What lock should I use

What Bicycle Lock should I use?

We love our bikes. Many of us spend several hours each week on them commuting to and from work or enjoying them at the weekend. When we leave our prized possession behind, we understand the importance of leaving it secured and safe and it is essential for peace of mind.

When choosing your lock it’s important to consider size – a good locking diametre allows you to secure your bike against a wider range of objects but if it too big it also allows a thief to get better leverage to break it, so bear this in mind when choosing your lock. Weight is also important – although you will have to carry additional weight around with you - a heavier lock often indicates a better bike lock. Maintenance of your lock is essential too – keep your bike lock well lubricated with WD40 to avoid it rusting or seizing in cold weather and it’s also important to have a few spare keys just in case one goes astray.

Protect your bubble's Bicycle Insurance is designed to give you additional peace of mind when out and about on your bicycle. Protect your bubble Bicycle Insurance also requires you to use an adequate lock on your bike. Purchasing an adequate lock is essential because if your bicycle is stolen and it was not locked to an immovable object by an approved lock it could invalidate your bicycle insurance.

Protect your bubble Cycle Scheme Approved Locks

In conjunction with the terms and conditions of your bicycle insurance policy, Protect your bubble have produced the following useful information to help you select an approved bicycle lock.

For Bicycles up to £250 in replacement value, an approved lock is one which is tested to a bronze standard by Sold Secure.

For Bicycles greater than £250 but less than £1,500 in replacement value, an approved lock is one which is tested to a Silver standard by Sold Secure.

For Bicycles greater than £1,500 in replacement value, an approved lock is one which is tested to a Gold standard by Sold Secure.

The three different levels represent how long it will take a bike thief to breach the lock but most importantly, if you have bicycle insurance then getting a Sold Secure lock is part of the terms and conditions.

Protect your bubble recommend that you check with your bicycle retailer to find out which locks have been tested to Sold Secure standards. Wheelies, our replacement bike provider, is currently offering all Protect your bubble customers 16% off a new lock. Click here to visit the Wheelies website.

How do I claim on my bicycle insurance?

When you purchase your Sold Secure bicycle lock, always keep the receipts safe. These receipts show the make and model of the lock and will help validate your claim more quickly. It is also advisable to keep any remains of your lock in the event of a theft claim. This will also help to validate your claim.

Always refer to the terms and conditions of your bicycle insurance policy for full details.