Whats the best way to store my new bike?

When looking for a good quality bike store there are several key things to look for….
Do you need regular access?  If you are a regular biker (commuter) you will want easy access to your bike.  This could be as simple as buying a simple bike rack for around £15 from Argos hanging in the garage.  But, like a lot of people these days you may not have a garage or you may have a car in it!  The answer would be a dedicated outside bike store of some description.
 

Secure Bike Storage

There seems to have been an explosion of these bike stores in the last 12 months or so.  Since the government launched their Cycle to work scheme everybody seems to have a bike (Halfords reportedly sold 3 million bikes last year). This bike storage ranges from a piece of plastic sheeting to a fully dedicated secure bike store.  So, what are the options?
Nothing but a cheap lock:
A cheap chain can be cut in seconds with a simple bolt cutter.  Lock your wheel to the wall and the thief will take the wheel off and take the rest.  Lock the frame to the wall and the thief will take the wheels.  If it can be seen it can be stolen.
Alternative option - A Plastic sheet
Great if you have a secure backgarden or yard.  A couple of bungee ropes around it will help to keep the sheet on the bike in the wind!  The sheet keeps the seat nice and dry.  Not a lot of security though.  If the budget is tight, try the plastic sheet with a ground anchor for around £50.

Ground Anchors Are Secure - But Your Bike Will Get Wet!

You simply bolt a metal loop to a concrete base, then loop the heavy duty chain around your bike and through the metal loop (these are usually used for motorbikes but for some reason are often cheaper than the special cycle equivalent.  Look for anchors that are sold secure standard – these are really strong and near impossible to cut through. 

Wooden sheds
Good for keeping your bike dry, though the level of security isn’t high.  Wooden sheds and wooden bike stores are very easy to break into.  When looking at a wooden shed, 1st check the lock.  A hasp and staple really offers very little deterrent to a thief.  No matter how good your padlock is, most thieves will simply force the hasp off the door with out ever touching the padlock. 

Wooden sheds will also require regular maintenance, every 12 months or so you will need to apply wood preservative to the panelled sides, then every 5 years or so re-felt the roof.  In the long term – you may find a cheap wooden shed has a high long term running cost.  Wood burns, there could be nothing worse than seeing your prized 3 grand bike burn inside a £100 shed because your teenage son has a sneaky cigarette in there!

Metal sheds
These offer the best all-round security to store your bike. However, you do tend to get what you pay for. A cheap metal shed can actually be worse than a wooden shed! When looking at metal sheds check the following:

• Does it have an integral base? Essential.
• How does it lock? Avoid hasp and staples.
• How is the unit fixed together? If the screws are on the outside a thief can just take your shed apart
• British-made or import? UK manufacturers work to better quality standards by law, but imported sheds are not necessarily as good quality.
• Accessories? Do you need shelves or hooks?  For your helmet and other gear – and often overlooked but very handy for wet clothes to dry on after a tough winter ride.
• What type of metal is the shed made from?? Look for galvanised steel, with a warranty against rust. Also check the gauge of the steel – avoid corrugated materials.
• How heavy is the unit? You don’t want it to tip or be kicked over
• Do you really need a store with LCPB certification? Such a shed will cost you more than £600 – if it’s just for a £250 bike it’s a waste: for a £6000 carbon bike then yes, it’s a worthwhile purchase.
• What do others think? Check the internet for feed back. Try Bikeradar.com for Editor Reviews of products and service and check the manufacturers site for a feedback or case studies section?

Bike Storage - 3door unit.

Location Location Location
Finally choose the position of your shed wisely.  No matter how secure the shed is, if you leave it in the middle of a dark field out of view, you will find not only the bike has been stolen, but the shed as well!

Try and keep the shed in view of your house and either tight against a wall or a 4 metres away.  A metre away from the wall and the thief will use the wall as a lever to get into your shed.

So remember, always keep your bike under lock and ley.  Did you know the latest statistics show that bike theft is up 71% in London (BBC online) so if you are living in the Big City, make sure your bike is safe and secure at all times.