Cycle security

Zefal’s Lock n’ roll security skewers are something of a missed opportunity to produce an imaginative and inexpensive deterrent to opportunist thieves when locking in the street, outside the café’ and other situations where bikes are left unattended for shorter periods. Standard quick releases in my experience invite unwelcome attention from the light fingered who may snatch a skewer should the bike, wheels and seat post be locked to an immobile object.

The entry price point for proper U-locks seems to get lower every year, and this unit from Master Lock at £30 (less online) is a great piece of entry level security, resisting attack with the tenacity of steel costing twice as much.

The Street Fortum is well constructed from hardened steel, with a shackle that goes right through the locking bar helping to anchor it in place. It's finished in orange plastic and frame-friendly rubber, and you get four keys and a fairly bog-standard frame mount that does the job without any fuss.

Abus give the Bordo Granit X-Plus their top bike security rating of 15 so we weren't expecting it to be a pushover and indeed it's not. The compact design will appeal to aesthetes too, especially those with fairly deep pockets.

At just over £40 (less online) you'd expect mid-range performance from a U-lock but the Brute proved itself to be a tough cookie and it's a great lock to sling in your bag for the daily commute. You'll need a bag, as there's no bracket supplied, although one is available.

This product is so simple it is genius*. I hate having to lug around a couple of kilos of theft deterrent but unfortunately it is a necessity if you leave your bike outside, unattended for more than 3 minutes, in a major conurbation such as London.

D-locks offer the best security but the Plastic holder's are ugly plus I have more than one bike but only one lock so each frame would need one. If I put the lock in a bag then I am burdened with carrying the bag. What this clever strap does is allow you to wear your D lock off your belt in a kind of holster fashion.