Cycling UK Forum

Hi all - seeking some advice about bike security. I'm off on a lejog later this year and wonder what others do about security whilst touring? Staying at a number of b&b's which I guess will have varying levels of secure storage.

Bike insurance seems to depend on sold secure (gold) locks, which mostly add a lot of weight. And I'm not sure how well they'd fit on the frame, given that I'm using a half frame bag. Plus water bottles, ofc. Any thoughts? I'm a bit reluctant to chance it but not sure of the best solution...

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom

There's a lot of collective wisdom in the forum archives, including:
• Keeping all valuables in a bar bag and always taking it with you
• Behavioural stuff like keeping an eye on the bike while eating and drinking
• Bikes in hotel bedrooms and store rooms
• Bike security on camp sites.

The site has a pretty good search tool: please ask if you need any help.

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan - I think I'm after guidance on whether others do use a particular model of lock so they actually have insurance cover. Basic precautions no problem, but I guess I'm looking for a recommendation on what to choose - or whether to just forego the security, which feels risky. There's a previous topic on this but dating from 2013, and I think the available lock models have probably changed since then...

Please do redirect me if I've missed a particular thread that you think might help though!

If I have preplanned my accommodation with secure cycle storage I don’t worry too much but I have an old bike and use supermarkets in small sleepy towns in france/italy etc. I just use a basic lock as a deterrent. I deliberately let the bike look a bit scruffy even though it is quite nicely knitted out underneath. Mine isn’t fully insured and I’d quite like an excuse to upgrade!

You need to think about where you are leaving it and how long for and how inconvenient it would be if it got nicked ie if you have a nice bike I would definitely upgrade from what I use.

Looked into bike insurance for traveling and concluded it isn't worth it; to insure the full value of a nice bike is so expensive you'd be better off replacing it.

I always follow the valuables in a bar bag advise. If my dirty clothes got stolen I will survive.
For B&B's look for ones with secure storage. If you find one then mention the cycle storage in any reviews you write. Use "Cyclists Welcome".
Premier Inn always let you take a bike into your room.

The requirement for sold secure, etc is usually only on bespoke bicycle insurance. If it's part of your household insurance, it's often much less, eg locked to something immovable.

Your problem is multi faceted. B&Bs should provide secure storage - garage, locked yard, secure garden, inside house, etc. Otherwise choose somewhere else. For me a lightweight cable is enough for this, enough to stop another guest using, etc.

Stopping in town for shopping, lunch or evening meal is probably the biggest risk. If you restrict yourself to country pubs and small villages you can greatly reduce this risk so shouldn't need heavyweight lock.

I tour a lot and only carry a cable combination lock. Easily cut or smashed but hopefully I don't leave my bike anywhere too risky. Also my bike is loaded with 2 panniers which possibly makes it less attractive to thieves.

Thanks all, sounds like no one much is using anything other than flimsy locks then. I probably need to get back to my booked b&bs and get more detail about how secure their storage is - and ideally, share my room with a fairlight?

Good shout re the home insurance angle too, will take a look at that

Freeweel wrote: ↑25 Feb 2024, 8:04pm Thanks all, sounds like no one much is using anything other than flimsy locks then. I probably need to get back to my booked b&bs and get more detail about how secure their storage is - and ideally, share my room with a fairlight?

Good shout re the home insurance angle too, will take a look at that

Some people book their accommodation based predominantly on whether they advertise a ‘secure bicycle store’!
Almost all will be able to organise some type of bike store, particularly with a bit of notice. But, depending on where you are going, how much choice there is, and whether you will lose your deposit/s, it’s worth thinking of changing your choices to stay at a ‘bicycle friendly’ establishment

L+1 wrote: ↑25 Feb 2024, 8:14pm Some people book their accommodation based predominantly on whether they advertise a ‘secure bicycle store’!

Do note that a B&B definition of "secure bike store" may not be the same as yours!

Freeweel wrote: ↑25 Feb 2024, 8:04pm Good shout re the home insurance angle too, will take a look at that

Most home insurance only covers the bikes at home. To cover them away from the home, you usually end up needing specific insurance and then the caveats as you've found around Gold standard locks (and often extra details about exactly where they're locked to and for how long). There are so many loopholes in those policies that it can be very difficult to get a payout.

Good shout on Premier Inn - those places (as well as Holiday Inn, Travelodge etc) are often excellent at allowing (clean!) bikes into rooms. B&Bs can be much more variable.

roubaixtuesday wrote: ↑25 Feb 2024, 7:37pm Looked into bike insurance for traveling and concluded it isn't worth it; to insure the full value of a nice bike is so expensive you'd be better off replacing it.

My bike insurance, with TSB Pick and Protect, is approximately 4% the value of my most expensive bike and all others are covered on the same policy for no additional charge.

My bike insurance doesn't specify a lock, though it says the bike should be locked with an appropriate one. I usually take a Sold Secure Gold chain (About 2kg), there are D locks at half the weight but the chain makes it easier to find something to lock to.
It also depends what my plans are, some of my tours stay away from the towns and the bike is rarely out of sight, on others it may end up locked in a city center for half a day while I'm sightseeing.

If I can't store the bike in a hotel room I usually take the front wheel and saddle off and take them with me. So far this has proved a good deterrent.

Most home insurance only covers the bikes at home. To cover them away from the home, you usually end up needing specific insurance

Look at your Ts&Cs, because many do cover away from home, but unless you add the bike as a “named item” the cover is rather weak, £250 for instance.

On mine, I added bikes as named items, which gave full “away from home” cover, including three months abroad, to the full stated value, for one fifth what I was quoted by a specialist bike insurer, with far less stringent conditions.

But, if doing “big touring”, you might need to think about insurance in a broader sense than having your bike nicked.

Freeweel wrote: ↑25 Feb 2024, 7:21pm Hi all - seeking some advice about bike security. I'm off on a lejog later this year and wonder what others do about security whilst touring? Staying at a number of b&b's which I guess will have varying levels of secure storage.

Bike insurance seems to depend on sold secure (gold) locks, which mostly add a lot of weight. And I'm not sure how well they'd fit on the frame, given that I'm using a half frame bag. Plus water bottles, ofc. Any thoughts? I'm a bit reluctant to chance it but not sure of the best solution...

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom

When we did lejog we found that b&bs on the route, were used to storing bikes overnight.The one we initially had an issue with was sightly off route but even they came up with a solution.