Bike Locks

Consider where you lock up your bike and how long you'll leave it:

Look for a heavy duty lock if you ride in major city centers, college and university campuses, and high-density urban areas, which tend to see the most bike thefts. Consider a bike lock with the highest security if you plan on locking your bike for several hours or overnight in metropolitan areas. For quick stops and riding in rural areas or areas with lower bike thefts, a lighter weight and less expensive lock might suffice.

Weigh the pros and cons of four bike types:

• Chain locks: Great for high-theft areas and easier than U-Locks to wrap around objects, but heavy and bulky.
• U-Locks: Good for high-theft areas but rigid so can't stretch around wider objects; can rattle in transit
• Folding Locks: Good for high-theft areas; easy to carry or mount to bike but may not be able to stretch around wider objects
• Cable Locks: Best for good for low-theft or rural areas or as additional security; versatile but vulnerable to bolt cutters and less secure than the other lock types.

Weight and portability:

Do you plan to stash it in a backpack or on-bike bag, or mount the lock to your frame? Some U-locks and many of the foldable varieties come with lock mounts. A few locks are designed to be worn like a belt. Weight will likely be a factor unless you're riding an electric bike.