Commuting - Permanent seat lock?

I've been trying to find a way to secure my seat to the frame in a semi-permanent manner. Have any of you done this and how?

By the way, a cable with padlock won't do. I don't want anything bulky.

I'm thinking maybe a renovation center cable with some tightening hardware might do.

Weld it?

Why semi-permanent? Theft protection? Perhaps a Pitlock?

Here's mine: get a carbon frame and an aluminum seat post. Let a little moisture get in there. Wait a year or so. Bingo: it's permanent.

Use an bolt with a tamperproof/security specialty head or allen key (http://www.brycefastener.com).
It weighs the same as your current set-up and is very theft resistant.
Sure, it is possible to steal your seat, but chances are they would move to the next bike instead.
If you need to adjust the seat hieght, replace the seat, etc... No problem!
Just don't lose the adapter bit ;)

Well there's permanently attaching the seatpost to the frame and then there's permanently attaching the seat to the seatpost. Best I can think of is replacing QR seatpost clamp w/ bolt, and then somehow mung all attachment points. Krazy-glue a bb into allen head on seatpost clamp and saddle mount, that kind of thing.

Plosive, thanks for the link. I'm planning on customizing my old hybrid and was wondering out to secure the seat (not just the seat post, like the Pitlock does). :beer:

Use an bolt with a tamperproof/security specialty head or allen key (http://www.brycefastener.com).
It weighs the same as your current set-up and is very theft resistant.
Sure, it is possible to steal your seat, but chances are they would move to the next bike instead.
If you need to adjust the seat hieght, replace the seat, etc... No problem!
Just don't lose the adapter bit ;)

Where do I get these bolts? When i looked at the website, the minimum order qty was 2500 ea. for $1500.
That's maybe 10 times the price of OP's 'old hybrid'.
Duppie

You could just use allen head bolts (from any hardware store) and fill the head with epoxy or something. You can dig it out if you have to but it'd take a while. Watch out that the sides aren't flat of they will be able to defeat it with vice-grips.

If you don't mind taking a torch to it, solder would be a good filler. That's if you don't mind scorching a little paint.

Keep in mind that nothing is secure to a guy with a battery powered grinder. That's not unheard of on the streets.

I've been trying to find a way to secure my seat to the frame in a semi-permanent manner. Have any of you done this and how?



2 options (sorry for no pictures)

buy a seat security cable (the thin short ones). Loop it around the seat tube, pass it through the saddle rails, pass the seat post through the free end, fix the saddle to the seat post, insert the seat post into the seat tube, coil it around the seat post by rotating the whole seat post until all slack is taken up, set seat post to desired height, tighten all bolts, using silicone bathroom sealant fill all bolt heads.

adjust the seat post and saddle to the desired height, loop a short length of bicycle chain through the saddle rails and under the top tube (cross bar), using a chain tool join the bicycle chain

Here's a thought; there may be some small car lug nuts that are of a suitable size to use in this situation. If so, you can buy locking nuts for these with a keyed top. You need to find something like a carriage bolt (round top, nothing to grab with vice grips) for the bolt.

Pit Lock makes a proprietary nut and sleeve system for securing your seatpost.
Peter White carries them.

My bike has a seatpost clamp with a hex nut (Surly Constrictor). This is probably enough, but I'm not 100% sure it's enough. Of course I didn't want something 100% permanent. But I want something that cannot be removed without a few tools. I'll go and get stuff at the renovation center, that's gonna do fine.

You could get an OnGuard seat leash. Although anyone with bolt cutters will have that out of the way in no time at all.

use an old bike chain wrapped in an old innertube and chain the rails to the seat stay

u'd need a chain tool or a lot of desire to get that seat. what kind of seat is it anyway?

use an old bike chain wrapped in an old innertube and chain the rails to the seat stay

u'd need a chain tool or a lot of desire to get that seat. what kind of seat is it anyway?

+1

That's what jyossarian recommends, and he's basically the head of HHCMF

I use a Pinhead locking skewer for my seatpost

But it still leaves my Brooks vulnerable through the allen bolt on the microadjust portion of the post. Been looking to replace that with a security bolt of some sort

Pit Lock makes a proprietary nut and sleeve system for securing your seatpost.
Peter White carries them.+1

Plus you can buy a set for your wheels too, and use the same key to unlock the entire set-up.

