Commuting - "disguising" my bike for city use?

hi all,
thanks for the reply to my earlier message about commuting -- i've decided (due to budget and enjoyment) that i'm gonna commute on my surly... does anyone have any recs on how to "decorate" the bastard to make it look less inviting? what kinds of tape can sustain water, not degrade too much over time, and come off cleanly (no sticky areas) if i move to some paradise where nobody steals bikes ;-) ? should i wrap the whole thing in different colors, etc? any other suggestions without damaging the paint too much, so i don't have to worry about rust?
peace
fily

why not use a lock?

I'm sure you're planning on using a lock. I ride a 2001 Volpe - dark wine color. I found duct tape just a shade from the paint, and covered all the 'Bianchi' s on the tubes and stays. Regular cable lock has kept it secure for 2 years anc change, but I don't park it in 'high crime' areas. Don't even think of locking a bicycle worth more than a bag of dope in one of those neighborhoods, because that's what it will become for the thief

Why not take some garbage bags and tear it up and wrap it around the frame? Then get some duct tape and wrap the duct tape all the way around that garbage bag and let everyone think the frame is basically being held together by the tape. It won't ruin your frame, since the tape won't touch the frame.

Koffee

Why not take some garbage bags and tear it up and wrap it around the frame? Then get some duct tape and wrap the duct tape all the way around that garbage bag and let everyone think the frame is basically being held together by the tape. It won't ruin your frame, since the tape won't touch the frame.

Koffee

That is so strong...great idea

Why not take some garbage bags and tear it up and wrap it around the frame? Then get some duct tape and wrap the duct tape all the way around that garbage bag and let everyone think the frame is basically being held together by the tape. It won't ruin your frame, since the tape won't touch the frame.

Koffee


Just don't use black duct tape. The thief might mistake it for carbon fiber. :rolleyes:

What great ideas! No thief would ever suspect that there's a nice bike under the tape. ;) I'll bet they think only folks with Huffy's do that.

How are you going to hide your nice deraillers and shift levers? Gouge them up with a file? Seriously, don't you think that it will be obvious that there's a nice paint job under all the tape and garbage bags.

Instead of 'security by obscurity', get a good padlock for your chain and a good U-Lock and use them both. Better is to take you bike inside with you. Best yet is to get an old thrift store bike and use it for day to day commuting. Keep your nice bike locked away until the weekend. Then you won't have to look at all that ugly tape.

If the tape is to protect the paint try hockey tape. It's fabric so you can use it on the handlebars also and shellac over. if you don't scratch the paint in the first place rust's not a problem (use boeshield or something inside) it comes in black and white @ 2.99 for a big roll (much bigger than the cloth handlebar tape rolls) 1 roll does 3 drop bars. If you get the white it'll get soo dirty the first day no one will ride with you!
None of this matters if you don't have a lock.

I dunno...I've seen a few bikes that were made to look ugly. If you know bikes, you can pick 'em out very easily. And, yes, the previous poster is right, what about the components - I've heard around here that folks steal your components, too!

My bike is no big deal, but it's nice enough compared to most others where I park (university). The only things I do are: use two locks (u-bolt & separate cable lock), park it in different locations around the school, wherever I park it is in a well-lit, high traffic location, I replaced the quick releases on my front wheel and seat post with bolts, and I hope for the best.

There are different types of thieves (I think). If I were to make my bike ugly, I'd completely repaint in with metallic,sparking blue and put CCM or Huffy stickers on it. That might fool the stupid thieves, while the smarter ones might think it's too much trouble to repaint it and get new stickers (I don't think they'll be put off by tape, although that might hide a bike from drive-by scouting). And then there are people who just like to vandalize bikes 'cause it's fun.

If I were really worried about my bike and/or lived in a high crime area, I'd visit the local thrift or pawn shop and pick up a $25 beater.

R

If you have the silver duct tape, once you've taped over the bags, no one will see the bags. Then I would suggest taking some paint and markers to it and totally giving it your own little paint job so that thieves think it's just a junker.

Components... I've seen some terribly beat up bikes with nice components. Of course, they were riding around Vicenza, Italy with Campy Record and Campy Centaur.... Vicenza being the home of Campagnolo. Not surprising the locals could find their components cheap.

Koffee

I don't think you have to use bags, cling wrap or any plastic will cover to protect the decal fom tape glue. good idea tho- Koffee.

