A ground anchor enables you to secure your bicycle to something solid. They are relatively cheap and mean that should your garage or shed get broken into, the thief will have a lot more work to do.
In this guide we show you the different types of ground anchor, how they’re installed and our tip tops to help you understand which one is best for you.
Table of Contents
What is a ground anchor
A ground anchor gives your security chain a fixed anchor point, making it impossible to remove without either cutting the ground anchor or the lock.
It’s an excellent security technique that’s cheap and is great at stifling a thief.
In the cycling world, they are more frequently mounted on a wall. However there’s nothing to stop you mounting one to the floor either.
Infact where bicycles are concerned, wall mounting is advisable as this will make it harder for any thief to attack the ground anchor or the security you use with it.
The reason being is that most theft is done using tools such as bolt croppers or angle grinders and thieves used the floor to enable them to get leverage with their bolt croppers or hold your security in place so they can better cut it with an angle grinder. If your anchor is on the wall, it makes their life harder.
Using ground anchors and chains to lock your bicycle within your garage or garden shed is a very secure and cost-effective form of bicycle security.
Ground anchor or wall anchor?
Technically-speaking most ground anchors can also be mounted on a wall and vice versa. However some ground anchors come with fixing designed for concrete, others can fix into brick and concrete.
The advantage of a wall anchor for cyclists is that can also keep your bike upright when leant against a wall, whereas a ground anchor won’t.
If you position your wall anchor wisely, you’ll make it tough for a thief to get access to the lock and anchor point. If positioned on the ground, it enables a thief to use the floor as a lever point for bolt-croppers.
Can I install bicycle ground anchor?
Yes. The majority of ground anchors are made to be quickly installed at home using a few basic tools. There are two main types: ‘Bolt down’ or ‘Concrete in’.
Bolt Down
This is the most common type and with a few DIY tools you can fit one in half an hour. Drilling a hole is necessary for bolt-down ground anchors before using expanding bolts, a fast-setting glue, or a combination of the two to secure them.
Most of these ground anchors come with fixings and a template making it easy for you to install.
You just need a hammer drill, masonry drill bits, a marker pen and the means to tighten the security bolts – either an Allen key or socket.
Concrete In
A wider hole must be dug for these types of ground anchor, which are sunk into the earth and covered with either a concrete base or an extremely durable epoxy.
Typically these are harder to install, due to the fact you need to dig out the area where you’re installing it and you’ll also need to mix concrete to secure it in place.
If you’re laying a fresh garage floor or driveway, you can fit a ground anchor that sits totally flush with the ground, meaning you will barely see it and it won’t be a trip hazard.
Bicycle shed anchors: added protection
Sheds are often vulnerable to break-ins but with a secure anchor you’ll make it harder for thieving scumbags to pinch your stuff.
A ground anchor in your shed is handy as you can not only secure bicycles but also garden equipment and toolboxes.
If you are building a shed, you should check out our guide on how to improve your shed security.
Below are the two types of shed anchor you can fit.
Concrete in
If you are starting from scratch, take advantage of the fact you can lay a proper concrete foundation and not only bolt your shed down into it (make it more secure) but you can also fit a ground anchor or sink a long eyelet into the ground, enabling you to have a secure anchor point in your shed.
Bolt into wood
If you already have a shed and you want to beef up your security, you should take a look at bolt-in anchors.
There are various models on the market, each with a slightly different mounting method but essentially all of them mount to the frame or a joist and are screwed or bolted in. You then cover the heads with a plate which you slide over the top, leaving just a secure shackle which you can use to loop a chain through or connect a padlock to. Thieves won’t be able unbolt it without first defeating your security chain or lock.
Bicycle Ground Anchors: Ben's Top Tips
- Use an SDS hammer drill and quality drill bits if you're fitting a bolt-in ground anchor. If you don't, you'll be there for ever and a day trying to drill into concrete.
- If floor space is tight, consider mounting to a wall instead.
- There's the old saying of 'measure twice, cut once' and when it comes to ground anchors, once it's fitted, it's a total pain to move it. Measure out the place where you're going to fit your anchor. Will your chain or lock reach it, will you trip over the ground anchor when the garage is empty, could you locate it in a better position?
- Use masking tape to mark out the area where you're going to fit your ground anchor before you fit it. Ideally leave it in place for long enough to figure out whether it's the best place for it.
- If you fit your anchor at roughly knee height on a wall, it'll make it very hard to defeat with tools such as sledgehammers and bolt croppers as it's an awkward height and better than it being situated on the floor.
- A ground anchor is only as good as the security you use with it. I recommend a chain that's 13mm or thicker - they are heavy but then you won't need to move them far.
- Good quality chains cost quite a bit of money and you might be tempted to buy a 120cm chain but we'd recommend a 150cm minimum to give you enough length to pass the chain through the ground anchor and around the frame.
Sold Secure ground anchors
Ground Anchors are one of the most popular categories on the Sold Secure website.
They are classed in four different categories:
Sold Secure Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond ground anchors. Diamond is the most secure.
As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t make sense to buy a Sold Secure Bronze or Silver bicycle ground anchor as these won’t withstand an attack as well as the Gold and Diamond versions.
Add to that the fact that the price difference between the entry level and the best ground anchors is minimal, if you’re going to go to the effort of measuring up and drilling holes, you might as well spend an extra £20-40 to get a top-rated anchor.
Motorcycle vs Bicycle ground anchors
As well as a love for two wheels, theft is something that bikers and cyclists have in common!
While you can get Sold Secure Bicycle Diamond rated ground anchors, it’s worth noting that there’s also a Sold Secure class for Motorcycle products.
The reason you might want to consider a motorcycle-rated ground anchor is that they’re often slightly larger, meaning you can comfortably use a thicker chain. You might also have a motorbike and bicycle and want to lock the bicycle using your existing motorbike security.
If you have a chain that’s under 12mm thick (the common thickness for most bicycle security chains) you’ll be fine with most bicycle ground anchors – but even at this thickness chain, some will have too small an opening.
Some motorcycle security chains have links that are over 22mm! and they have matching ground anchors to accommodate them. So if you have a chain that’s 15mm or thicker, take a look at motorcycle ground anchors.
Yes they’re possibly overkill for a bicycle but then one of my bicycles is worth more than one of my motorcycles. Add to that the fact the bicycle is infinitely easier for a thief to shift on, so it’s a real target.
I don’t see why I have to be limited to a lesser chain to fit a bicycle-only ground anchor.
Wall hanging anchor points
Another option to consider is a wall-mounted bicycle lock, that’s designed to conveniently store and secure your bicycle.
Pictured above is Hiplok’s Airlok which is padded to protect your frame and comes with a built-in lock.
There’s also the Cycloc Solo which makes it easy for you to store your bike and it also has holes large enough to thread even a chunky security chain through.
Personally I wouldn’t mount either at a height where a thief could hang from it, as you know they’re going to try. Even if they don’t manage to break the lock or rip it form the wall they’re sure to do damage to your bike.
However as a two-in-one solution, which could work equally well inside your home or garage, I think these are well worth a look.
Bicycle Ground Anchors FAQ
How do I secure my bike to the ground?
How strong are ground anchors?
Are ground anchors secure?
How do I secure my bike to a brick wall?
How do you install an anchor on a bike ground?
Is it OK to hang bikes by their wheels?
Is it OK to hang bike by frame?
Does hanging a bike damage the rim?
Is it OK to hang a bike with carbon wheels?
Sources
Thanks to the following websites that helped us research and write this guide to the best bicycle ground anchors: