Security
A few quid spent on a chain, or an app, can save an awful lot of hassle and heartache 16mm£87.95£87.95 £299 a unit + 9.99 a month
Pragmasis chain, 16mm
º Impossible to bolt crop by hand and so thick its sheer presence is a deterrent. But it’s heavy (9kg for 2m) so almost impossible to lug about on the bike. I got mine when
I had a Ducati 1098 and needed full-on shed security – you can buy a pin which goes through hollow rear axles, threads through the chain, which attaches to a ground anchor. The price is for 1m – lengths go up to 6m.
Oxfordbossalarmdisclock £89.99
oxfordproducts.com º Can’t fault the longevity of this thing. The 100db alarm is still alarming me three years after purchase.
It goes off at the slightest wobble, which is a double-edged sword: great for security, less so when you’re fumbling with the key. You can switch the alarm function off by inserting the 14mm shackle so the red markers don’t line up. And unlike other disc locks, that chubby shackle can double up as a chain lock.
Abus Lock-chain Combo £200
º This is the Abus Lock-chain Combination 58/140HBIII100 12KS 120 Black Loop. Quite a name, but it’s quite a lock. The D-lock is small enough to pop in a rucksack to use as a disc lock and is security level 19 – don’t know what that means, but Abus reckon it’s one of the toughest locks they make. Or use it with the chain, which has a loop on the end and means it’s really easy to tether the bike to a chunky post or passing policeman, or loop around a substantial bit of the bike. The most adaptable and reassuring bit of serious security that I’ve owned.
Biketrac
º I always chain my bike up because it’s a visual deterrent, but I also believe in trackers – if stolen I want my bike back not an insurance pay out. I use Biketrac and their app which shows the location of my bike at any time while their 24/7 call centre monitors any movement. The app also sends out an alert in the event of a crash and records journeys. Oh and the hardware’s internal battery doesn’t zap mine. Biketrac recover 94% of all thefts and it’s a tenner a month, which I don’t notice as it’s worth my peace of mind.