A second seat and post for commuting- may get stolen, a torn (but loved and comfey) saddle, generic post.
Also looks :rolleyes:

I have removed some advertisements from components, I am not sponsored by them, nor a discount for displaying logos. Green scrubbies work well.

Dirt! DIRT!! Road grime, leave it, get more......free and ugly. Clean only the drive.

My main rides LOUD!!

Many of the 'bits' are red, uncommon, hard to hide. Thing are mis-matched- or missing? ( :D )

Ugly bare chromoly, even some patina (oxidation, rust) patina is just the arty $1000 way of saying it, (clearcoat this winter, I'll get to it......) Fake rust with a brush, use cheap acrylic, comes off with a bit of effort, repaint when needed.

I'm going to dremel (etch) design into the der and other components. ( Not #, something cool, personal)

They make many colors of electricians tape now, way nicer that duct, and easier to remove. I like hockey tape too for grip, kinda rots tho- (and looks ugly, asssorted colors!)

I'm tired and can't think more on the subject...

The simple solution to this problem is not to screw up your nice looking bike but to pick up a beater for like $20 and use that.

I once saw a "homeless" guy in midtown with an OCLV all carbon bike. Had it heavily disguised but the large smooth rounded corners in the triangle and that aero fin on the seat tube kind of gave it away.

The simple solution to this problem is not to screw up your nice looking bike but to pick up a beater for like $20 and use that.

Short of getting crazy and screwing up a great bike this
post is the only one thus far that exhibits any common sense.

Get a beater for work and ride the Surly as a sunday bike.

Here in the land of bikes (Isla Vista, next to UC Santa Barbara) the way they do it is to cover the bike with bumper stickers, then spray paint the whole entire thing, components, tires and all. But then again, they usually do that to disguise the bike they stole.

The "ugly bike" solution is really only mild protection. I'd either go with the ugly $20 beater solution or ride my perfect bike but never leave it outside alone.

stupid homeless... they get all the perks... maybe it was someone that once had money but is now broke??
\



anyway, scratching the words off deraileurs is a good idea... i filed all the logos off my bike.

Always park it next to a nicer bike.

stupid homeless... they get all the perks... maybe it was someone that once had money but is now broke??
anyway, scratching the words off deraileurs is a good idea... i filed all the logos off my bike.

Or maybe he STOLE it.

Always park it next to a nicer bike.

Great answer.

I have a beater, an old SS with one brake and what other compnents? Thats my answer for a beater bike, except its my nice one.

A question for you all. Do you have avaliable to you bike lockers? Here in PDX we have them scattered around, i think thay are around $20-50 for 1-6 months. Problem being they are in one area. Heres the link http://www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/bicycles/lockers.htm

Short of getting crazy and screwing up a great bike this
post is the only one thus far that exhibits any common sense.

Get a beater for work and ride the Surly as a sunday bike.

Whatever. Thanks for posting, have fun riding garbage 5 days a week. hope you don't have a long commute or a wipe out on your junk bike.

Whatever. Thanks for posting, have fun riding garbage 5 days a week. hope you don't have a long commute or a wipe out on your junk bike.

You are cleary a newb. A beater doesn't necessarily equate to garbage or one that is falling apart or is unsafe to ride.

You are cleary a newb. A beater doesn't necessarily equate to garbage or one that is falling apart or is unsafe to ride.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=665299#post665299 You ask-"What exactly is wrong with steel rims again?"

ummm, ya, you're bike scientist right?

The person did not ask IF, but WHAT TO DO! Do you want to help or just start something?

I offer suggestions, you, opinions. Crappy bikes suck to ride, poorly designed, maintained bikes are not safe. Sure, go wobble around traffic on a $25 ancient 'tensile steel' monster- but get outta my way> I got things to do and I ride HELLA fast.

I don't care, ride whatever, if the poster wants more suggestion I'll give them. Could fill a meg or 2.

NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB,NEWB.

That's cool. I'll let this 'suggestion' speak for itself.


Whatever. Thanks for posting, have fun riding garbage 5 days a week. hope you don't have a long commute or a wipe out on your junk bike.

Read post #11, I wrote it to informative. And I do think in some areas, if no secure storage is avail, bad city- sure, ride a beater. I ride a fairly nice bike, rides great, looks like hell.

Works for me. O- not to be all butt, sorry.
Most posts are curt 1 liners, takes no effort.
When someone starts d'ss'n when I bothered to type and be helpful, I get cross.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=46439&highlight=disguising some more ideas.

