Recent statistics show that over 50% of bike theft occurs on or near the premises of the victim’s home1 2 3 4, meaning cyclists can’t let their guard down once they return from a ride. Taking the necessary precautions at home will reduce the possibility of a thief stealing your bike right from under your nose.
Bike owners can keep their bikes inside the house, garage, shed, or around back, but not all storage spots are created equal. Discover the ins and outs of how best to keep your bike safe, including convenient space-saving tips so there’s always enough room for you and your bike at home.
Storing a bike in the garage or shed makes a lot of sense. Any bike tools and gear are likely kept nearby and it’s a long way from interior furniture you want to stay far away from bike grease or muddy tires.
The main security advantage of a garage or shed is that there’s a locked door between your bike and a potential thief. That said, thieves often target garages because they know there are expensive items inside. It’s important to continue using a bike lock inside the garage so that even if a thief forces their way in, they can’t easily make off with the bike. Bike owners can lock up several bikes together with a long, heavy-duty chain or install a tamper-proof ground anchor.
Try to limit how much passersby can know about the contents of your garage by keeping the door shut and avoiding leaving bikes outside for too long. Thieves often survey neighborhoods for potential targets and return later on to specific locations with valuable bikes and other equipment. Additional security measures such as cameras, motion sensors, and alarms are a great idea that you may already have installed inside your home.
Welcoming your bike inside your home is another way to keep it safe, and may be the most practical option. This is especially common in apartments where outside or external storage space is at a minimum. But storing your bike inside doesn’t have to mean tripping over wheels in a narrow hallway or having a living room piled high with bikes. These days, there are creative indoor storage solutions that save space and look great too!
Bike owners storing their two-wheelers inside can use hooks to get their bikes off the floor or use bike-specific wall mounts. These wall mounts can act as a shelf for bike items and transform into a cycling showcase that complements the rest of the room. The neatest and most well-designed mounts turn your bike into a work of art hanging on the wall, something that all cycling enthusiasts will love to look at. Storing your bike inside doesn’t have to be a cluttered eyesore, making it easy to keep your bike safe under the same roof.
For example, Hiplok’s innovative AIRLOK bike hanger is an attractive storage solution with the security level of a Sold Secure gold lock.
Sometimes leaving your bike outside is the only option or simply makes the most sense for your lifestyle. Of course, keeping a bike outside instead of behind locked doors leaves it more vulnerable to theft. Leaving bikes outside makes it quick and convenient to go for a ride, but they should still be locked up whenever left unattended.
A big no-no when it comes to locking bikes outside your home is leaving them in a spot that’s visible from the street. Bikes left on the front porch or locked to a front gate are tempting, easy pickings for potential bike thieves who now know exactly where your precious bike is kept— such close proximity to the street also makes it easier for thieves to make a quick getaway.
Wheeling your bike around back, away from prying eyes, is a better idea but you’ll still need to lock your bike up properly. Secure the bike and wheels to a solid, immovable object with a high-security lock.
Another security solution is using a general-use outside storage box or a bike-specific shed which can be locked for an added layer of protection. In general, Sundays recommends against locking bikes outside when at home, but if you’re going to do it, follow these security tips to ensure your bike is as safe as possible.
The biggest tip is keeping the bike under lock and key— behind a locked door as well as secured with its usual high-quality bike lock. This double-pronged approach makes it much harder for thieves to pull off a successful heist or even risk it in the first place.
Installing video cameras and motion sensors is standard practice for home security, and can help protect your bicycle, too. Simply the presence of this security equipment can deter thieves who don’t want to risk being recorded. Still, these devices won’t actively prevent someone from breaking in and making off with your bike. However, having a recording of the event or receiving an alert of usual activity around your house is an effective first line of defense against bike theft.
Even when your garage or shed door is locked, you should still use your bike lock for extra protection. Locking up your bike inside ensures thieves can’t make a quick getaway and simply ride off with your bike after breaking an entry. Garages and sheds often don’t have as robust of doors or locks anyway so this additional step can help make the difference. Bike owners can install wall or floor anchors that act as sturdy, immovable objects for securing their bikes indoors.
Having multiple bikes to keep safe means the stakes are even higher. There are many at-home bike storage solutions for multiple bikes so you’ll need to think about which one works best for you. Wall hooks are an affordable and easy way to get your bikes off the floor and save space by hanging them close together via their wheels. There are even ways to put these hooks on a moveable track for easy access to a specific bike, much like coat hangers in a wardrobe.
However you organize your fleet of bicycles, you’ll still want to lock them up. Long chain locks are a convenient choice that can secure several bikes together, making the large cluster of bikes a much more difficult item to steal.
“Heavy-duty chain locks are definitely the best for this type of job, but you might also want to have a long cable extension lock. I chain all my bikes together and then chain them to the ground, but because I've also got wheels hanging, I also run a cable through all of the wheels, so everything is locked together to make it as hard as possible for a would-be attacker.” — Andrew “Doddy” Dodd from GMBN
Dedicated bicycle insurance provides comprehensive coverage at home and wherever you ride. Over half of reported bike thefts occur at or nearby homes and, in the unfortunate event of theft, the bike-specific policies from Sundays can prevent a bad day from being even worse. Sundays insurance also covers theft away from home, accidental damage, custom parts, and more.
Some homeowner or renters’ insurance plans cover bicycle theft on the property, but may not cover special items like electric bikes, leaving bike owners on the hook for any stolen items or damages. Sundays bicycle insurance is designed for the unique risks and needs of cyclists, delivering tailored expertise and support to bike owners. Read our blog all about if renters insurance covers e-bike theft for more detailed information on this topic.
Thankfully, there are indoor bike storage solutions beyond simply leaning your bike against a wall in your house. That’ll work in a pinch, but more permanent options are wall-mounted hooks. You can hang your bike vertically to save wall space or hang it horizontally by the frame on the wall.
Keeping a bike indoors is generally the most secure option and will protect the bike from bad weather or excessive moisture. Locking your bike in the garage or shed keeps the bike away from the elements without taking up space inside your home.
