How to lock the components onto a bike?
 

Hi, I live in Maryland and since I've moved here I've had two bikes stolen and the wheels stolen off one other. Now I have built a nice hybrid from used LX/XT/SRAM parts and I'm wondering if there are tricks to keeping components from getting stolen, since I'd like to be able to leave this thing at the train station with just U-lock and cable. I have already touched up the frame with off-color nail polish to make it as ugly as possible.

Anybody have any experience with using adhesives to lock down derailleurs, stem, and saddle bolts? Also, I saw these really cool wheel skewers with some kind of really odd non-standard head that would be impossible to get a grip on without the right tool, but I don't know where they come form. Any pointers?

Wow, people steal seats and derailers, i'm lucky i live somewhere where theives wouldn't go to that ridiculous extent. Any how, i have a twisty springy chain type things that i hook around the front wheel, frame, and thats about all. Its good because it is hard to quickly remove off the bike. I leave my bike in public so it is less- likeely to get stolen, and anyone could take my seat post off, but no one has yet :). I guess if you live somewhere safe you need not worry about these things.

If someone wanted they could unscrew every little thing off the bike and vertauly get away with everything but the frame, but i dont know anyone who would?

How about filling your allen bolts with solder? I thought about doing this but never tried. You could easily get it off by reheating it but it'd be something a theif wouldn't expect. Anyone ever tried this?

Jesus, you must live in a war zone. For urban riding I've found the following works: fit security skewers instead of quick-release; replace your seat bolt with an allen bolt; use removeable lights; fit mudguards for the unsexy visual effect (!). I have never, ever, heard of someone stealing a derailleur from a locked bike!

I've seen enough brand-new Bianchis with no handlebar and a broken dangly chain to knwo that SOMEBODY is stealing derailleurs around here :-( I think these security skewers are what I'm looking for. Anyone know who makes 'em?

Try talking to your city council about getting bike lockers installed. You put you entire bike in a little closet and then lock the door. Some cities have them now.

Try filling your allen head bolts with epoxy. A thief probably won't want to spend the time digging the epoxy out so will go on to an easier target. On the other hand, you can dig the epoxy out to do repairs.

I like the solder idea.

Fill the bolt heads with wax. Easier to remvoe when you need to, but not when your trying to steal a bike.

Kryptonite makes a set of locking skewers - wheels and seatpost - for around $50. Not an endorsement, mind you, but you asked.

Anyone seen locking allen bolts? Like with a weird star nut instead? I've seen them in other applications (like airplanes and auto lug nuts), but never on a bike.

Kryptonite has a bad reputation now :(

Skewers are made by Kryptonite.

Dont use adhesive, just use as many different types of bolt on each part as possible, and if you cna only use one, use one with an anti-tamper head. It may not be a lock, but it will reduce the chance of a thief having the tool on hand.

Seapost locks using the kryptonite skewers as well. Seat nut should be of the tamper-resistant variety, preferably a different kind than used on the other parts.

If your going to make your bike components theft resitstant, it's also going ot have to me maintenance resistant as well....keep that in mind.

Locktite on the components sont fix much of anyhting, it might make your bike unfixable if done wrong.

Plus if most folks want your hardware, they will just cut through your frame...so just bolt up your seat, seatpost, fork, stem, wheels, and misc small parts. If you have a nice rack, use differering bolts on it too.

These methods have been effective for me, plus locking in high traffic areas. A Store manager might ask me why do I lock my bike at the front door "right in the way of hundreds of customers" instead of back in the alley behind the store. My answer is "because now my bike is being seen by hundreds of customers instead of being out of sight, back in the alley behind the store".

The bikes that I lock, and let out of my sight are all old, and show their age (the crook is thinking..."what good is a six speed freewheel?"). Old bikes may steer crooks to the shiny new bike further down the rack.

their rep doesnt matter, those skewers, when installed properly are practically hell to defeat. I've had some cocky folks try, but all they did was get themselves pissed off trying to prove me wrong.

Basically, the fixed end of teh skewer is rounded just right so you cant get a good spot to grind nor a good wrench grip. The locking end has a special cutout for the key, which requires all 3 pins to be in their spots, otherwise your gehtto tool will slip out upon application of force. The shaft of the skewer is meant to be trimmed flush with the locking portion, making the superglue+nut exploit impossible (this is how incorrectly installed krypto skewers are nearly as bad as QRs...always cut the excess shaft).

their are ways I can come up with to defeat them, but it requires time and a good amount of ingenuity to come up with it.

Gotta bump that mention of locking in high-traffic areas. Plus, don't leave bikes out late at night. All of my stolen/trashed machines were left outside after the pubs closed - bad idea, who's going to stop a bike thief late at night?

(Okay, there was the sweet Alan that was stolen to order with a break-in, but that was such a weird exception and anyway is home security not bike security..)

Locking skewers are not needed. Run the Ulock and cable through each wheel and the frame. Now, the lock must be defeated to steal the wheels. You may be able to run the cable through the seat rails as well if it's long enough.

If you are afraid of losing deraillers and shifters, get a singlespeed or fxed gear.

for security fastners you can look in McMaster-Carr supply for tools and bolts or nuts. search for "Tamper resistant fastners". They also have the tools that go with the fastners.

NOTE: some items are only sold by the box, you may end up with a 100 box of each bolt, but you will always have a spare. I have ordered lots of these and have had very good luck, their shipping is very fast.

Look up Pitlock on the web, and see if that's what will do the trick for you.

I have the Kryptonite locking skewers on one of my bikes. The main advantage is being able to lock any part of the frame via one U-lock rather than having to get around the rear wheel or use a cable in addition. The extra weight and hassle of dealing with a cable for the front wheel sometimes makes the cost of the skewers seem worth it. But remember that you have to keep the skewer key with you if you want to be able to change a tube. You may be able to hide the key somewhere on the bike.

If you really want to make your bike look like a trashmo, spray the components with rust-brown spray paint. I don't have the heart to do this to my bike, but I don't use especially valuable components on my utility bike.

I have.

How hard is it to turn a chain breaker followed by an allen wrench a few times? Less than 30 seconds and you have a $100 item.

Pretty low though.

They might not, but people will think twice now instead of saying Kryptonite offers me the best locks money can buy.

Yeah, the DC bike thieves are pretty damn low :-( They've stolen 2 bikes + 2 whole wheels from me since my arrival here (previously I was clueless small town guy).