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17 comments
All my five bikes are now arranged around my bedroom, where I can see them. It is just too disappointing to keep going down to my garage and finding the door smashed in and bikes gone.
In the end I settled on 4 Cycloc solos. All my bikes are cyclescheme purchases that have seen upgrades, so they're not that new, or a particularly desirable brand. From the thread input I'm definitely going to secure the door better, and I have cameras and lights outside already. I'll put a reasonable lock through each of the Solos. It's a balance of ease plus tidiness.
Opened one of the Solo boxes today as they'd all arrived and discovered the MTB adapter only allows a 600mm bar width. Seems a little out of date as MTBs seem to be approaching 800mm bar width rapidly!
I have several ground anchors bolted to the garage walls and the bikes are secured to those with hefty motorcycle chains.
The best bike has 2 of both to itself and is bloody awkward to get at if the garage door is open, so if they've forced the door only part way open, that's another level of security.
And one sacrificial bike that isn't locked up - if they get something, they (hopefully) won't smash all the others up in anger!
Friend of mine installed steel gratings over the garage doors after he was raided and lost several bikes. When they came for the replacements, they tried to tear the roof off!
Based on the horror stories I hear from Bristol where, despite increasing the door security measures (usually up and over doors) with more bolts, padlocks etc, the thieves keep on coming, I'd throw good money at the door and get something that's properly secure. Would still be worth securing the bikes in the garage but at least 'convenience' (ie ease of getting the bikes out) isn't compromised by excessive, long-winded security measures (multiple padlocks, bolts, chains etc). In a burglary the financial loss is the 'tip of the iceburg'; it's the loss in time (police, insurance claims, tradesmen to fix things etc) and (previous) long-term investment in bike component upgrades etc that really gets you, not forgetting the paranoia that it'll happen again....when all you have is a new 'off the peg' bike with cheap tyres, rims, BB, saddle etc. Kind of spend money to save money.
Why cut 6 ladder rungs twice when you can just cut the chain once
Cutting an aluminium ladder is pretty easy. Cutting a chain is hard. Potentially very hard indeed.
My point was they've got to cut the chain anyway, so why would you bother cutting the rings first.
Besides, cutting a chain really isn't as hard as you think. As a rider of motorcycles as well as bicycles, it's something I've looked at fairly deeply - a solid chain is a deterrent on the road and just an inconvenience from the covered safety of your garage. A portable angle grinder will get through anything, and an aerosol to freeze the chain before a hit with a sledgehammer is even quicker
I have a long motor cycle chain threaded through a three section aluminium ladder that is bolted to the wall. they would have to cut through 6 rungs twice each to free the bikes, and then they would still have the chain to contend with. I also have two deadlocks on the door.
Yes, they could get the bikes if they really wanted, but it wouldn't be quick, easy or quiet.
Most up'n'over doors can be crowbar'd and bent out from the bottom corners, if necessary. Generally speaking I'd look at fitting latch bolts in either corner, which helps mitigate. If someone is determined - and doesn't mind making a noise - they will still get in though.
I fitted something similar to these on my garage, better than latch bolts, although harder to fit
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schlosser-Technik-Enfield-Garage-Bolts/dp/B075Q...
I was just going to comment with the same recommendation. I've got a set of those fitted and they're great.
I hang them from J-hooks screwed into the rafters and park the car underneath.
I have installed one of those ground-anchored garage door protectors at the base of the up-and-over door.
I'd like to install a better door, but the garage is rented.
Up and over doors can be protected cheaply by drilling holes in the channel that the pulleys move in and using cheap padlocks or even bolts to obstruct the door's opening.
Only if you have a side door, else you'll be admiring your handiwork for a while
J-hooks for me too.
Could look at pragmasis ground anchors and chains. Not cheap but seem pretty solid. I have these in my (stone) shed as additional security.
I have used an Abus wall anchor and a big Oxford ground anchor, with D lock and big chain respectively, at different rented houses but only for the single best bike. It's your impressive stable that makes things more complex, which is a reason why I suggested considering the doors first. I know the various garages I have used have had awful door locks. In my parents garage I locked my precious single bike to my father's Super 7 lathe, using a hole I had drilled into its base.
And conveinience too, especially when you start involving children.
As an aside I have been wondering how many garages, built much more than 20 years ago, must be far too narrow to ever fit one of todays massive motor vehicles in them.
Hi ktache,
The garage door is pretty secure but I figured having spend extra security to be no bad thing.
I'd perhaps start with thinking about how to properly secure the garage door(s).