General Cycling Discussion - Somebody stole my bikeseat!

Has this happened to anyone in the forum? I found this whilst searching google and thought it was worth a shot for advice on getting a new bike seat.
My dad and i cycle quite often i cycle to work plus get a ride in nearly everyday to keep me fit and it's a good form of exercise! Same with my dad. Anyway we have our bikes on the side of our house locked up mind you under our carport. My dad has done this for like 10 years and i only got into cycling for about 6 months and i have had mine there for that long! Anyway today when i decided i wanted to go for a ride both our bikes seats were stolen! Stem and everything! Plus my dad's light too which was attached. Pretty dodgy as far as i'm concerned. So anyway i was wondering if they are worth a lot? What would be someones reason to steal them? Has this happened to anyone else, or have you heard it happen?
Also as i'm going to need a new bike seat i was wondered how much they cost?
We both have Mountain Bikes pretty standard ones in Australia nothing too special mine is about 6 months old and it was around $300AU. I can get more information about it if it would be helpful for someone to help me out.
Anyway I'd like to hear all of your advice please!

-Ben

Check out your local bike shop (other forum members will refer to this as LBS, incase you stick around).

Chances are if they don't typically sell full stems and all for bikes, they have one laying around in the repair area that will fit your bike. They aren't worth a whole lot, chances are either:
a) The theif recently had his stolen and is "returning the favor"
b) The theif just wanted to be a prick

In the future, run your chain through seat adjuster along with through the frame.

Check out your local bike shop (other forum members will refer to this as LBS, incase you stick around).

Chances are if they don't typically sell full stems and all for bikes, they have one laying around in the repair area that will fit your bike. They aren't worth a whole lot, chances are either:
a) The theif recently had his stolen and is "returning the favor"
b) The theif just wanted to be a prick

In the future, run your chain through seat adjuster along with through the frame.


Cheers thanks for your help. Hopefully i'm not too hit in the hip pocket!
Anybody else have any ideas, thoughts?

-Ben

Keep your bikes in your bedroom, opposite your shotgun.

Never leave a bike with pieces that can come off....or they will be gone.

I'm guessing that you had quick release seat post clamps. If so, it was most likely bored kids. A true theif would have stolen your wheels if not the whole bike. When you replace your seatpost and saddle ask the folks at the LBS for an alan bolt seatpost clamp. It will keep Skippy from stealing your seat in the future.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/ST8497.jpg

Check your homeowner's insurance--the theft may be covered and you may be able to get reimbursed for the seats and posts.

I agree with the "kids" guess. $300 bikes don't come with seats worth stealing. Search a bit around in the local ditches and bush, maybe you'll find them. Seats will set you back about $20-$30, you'll need a seat post as well, dunno what they will cost.

I'm guessing that you had quick release seat post clamps. If so, it was most likely bored kids. A true theif would have stolen your wheels if not the whole bike. When you replace your seatpost and saddle ask the folks at the LBS for an alan bolt seatpost clamp. It will keep Skippy from stealing your seat in the future.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/ST8497.jpg

No it won't.
Never leave anything quickreleased unsecured on a locked bike. I thought that went without saying.

I'm guessing that you had quick release seat post clamps. If so, it was most likely bored kids. A true theif would have stolen your wheels if not the whole bike. When you replace your seatpost and saddle ask the folks at the LBS for an alan bolt seatpost clamp. It will keep Skippy from stealing your seat in the future.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/ST8497.jpg[/IMG]


Along with that, some good advice from a friend of mine: Hot glue a bb in the alan wrench slot. The only way the'yll be getting your seat post is with at least 10 minutes of digging.

I've had two seats stolen myself. After the first time, I got the new post, an alan bolt seatpost clamp, and one of this silly little seat chains. After the SECOND time, I put glue in the bolt area. :) Nothing since then.

They used to make a cute little device that wedged into the seatpost, and had a cable that was fixed to a seat-tube-sized plug. You dropped the plug into the seat tube and secured it with a water bottle cage bolt.

Seatpost would pull up a bit, then stop! I don't know if they make 'em anymore....

Thanks people yes the bike seats are covered in my home insurance but we gotta pay the first 100. We also gotta get 2 back lights as they stole the fittings. Apparently the posts cost like $22 and the seats like 31 or something and then the light is like 17. So 140 all up but we'll only have to pay 100.
Thanks for your help.
-Ben

Yeah; Bikewer; I have one of those. Called a seat minder.It was all the rage about 6-7 years ago when a lot of top end seats were getting swipped.

Some LBS's also sell something that is like the allen bolted seatpost clamp, but it comes with a 5 sided screw instead of a 6 sided one. So it's even harder to undo and you don't have to bother with the ball bearing trick. I picked one up for about AUD15 last year. It was made by KF. An alternative is a proper locking clamp made by ABUS/Kryptonite which costs way over AUD50.

A loop of bike chain through the seat rail and around the seat stay is an alternative.

I'm guessing that you had quick release seat post clamps. If so, it was most likely bored kids. A true theif would have stolen your wheels if not the whole bike. When you replace your seatpost and saddle ask the folks at the LBS for an alan bolt seatpost clamp. It will keep Skippy from stealing your seat in the future.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/ST8497.jpg

yup i'm guessing that you had quick release set too. :rolleyes:

Hi Ben. I am sorry to hear about the theft of your bike seats. The reason the person or persons stole them is because they are stupid, that's just the way they are. They have no respect for themselves or for other people, in other words , they are scum.

Quick releases are generally unnecessary anyway. I replaced mine with Allen key skewers & seat bolt & have never lost a part. The bikes are always stored indoors & parked outside only for short periods, in heavy foot traffic areas.

Rig up a booby trap, so that when the seat post is pulled out of the tube - POW! - they get it right in the kisser. That'll fix the little bastards. :mad:

If only it were that simple.