Proper Locking Technique

Learn the smart way to lock up your bike

Unfortunately, bike theft is a real problem in San Francisco. While the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is working to improve reporting of bike theft and stop the theft rings, personal responsibility is the best way to make sure your bike is still there where you left it.

The best way to protect your bike is to have a good U-lock and lock where there are lots of people around. Cable locks are easily cut and are highly discouraged. You should always use a U-lock to secure your frame, and a cable to protect your wheels, if desired.

When locking to an object, make sure it's securely in the ground. Sometimes, sign posts aren't always secure, so if a bike rack isn't nearby, use a Parking Meter. (Then, request a free bike rack from the city!)

It is legal to use a Parking Meter to lock your bike in San Francisco- do not lock to handrails; people with disabilities may need to use them and is not only rude, but dangerous, too!

If you want to protect components, just ask your friendly local bike shop (don't forget your SFBC discount!) — they can show you a wide range of special products and help you find what's best for you.

There are a lot of variations on how to lock your bike, and more tips and tricks are below:

NO! Your bike is only protected by a flimsy cable — a thief can cut this off in under 10 seconds with tools easily bought at any hardware shop!

Seats are sometimes really expensive. You can buy a mini-cable like this at almost any bike shop. Ask the shop to put it on for you if you aren't sure how to do it.

The 'Sheldon Brown (RIP)' Lock Technique: By locking your back wheel inside the rear triangle, you protect your wheel and the frame. It's nearly impossible to cut the rim of a wheel. Just make sure your lock is around the rim and through the triangle. Bonus hint: Front wheels are cheap- back wheels have special gears and cost about twice as much, so if you can to only protect one wheel, make it the back one!

Video Advice from Hal

Hal Grades Your Bike Locking — The legendary Hal Ruzal grades your locking technique in this beloved and informative Streetfilm.
Hal (and Kerri) Grade Your Bike Locking — Five years later, Hal returns with Kerri Martin to size up bike locking skills on the streets of NYC.
Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning! — You can't get too much good advice and pep from Hal, especially as he shows you how he locks his own bike.