They say every bicycle weighs the same; a lightweight (and by extension, expensive) bike requires a heavy lock whereas its cheap and cheerful cousin (which weighs more) can make do with a lighter lock.
If you own a lightweight road bike it’s likely you often ride without any lock at all, but what to do when you stop for a coffee or loo break? Hoping to solve this particular conundrum is HipLok with its new Z LOK Combo – a reusable reinforced zip tie for use on car racks, accessories and other outdoor equipment. While the Z LOK might look similar to a conventional zip tie, it features a stainless steel core to deter the opportunistic thief. A three digit combination mechanism does away with the need for a key.
We know it’s stating the obvious, but the Z LOK is not rated by Sold Secure and, as such, it’s use as a primary lock will render your cycle insurance policy void. Its designers intend the lock to be used to deter opportunistic thieves when the bike is within your sight.
Win a Z LOK combo
We have three Z LOK zip ties to give away. Leave us a message at the bottom of the page and let us know whether you prefer one in black, yellow or pink.
How do thieves steal bikes?
A few years ago, the lock manufacturer Kyrptonite suffered a bout of bad PR when it was alleged its D-Locks could be opened with a modified Bic Biro. The episode called into question the efficacy of many cylindrical-lock products, but in reality most thieves don’t have the time, patience or skill to pick locks – they prefer to cut or smash them.
A well-equipped and determined bicycle thief can defeat almost every lock within minutes. When a thieves are unable to remove a lock, it’s not uncommon for them to vandalise the bike or simply steal parts. Thieves in London this spring have taken to stealing handlebars from road bikes. Once a few control cables are severed, they walk away with bars and shifters worth hundreds of pounds.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Mark B
A handy addition to my anti theft arsenal me thinks!
Peter
Sounds fab and would love to use one.. ☺️
Andrew Jack
I would like a black one thanks.
Stuart Kowalski
Would love one in yellow to match my over shoes!!
Janet
Oh yes, fingers crossed.
Andrew Smith
Zip it up!
John b nichol
Sounds good. Any colour is fine
Paul Quirk
A pink one would be a great contrast for a black bike.
Jon PENNYCOOK
My friends make fun of me for carrying two full size locks wherever I go. This would be ideal for quick pit stops.
Sam
Would love to try this
Matt Robbins
Amazeballs! Small and smart, love hiplok products!
Pamela
yes please – very handy
GAVIN
Me please 🙂
ValG
Being lightweight this Z LOK combo would be ideal for me on my bike, being of senior disposition & full of osteoarthritis – something this useful & light would be great
Alice Kemp-Welch
My bike is 40 years old this year. A Falcon picked up from the factory. ETA fan. Would love one in black
Daniel Miller
Should give piece of mind at the coffee stop or for a quick shop
Gavin Wright
Looks good for a quick and easy fix to go with my actual Hiplok…
Gavin Wright
…and black would be lovely, thx!
Iain
This looks ideal for short stops at shop or cafe
Nea Veysey
Just what I need for the cafe stops. Would like the pink one.
Andrew
Its what the Russians lock their tanks with in Ukraine
Mr Christopher Rawlinson
Yes please Winning one of the locks would give me added security when parking my bike
Thank you
Jill
Great for coffee stops
Peter Soper
Zip ‘n’ go!
Clive Jones
Would love to lock a yellow one of these down. Thanks.
DA
Yellow please!
Vincent
Me me me me.
Debra Cassar
I usually carry a big lock but something that light would be perfect for a loo stop!
Doug M
Yes please! This sounds ideal for me. Any colour will do.
Peter Clark
Black. Like my soul. Please
Brian D
Perfect coffee stop lock.
Helen
Perfect for locking the kids’ bikes at school.
Frank
No substitute for good ETA insurance 😉
steve
Your Z Lok zip tie caught my eye
But I would like to win, not buy!
So send one to me in the post
Yellow or black I would like the most!
Dawn Elsworth
Most locks are too fiddly but these look great. Yellow please!
Graham Corfield
Zip me up in pink please!!
Boyd
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, My, oh, my, what a wonderful day, hopefully a new lock heading my way.
Any colour would be great.
Sarah
Convenient and lightweight, fabulous.
Either yellow to match my bike or black to compliment it.
Clive Probert
Just having a deterrent is so important ( and black please if I’m lucky).
Keith Reeder
Aye, go on then – preferably not pink.
Keith Reeder
Oh – and is it OK if I don’t actually drink coffee?
😉
Kay
Pink would go nicely with my grey bike
Peter
This would be a fabulous addition to bike lock timez
Lucy
A pink one would be pretty cool! 😀
Adam Howard
Whatever colour works for me if there are still some going
Jane Churchill
This would be just perfect for those all-important quick pit stops and for extra attachment on the roof bars. Either black or yellow would be amazing. Many thanks.
clare roche
Currently cycling St Malo to Nice ( aged66). A lightweight lock would be wonderful to lighten the load! The lock I’m carrying is the single heaviest item . This looks perfect. Yellow would be my choice
Philip Gregg
I’d like to win a yellow one please.
