| Countless accessories are manufactured for bicycles | | | | you can comfortably carry. |
| and bicycle riders. When thinking about such products | | | | If you'd prefer a cable lock, again, make sure you |
| we often think of helmets, lights, water bottles, | | | | purchase the thickest one possible. The thicker the |
| specialized clothing, speedometers, and racks. One | | | | chain or cable, the more of a deterrent it'll be for |
| important accessory your bike should never be without | | | | thieves and scoundrels. The downside, of course, is |
| is a good locking system. Just because you live in a | | | | weight. Cables tend to be lighter than chains, but they |
| relatively safe neighborhood doesn't mean you have | | | | also tend to be easier to cut. You have to consider the |
| no need for a lock. | | | | importance of weight relative to your bicycling activity. |
| Bicycle theft is a growing crime throughout the United | | | | An avid racer is extremely concerned with weight, but |
| States, and it doesn't matter where you live. Bicycles | | | | such a competitor isn't going to be leaving his/her bike |
| are relatively easy to steal and easy to sell or get rid | | | | just lying around, either. In all likelihood, weight is not a |
| of. They're an easy target for dedicated criminals, | | | | serious issue to you. One advantage chain/cable locks |
| opportunists, and bored teenagers. Unless you never | | | | have over other varieties of locks is their ability to |
| intend to leave your bike untended, you should invest in | | | | encompass oddly shaped shaped objects such as |
| some sort of locking system. Even if you're just | | | | trees, bushes, etc. |
| leaving it outside a convenience store for a couple | | | | The other popular bicycle locking system is the U-lock. |
| minutes so you can go inside real quick, that's all the | | | | As the name implies, such locks have a big bend in |
| time a thief needs to make off with your ride. Don't | | | | them and are essentially big padlocks. Some are only |
| think that thieves won't steal a cheap bike, either. | | | | big enough to go around the back wheel and the bike |
| They'll take whatever they can get their hands on, | | | | rack. Others are big enough to go around the frame |
| whether it's a rusted old girl's bike with faded streams | | | | as well. These sorts of locks are nice because they're |
| dangling from the handlebar grips and a torn-up | | | | quick to employ and come with clips to hook onto the |
| banana seat or a sleek high-dollar professional | | | | bike frame without scratching it. |
| mountain bike with full front and rear suspension. | | | | Whatever kind of bike riding you intend to do, unless it's |
| There are basically two options when it comes to | | | | solely competitive racing, you should invest in a good |
| locking systems for bikes. The most popular is the | | | | bike lock. You should get the heaviest one you can. An |
| chain or cable lock with either a separate padlock or | | | | important feature to look for is some sort of |
| combination lock or with the lock integrated into the | | | | guarantee by the manufacturer. Good locks come |
| chain or cable. If this is the type of lock you're looking | | | | with assurances that if used correctly, and your bike is |
| into, make sure that it's long enough to wrap around | | | | stolen, the manufacturer will reimburse you for the cost |
| both wheels and the frame. With this style of locking | | | | of your bike. |
| system, the best choice is a chain that's as thick as | | | | |