Which road bike or mountain bike lock suits you best?

A lock for your road bike or mountain bike has other requirements than bike locks for your e-bike or city bike. When you go for a ride on your sports bike, you want to carry as little weight as possible. A heavy chain lock, for instance, is not practical. But if you want to keep your expensive sports bike safe at night, a chain lock is a good idea. Read this blog to find out what to look for when choosing a mountain bike or road bike lock.

Different bike locks for your road or mountain bike

Unlike e-bikes and city bikes, there is less choice when it comes to bike locks for your sports bike. Cyclists or mountain bikers do not want to carry an overly heavy lock on their bikes. An mountain bike lock or bike lock for your road bike is made to easily fit in a saddle bag, around your waist, in the back pocket of your cycling shirt or to mount on the spot of a bottle cage. Do you leave your sports bike in a public place for a longer period of time? Then a sturdy chain lock with ART quality mark is highly recommended.

Cable locks

Cable locks are the most popular among road cyclists and mountain bikers. And for good reason. A cable lock consists of a flexible steel wire with a plastic sheath, which makes the lock relatively light and compact. This allows you to easily carry the lock on your sports bike. Especially for road cyclists, this is an important factor, as every gram counts when going uphill. At the same time, the weight and size of a cable lock is also a disadvantage. In fact, a cable lock is very vulnerable and can easily be cut. Want to stop off at a terrace on your bike ride? A cable lock is the perfect way to quickly secure your bike.

Cable locks come in two types of locking mechanisms namely, cable locks with numerical code and with key. The advantage of a combination cable lock is that you don't have to worry about losing a key. Are you looking for a combination cable lock that is as compact and light as possible for your bike ride? If so, an Abus Combiflex cable lock is perfect for you. This lock fits easily into your saddle bag, because the cable can be packed very small.

Are you okay with having to use a key to open your cable lock? Then the Safeman cable lock is a good option. The round shape of this compact lock allows you to neatly roll up the cable after use.

Folding lock

Besides cable locks you can also opt for a folding lock. This type of lock consists of long, sturdy links that you can easily fold. A folding lock is very compact and therefore easy to carry on a road or mountain bike. Sometimes a folding lock comes with a frame holder. This makes it easy to take the lock with you on your road or mountain bike.

A drawback of a folding lock can be its lack of flexibility, which means you cannot always secure your sport bike to a fixed object. Luckily, folding locks are available in different lengths.

If you want a lightweight road bike lock for travelling or a cycling holiday, an Abus folding lock is certainly the way to go. An Abus folding lock is light, compact and easy to carry.

Chain lock

A chain lock A chain lock is one of the safest bicycle locks to protect your bike from theft. This is because the lock consists of hardened steel links, so opportunistic thieves cannot easily take your bike. The disadvantage of a chain lock is that it is a lot heavier than other sports bike locks. Suspending a heavy chain lock on your frame can cause scratches and damage. Hence, they are less suitable for sport bikes. However, Hiplok chain locks can be worn on your hips like a belt. This prevents a lot of damage to your expensive sports bike.

Alternatively, some chain locks come with a protective cover. Going on a long ride? Then every ounce counts and carrying a chain lock on your road or mountain bike is probably not the most comfortable option.

Putting your road or mountain bike away safely

Do you want to park your road or mountain bike for an extended period of time? If so, you obviously want your bike to be safe. Especially if you do not have a shed, it is important to purchase a good bike lock. It is best to choose an ART lock, in other words, a bike lock with an ART quality mark. Do you want to park your road or mountain bike for an extended period of time? If so, you obviously want your bike to be safe. Especially if you do not have a shed, it is important to purchase a good bike lock. It is best to choose an ART lock, or a bicycle lock with an ART quality mark. If you want to insure your sports bike, this is also important. You can also opt for a wall or ground anchor, with which you can securely attach your bike to the wall or ground. These anchors have a thick bracket of hardened steel, making them difficult to get open. Do you have limited space in your shed? View all the best bike storage hooks.

Read more about theft insurance, ART and about tips against theft in this blog .

ART certified bike locks

Length of your mountain bike lock or road bike lock

Besides the type of lock, it is also important to look at the length of your mountain bike lock or road bike lock. What length your bike lock should be depends on how you plan to use your lock. Do you need to lock your bike because you want to stop and enjoy a drink at a café when on a ride? In that case, a short bike lock (shorter than 50 cm) may already be suitable to lock your frame to the wheel.

Want to park your bike for longer and more securely? Then choose a longer lock (between 50 and 100 cm). This makes it easier to lock your bike to a fixed object, such as a lamppost, tree or bike rack. Do you want to lock several bikes to a fixed object at the same time? Then it is best to choose the longest possible bike lock (between 101 and 150 cm). Keep in mind that a longer bike lock is heavier and more difficult to transport than a short bike lock.

Bike Lock Selection Guide

Unsure which mountain bike lock or road bike lock is best for your bike after reading this blog? Then use the bike lock selection guide on our website.