General Cycling Discussion - Scared to lock my bike now.....

So I went out this morning to where I work and tested my U-lock. Amazingly enough I was able to lock both wheels to the thickest steel post allowed. And I was also able to put the U-lock through the frame of my bike as well.

However, the posts at work only allow you to push the bike in backwards. If I push the bike in forwards the back wheel doesn't reach far enough to the steel ring. So I locked my bike and took a look.

My beautiful shifters stand out like a sore thumb. My bike is all black and the Shimano shifters are grey. It would take someone with a nut wrench all but 10 seconds to unscrew the nuts and take my shifters, handlebar, and stem.

I cannot see a way of averting that situation. Removing the stem would require removing all the cables and I'm not sure how to do that.

Anyone recommend some ideas for me? :)

Small parts accessed with a small wrench, like bottle cages, shifters, cranks, crakes, stem, handlebars and shifters cannot be locked, unless you get some of those locking screws that exist for seatposts. Even then, fiding the correct length for all of those parts will be totally impossible.

3 solutions:

1. Live with it really, it's rare you'll see a bike with stolen handlebars just for the components, especially if low- to mid-end.

2. Park next to a more expensive bike.

3. Get a cheap fixie or a single speed for comuting, and leave the nice bike back at home. For very little money, you can get one that has almost no resell value, and in the case of a fixie, is imprevious to impulse theft since most impulse theives have the coordination of a smoking frog.

I fill the heads of bolts attaching things I want to see again with epoxy.

I would get a beater and use that bike for transportation cycling. Then you avoid all bike racks since these users tend to steal or vandalize bikes. Always remember to hide the bike.

I heave heard that some people fill bolt heads with epoxy, chewing gum, wax, caulk, silicone, or even superguling a small BB in there.

EDIT: BB = Ball Bearing

I heave heard that some people fill bolt heads with epoxy, chewing gum, wax, caulk, silicone, or even superguling a small BB in there.

I read that and saw "supergluing a small bottom bracket in there" and was REALLY confused.

fill it with solder. that way, if you need to actually unscrew it in the future, you can just melt/wick out the solder.

bb... as in bb gun

I read that and saw "supergluing a small bottom bracket in there" and was REALLY confused.

fill it with solder. that way, if you need to actually unscrew it in the future, you can just melt/wick out the solder.

ooo...that's a really good idea...

will soldering affect aluminum frames?

I would get a beater and use that bike for transportation cycling. Then you avoid all bike racks since these users tend to steal or vandalize bikes. Always remember to hide the bike.

I'd do quite the opposite, at least around where I live here in Canada. Hiding your bike from the eyes of the public also hides the thief and his tools from the eyes of the public, just FYI.

In my many years of police work, I've never seen components stolen from bikes. Wheels, yes. But not parts. I'm sure it may happen somewhere, but it's usually easier to steal the entire bike... Few thieves carry metric allen wrenches and such around with them.

At our university, despite our constant programs and Kryptonite lock rental program, it's like a shopping cart for thieves. Not locked, locked wrong, locked but not locked to anything, etc, etc.

In my many years of police work, I've never seen components stolen from bikes. Wheels, yes. But not parts. I'm sure it may happen somewhere, but it's usually easier to steal the entire bike... Few thieves carry metric allen wrenches and such around with them.

At our university, despite our constant programs and Kryptonite lock rental program, it's like a shopping cart for thieves. Not locked, locked wrong, locked but not locked to anything, etc, etc.

Interesting....now I'm a bit more relieved. :o

Very few people bother to steal components, unless maybe it's a campy record shfiter. If you need to, mcmaster sells every type of screw you can imagine in the security configuration, hex socket with a pin in the middle.

Very few people bother to steal components, unless maybe it's a campy record shfiter. If you need to, mcmaster sells every type of screw you can imagine in the security configuration, hex socket with a pin in the middle.

It's probably a seldom occurrence, but it does happen. My sister in law lost the handlebars, stem & everything attached. Her bike was a mid-level mountain bike with average components. Although not an expensive bike, replacement of the stolen parts was VERY expensive.
The previous posts outline good, if rather permanent, solutions. I use an alternate method that serves two purposes. I squirt some grease in the stem binder bolt and then drop in the appropriate-sized bearing. This prevents quick theft, but allows servicing by removing the bearing with a needle. It also prevents water from pooling and rust from forming.
Be creative in securing your components. Make it inconvenient for thieves and they usually move on to greener (easier) pastures.

wow never thought about that... yea probably just solder it or get the special screws slvoid was talking about

http://www.mcmaster.com/param/images/machine/roundheadtrigroove.gif
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_tx_bhpms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_sc_pss_al.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_ph_phpms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_tw_phms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_sp_nutrem.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_ow_thms.jpg

Just replace all your screws with those. Your bike's gonna be the s*it. Get the kryptonite locking skewers too. You can lock it up w/o removing anything.