JohnB
This would be useful – I’d go for the yellow one!
Steve J
Would be great for locking the bike bags to the rack when touring! Black preferred but any colour would do the job.
Alix barraball
We are two oldies in our late 70s who enjoy going out on our tern cargo bike but would love to try the lock in yellow
Judith Rout
Perfect
Jamie J
Pink please and I promise to not lend it to anyone in Extinction Rebellion…
Chris
Black preferred, due to reduced solar degradation. Otherwise any.
Syl
Looks good to me. Useful for in the garage as an extra security measure. Yellow preferred, though any colour will do.
james
useful yellow please
Gary Moon
This would be a great aid on cafe stops & the pink will definitely highlight the presence of security so that one please
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
Just right!
Couldn’t be righter.
Andy King
Helping to prevent the theft of Bikes is great but this looks so much better than being described as great It’s awesome
Gordon May
Looks light and small enough to carry anywhere!
Colin
mellow yellow please 😉
Les Gunbie
Yes please
John
Great idea. Yellow please
Steve
Z lok & 2 smoking barrels 🔐🚴♂️
Yes please 🙂
Paul
Lock me up please :0)
Yousaf Mirza
Zip one over to me when you can. Thanks a million
Mags
Zip it up for a quick stop – brilliant idea! Yellow would be best, so a thief would notice it.
Bazza
Great variation on a ziplock – reusable and lightweight. Yellow would match my cycling top, please.
Martin Baker
I’d like the first. Or second. Or third!
Andy
No excuse not to carry this around at least. Yellow or pink please!
Fergus D
Ah, a lock in a fancy colour. How radical!
Pink or yellow please, Definitely.
Craig
I’d don’t mind about colour really, but if I get a choice, I’d love a black one please?
Stavria Achilleos
I would love to win these locks!! 🚴🏼🚴🏼
Jane Green
Looks great but don’t fancy my chances of getting one,but thanks if I do 😂
Francesca
Perfect when cycling to the shops with my dog… He runs alongside me, we arrive at the bakery and he waits by the bike… The Z lock combo means I need never worry about theft of beloved 4 paws or my bike ever again… Yellow please!
Alastair Seagroatt
Looks just the job for cafe stops, yellow is the obvious choice?
Kevin Goodall
Perfect for securing a few things to the tandem on our pit stops. Black matches the bike (the black horse) but any colour would look great.
Matthew Keating
Just the ticket for my daughter who constantly moans about having to carry a heavy bike lock on family cycle rides… (guess who ends up having to carry it for her!)… So to make one teenager a very happy girl – pink or yellow please!
Fran peck
I need one of these please Looks ideal
Michelle Cook
Yellow, to remember these sunny days!
Alan Scroggs
I would love to own one of these locks in yellow because it would match the colour of my bike
Thanks
Ian Wacogne
I’d like one please! No colour preference!
Darren C
First choice for me would be yellow – to make sure it was as visible as possible, but any colour would work the same to protect my front wheel.
Thanks again Yannick for giving us all the chance to win some great bike related prizes!
Gary McMahon
Please don’t let me lose my bike again !!
Chris Bromwich
A black zip would be great for me to try.
Gillian
Something pretty please: pink or yellow
Richard Newman
Zippity doodah – cycle security for HIPsters
Mike Croker
Would tie up my bike nicely!
Alnora Rose Pottrell
Perfect for locking my helmet to my bike instead of carrying it around the shops.
Either Black or Yellow please.
Phil
Any colour please
Hilary
Eee-zee pee-zee for loo stops! Any colour would do for me, please.
Peter Chisnall
Zip a de doo dah
Jane Reid
Would be great for short stops. Any colour is great thank you.
Dave
Lovely stuff. A black one please
Chris Wrigley
Great for mid-ride stops – would love to have one
Barbara Hotchin
Would love a black one to match my bike, perfect for the times I go to the cafés on my rides.
Thanks
Richard
Any colour, I’d use it to secure my saddle, thanks
Owen Phillips
Everybody would like one. So would I please. Any colour thank you. Another tandem rider.
Toity Deave
Perfect for the bike on the train, yes please!
Jane C
I’d love one please, yellow would be ideal but black or pink good too!
Might make me brave enough to leave mini tool bag on bike!
sue
if I win I would like a yellow one please
john
looks handy – would like a black one should I be picked
Nicette Ammar
Yes please. Just about to buy my first bike in many years. Any help with security or anything else much appreciated. Black sounds like a safe bet.
Anthony Johnson
Yellow please to secure my helmet to bike
Ema A
Yellow would be a nice bright colour for summer