Image: istockphoto.com/Loic Bernard
Don't be cheap!
“Buy a good lock, for heaven's sake,” says Eric Kamphof, manager of CURBSIDE CYCLE. “If you go to Manhattan, even a cheap beater bike has a $150 chain on it. We live in a big urban jungle with real urban problems, and that means buying the best lock you can.”
Tried and tough
When used properly, today’s smaller (and therefore tougher to force) U-locks are all you need. There are a number of tried and true brands incuding Kryptonite Locks with a well deserved reputation as being unbreakable.
The brand was famously launched with a real-life test in 1972 when a 3-speed bike was locked to a signpost in New York's notorious Greenwich Village. Although attacked repeatedly and eventually stripped of all removable parts, the bike itself remained locked up for a full month. Kryptonite locks come in varying degrees of ferocity, the toughest (of course) being the New York model. Both the New York model and the snug Abus are made triple-hardened boron manganese steel.
There are plenty of other locks out there involving chains, keys and combinations that can also deter more low-key criminals.
The right location
Once you have chosen the lock, use it sensibly:
Take it with you
Of course, the safest approach is to simply take the bicycle inside with you. If you commute to work, this might make your cubicle a bit time. Enter the folding bike. The British Brompton is a cute numbers that folds up quickly. It’s light and transportable.
For the truly serious urban bicycle commuter, the best thing might be a dedicated European city bike such as a Danish Biomega or the Dutch Batavus, which features a "coffee run" rear wheel lock for quick stops and for an extra level of protection.
Folding electric
If you have a long commute and are interested in an electric bike that folds, the The Ezee Electric Bikes has built a solid reputation with its line of commuter bikes. Their Quando Foldable electric bike is small enough to tuck away in a corner but unfolds to give you a 32 km (20 mile) ride with top assisted speed of 24 km/h (15 mph). The Cadence model with its wide balloon tires and crown front-fork suspension handles any bump along the way. Well-crafted aluminium alloy frames and lithium batteries make these bikes lightweight.
Make a paper trail
Register your bicycle online or with the police using the unique frame number. The police also recommend taking a picture and recording details like the model, cololur and frame number. You just might get your bike back. It happened in Toronto!
CURBSIDE CYCLE is Toronto’s exclusive carrier of several European city commuter bikes and accessories.
Green Living Network
