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Folding Hanldlebar Lock

These handlebars, designed by Joe Wentworth, serve two functions. They reduce the space taken by bicycles when stored within the home/office whilst also offering improved security by locking the handlebars to the frame – a bicycle steering lock. Joe says of his design:

“Due to the space constraints experienced by urban living and the likelihood of bike theft it is desirable but difficult to store bikes indoors… by folding the handlebars a bike can be conveniently stored in a hallway. By locking the bar ends together it provides an additional level of theft deterrent when parking the bike outside. A secondary advantage of locking the steering is it significantly stabilises the bike when locked to street furniture. As a result the problem of buckled wheels due to bikes being knocked over and stood on is reduced.”

The Handlebar Lock facilitates an effective bike theft prevention strategy – storing the bike off-street. However, if the bike is parked 'on-street' the Handlebar Lock operates as a steering lock reducing the opportunity for an opportunist thief to steal it and ride away. If the bike were removed then handlebars would need to be broken to use the bike – reducing the rewards to the thief. An anti-theft technique known as ‘spoiling’.

Type
Steering Lock

Price
N/A

Sold Secure Rating
None

Composition
N/A

Strengths
• Reduces space occupied by a bicycle allowing it to be stored more conveniently off street
• Easy to operate
• Increases effort required to steal it and reduces rewards available to potential thieves

Weaknesses
• This device does not offer effective security on street without the use of an additional lock

Links
www.joewentworth.co.uk
www.design21sdn
www.bsi-global.com