Bike locks are sold online at ebay

Bicycle locks at ebay. First shown are ending soon. Looking at these auctions can bag you a real bargain

Lots of bike lock types to pick from:

Mountain Bike Security D U Lock
U locks aren't very flexible but are good if you know you've got a bike parking space to lock into.
More flexible bike locks are useful for chaining up in different locations.

Consider the weight of the bike lock and whether you have to fix it to your bike or have to carry it in a bag. Strong locks may be heavier but be more secure.

Look at where you park your bike, does it need a longer lock cable or will a short one do?

If possible leave your bike in a well lit, busy area.

If you've got a brand new bike then it'll be more attactive to theives. You can buy marking and tracking kits for your bike to ensure that if it's lost it'll get back to you sooner.

Bike marking schemes are sometimes organised by bike shop owners or the police on fun days. Contact your local police force to find out if there is a scheme in your area.

One thing we've found whilst out and about looking to lock up our bikes is that some places which don't offer proper bike parking only have huge pillars to put locks round and this of course means you need a longer lock. What we have done is to use two flexible u locks together to allow us to secure our bikes - so perhaps before you invest in a bike lock check which sort you're likely to need at the places you go to on your bike.

Should we be asking for safe bike parking at our supermarkets? One new store near us has huge amounts of bike parking available, an older one has none! Mind you I've seen more bikes parked at the older supermarket! But at least some are being aware of it. If you're having a supermarket ask for planning permission near you why not write and ask your counsellors to ensure it's got good safe bike parking. The more people who ask the better.

Always lock your bike when you nip into a shop! I'm surprised when I see people leave their bike unlocked - you'd void any bike insurance you've paid for. Remember to tell your kids to lock their bikes when they leave them places too.