And here goes the expensive-bikes versuis cheap-bikes argument again.


Some cheap bikes can be made to work very well.

~~~end of discussion~~~

"Some cheap bikes can be made to work very well."

Yep, but let's not forget the corallary:

"Some expensive bikes can be made to work like crap."

My favorite technique for disguising a bike -- well, not so much disguising as protecting, but it has a dual effect -- is to cut down old inner tubes to wrap the circumference of the main tubes of the frame and then very carefully wrap coloured electrical tape over that. It does no damage at all to the bike, protects it from pretty much 100% of the moisture, scratches and even dents because it becomes very slightly padded.

I completely wrapped up an old frame like this (toptube, downtube, headtube, seattube, chainstays, seatstays, brake bridge and fork blades) to protect it from further damage and corrosion, but it also makes the bike seem ghetto and cheap in a cool looking sort of way. I had fun and used different colours of tape, but the final product was pretty slick (blue and white with black accents and black vinyl lettering).

I use zap strap over the tubes and make cuts in the tubes lower for rain drain.
ya, back on track. :)

I just bought a complete, used road bike on Ebay for $142.00. It's my new commuter ride. It looks ok, has some scratches and touched up paint etc, not fancy or nice like my Cross Check. I guess I'm fortunate that I park it in a secure garage and cable lock it to a bike rack. I think that thieves will steal anything, regardless of condition, if they figure they can get even a few bucks for it. The key it making it as difficult as possible to steal, not diguising it.

I offer suggestions, you, opinions. Crappy bikes suck to ride, poorly designed, maintained bikes are not safe. Sure, go wobble around traffic on a $25 ancient 'tensile steel' monster- but get outta my way> I got things to do and I ride HELLA fast.


An ancient bike does not automatically mean its crappy or slow. I have no problem keeping up with other riders on my 25 lb 1964 Schwinn chromoly Supersport racing bike with its original alloy wheels. Even my Schwinn Hi ten hybrid that I commute on can easily get to 20 mph.

On the topic, I think buying a older used bicycle is the best option. A ten year old bike will not be any slower or less safe than a new bike if maintained, but a whole lot easier on the wallet if stolen.

"On the topic, I think buying a older used bicycle is the best option. A ten year old bike will not be any
slower or less safe than a new bike if maintained, but a whole lot easier on the wallet if stolen."

Ah yes, more common sense on this issue.

"On the topic, I think buying a older used bicycle is the best option. A ten year old bike will not be any
slower or less safe than a new bike if maintained, but a whole lot easier on the wallet if stolen."

Ah yes, more common sense on this issue.

My bikes older than that, and very expensive\ rare. And I ride it everyday.
I spend money and a lot of time building, doing maintenence so it works perfectly. I WILL and DO ride it everyday.

I saved the bike FROM being a wall decoration.

Not sure about anybodies city, but in my town, the local downtown LBS has secure lock up.
They stay open to 6pm for lateworkers.

I also put my bike in the back of my friends store.

I lock my bike for long periods of time, in front of the police station, right in front of the camera.

If I have no secure parking, I take the bus.

Comes down to it, it's a machine. I can build a new one. I know how now, thanks BF :), great help!

6pm is late working? Man, you gotta have some kind of institutional desk job to always be at that bike store in time for 6pm to get home. what happens if you miss it? Bus home and back in the morning?

6pm is late working? Man, you gotta have some kind of institutional desk job to always be at that bike store in time for 6pm to get home. what happens if you miss it? Bus home and back in the morning?

Late for a bike mechanic maybe. Ritchey makes a pro road bike that the triangles unclamp, off the wheels and it packs down small enough you can carry under your arm and put under a desk, wherever. Maybe $1500?

Why not take some garbage bags and tear it up and wrap it around the frame? Then get some duct tape and wrap the duct tape all the way around that garbage bag and let everyone think the frame is basically being held together by the tape. It won't ruin your frame, since the tape won't touch the frame.

Koffee

lol. That is such a cool idea. Junked up bikes!!!

Why not take some garbage bags and tear it up and wrap it around the frame? Then get some duct tape and wrap the duct tape all the way around that garbage bag and let everyone think the frame is basically being held together by the tape. It won't ruin your frame, since the tape won't touch the frame.


lol. That is such a cool idea. Junked up bikes!!!

