If you are a cyclist or a cycle tourist and you take your bike with you everywhere, you will have wondered several times how not to get your bike stolen and what the best methods are to deter thieves: whether you're in the city pedalling to go to work, or on holiday. Bicycle thefts have increased over the last few years and it's now a daily struggle for cyclists. You will have noticed as well that thieves have evolved quite a lot compared to a few years ago, trying to keep up with the latest and most innovative bike security systems which fortunately, improve year by year. So we thought about providing you with a practical guide for cyclists, with some tips on how not to get your bike stolen, so you can continue to cycle with a light heart while taking your bike with you everywhere!1 | Define your parameters for choosing the lock The choice of the lock is very delicate to avoid having your bike stolen. There are all types, whatever the quality level of your bike, the length of your stops and the dangerousness of the areas you frequent. These are in fact the parameters to consider when choosing the most suitable lock. In addition to this, keep in mind that usually, the cost of the lock should be about a tenth of the total cost of the bike. We all want to save, but when it comes to the safety of your bike, are you sure that this is the right choice? The main bike brands, as well as associations, recommend spending a little more for a good anti-theft device, so as to avoid unpleasant surprises!

2 | Choose the most suitable type of theft deterrent The main types of bike theft deterrents on the market are: cable (rigid or spiral), chain, U-lock, fixed theft deterrents, python, GPS and sonic theft device. Each of these has its own characteristics, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Keep in mind that if your bike is of medium-high value and you make long stops (more than 15 minutes) the most suitable theft devices for you are U-locks, python ones and GPS ones because they have higher resistance and reliability features than others. If instead your bike is of medium-low value and your stops are usually short, you can also opt for a chain or cable theft deterrent, however, it is important to verify that they are always made with quality materials. 3 | Choose the safest method to lock it up There are several methods to lock the bike, depending on the type of theft deterrent you have and the support you find while you are traveling (it is often not easy to find suitable supports in the city). Keep one thing in mind when you tie your bike: always search for a fixed well-planted support and that is of a sufficient height not to allow thieves to slide the bike out. In general, the safest way to tie the bike is to combine two types of anti-theft devices: for example a U-lock with a chain or a cable, in order to secure both the frame and the front wheel. Also remember to secure the seat and moving parts, for which there are several types of anti-theft devices as well.

4 | Pay attention to the area where you leave your bike It seems trivial, but the ideal is always to leave the bike clearly in sight, perhaps on a busy street, in this way the thief will have much more difficulty in breaking your anti-theft. Avoid parking the bike in isolated places, in the suburbs or in high theft risk areas. If you can also tie together more bikes, the risk of theft will be much less! 5 | Make your bike recognisible The last advice we give you on how not to get your bike stolen is to make your ride recognisable. Some examples?

• Register it in the Italian Bike Register, which can be a useful ally in case of theft, helping you find the bike through a recovery procedure;
• Take a photo of it, this will be useful both for the Italian Bike Register, and because you can post it on facebook groups or dedicated communities, so that other users can help you in the search;
• Make it recognisable by painting it, installing accessories that make it unique and therefore, more easily identifiable.
• Finally, photocopy your identity document, slide one of the handlebar covers and insert the copy inside the handlebar, in this way, in the event of a dispute in front of law enforcement, you can prove that the bike is actually yours.

Article by Travel On Art