You will need an alarm on your bicycle in Uganda
There are a thousand reasons to buy a bicycle alarm. In Africa especially Uganda, a bicycle will attract people especially children who are always very destructive. Before the alarm, I would park and by the time am back, gears and brakes are in a mess. The alarm helps me to keep off children and scrap dealers who target any metal object.
Did you know that some bicycles today are more expensive than cars? Anyway the value of a bicycle may not necessarily be the point of getting an alarm but the inconvenience of losing it .Just think about the inconvenience of moving from point A to B. You park and you return to A without the means. Securing your bicycle with an alarm saves you a lot besides stress. You park and do your work without having to check on your bicycle from time to time.
However, for the times when you may be far away, add a chain lock to the bicycle. These cannot guarantee that the bicycle cannot be stolen but it will be harder to steal the bicycle. The thief will take a lot of time.
Those with extra storage parts on a bicycle, technology is there to help. I use an A6 cicada alarm on my bicycle. All bicycle alarms scare away thieves but most importantly alert the bicycle owner. As long as it has an alarm, no one bothers to steal. Most bicycle alarms can also help you locate your bike in a crowded parking lot.
Road bikes today have shopping baskets and carrier rails that carry valuable stuff. You need an alarm to alert you when someone is trying to move your bicycle. There are lots of bike alarms that are USB rechargeable and last 60 days while in use. Any touch or vibration around it will trigger the different levels of alarm sounds.
Compose your own Checklist for a good bicycle alarm before you buy. Look out for one that is loud with a remote. The alarm remote must be able to be switched off in a radius of at least 10 metres. It is tiring to keep going in and out of the building just to switch it off. Get a remote that can go through a wall. Durability of the bicycle alarm system is very important. Make sure it is water proof and cannot be affected by dust. Uganda has lots of dusty roads. Look out for the one with a USB charging port. Just in case you are stranded and you can access a power bank. Some Alarms have extra light that can work as a tail light for night riding. It is better to look out for those with universal screws that can be hooked on almost any part of the bicycle. Though most alarms are made to fit under the seat, some have options to hang elsewhere.
Bicycle alarms are cheap. You can get one for as low as $10.Just think about the money you may have to part with to replace your current bicycle if stolen. Its impossible to replace your exact bicycle. If you cannot afford a new one alarm, go downtown for a second hand bicycle alarms. Bicycles now also carry their valuable electronic gadgets. They must be secured in parking lots.
Ivan N Baliboola
PR and organizational diagnosis specialist
nbaliboola@gmail.com
Mediasurgeon 