For many people that use bikes for transportation or enjoyment, there are a variety of bikes available to choose from nowadays.  With today's technology, bikes are better designed to be used for different purposes.  Depending on the bike purpose and technology put into it (as well as the brand name), there are bicycles that may cost hundreds of dollars.  With bike investment of so much, no one would like to have their bikes stolen, especially when it is in a public bike parking rack.

Although there is no sure way to prevent your bike from being taken, the following tips will help in keeping your bike safe and secure.

1.  ALWAYS lock your bike!  Even if the bike will be unattended for a short period of time, you should always take the time to secure your bike.  Since people who steal bikes usually only do it because they have an opportunity to do so, leaving your bike susceptible to being taken away is just the perfect opportunity for it to get taken.

2.  Don't assume that a bike on the home premises are safe just yet, as many bike thefts happen right at the home.  Even if the bike is stored in your garage or somewhere on your property, you should still consider in keeping the bike locked.

3.  When leaving your bike in a public rack, it would be the better choice to put it in a place that's well lit and busy with pedestrians (but of course, not in the pedestrians' way or in an area that indicates that bikes shouldn't be locked there).  Although some may try to find abandoned "hiding areas" for storing their bikes, this seclusion will only allow thieves to get a better chance at taking the bike without any witnesses.  Many thieves will more likely shy away from a bike that's kept in a highly visible area as they are more likely to get caught. 

4.  Lock your bike on a bike rack that is permanently attached to the ground.  This will prevent a thief from simply removing the bike rack to get the bike.  If an anchored rack is not available on the premises, lock it to a post that's permanently anchored to the ground, such as a street light lamp post.  You should also make sure the post is tall enough so the bike can't be lifted over it.  Another thing you should avoid doing is locking you bike to something that can easily be cut with regular tools such as wooden posts and small trees.

5.  Lock both your wheels and the frame of the bike to the rack.  If the bike rack does not allow for both wheels to be locked, it would most likely be best to lock the rear wheel.  In many cases (such as on mountain bikes), the rear wheel is considerably more than the front wheel.

6.  Use a tempered steel "U" (or "D") shaped lock for the most secure locking.  With many other cheaper locks, a thief can easily break the lock with a standard tool such as a car jack.  The locking mechanism should be on the center of the crossbar for the best securing position.  The "U" lock should also be just big enough to lock the bike securely to a sturdy bike rack.  If you opt for using a more flexible lock type, there are also chain and cable locks available.  However, they are less secure than the "U" locks.  For use of chain locks, make sure they are at least 3/8 inches thick to avoid easy cutting of the metal.  A chain with a plastic top coat can also avoid scratching on the bike.  For the best cable lock, Flexweave or Kryptoweave is recommended as a woven cable would be a bit more difficult to cut through.