Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas

Tips for properly securing the U-lock on the bike while riding in order to avoid theft.
By
John Watson
John Watson
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John is an experienced cycling enthusiast and a great asset when it comes to writing skills. He's a Bachelor of Arts and a talented journalist. John is in charge of our blog read more
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Jessica Kingston
Jessica Kingston
Expert Consultant
Jessica is our expert consultant on all things connected to biking - gear, technique, you name it. Being a pro cyclist in the past, she knows exactly how things work in and read more
Last updated: August 23, 2023
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When you have reached your destination, it’s essential to protect your bike from thieves. A U-Lock is one of the best ways to secure your bike. There’s just one problem. These locks can be big and bulky. This can make it a little awkward to transport, with many riders asking where to put U-Lock on a bike while riding. The good news is that there are several comfortable positions to explore. Here is how to carry a cable lock on a bike.

Where to Put U-Lock on a Bike while Riding

There are a few places where you can put your U-Lock on your bike, so you can find one that suits your riding style.

Storing Behind the Saddle

First, you might want to consider placing the U-Lock behind the saddle. In this case, the top of the U-Lock will be attached to a saddle tab. The base of the lock will be supported by a holster attached to your seat stays. If you want to take this approach, you should consider the Huldit U-Lock Holder Trusted Source Huldit U-Lock Holder With the lightweight and adjustable Huldit U-Lock holder, you no longer have to put your heavy U-lock in your pack or watch it swing as it hangs from your handlebar. www.rei.com , which is lightweight, adjustable, and can be installed within minutes.

There are a few things to like about this method. First, it’s easy to use. You just need to slot the lock into place, and you can be on your way. Also, the lock is held securely, so you don’t need to listen to any annoying rattling on your journey. The downside is that you will need to have saddle tabs. These won’t be on all bikes, and installation might not always be possible. If you want to take this to the next level, you might want to add suspension. This will insulate you from bumps in the road. If you want to do this, check out our guide to the best suspension seatposts.

Storing in the Triangle of a Bike Frame

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
The usual locations are: behind the saddle, inside the triangle of the bike frame, and attached to the bike handlebars.

The triangle of the bike is one of the most popular locations to store items. If you install a holster, your U-Lock can easily slide into place. This will hold the lock securely and make it easy to slide out at the end of your ride. If you don’t want to use a holster, you might want to consider a bracket or using some Velcro straps. You can even use zip ties for a quick fix.

There is one potential drawback to consider, though, the triangle of the bike frame is widely used to store essentials during a long ride. For example, many riders like to use the space for drink bottles. Alternatively, you might want to keep a pump or bike repair kit. If a U-Lock is there, you’ll need to find another spot for these items.

Storing on the Handlebars

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
When riding, you can put your bicycle lock on your bike frame by wrapping it around the handlebars.

This might seem like the most obvious solution. But, without the right kit, it will quickly become a nightmare. The lock will swing around, potentially hitting your fingers or damaging your bike. The good news is that there is a simple way to solve this issue. You will need to use a U-Lock holster. This can be attached to the handlebars and will hold the bike in position. Often, these holsters use Velcro straps, which can be adjusted to suit the shape of your bike. Because of this, you will be able to install them within minutes.

Keeping The U-Lock In Your Backpack

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
A backpack is a great place to keep a bike lock whilst you ride, but it may be one of the heaviest, so your back will probably be hurt by the end of your journey.

When people ask where to put a bike lock when riding, a backpack is one of the most common answers. This is often best on long rides when you would be carrying a backpack anyway. It might also be a good option when traveling off-road, as you don’t need to worry about your U-Lock getting knocked out from a bump in the road. If you like this type of riding, it’s important to get a bike that can handle the rough off-road tracks. In this case, you might want to consider our list of the best steel gravel bikes.

There are several types of backpacks you can choose from. This article Trusted Source How to Choose Bike Racks and Bags A daypack or messenger bag is good for shorter trips, but some of your best gear-carrying options are racks, baskets, and bags that fit on your bike. www.rei.com goes into more depth on these options. Generally, it’s best to put the U-Lock in a front pocket, if possible. This will ensure that you can remove it quickly when you arrive at your destination. If your backpack doesn’t have pockets, you can place the lock on top of your items.

You might also want to place some items around the U-Lock. This will stop it from sliding around in your bag while you are cycling. While this isn’t likely to cause significant problems, the shifting weight can become irritating on longer rides.

Front Basket

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
One of the safest ways to store the lock is because you can always see it while riding.

If you have a front basket, you can rest your U-Lock in it. This is one of the easiest solutions. But you will need to be prepared for the lock to slide around as you are going around a corner. However, this tends to be a minor annoyance.

Pannier Bag

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
It doesn’t matter what type of lock you’re using (chain, u-lock, etc.), because as long as you have a pannier large enough, you can just throw it in there.

One of the most convenient options is to use a U-Lock bag. This can be attached to the pannier rack on the back of your bike. This can double as a place to put your water bottle on a longer ride. The good news is that these bags are widely available. If you want a pannier bag, you should consider the Tourbon Cycling Bag U-lock Holster, which will suit most bike models and is made from durable leather. If you don’t already have one, you should check out our list of the best front bike racks.

Storing The U-Lock At Your Location

Where to Put U-Lock on Bike while Riding: Helpful Ideas
Instead of carrying your lock with you, why not keep it at the place you secure your bike each day.

So far, we’ve looked at where to put the bike cable lock when riding. But sometimes, you don’t need to carry it with you at all. You might want to leave the U-Lock at your intended location. This might be a good option if you intend to use the bike for your daily commute. When you arrive, you can go into your locker and grab the lock. However, this might mean that you will need to leave your bike unattended for a few minutes, so there is a slim chance that it can be stolen.

Final Thoughts

U-Locks have earned a reputation for being heavy and cumbersome to transport. This has led many riders to ask where to put a lock on a bike when riding. As we’ve seen, there are several ways to answer this question. It might be a good idea to try a few options. This will allow you to find the one best compliments your riding style. For example, you might want to place it in a triangle mount on a shorter ride but opt to store the U-Lock in a backpack on a long journey.

References

1.
Huldit U-Lock Holder
With the lightweight and adjustable Huldit U-Lock holder, you no longer have to put your heavy U-lock in your pack or watch it swing as it hangs from your handlebar.
2.
How to Choose Bike Racks and Bags
A daypack or messenger bag is good for shorter trips, but some of your best gear-carrying options are racks, baskets, and bags that fit on your bike.

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