You could just use allen head bolts (from any hardware store) and fill the head with epoxy or something. .

If filled mine with pl premium construction adhesive, I know it can be picked out of their if need be, but it will slow down the thief. I had to do it once, and it took about 5 minutes with a small screwdriver to pick it out.

use an old bike chain wrapped in an old innertube and chain the rails to the seat stay

u'd need a chain tool or a lot of desire to get that seat. what kind of seat is it anyway?

+2. This is the standard New York City method of securing the seat to the bike. There's no such thing as theft-proofing anything here, but this is as close as you're going to get. Wrapping the chain in electrical tape rather than an inner tube makes it a bit less bulky.

I've just ordered a set of Pitlocks but I too am worried about the saddle being removed from the seatpost.

Has anyone actually bought security bolts like the Bryce Fasteners linked above? This seems like a potentially good solution, but I too am unsure where to obtain just a handful of them. That site disparages other kinds of "tamper-resistant" bolts, but perhaps these are easier to find and would seem to offer a good measure of security against casual thieves. such as: http://www.tamperproof.com/

What I really want is a seat post with a locking clamp that can't be opened (to remove the saddle) without a key. Does this exist?

Lots of people have the bike chain inside inner tube solution here in the Bay Area... but is a bike chain really harder to cut through than a cable? And can't someone with a chain tool just unlock the chain? That probably would take under a minute for a thief with some practice (given that it's such a common method around here).

Pit Lock makes a proprietary nut and sleeve system for securing your seatpost.
Peter White carries them.

+1.

I have the set that includes skewers, threadless fork cap and seatpost bolt. For my second bike I have a second set on order that's keyed the same as the first set.

After a stop at the hardware store for a $1.19 clevis pin, I can keep the Pit "key" on my keyring.

I had my 20 year old books saddle stolen last week so I've been doing a lot of thinking and research on this question. I want to replace it with another expensive brooks saddle (you know -- just because). I'm buying Pitlocks. That only works however for wheels and the post to frame connection. A keyed security bolt would be an elegant solution for the saddle connection. The typical bolt is an M8 1.25 40mm. Without buying expensive bulk, this bolt appears impossible to find. With more research, I might be able to find it off a British site.

End of day, I think I'm going to fill the socket head with solder and put a bike chain with electrical tape around it. Solder removal tools are cheap. At least that's the plan. I'll tell you how it turns out.

Just Krazy Glue the bolts in place. Krazy glue comes off easily with acetone so you can remove it when you eventually need to. Unless you need to change your seat height or angle frequently this will work. The would be thief isn't going to know what he is up against and will quickly move on to someone else's bike. All the other methods can be defeated with a cutter but bike part thieves aren't in the habit of carrying around acetone. I would use this strategy myself except my seat post doubles as a pump.:D

I have a cable that goes through the rails on my Brooks saddles.

Where do I get these bolts? When i looked at the website, the minimum order qty was 2500 ea. for $1500.
That's maybe 10 times the price of OP's 'old hybrid'.
Duppie


I've just ordered a set of Pitlocks but I too am worried about the saddle being removed from the seatpost.

Has anyone actually bought security bolts like the Bryce Fasteners linked above? This seems like a potentially good solution, but I too am unsure where to obtain just a handful of them. That site disparages other kinds of "tamper-resistant" bolts, but perhaps these are easier to find and would seem to offer a good measure of security against casual thieves. such as: http://www.tamperproof.com/

What I really want is a seat post with a locking clamp that can't be opened (to remove the saddle) without a key. Does this exist?

Lots of people have the bike chain inside inner tube solution here in the Bay Area... but is a bike chain really harder to cut through than a cable? And can't someone with a chain tool just unlock the chain? That probably would take under a minute for a thief with some practice (given that it's such a common method around here).

Here's another option (link provided on the Bryce Fasteners site): http://www.mcmaster.com/#tamper-resistant-screws/=8dpkw7

I still don't see a metric option with the security fasteners. I could replace the metric nut that is designed for the saddle attachment hardware but it would be jerry rigged and the nut wouldn't be secure. The existing nut is secure due to the way it insets into the hardware. The European fastener companies are also saying I need to buy bulk.

