Where to Put Your Bike Lock When Riding?

Owing to a rapid increase in bike theft, having a bike lock has become a necessity. However, bike locks (due to their build and design) are generally bulky and heavy, thus carrying them around is a problem.

A large and heavy bike lock provides good security against all types of bike thieves.

The level of protection offered by a bike lock is directly proportional to its weight. The denser the material it is made from, the more difficulty a thief will encounter while trying to swap your bike.

There are several different types of bike locks currently on the market and each of them can be carried around efficiently in a different way.

In the article below, we break down the numerous ways how each type of lock can be taken from one place to the next with minimum hassle and maximum comfort.

Table of Contents

Bike Lock Types & Where to Put Them When Riding

U-Locks

U-locks (also referred to as D-locks) are both large in size and cumbersome to handle.

Owing to its design, a U-lockĀ“s curved tube takes up considerable space. Thus, these bike locks can be carried around in a backpack but that would mean less space for other essentials that you might require on your trip.

Therefore, the best way to carry this bike lock while riding is by using its mount. A mount easily attaches to either the seat tube or just below the seat post.

Combination locks protect such mounts from lock pickers and riders can rest assured that there will be no hindrance to movement as well.

A recent popular method of carrying this bike lock while riding is by locking them onto handlebars. While this may result in the lock moving around during the entire ride, no extra mounts are necessary.

Smaller D-locks can also be holstered under belt loops of your trouser. The tight space between the belt and the trouser can firmly hold D-locks during long journeys.

A simple method of ensuring that you don’t have to carry such locks anywhere is to leave it locked at your destination and simply lock the bike into place once you arrive. However, this method only works when you travel to the same destination every day.

Read Also: U-Lock vs Cable Lock: Which Can Better Secure Your Bike?

Chain Locks

Chain locks are the heaviest types of locks there are. Made mostly from steel, a chain lock provides superior protection and is thus the hardest type of lock to carry around in a backpack.

A good quality chain lock will definitely weigh more than 3 kilograms (at least) and is thus bound to cause strain on your shoulders and eventually rupture your backpack after repeated use.

Therefore, newer chain locks come with the option of being used as a belt loop during riding. It’s easy to carry the chain around a waist as compared to shoulders due to the optimum weight distribution of a sitting position.

For cyclists who don’t go to different places every day, the chain could be left locked at the destination and used once a cyclist arrives. Obviously, this is useless for people who love to explore the outdoors and go to different places every time.

Some bicycles have baskets or panniers for easy carrying of stuff. To carry this bike lock while riding, you could also use these accessories as well.

Chain locks enable bikes to be safely secured almost anywhere, from a bike rack to a utility pole. There are a lot of ways these bike locks can be efficiently carried around everywhere, making your bicycle ride hassle-free and comfortable.

Cable Locks

Cable locks are the most lightweight bike locks and the least secure. Hence, they’re also the easiest to carry around while biking.

A great feature of any cable lock is its ability to bend in upon itself. This reduces its surface area and enables it to be carried easily both in a pocket or in a shoulder bag.

Another popular way of carrying cable locks is by placing them in baskets or panniers that come attached with some bicycles. Simply take the lock with you wherever you go and use it where you need to fasten your bike securely.

If you don’t want to carry the cable lock on your body or in your accessories, you can always fasten it to the bike frame itself. Simply lock around the frame or handlebars for easy transport.

Some riders also carry cable locks by looping them several times on the rear carrier of a bicycle. Looping around handlebars is also one popular way of carrying this bike lock while riding.

Folding Locks

The best thing about a folding bike lock is that it almost always comes with its own mount that easily fixes to the bike frame. Just make sure that the folding bike lock is properly fastened so that it doesn’t fall off while riding.

If the lock hasn’t arrived with its own mount, don’t fret just yet.

Just put your bike lock in your bag. Owing to its folding ability, the lock will only take up a small space inside your bag.

You could also lock the folding lock onto bicycle handles. However, since the structure of folding locks is quite firm, this option will not only make a lot of noise but will also hinder your movement.

Conclusion

A bike lock is heavy to lug around everywhere but is also a necessary deterrent against thieves. Unfortunately, the purchase of stolen bikes is a lucrative market all around the world, which makes the provision of such locks imperative with every bike purchase.

It’s therefore only natural that you need to lock your bike to protect yourself against malicious people. Thankfully, bike lock companies have come up with a variety of ways for you to put your bike lock on the bike itself while riding, freeing your body from the burden of carrying it yourself.

Taking into consideration a slew of bike locking options available today, the guide above provides a lot of creative ways of fastening each bike lock type.