Rather ride a good bike that looks like junk, than ride a good looking piece of junk!

Hey, that's pretty snappy! I like!

Paint it flourescent pink, no one would wanna steal that.

My job duties include counseling teens who are in trouble for stuff such as stealing bikes. I often ask them "Why did you take THAT $50 bike, and not some nicer bike?" The usual answer was "It was right there in front of me, and all I had to do was pull that "No parking" sign out of the lawn and ride away".

The fact that the bike was a piece of junk was not get noticed at the time of the theft. Most bikes are taken by "non-experts" who see a bike that was easy to steal, and they don't have a clue what it is worth or not worth.

Sometimes they will try to sell the stolen bike to a bike shop, and when the owner asks them "What did you pay when you bought that OCLV 5020 new?"...the kid makes up what HE thinks is a reasonable price..."Ah, I bought this Trek new for $100"....he doesn't have a clue what a given bike is worth...it was simply in front of him and so he stole it.

A "Pro", with experience and the right tools, can break any one lock in under ten minutes. That means that a mega-expensive bike might be safe for ten or fifteen minutes locked with a PAIR of New York 3000 locks. But, if you lock a $3,000 bike outside a movie theatre while you attend the ten p.m. show, have a "Plan B" on how you will get home.

My "movie theatre" bike is twenty years old, and looks twenty years old. It would get a crook $75 at a pawn shop. But, it is kept in perfect mechanical condition, and rides as well and as safely as my best bike. Only a "Pro", with some expensive tools can break the THREE locks I take to the movie theatre. And no "Pro" is going to invest fifteen or twenty minutes of his time on a bike with a $75 pawn value. He will keep driving until he spots a $1,000 bike with just ONE lock. Much better return on his time.

My job duties include counseling teens who are in trouble for stuff such as stealing bikes. I often ask them "Why did you take THAT $50 bike, and not some nicer bike?" The usual answer was "It was right there in front of me, and all I had to do was pull that "No parking" sign out of the lawn and ride away".

The fact that the bike was a piece of junk was not get noticed at the time of the theft. Most bikes are taken by "non-experts" who see a bike that was easy to steal, and they don't have a clue what it is worth or not worth.

Sometimes they will try to sell the stolen bike to a bike shop, and when the owner asks them "What did you pay when you bought that OCLV 5020 new?"...the kid makes up what HE thinks is a reasonable price..."Ah, I bought this Trek new for $100"....he doesn't have a clue what a given bike is worth...it was simply in front of him and so he stole it.

A "Pro", with experience and the right tools, can break any one lock in under ten minutes. That means that a mega-expensive bike might be safe for ten or fifteen minutes locked with a PAIR of New York 3000 locks. But, if you lock a $3,000 bike outside a movie theatre while you attend the ten p.m. show, have a "Plan B" on how you will get home.

My "movie theatre" bike is twenty years old, and looks twenty years old. It would get a crook $75 at a pawn shop. But, it is kept in perfect mechanical condition, and rides as well and as safely as my best bike. Only a "Pro", with some expensive tools can break the THREE locks I take to the movie theatre. And no "Pro" is going to invest fifteen or twenty minutes of his time on a bike with a $75 pawn value. He will keep driving until he spots a $1,000 bike with just ONE lock. Much better return on his time.

Solid!

Man... my main lock weighs 4 pounds less than my bike as it is(on guard beast chain with huge padlock), my second lock is just a curly cable that secures the rear wheel and saddle but uses the same padlock as the main chain. If I got another lock I'd be carrying around more lock than bike! Whats the deal with that?

I have my bike cleverly disguised under ugly tattered paint and rust spots. :D

hi all,
thanks for the reply to my earlier message about commuting -- i've decided (due to budget and enjoyment) that i'm gonna commute on my surly... does anyone have any recs on how to "decorate" the bastard to make it look less inviting? what kinds of tape can sustain water, not degrade too much over time, and come off cleanly (no sticky areas) if i move to some paradise where nobody steals bikes ;-) ? should i wrap the whole thing in different colors, etc? any other suggestions without damaging the paint too much, so i don't have to worry about rust?
peace
fily

How about a simple Mini-bike cover. I bought one thats a 250CC size and it fits great!

Paint it flourescent pink, no one would wanna steal that.

Around here T-Mobile TDF fans love those pink bikes. Also hot-pink has better road vis than puke green. :D