I really don't see the cable being any better than the bike chain option. The cable is easily cut and locking it creates some bulk. I tend to think that a bike chain is not as easily cut. However, anyone with a chain breaking tool can open it.

I don't really like the glue idea. It seems awkward to figure out how to soak the bolt to remove especially when it is attached to a leather saddle that could be damaged by the acetone.

I experimented with solder yesterday: that is, putting solder in the hex hole of the socket head bolt. It does seem to work -- well, kind-of. The solder melts into it okay. However, the solder doesn't remelt for removal. I think the heat is dispersing through the steel bolt and not remelting the solder. Once the bolt and solder was heated, the solder came out in solid form. I think this is because steel expands more than solder under heat.

I'm in San Francisco so I need to do my best. I thinking about duel deterrents: solder in the bolt head and chain.

I did this in the past, it was easier with cartridge BBs, goto the hardware store and buy a length of steel cable. Many seatposts have a hole near the top where the clamp is, if not drill a hole large enough for the cable to pass through, loop one end of the wire around the seat rail and secure with a crimp on holder. pass the cable through the seatpost and down the seat tube and out through the bottom bracket (you need to remove the BB). Set your seat height, make a second loop at the other end of the cable around your BB or in the case of an outboard bearing crank, make a loop large enough to allow the shaft of the crank to pass through. Reinstall your BB or crank with the cable looped around the BB or spindle. You can leave your quick release in place to allow you to lower your saddle, but you cannot remove the seatpost/seat without taking the BB out first.

I still don't see a metric option with the security fasteners. I could replace the metric nut that is designed for the saddle attachment hardware but it would be jerry rigged and the nut wouldn't be secure. The existing nut is secure due to the way it insets into the hardware. The European fastener companies are also saying I need to buy bulk.

I really don't see the cable being any better than the bike chain option. The cable is easily cut and locking it creates some bulk. I tend to think that a bike chain is not as easily cut. However, anyone with a chain breaking tool can open it.

I don't really like the glue idea. It seems awkward to figure out how to soak the bolt to remove especially when it is attached to a leather saddle that could be damaged by the acetone.

I experimented with solder yesterday: that is, putting solder in the hex hole of the socket head bolt. It does seem to work -- well, kind-of. The solder melts into it okay. However, the solder doesn't remelt for removal. I think the heat is dispersing through the steel bolt and not remelting the solder. Once the bolt and solder was heated, the solder came out in solid form. I think this is because steel expands more than solder under heat.

I'm in San Francisco so I need to do my best. I thinking about duel deterrents: solder in the bolt head and chain.

I use solder and it works fine. Use an actual soldering gun (also known as soldering iron). Google how to properly use solder. It is quite simple. Solder, soldering guns, and solder 'wicking' are all available at hardware stores and are very inexpensive.

The 'solder wicking' is a product specifically designed to soak up the solder after it is heated.

When done properly, there is no damage to the bike or bolts, and solder removal is easy with the right equipment (gun, wicking). I have done this to all my bikes that I have adjusted how I want them. Turn the bike upside down, or on its side to get at the allen bolt that is used to adjust the seat on its rails.

Best option out there, in my opinion.

~D

Ok a different thought .. kind of like #29..
use a hollow tube seatpost, run a cable loop out of the top of the seat post around the seat rails and back into the seat post , then run the 2 lengths of cable down the seat post tube,
and perhaps fix them to a stopper in the end of the seat post..

Or,with the other end secured in a plug that with enough cable length, slides down past the water bottle braze ons,
inside the seat tube , then you can fit a longer bolt in the bottle cage, to keep it from pulling back out out. ..

that should baffle most people with only enough brain power to think of quick grabs.

there are security allen bolts which in the center of the hex socket there is a pin it keeps the common wrench
from going in .. the hex key that goes with it has a matching hole in it's end.

that tamper proof site lacks allen capscrews.. I note. just metric button and flathead.

I use the Bladder bag out of a 5Liter Vin Ordinaire box as my winter saddle cover..

it, not only keeps the seat dry, it makes a saddle seem pretty ordinary too.

