Baffled by the different kind of security devices on the market for keeping your bicycle locked up and safe? This quick guide explains the various types out there, so you can be sure that you’ve chosen the most effective security and protection for your bicycle.

No system is 100% foolproof against theft, but there are some locks that certainly provide more effective protection against theft than others. So with all the different types of locks available, each has its own strength and weaknesses in protecting your bike.

This article looks into three main types of portable security system, these are…

• Cable locks



• Chain locks



• And Shackle locks

Cable Locks
Cable locks have an advantage of being flexible and lightweight. They are easy to carry on your bike and are also easy to wrap around objects to secure your bicycle to. Cable locks are made up of many strands of wire, bound and braided together. This construction makes the cable difficult to cut through easily by an opportunist thief. However, these locks are not the most reliable, and should be best used when you need to make a quick stop. If you need to leave your bike for a longer amount of time, and especially overnight, these locks are not sufficient enough to ensure your bike is protected properly. Cable locks are typically secured with a pin and barrel lock which requires a combination code or number to unlock the cable.


Chain Locks
Again these types of locks are very easy to use, they are flexible easy to transport but are heavier than cable locks. Chain locks do provide much better protection against theft than cable locks. Harden steel chains are the most effective to look for as they can withstand a torsion force that a would-be thief would try and break the chain with. Chains are typically secured with a padlock that requires a key.



Shackle Locks
Shackle locks also known as “U” or “D” locks, consist of two parts, a curved U shape piece of metal and a bar that the curved U fits onto. Although they are heavy, cumbersome and less convenient, these locks are the most effective locks you can buy for securing your bike. When choosing a shackle locks make sure that both components, the U shape, and the bar are made from the same metal, and preferably make sure its hardened steel, as they are the most difficult to cut through. The most effective type of shackle lock you can buy is a double mechanism one, whereby the points of the U shaped bar are fixed into the barrel independently, and the lock is found in the centre of the barrel bar.