No matter what type of lock you use, make sure it can go around your locking point — bike rack, safety fence — and through the triangular portion of your bike’s frame, more the spokes of your rear wheel. The photo above shows this method. Do not forget remove accessories before you leave your bike.
Thread the lock through the loose spots. Bikes are easy to disassemble, so make sure you thread the locks through the rear triangle in the frame, as shown above, and that both wheels are secured to the locking point. It’s easy for thieves to steal an unsafe front wheel, especially if that wheel comes off quickly skewers. Some people use two locks; you can also buy separate cable to combine with any of the locks I mentioned.
Keep your U-lock off the ground. Thieves like to take a bottle jack, commonly used to jack up cars, and put it inside the U. With just the right amount of pump, the jack can break the lock open. If you place the U-locks away from the ground, they will have a hard time doing this. You also want to get a U-lock that has as little space inside the U as possible. The less space there is, the less room for thieves to poke crowbars or other tools through.
Check your key points before you decide to park there. Thieves are known to knock electricity poles and signposts off the ground and put them back in pits. All they have to do is wait for you to lock the bike and leave, then they can lift the post out of the hole to free your bike — no tools or noise required.
Check bike racks, too, especially if you see tape wrapped around them. Bike thieves are known to saw through the rack and then wrap the cut part with duct tape to hide their work. When the bike owner leaves the locked bike, thieves can snatch the tape, pry the broken bike rack enough to slide your lock off and hit the road.
