, to remember how they were stored as it’s easy to have difficulty in remembering a good solution with more than one.
Check with your insurance company - house normally covers them and their version of leaving ‘outdoors’ over night away from the home. Mine said need to leave I secured to inanimate object which they weren’t at first happy with VW bike rack as they were thinking one of those cheap back screen car thingys where straps easy to cut.
Have fun and do what’s reasonable and don’t let the fear of theft put you off!

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Bike lock | BORDO™ Alarm 6000A | foldable | ABUS

Bike locks by ABUS ✓ Folding lock BORDO™ Alarm 6000A with intelligent alarm ✓ 100 decibel ✓ High manipulation protection → Discover now

www.abus.com

ABUS Lock-Chain Combination – CityChain™ 1010/170 black

ABUS Lock-Chain Combination CityChain™ 1010/170 black. Good protection at high theft risk. 9 mm chain with fabric sleeve. ABUS Plus cylinder and Code Card.

www.abus.com

I use the above, the chain wrapped around the tow-bar bike carrier, the latter locked and alarmed by the car.

Both locks were ordered specifically with matched keys (also matched to my ABUS Riese & Müller battery casing).

My bike was expensive.

When the bike stays at home the 1.7m chain doubles as a steering/pedal lock, perfect length with one loop around brake.

Not a cheap solution but possibly about as good as it gets.

 

[Billywizz]

My bike goes inside the van width ways front wheel out and forks in a foam block. (I have a beach though)

 

[matienzo]

From my experience locking to a vehicle doesn't satisfy insurance requirements of being a fixed object. Even if you use an insurance approved lock on a VW rack or wheel. We decided ages ago that when touring Europe it wasn't worth the risk of theft of expensive bikes for the 'relatively' few rides. Additionally lifting the tailgate with bikes on it is a difficult task. We hire bikes when needed. Works for us.

 

[Corradobrit]

From my experience locking to a vehicle doesn't satisfy insurance requirements of being a fixed object. Even if you use an insurance approved lock on a VW rack or wheel. We decided ages ago that when touring Europe it wasn't worth the risk of theft of expensive bikes for the 'relatively' few rides. Additionally lifting the tailgate with bikes on it is a difficult task. We hire bikes when needed. Works for us.

Reason I chose to go with a Brompton. It would be too stressful to leave a bike hanging off the back. And even if properly secure, attempts to remove it could result in damage to the bike rack and/or tailgate. Not worth the risk.

 

[Barbara]

Thick chain with combination lock though the tow ring at rear.

 

[KevH]

Our two bikes are relatively low spec / low end / low value and I’d be surprised if a determined thief was interested in them, so I use a D-lock and standard cable.
Reading this thread has made me think again however, and I am now reviewing whether to invest in a deterrent to hopefully reduce the risk of collateral damage to the van if someone fancies their chances.
So many thanks for your collective ideas

 

[Adrian Allsopp]

Later this year I'll be doing some trips with the mountain bike. I have the bike rack but my question is where/how do people secure theirs bikes through the night?
Can I put them back on the carrier once the roof is up? Don't want to leave them lying around as they aren't cheap bikes.
Any suggestions welcome, though inside won't be an option.

You might be interested in this:

Guide to locking your bike | Cycling UK

Lauren Brooks, Cycling UK’s digital communications and media officer, offers some great advice to help you avoid someone else riding away into the sunset on your beloved bicycle

www.cyclinguk.org

 

[brompton2]

For transporting I put the 2 Bromptons head to tail with the handlebars folded down and secured together and to the rack with a heavy duty motor cycle chain and D-ring lock. With just one, I take the ultra-light model and put it folded inside the T5 Cali. As always vigilance required!