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### Bike Types

Knowing what kind of bike you have helps you pick the right lock.

#### Road Bikes

*   Made for speed on streets
*   Light and fast, with skinny tires
*   Easy to steal since they're worth a lot

#### Mountain Bikes

*   Made for trails
*   Strong, with fat tires and suspension
*   Not as easy to steal, although expensive version are targets.

#### Hybrid/Commuter Bikes

*   Mix of road and mountain bikes
*   Good for riding around town
*   Easy to steal in cities because people don't lock them well enough

#### Electric Bikes (E-bikes)

*   Battery powered
*   Easy to steal because they cost a lot to replace
*   You need strong locks and good storage

#### Folding Bikes

*   Small and easy to carry
*   Easy to lock inside, but also easy to grab when you're out

### Bike Lock Types

The kind of lock you need depends on how much your bike costs, and where you leave it.

#### U-Locks (D-Locks)

*   Hard metal in a U shape
*   **Good:** Strong
*   **Bad:** Can't lock wheels, small.

#### Chain Locks

*   Heavy duty chains with covers
*   **Good:** Can lock frame and wheels to big stuff
*   **Bad:** Heavy, cheap ones can be cut

#### Cable Locks

*   Steel cable with plastic
*   **Good:** Light, easy to carry
*   **Bad:** Easy to cut, only good where there's not much risk

#### Folding Locks

*   Metal pieces that fold up
*   **Good:** Easy to carry, okay security
*   **Bad:** Not as strong as U-locks or chains

#### Wheel/Seat Locks

*   Small locks just for wheels or the seat
*   **Good:** Light, fast to use
*   **Bad:** Doesn't lock the whole bike.

#### Smart/Electronic Locks

*   Alarms, GPS, phone connection
*   **Good:** Sends alerts, tracks your bike
*   **Bad:** Costly, needs charging

### How to Lock Your Bike

Even the best lock doesn’t help if you use it wrong.

#### Lock the Frame

Always lock the frame to something that can't move.

#### Lock the Wheels

Use another lock for the wheels. Secure quick release wheels with the main lock..

#### Avoid Weak spots

Don't lock to stuff, someone can cut.

Don't lock to the ground.

#### Lock smart

Keep the lock off the ground.

Fill as much space inside the lock as possible to keep tools out.

### Where to Lock

Lock in places with lights and lots of people.

Stay away from dark, quiet places.

Keep your bike inside if you can.

### Stuff to Think About

*   **Take stuff with you:** Lights, pumps, bags
*   **GPS trackers:** Hide them on your bike
*   **Register your bike:** Helps if it gets stolen
*   **Insurance:** Worth it for expensive bikes

### Lock Care

*   Keep your lock working smoothly.
*   Look for problems.
*   Replace a bad lock.

### Quick Tips

*   Use more than one lock.
*   Lock to solid things.
*   Don't park in the same spot all the time.
*   Mix up how you lock your bike.
*   Write down your bike's info, just in case.