Theft

​Locks are all very well and good, but it always helps to have an extra layer of security that discourages bike thieves just a little bit more. British cyclists James Sheppard and Matthew Leach have developed just such a layer, in the form of the strobing, screaming Limpet.

​Locking your bike up to an immovable object is obviously the best way of keeping it from being stolen while parked, but what if you're just making a quick stop? Well, you should still lock it to something, although inventor Mark Waldin thinks his Quick Stop Bike Lock may suffice when needed.

​If you routinely park your bike in cramped areas such as a multi-bike racks, then there may be times when you find your lock rather difficult to access upon leaving. It was with this in mind that LA-based cyclist Scott Gold created the "two-faced" Option Lock.

​Bicycle locks can be a hassle to cart around, which is why we've seen ones that double as part OF the bike, such as its handlebars, seatpost, pedal and saddle. One of the latest, the Nexibi, is a folding lock that also serves as a rear rack.

​If you don't have a garage or enough room in your home, it's certainly possible to lock your bike up outside … although that leaves it open to the weather and parts-thieves. That's why the Alpen Bike Capsule was created. It's designed to keep your steed enclosed and secure while stored outdoors.

Last year we heard about Hiplok's Z Lok, a steel-cored zip-tie-style lock designed to temporarily secure your bike when you aren't going far away from it (such as when you stop at a sidewalk cafe). Now, Hiplok has improved upon it, with the Z Lok Combo.

​Chances are, you probably don't like it when a courier leaves a delivered package just sitting on your doorstep. Well, that's why BoxLock Home was created. It's a padlock that only the courier and yourself (or someone of your choosing) can open.

​If you don't like lugging a bike lock around when cycling, then you might like Bisecu. It's permanently installed on the front wheel hub, and keeps that wheel from turning when the bike is left unattended. First announced this March, it is now the subject of a Kickstarter campaign.

​​That person who's waiting behind you while you're using an ATM … are they peeking at the keypad as you enter your PIN? Well, even if they are, a new technology could thwart them – it displays the number keys in a different arrangement, depending on the distance from which it's being viewed.​

​We've seen a number of electronic bike locks lately, and we've also seen several GPS units that let you track the whereabouts of your two-wheeler if it gets stolen. The new Deeper lock, however, combines the two in one bicycle-mounted weatherproof device.

​Sometimes, instead of trying to defeat a cyclist's high-security lock, bicycle thieves will actually saw through the rack to which a bike is locked. It's been happening in Portland, Oregon, so the city is installing a new type of bike-parking rack that just says No to saws.

The Ottolock bike lock recently raised a few eyebrows, as it looks like a zip-tie on steroids. Hiplok's Z Lok should raise a few more, as it looks like a regular zip-tie – but there's more to it than that.​