Every bicycle has its own unique serial number. This serial number is useful for a couple of different reasons: 1) so the bicycle owner can register the bike with the manufacturer 2) so the bicycle owner can register the bicycle with the local police/fire station after purchase and 3) so the bicycle owner can register the bike with the local police if the bike ever gets stolen. The serial number is stamped onto the frame of the bike. You can find the serial number on YOUR bike by flipping the bike upside down and looking under the crank (the metal piece that the pedals are attached to).

With every new bike that you purchase, it’s always a good idea to snap a couple of photos of the bike and the serial number. Store the serial number in a couple of different places, just in case. I like to snap a couple of digital photos, print out duplicates of each of them, write my serial number and a description of my bike on the back of the photos, and then keep one set and mail the second set to my mother. (She’s way better at keeping track of things than I am!) I also save a copy of the photos on my hard drive of my computer.

There are a few different options for registering your bike. You can send in your bicycle registration card that came in your owner’s manual if you have it. You can also register your serial number with the National Bike Registry for a set amount of time, and for a cost of between $10-$30. You can do your own documentation like I described above, and in the event that your bike gets stolen you can register your serial number for free at www.stolenbicycleregistry.com. Last but not least, you can take your bike to your local fire or police station right after your purchase it and register your bicycle serial number with them. It’s also a good idea to see if your insurance provider accepts stolen bicycle claims, and if they do you can register your new bike and its serial number with them.

Aside from that, you should keep in mind that you should ALWAYS lock your bicycle up if you’re leaving it outside. Even if you’re just running inside for a minute to grab something, it’s worth it to take the extra 30 seconds to lock your bike up. If you look around and don’t see a sign post or a bike lock-up location near you, at least lock the wheel to the frame of the bike. There is no guarantee that this will prevent your bike from getting stolen, but it’s a good way of making your bike less appealing to potential thieves.

Now that you know what and where your bicycle serial number is, you can register your bike! It’s always better to be pro-active than re-active when it comes to taking care of something that you love, and we all know that a new bicycle is something that you fall in love with quickly! Happy cycling!