Beach Cruiser Blog

If you are proud owner of a beach cruiser, you will of course want to take precautions to prevent your bike from being stolen. While no method will deter all thieves, you can greatly reduce the probability of theft by following these tips:

1) Always lock up your bike. Some bike owners assume that if they will be away be away from their beach cruisers for only a few minutes, there is no need to lock up their bikes. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most beach cruisers are stolen quite easily while unlocked, so always make sure your beach cruiser is secured before you walk away.

2) Make it easy to recover your bike if it is stolen. Have it engraved with your name and keep your bike serial number, sales receipt and a photograph of your beach cruiser in a safe place. Some municipalities allow you to register your beach cruiser bike with the police so that if it is stolen it can be quickly returned to you. Check with your local police authority to see if you can register your beach cruiser in this.

3) Buy the right tools to protect your beach cruiser. A hardened – but not 100% hardened – steel chain or cable that is at least 7/16 inch thick and a padlock of the same size are best for protecting your beach cruiser. Choose a padlock with at least a 7/16 inch hardened alloy steel shackle and a double-locking feature. A ‘U’ shaped lock made specifically designed for bicycles is best. Look for the best-quality steel you can afford. The better your protection system, the harder your beach cruiser will be for thieves to steal, and this can encourage them to move to an easier target.

4) Try to park in lower-risk areas. If you find that one area tends to see a lot of bicycle thefts, avoid parking your beach cruiser there. Try parking in lower-risk areas to avoid theft. As an added bonus, lower-risk areas are often inside, which will protect your beach cruiser bicycle from rust, as well.

5) Personalize your beach cruiser. Beach cruisers are great because you can customize them with custom decals, your name, baskets, and other accessories. This can make your bike less of a target since it can easily be recognized as yours. Also, a thief may be less likely to try to grab a beach cruiser bike clearly identified with your name.

When it’s time to park your beach cruiser bike, you will want to secure your bike as safely as possible. This begins with selecting a place to park. You will want to park in an area with plenty of pedestrian traffic, since pedestrians are more likely to see theft and this tends to discourage bike thieves. When selecting a place to park, look for an immovable object like a pole or bicycle rack that is sufficiently tall or designed in such a way that a thief cannot lift the chain over the immovable object. Also, look for a space that is relatively dry to discourage rust.

Once you have parked your beach cruiser, secure the lock high off the ground so that it cannot easily be crushed. Close the bicycle lock’s shackle around the handlebar or seat support. Do not secure just one part of your bike that can be easily removed. Secure both wheels as well as the frame with a cable or chain – some thieves are just as happy to steal your tires.

Make sure that you remember where you parked and when. You don’t want to lose your beach cruiser bike and if your beach cruiser is stolen, knowing exact locations is important. Before you walk away from your beach cruiser, make sure that you check the lock and the chains to ensure that everything is secure.

Unfortunately, there is no fool-proof way to ensure that your beach cruiser bike is not stolen. Bike thieves often travel with special tools that allow them to break locks and chains. A determined thief intent on stealing your beach cruiser will usually find a way to do so. However, the following tips can help:

1) Avoid leaving your beach cruiser bike outside overnight or for very long periods of time. This gives a thief plenty of time – and possibly the cover of night – to get to work. If you are staying at a friend’s house for hours, for example, ask to store your beach cruiser in the closed back yard or in the garage.

2) Try to place your beach cruiser where you will see it. For example, if you are eating at a café, park your beach cruiser where you will see it from the café window.

3) Avoid parking your beach cruiser so that it is secured to handrails or secured near stairs. Your bike may be removed for safety reasons.