The last thing you want for an epic adventure is to lose your bike. Not only is it your form of transport, but it also has monetary and sentimental value. I have been lucky enough to never have a bike stolen through many years of adventuring because my bike security when bikepacking has been good!

I put this down to the processes I follow and the rules I stick by to ensure that the chance of my bike getting stolen is minimal. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know to give you the best chance to never lose your bike again with my top ten tips!

What To Carry For Bike Security When Bikepacking

There’s only one thing I recommend carrying when it comes to bike security for bikepacking, and that is a lock. A decent heavy lock with a safety standard rating is perfect if you are on a long tour and not worried about weight.

If you are bikepacking and want to be as light as possible, I recommend a smaller cafe lock, which will be light, quick to use, and easy to store and carry. It won’t be great against bolt croppers, but it will give you time. Here’s our full kit list!

Bike Security When Bikepacking! Our Top 11 Tips!

Now, for the exciting part, let’s discuss tips that could save your bike. Obviously, depending on the trip you are on, some might not apply, but they are good to remember for the future. 

Always Lock It Up

When it comes to adventure cycling, if you are ever leaving your bike and are going to be more than a few meters away, I highly recommend locking it up. Without a lock, a thief could take your trusty steed in seconds and be gone. 

Locking it gives you the time to get to it and stop it. Most thieves who see a lock are typically put off when it comes to bikepacking bikes. They know it will take time and that you are going to be close. 

Make It Difficult

Another great thing you can do is, in addition to locking your bike up, make it difficult to take. A bike that is ready to go is very easy to take. A bike that isn’t going to roll easily is challenging. This doesn’t mean you have to take the wheels off, just stop them moving. Like having the brakes on!

To do this, I like to wrap the straps of my helmet around the frame and the front wheel. This not only stops the bike from rolling but also means that if it is taken, it must be carried. The thief must spend time working out how to remove the helmet. 

Never Let It Out Your Sight!

Sometimes, this is harder to do than you might think. I have always done my best to stick by this rule because it makes such a huge difference. If you can see your bike, you can keep it safe. If anyone starts messing with it, you can hopefully get to them in time to stop them.

Whenever I stop to get food in a shop or supermarket, I do my absolute best to shop at places where I can lock my bike up and it is visible while I am shopping. The majority of supermarkets have glass walls, which helps. 

I will even take mine into bathrooms with me if I can, as I’d rather not risk leaving it outside alone in a busy area. Many bikepackers choose to do business outside to ensure they are never away from their bike.

Fit A Tracker

Although it might be an extra expense, fitting a tracker to your bike is an excellent way to ensure its safety. This means if your bike is stolen, you can easily find it after it is gone, and hopefully, you will have a successful chance of recovery.

There are many places you can hide the tracker on a bike, and it has to be good. If the thief is using an IOS device, it will warn them on their device such as an iphone. If they can’t find it on the bike, they typically just throw the bike away. 

Bike Alarm!

Another great option is a bike alarm. These often come on lightsets you can buy. When the bike is moved after setting an alarm starts going off scaring the thief either stopping them or warning you.

Register It 

It’s very important to register your bike before going on a trip. Websites such as Project529 ensure that your bike is not only part of a database where you can report it stolen. It also means you get extra help if it is gone. 

You can also get lots of small stickers, which you can put on the bike to warn people that it’s part of the database. It is nearly impossible to resell on its original valve. This removes a lot of its value for thieves. 

Bike Insurance

Although it might seem like an extra expense, if you insure your bike, you are at least going to get your money back if it is stolen. It might not be the ideal situation, but at least you can get another bike when it comes to your next adventure. 

There are many companies that are happy to insure a bike. I recommend doing the rounds and getting lots of quotes because some of them are very expensive and offer a lot more than you might need. 

Make Your Bike Unique

Although your bike might feel unique with the parts on and bags to a person passing who might want to take it, they see easily sellable stuff which is big in quantity. A trick I used to do was to make my bike completely unique in a strange way so people wouldn’t want to steal it. 

I once covered my forks in very unique stickers. I have also gone through the trouble of putting my name on the bike with a sticker and lacquering it over it before. There’s a lot you can do that makes a surprising amount of difference to a thief’s opinion. 

Always Sleep Next To It

There will be many times when you cannot keep your bike as safe as you might want, and the main time is when you are asleep. What extra security measures can you take to ensure that your bike stays safe? Well, here’s what I do.

When camping, I use my lock to attach the bike to my tent. If it gets moved at night while I’m asleep, I will soon know about it. If I’m staying in a hotel, I will not take no for an answer when it comes to keeping my bike in the room. The best way is to check in without it next to you and walk it in like it’s fine or ask ahead in advance.

Use Security Parts

Sometimes, you can easily protect your bike from getting stolen, but parts are often a little more challenging. It’s good to use skewers and axles, which are Allen key fitment, try to avoid ones you undo by hand. 

I have seen some riders even cable tie their bags alongside straps to make sure people don’t start taking things when unattended. It goes without saying that ever leaving your bike out of sight, remove any electronics and navigation equipment. 

Avoid Cities And Dodgy Areas

The best bike security when bikepacking sometimes comes in the form of common sense. If you stop in busy places where crime is high there’s a very strong chance someone is going to want to take your bike. 

I plan my stops in smaller, quieter towns where there is generally much less crime. If I see a group of people that concern me, I will carry on until the next resupply, provided it’s not too far away. It’s not that I’m untrusting. I just get gut feelings and follow them well.

Ask People For Help

Don’t be scared to ask for help when you need to keep your bike safe. If you are in a cafe or hotel and need to take yourself away from your bike, ask a member of staff to keep an eye on it or ask if there’s somewhere safe to put it. 

Trust Your Gut

One of the biggest indicators of whether your bike is going to be safe is your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, then there’s a good possibility it’s not. I have always thought that if I don’t feel happy leaving my bike somewhere, I won’t.

This has saved me many times on adventures. Once, at a fast-food restaurant, I felt very awkward about leaving my bike while I was in a line waiting. I went outside to check, and someone was about to go through my bags. Crisis averted! 

A Final Note: Bike Security When Bikepacking

When it comes to bike security, no matter how tired you are on an adventure, you need to be alert and on it. A small mistake can result in losing your bike and being stuck. A lot of it comes down to common sense and trusting your gut.

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