Just replace all your screws with those. Your bike's gonna be the s*it. Get the kryptonite locking skewers too. You can lock it up w/o removing anything.

Just ... hum... avoid that last one, unless you're dead-set on fitting and believe your components will last forever. Instead of using that one, I'd just weld the sucker in place.

Just in case someone just dosen't realize it, that's what they lock safes down with, impossible to remove without heavy machinery.

Oh yeah true.
For those who don't know, one way screws only allow you to tighten them. There's a special tool that can loosen them but it's for very low torque's only. Other than drilling through them or using an easyout, there's no way to remove these screws once they're tightened.

I'd suggest you don't glue your bolt heads, unless you want to use lots of 4-letter words when you need to unscrew them. Even with something easier to remove like wax, you'll use a few dirty words, and that should be more than enough for the weirdos.

http://www.mcmaster.com/param/images/machine/roundheadtrigroove.gif
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_tx_bhpms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_sc_pss_al.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_ph_phpms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_tw_phms.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_sp_nutrem.jpg
http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_images/sec_ow_thms.jpg

Just replace all your screws with those. Your bike's gonna be the s*it. Get the kryptonite locking skewers too. You can lock it up w/o removing anything.


Nice.....would any home hardware store sell these screws or are they only for security stores? Plus I would need to find the screwdriver as well.

You'll have to try a pretty large store like home depot to have a chance of finding some, either that or a security store. Or you can go to hudson fasteners' online site to see if you can order some.

Oh yeah true.
For those who don't know, one way screws only allow you to tighten them. There's a special tool that can loosen them but it's for very low torque's only. Other than drilling through them or using an easyout, there's no way to remove these screws once they're tightened.
Actually, there's a very easy way. Using a Dremel with a ceramic cut-off wheel will allow you to cut a flat slot in the bolt head and remove it with a flathead screwdriver. Have done it many times.

Just replace all your screws with those. Your bike's gonna be the s*it. Get the kryptonite locking skewers too. You can lock it up w/o removing anything.

I remember looking into these security screws a while back but decided that they were no good for bike applications since they don't come in the metric sizes used on bikes. I couldn't find a single US reseller that carried metric security screws. If you know where to get them, please share.

In my many years of police work, I've never seen components stolen from bikes. Wheels, yes. But not parts. I'm sure it may happen somewhere, but it's usually easier to steal the entire bike... Few thieves carry metric allen wrenches and such around with them.

At our university, despite our constant programs and Kryptonite lock rental program, it's like a shopping cart for thieves. Not locked, locked wrong, locked but not locked to anything, etc, etc.

Are you counting seats, endbars, and water bottle cages as components? Cause I had all those stolen of my bike in college while parked on the most central, well lit, well policed, part of campus. And I went to UVA in Charlottesville, VA ... ie, not a city college and no crime problems. I'd agree with you though if you are referring only to shifters, derailers, et all.

Are you counting seats, endbars, and water bottle cages as components? Cause I had all those stolen of my bike in college while parked on the most central, well lit, well policed, part of campus. And I went to UVA in Charlottesville, VA ... ie, not a city college and no crime problems. I'd agree with you though if you are referring only to shifters, derailers, et all.

What's an endbar?

If you have a really nice bike, don't lock it up, don't let it out of your sight. The second bike thing is the best thing to do. Theives are so sorry that they may get frustrated and just kick in your rim. If you invest and build your good bike, don't take any chances by leaving your bike unattended.

Hehe he said it backwards, I think he meant "bar end".

What's an endbar?

These guys:
http://www.rei.com/category/4500799.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC

And I forgot to mention, those three parts I had stolen. All stolen on DIFFERENT occasions ... not all in one day. :(

Hehe he said it backwards, I think he meant "bar end".

What's a bar end?

:rolleyes: You must have a great deal of patience to be able live in such an imperfect world ... being as perfect as you are.

Seriously...what's a bar end? I'm a bike newbie.

In my many years of police work, I've never seen components stolen from bikes.

Never say never.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnnyhuh/34818487/

You can pretty much count on your bike getting messed with in Chicago. I don't have any personal experience in other large cities but I imagine it's not much different.

Seriously...what's a bar end?

Bars that go into the ends of flat handlebars, like some of the products in the REI link given above. They're used to provide more hand positions and additinoal leverage. Not used much these days.

Bar ends are an item some guy made a whole buncha money off of by convincing bikers that it would make bicycling more ergonomic for the biker who isn't really into the performance aspect of biking. Some bikers say the weight of the barends would rather be compromised in your weight of your tires.

