New college and university years start soon, and cycling to your course is a great way to save money. Follow our guide to protect your bicycle.
Don't spend too much on your Uni/College bike
It needs to be functional, not super lightweight & super cool. if your £500+ bike gets stolen its the end of the world (and probably your student loan) its not so much of a drama if its a £70 bike. If you're lucky enough to have an expensive bike, leave it at home
Have your bike serviced
A bicycle that's been serviced will be
More efficient to ride
More reliable
cost less in repairs in the future
it will also give you (and your family) peace of mind that your bike is safe and reliable
you can book your bicycle service in below
Lock it up
There are 2 types of bike thief
Organised - They do this for a living, they target bikes and usually carry tools to break locks etc
Opportunist - They look for easy targets, unlocked bikes, bikes locked out of full view etc.
The organised thief is difficult to stop, but you can make their lives difficult.
Lock your bike in a public place - thieves dont like to stand out
Lock it to something immoveable - thieves like easy
remove accessories that can be easily pinched (lights, panniers etc)
lock your wheels to the frame
Below is a phone in we did on Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine
Look for the Cycle paths
Most towns have a cycle path network, which make cycling a lot safer. Check out your town council for more details, or search for sustrans online
Hide your bike for freshers week
You made it to Uni, and your ready for the time of your life. But the local bikes thieves will be rubbing the hands with excitement. Hide your bike in your room (and lock it up) for the first couple of weeks to avoid the opportunist thieves that will want your bike.
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