If you are an avid cyclist or rely on your bike to get you from A to B, then keeping your bike safe is going to be a huge priority for you. Not only is it about keeping your bike safe for use, but taking care of your bike is a way to protect what can be a pretty hefty investment. From how you store it to extra protective measures you can invest in, here are the best ways to keep your bicycle safe.

Invest in the right storage

With bike theft at an all-time high, bike safety must be at the forefront of all bike owners’ minds. Where you store your bike is crucial in keeping it safe from damage and the threat of theft. Depending on where you live and the means you have to store your bike, the way you store your bike will differ.

Inside storage

For those of you who live in small houses or flats without access to a safe outside area, then storing your bike inside may be your only option. Thankfully, there are many inside storage options that won’t leave your bike vulnerable to the elements or taking up much-needed space in your hallway. Investing in a wall rack is a great space-saving way to store your bike.

Outside storage

If you have more space available outside, such as a shed, you could easily store your bicycle outside. However, there is also the option of buying a bike rack or shelter. This is great if other members of your family or household also use bikes. Bike shelters in particular offer protection from the elements, which along with theft, pose one of the biggest threats to your bike.

Use a bike lock

When leaving a bike outside anywhere, especially in public areas, using a bike lock is the best protection against theft. There are a lot of different locks you can use, with the D-lock being one of the most popular for its value for money and ease of use. Locks also act as a great deterrent for potential thieves.

Take out insurance on it

As with any valuable item you may own, you can take out insurance on your bike. This means that in the event that your bike is stolen, you can get back the value of it, or even get a replacement bike!

Think about where you leave it

When you’re out and about, it’s natural that you’ll need to leave your bike somewhere at some point. But thinking about where exactly you are leaving it can help to keep it safe. Try to leave it in:

-Well-lit areas
-Areas that have CCTV coverage
-Busy areas
-Somewhere where you can secure it

By doing these things, you can lower the risk of someone stealing your bike. Leaving it in quieter, poorly-lit areas only makes your bike an opportunity for someone to steal.

Register your bike

Lastly, registering your bike online will help in the event that it is stolen to try to locate it again. While this doesn’t directly keep your bike safe, it can help to recover it.

Author's Bio: 

John Smith is a Digital Marketing Consultant with more than 8 years of experience in SEO, SEM, SMO, blogging, etc having wide knowledge base into content marketing.