Bar ends are something that should be banned from the racks on the light rail trains, as they make it difficult to impossible to use the racks nearby without knocking a bike over or getting tangled in them.

...those who use San Jose's VTA light rail probably know of one particular guy who really needs to get rid of those abominations.

The Union Station Bike Pilferers
Reply to: anon-25241160@craigslist.org
Date: Thu Feb 26 21:10:12 2004


This is to the Union Station Bike Pilferers. Guys. You've pulled some pretty petty **** in the past, but today was . . . well, OK, not even that high on the list. But I'm still pissed.

My first lesson in urban bike defense came years ago when someone stole my rear tire. OK, not a surprise, it happens all the time, right? But not in front of the friggin' DC COURTHOUSE!!!! There are cops walking and driving by all the time! What idiot steals a bike tire right after getting out of lockup? You almost have to admire someone who's in the very heart of the forces of public order, and still feels the need to **** with someone else's ****.

This was my first clue that DC is not a normal town as far as bike theft is concerned (or maybe it is normal, I don't know . . .). But hey, you live, you learn. So from that day on I started locking down the frame and both tires.

Time passes, I change jobs, and now I need to park my bike at Union Station while I'm at work. But it's a high-visibility, public rack, there are lots of people around at all hours, it should be OK, right?

Of course not, silly rabbit! If you've ever seen the racks at Union Station, you know that on any given day there are several sad, lost, stripped-down remnants of bikes that used to happily frolic from place to place as they carried their owners to their destinations without a thought or care in the world. But this was before they crossed paths with the Union Station Bike Pilferers. Now they're hollowed out shells of their former selves, ghosts, really, stripped bare of every useful part and doomed to haunt the earth as rusty hulks.

The last few years have been an escalating battle between me and the Union Station Bike Pilferers--they steal a bike component, I find a way to lock it down, they move on to something else.

Their first shot was my seat and seat post. Ha ha, thought I, I can buy a seatpost leash. Bring it on, *****es, what you got?

Well, what they got was the quick-release bolts that held my bike tires to my frame. That was a good one, I have to admit. But there's an answer for that one, too--I bought me some theft-resistant bolts that have to be unscrewed with a special wrench. Take that, boys, what's next?

Well, what was next was my hand grips. Oooooh, good one. You got yourself some ratty, worn-out grips that needed replacing anyway. Is that the best that you've got?

Well, no. In terms of sheer ****ing-with-someoneness, what was next was probably the best that they've got. I can see all the other stuff being at least somewhat useful to someone's bike, but taking apart and stealing the plastic thingy that holds my u-lock to my frame? Pure ****ing malice. Brilliant. I had to tip my hat to you for that one.

So let's see, is that all they've gotten over the last few years? Well, no. A close second to the plastic thingy in terms of malice is the time someone stole the bolt that holds the now-secure seatpost in place. That used to also be a quick-release bolt. Now, like the tire bolts, you have to use a special key to unlock that ****er.

Someone did saw through a steel cable I used to use to secure one of the tires, but they didn't actually steal anything, just chopped through the cable and left. Given all that, it was almost advice, as if someone wanted to say, "look, rookie, you *gotta* do better than that."

Anyway, I've gotten pretty good at bike defense, and until today, I thought I was invincible. Pretty much everything I could lock down was locked down well enough that someone good enough to steal my bike would know better than to steal it (it's not exactly a top-of-the-line bike by any stretch of the imagination). For the last few months I've been riding in, parking the bike, locking it down, and trotting off to work without giving it a second thought.

So it was a bit of a shock to get back to Union Station this evening and find that I'm missing . . . my brake pads. My *****ing brake pads*!!!!!! Goddamn.

Illusion of invicibility . . . dashed. Feeling of bike-related security . . . here this morning, taken from me this evening. Ability to stop . . . gone. I'm back to the flintstones-ish technique of slowing myself with my shoe.

But this weekend, I will go back to the bikeshop, hopefully for the last time, and I will ask the bike-shop wizards for a bit more of their wisdom. They've given me so much over the years, and I've rewarded them well for their wisdom. Maybe after this weekend's trip I will finally be totally secure.

Whatever happens, I will continue to fight the good fight in the hope that one day, the Union Station Bike Pilferers learn that stealing (from me) is wrong (and too hard to do), and that they should put their labor to a more productive use, such as stealing from someone else. Moving to Crystal City is not an option.


it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
this is in or around Union Station

I would recommend instead of concentrating on different locks, locking techniques, and ugly paint jobs, instead invest in a folder. I myself tried all above and when I purchase my first folder, these techinques went out the window, along with retiring my non collapsable old three speed to limited duty.