First and foremost, bike locks are not intended to deter theft. This is something to keep in mind while you decide on the safety of your bike. And the winter can be too harsh on bike locks. Here’s what you can do if you’re attempting to get on your bike but the lock is all jammed up and frozen.
A decent lock will keep most criminals away from your bike, but it will not protect it from the outdoors. So taking care of bike locks is as important as taking care of your bike. If you reside in the north and cycle your bike in the winter, your lock has most likely frozen on you at least once. So today I’ve decided to guide you through how to deal with it.
Common Problems You May Face In Winter With Your Bike Lock
Before properly maintaining your bicycle lock in winter times, you must know what kind of problems you can face. These are-
Freezing:
Bike locks can freeze in cold weather so it’s difficult to unlock.
Corroding:
Cold weather and moisture affect bike locks to corrode and be tough to open.
Weak Links:
Extremely low temperatures can weaken the metal links of a bike lock. Sometimes it results in the lock breaking easier.
Rusting:
It handily rusts in winter or is difficult to loosen and use.
Lock Jamming:
Cold conditions formulate the internal mechanisms of a bicycle lock to create jams.
Battery Failure:
Batteries in bike locks generate failure in cold temperatures, so they can be unusable.
Key Problems:
Keys, freeze or stick in cold weather, bringing risk to unlocking.
Water Damage:
Moisture from snow and ice can damage the components of a bike lock.
Weak Security:
Easily picked or broken by thieves in harsh weather.
Dealing With Bicycle Locks And Theft
According to studies conducted on bike thieves who were apprehended, most thefts were motivated by convenience, with the offenders choosing the easiest route. You have to consider the fact that nothing is foolproof.
- But if two comparable bikes are parked next to each other and one has even a basic disc lock, the non-secured bike will be taken first.
Here Are Some Basic Things You Can Do:
- If you park your bike outdoors, cover it. Thieves may frequently drive around a neighborhood hunting for prey.
- Stopping and raising your bike cover increases the risk of them being exposed, which is the last thing a thief wants.
- Anchor your bike to anything that will not move.
- Chain it to a telephone pole if it must be stored outdoors. People in high-crime areas embed heavy metal loops into the hard slab and even chain their bikes while parked. A criminal can cut through any lock given enough time, but it is again a question of convenience. Walking about with bolt cutters puts you in too much danger.
- People nowadays do not respond to the sound of alarms. So if you do install one, make sure it is a signal that you’ll listen to. Also while parking your bike, position your bike nearby enough to hear it.
With bike theft on the rise, carrying a bike lock is now more important. But where do you keep your bike locked when you’re out riding? Some locks are too large and difficult to put on your handlebars when riding, so where should you keep them?
- Well, different types of bike locks may be carried in a variety of ways, including on your handlebars, around your waist, and in a bag.
- The first line of security against bike theft is proper locking.
- Always utilize a hardened-steel U-Lock as your main lock Cheap U-Locks and cable locks are readily cut. You can easily lock skewers or have cable wrapped around both wheels. This decreases the risk of theft and easily secures your wheels.
- Avoid just locking the wheels of the bike; always lock the entire frame as well as a safe rack or pole.
- As little room as possible should be allowed inside the lock; otherwise, it may be simpler to pick a loose lock.
How To Maintain A Bike Lock In Winter?
In general, taking care of the following things, in particular, can easily maintain your bike lock in winter. They are-
- Cleaning up your bicycle lock
- Cleanup with WD-40 and lubrication with silicone oil
The best course of action is to keep the bike inside throughout the winter. However, this may not be a feasible option for every avid cyclist.
So, How To Maintain A Bike Lock In Winter?
- Store bicycle lock indoors when not in use
- Apply lubricant to all moving parts of the lock
- Wipe off any dirt and junk
- Coat the safety (Bicycle Lock) in a waterproof cover
- Check the lock for any signs of corrosion regularly
- Keep an eye on the keyhole for any build-up of moisture or dirt
- Remove any snow or ice that may have accumulated on the lock
- Clean and lubricate the lock again at the end of the winter
Care About Your Bicycle Lock
Lubricating your bike lock is always the simplest option to protect it from the cold. However, this won’t work if you have a combination lock because you can’t lubricate a lock.
If you have a combo lock, be careful to thoroughly clean the numbers. They tend to collect dirt and filth, which is not ideal because they might make the lock jam more readily during inclement weather. Thus-
- Use WD-40 to get rid of debris
- Clean Up Your Bike Lock
You should clean your bike lock thoroughly a few times per month. This entails taking it out of the lock and wiping out any dirt with a dry cloth.
You should spray WD-40 Multi-Use Industrial Product onto the following areas when cleaning:
- A keyhole
- The bike lock’s insertion locations
Some avid cyclists will substitute pressurized air for the task. However, WD-40 is what we favor using. This is due to the fact that WD-40 is a mixture of oils that helps to lubricate, clean, and replace the water in the lock’s mechanism, lowering the possibility of it freezing. That and the likelihood that most of us already have WD-40 lying around the house.
- Utilize silicone oil to lubricate
- Contrary to popular belief, WD-40 is not a lubricant.
WD-40:
WD-40 should be sprayed into the lock, then DuPont Silicone Lubricant With Teflon should be added in a few drops.
Silicone Lubricant:
This is another item that you will presumably have anyhow. Or, if you don’t, we advise getting one. When assembling and dismantling your bike, having silicone lubricant on hand at home is useful.
Where You Can Clean Your Bike Lock?
You can use the same locations where you used WD-40 to apply the lubricant. The entire purpose is to maintain everything lubricated and stop the lock’s internal mechanism from freezing up.
Locked and Unlocked A Few Times Each Month
- Open and close the lock five to six times once everything has been washed down and cleaned up.
- It enables the silicone lubricant and WD-40 to disperse throughout the parts.
- The bike lock simply has to be cleaned once or twice a month.
Digest:
However, if you don’t ride your bike very often and leave it parked outdoors, I personally advise you to open and shut the lock a few times a week.
- This lessens the chance of the parts freezing up. You’ll be able to rapidly deal with any mud and filth as well. And you don’t want that to become a significant issue!
Store Your Bicycle Lock In A Right Place
There are many riders who do not want to cycle in the extreme cold of winter. If you are one of them, you should store your bicycle lock in a proper place during winter to perfectly protect it.
- The best place to store a bike lock in winter is a garage or shed, or in a secure, waterproof lock box.
- When you don’t have access to either of these, use a waterproof bag or container to store the lock and protect it from winter elements.
- Check the container appropriately is adequately sealed and protected from any winter elements.
- Also, you should store your bike lock in an area that is safe from theft.
Before The Closing
The simplest method to keep a bike lock from freezing is to never leave it outside in the first place. If this is inevitable, add a few drops of WD-40 or Teflon Oil to the deadbolt. It is also essential to keep the lock clean. Already I’ve told you how to maintain a bike lock, and why. And these suggestions must help your bicycle lock withstand the winter if you put them into practice.