It's nice to know there are lots of options available for securing seasts, but where do you guys live that there's such a problem with seat theft? Is there some big market for seats? Do they bring a lot of cash at a pawn shop? I don't recall ever seeing a seatless bike anywhere? Seriously, what's the motivation for stealing a seat?

Use the quick release to quickly release the seat post and take it with you.

and if it rains the seat tube will be a funnel to fill the frame up with water..

Now that Brooks leather saddles are posh many(unscrupulous , addicts?) target them .

Where are these seat thefts happening? Big cities? Inner city? College campuses? I still don't understand. I ride a Brooks B67 and never seen any sign that it's been tampered with in Sugar Land and SE Houston.

Did anyone say Locktite (red level). I just had to grind off some 1/2 bolts due to this stuff.

My thoughts were a) bike chain in an inner tube b) security screws or c) locktite. Other option is to just take your seat with you like you would your computer if you're really concerned about theft. Out of sight, out of mind. Just be sure to cork the seat tube if there's a possibility you'd get water down it.

and if it rains the seat tube will be a funnel to fill the frame up with water..
this seems easy

...take your seat with you like you would your computer if you're really concerned about theft. Out of sight, out of mind. Just be sure to cork the seat tube if there's a possibility you'd get water down it.

Ok a different thought .. kind of like #29..
use a hollow tube seatpost, run a cable loop out of the top of the seat post around the seat rails and back into the seat post , then run the 2 lengths of cable down the seat post tube,
and perhaps fix them to a stopper in the end of the seat post..

Or,with the other end secured in a plug that with enough cable length, slides down past the water bottle braze ons,
inside the seat tube , then you can fit a longer bolt in the bottle cage, to keep it from pulling back out out. ..

There used to be an antitheft device just like that. It fit inside the bottom of the seatpost, had a cable to a plug that dropped down the seat tube, and even came with a longer-than-normal bolt to keep the plug in place. Not difficult to remove, but would certainly take a thief by surprise.

I think I originally started this thread. I soldered and used a bike chain. Within about a week the bike chain was gone and someone tried to unscrew the soldered bolts. The solder worked. I still have my seat. I'm not going to reattach the bike chain. Too many would-be theives carry around chain breakers, I guess. I did buy a thin cable to lock it as additional protection to a the U Lock. I also bought a crappy looking cover for the seat.

Fill your hex nuts with either:

aluminum foil+crazy glue (easier to remove if you need to make adjustments).
lead solder (harder to remove, but better theft prevention).

I fill all my hex bolts with this stuff, and no parts *ever* get stolen off my bike since I started.

Buy a folding bike and bring it inside with you.

If you're interested, try talking to these guys: http://www.oemhardware.ca/tamperproof.htm they claim to have metric and imperial fasteners. I don't remember if the microadjusting type of seatpost bolt is a standard metric thread or a more bike-specific one.

I use Pinhead locking skewers, headset, and seat post locks. They work fantastically.

Did anyone say Locktite (red level). I just had to grind off some 1/2 bolts due to this stuff.

I can't believe it took this long for someone to say Locktite red. Don't you just have to heat it up to break it?

Use a pitlock on the clamp

On your seat clamp bolt, either solder in the head (like the OP did) or red locktite and buy a $8 heat gun from HF.

Loctite red melts at 260C.

use an old bike chain wrapped in an old innertube and chain the rails to the seat stay

u'd need a chain tool or a lot of desire to get that seat. what kind of seat is it anyway?

The advantage of this is it still permits a bit of easy adjustment from time to time if you change cycling shoes or your saddle gets bumped and askew, or if you have to lower the saddle to get it into a trunk.

Just Krazy Glue the bolts in place. Krazy glue comes off easily with acetone so you can remove it when you eventually need to. Unless you need to change your seat height or angle frequently this will work. The would be thief isn't going to know what he is up against and will quickly move on to someone else's bike. All the other methods can be defeated with a cutter but bike part thieves aren't in the habit of carrying around acetone. I would use this strategy myself except my seat post doubles as a pump.:D

Me too. Right now I am using a cable lock through the seat rails and the seat stays.

Another option is to visit your local hardware store and put together something like this:

http://www.bikeregistry.com/estore/popup_image.php?pID=60&osCsid=1a89f5a19047f440bf0d2bafc4a1ea66