How to Secure Your Bike or E-Bike During Winter

At Squire, we understand the challenges cyclists face when winter arrives. Darker evenings, colder weather, and quieter streets all create ideal conditions for bike and e-bike theft. As more riders store their bikes for longer periods or travel during low-light commutes, thieves become increasingly active, especially around sheds, garages, and bikes locked outdoors with insufficient protection.

Having engineered high-security locks for 245 years and counting, we know that the locks you use year-round should show resilience in the winter months. 

With more than 50% of bike thefts in England and Wales taking place under the cover of darkness, the longevity of these periods during the winter heightens the risk against cyclists’ property.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to keep your bike or e-bike safe throughout this time, including how to secure it with high-security bike locks, how to reinforce home bike storage, and why proper bike security can help you stay covered with cycle insurance providers such as Bikmo.

 

 

Why Winter Increase the Risk of Bike and E-Bike Theft

Bike theft is a year-round issue, but certain winter conditions make it significantly worse. Each year, we see the same pattern:

Extended hours of darkness:

With fewer daylight hours, thieves have more opportunity to operate undetected. Darkness is one of the most powerful enablers of bike theft, both in public spaces and at home.

Reduced footfall:

Cold, wet weather means fewer pedestrians and fewer potential witnesses. Quieter conditions make it easier for criminals to break into sheds, garages, and poorly lit areas.

Predictable storage habits:

During winter, many cyclists store their bikes in sheds and garages. Thieves know this, and specifically target these spaces, often exploiting weak doors, exposed hinges, or inadequate internal security. Extra security in these spaces could be essential for protecting your bike.

High value e-bikes:

E-bikes continue to be top-tier targets. Their high resale value, along with the desirability of removable components such as batteries and displays, makes them especially attractive to organised theft groups.

Due to the escalation of these risks in colder months, winter is the time when robust security, and proven Sold Secure certification, matters most.

 

 

Why Choose Sold Secure-Approved Squire Locks for Winter

Squire’s Sold Secured bike locks are engineered to achieve the highest independent security standards. Sold Secure are the UK’s premier testing and certification house for security products, recognised by insurers, police forces, and security professionals. 

Here’s what makes our Squire bike locks the ideal choice for winter protection:

1. Tested against real criminal tools

Sold Secure evaluates locks using the same tools and methods thieves actually use: bolt croppers, crowbars, drills, saws, freeze sprays, and even angle grinders. Our Gold and Diamond-rated bike locks are built to resist these attacks for as long as possible, making them some of the best bike locks available for winter security.

2. Corrosion-resistant engineering

Winter brings moisture, grit, and salt, all of which can damage lesser locks. Every Squire high-security D-lock, padlock, security chain, and anchor point is manufactured using high-quality weather resistant materials designed for year-round durability. 

3. Insurance compatibility

Many cycle insurers, including Bikmo, require a Sold Secure Gold or Diamond rated bike lock, appropriate to the value of your bike. Using a Squire Sold Secure approved bike lock ensures your security setup meets these requirements without compromise.

4. Heritage-powered performance

With more than two centuries of expertise, Squire has become synonymous with long-lasting, high-performance security, under the toughest conditions.

 

Best Squire Locks for Winter Bike and E-Bike Security

Different environments call for different lock types. For winter, these are our strongest recommendations:

 

 

Squire Heavy-Duty Chain Locks

Our heavy-duty padlock and chain sets for bikes and e-bikes deliver exceptional strength, ideal for winter home bike storage in sheds and garages.

Benefits:

Squire Ground and Wall Anchors

Paired with the right lock, a Sold Secure approved ground or wall anchor can elevate your garage bike and e-bike security.

Benefits:

 

You can save on security when you choose a Squire at-home bike lock bundle:

Our Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Gold approved kit, the Warrior Combi Bike Lock Home Kit, offers reliable protection for high-value bikes. It features a robust padlock and chain set, a ground anchor, and or 12mm diameter high-tensile steel security cable for additional layered security.

RRP: £139.99

If you’re looking for an at-home kit that offers that extra protection, the Immense Bike Lock Home Kit boasts a Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond approved rating, upgrading bike security and peace of mind when storing your bike.

RRP: £204.99

 

 

Squire D-locks (U-locks)

Perfect for commuting or locking up at home, our D-locks offer compact strength and superior protection.

Benefits:

Our UK made Stronghold D16 is a high quality bike lock, Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Diamond rated, with a solid boron hardened steel shackle and solid steel lock body, this premium bike lock can be used at home or on the go. 

RRP: £129.99

If it’s something smaller and easier to use outside the home that you’re looking for, the Matterhorn Compact 10c is perfect, so not only do you feel safe securing your bike at home in the winter months, but out and about too. This D-lock kit comes complete with a 1800mm long security cable designed to additionally lock bike wheels and accessories.

RRP: £49.99

If you're looking for insurance grade bike locks for your home bike security this winter then Squire bike locks has you covered. Our wide range of bike locks and lock accessories can help with bike security peace of mind and help ensure your bike is safe and protected, ready for your next ride.

 

How to Lock Your Bike Properly in Winter

A high-security bike lock is only as effective as the way it’s used. Follow these simple bike locking techniques:

1. Lock the frame to a fixed, immovable object:

Never rely on wheels alone. Indoors, a ground or wall anchor offers the best protection for locking your bike to.

2. Keep locks off the ground:

If a lock rests on the floor, thieves get leverage for cutting or prying. Keep your lock elevated when possible.

3. Restrict tool access:

Place the lock through the frame, rear triangle and wheels to make it difficult to attack. Fill your locking space with as much of the bike as possible.

4. Use two lock types:

A D-lock combined with a chain lock forces thieves to carry multiple tools, something few are prepared for. This will prevent the opportunist and slow down theft attempts.

5. Remove e-bike components:

Take off the battery and display during long-term storage. These components are valuable targets on their own.

 

Reinforcing Garage and Sheds: Squire’s Winter Security Advice

62% of bike theft happens at or near the victim’s home. That’s why home storage must be fortified. You can:

Install a ground or wall anchor:

When paired with a Squire heavy chain, an anchor creates a high-security foundation.

Reinforce doors, hinges and frames

Upgrade External Lighting:

Motion-activated lighting is one of the most cost-effective deterrents, particularly during long winter nights.

Add an alarm:

Whether a standalone shed alarm or a full smart system, noise dramatically reduces theft attempts.

Secure or cover windows:

Use blackout film, bars, or curtains to prevent thieves from seeing what valuables you may have inside.

Store bikes strategically:

Place your bike behind other items, locked to an anchor, and out of immediate reach.

 

 

 

Final Word from Squire

Every cyclist deserves complete confidence in their bike security, especially in winter. With the right combination of insurance grade Sold Secure Squire Bike Locks, reinforced storage, proper lighting, and smart insurance choices, you can help protect your bike or e-bike through the toughest months of the year.

Squire locks are engineered to outlast and outperform the tools thieves rely on. When paired with smart storage upgrades and reliable insurance, they create a comprehensive winter security system that is built to endure well beyond the coldest season.