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Storing money in a secret place on the bike

Old 09-12-10, 05:58 PM
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Storing money in a secret place on the bike

So for a number of years now, I've been in the habit of storing money, and often spokes, inside my handlebars. Both have come in handy, but especially the money.

I'm planning to replace the down-tube shifters with bar-end shifters on my load carrying bike, since shifting with lots of weight in the front feels a bit unnerving, although, since I haven't had any close calls, perhaps I shouldn't worry about it. So I'm wondering whether there are any other good places to stash cash.

The advantages of the handlebars for storing things are as follows:
a) The money can be accessed without tools, and doesn't depend on tape or adhesives to hold it.
b) They, and thus the things inside them, aren't likely to be stolen.
c) The money won't fall out.

Any thoughts?
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Old 09-12-10, 06:23 PM
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If I publicized it here on teh interwebs, it wouldn't be secret any more, now would it.
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Old 09-12-10, 06:29 PM
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I keep a twenty dollar bill and a quarter in my tube patch kit. I've never needed it but Murphy's law is always lurking.
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Old 09-12-10, 06:35 PM
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What is the advantage of storing money in your bike over in your pocket? What if the bike is stolen? (even though the thief will not know there is money inside)
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Old 09-12-10, 07:17 PM
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That did happen once.
But I don't usually carry money with me, and often wouldn't think of bringing it, and might spend it when I didn't really need to. Having it on the bike means it's always there, but not too accessible. The problem with keeping the money in a patch kit is that someone might steal my bike bag. Perhaps I shouldn't worry about that, since it hasn't happened, but I did have a pump stolen once. I sometimes carry my tool kit with me, if I'll be gone awhile.
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Old 09-12-10, 07:40 PM
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put a little cash in your pocket. no pocket, put it inside your shorts, on your hip. (assuming you use cycling shorts)

I have ridden with my wallet on one hip and my cell on the other. didnt even know they were there once I started pedaling. In fact, I nearly forgot they were there until I took my shorts off...
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Old 09-12-10, 07:40 PM
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At first I thought this was a crazy thing to do but I've changed my mind. If you're in that type of situation where having money is not a daily biggie, then I can see this.

Of course for this to work, you would also have to be in a place where the likelihood of your bike being stolen is a remote possibility.

Whatever the case, if we're talking a token amount, then why not? If your bike gets stolen then so what. It's not that they've stolen your life savings or anything.
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Old 09-12-10, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Ludkeh
I keep a twenty dollar bill and a quarter in my tube patch kit. I've never needed it but Murphy's law is always lurking.
so do i.
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Old 09-12-10, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by storckm
So for a number of years now, I've been in the habit of storing money, and often spokes, inside my handlebars.
So that explains why some jacka** stole the Cinelli bar end plugs off my bike while I was in a convenience store!
They though it was *your* bike.
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Old 09-12-10, 08:14 PM
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Bad. You are just giving the thieves one more reason to steal our bikes (or bike parts)! That is perhaps an even better reason for them!
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Old 09-12-10, 09:05 PM
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The Truvativ cranks on my RANS bikes have an easily-accessed hollowed out hiding spot inside the external bearing bottom bracket. I'd need a cork or rubber plug to keep the cash from falling out onto the ground, though. Loose change would be kinda noisy, I would guess.
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Old 09-12-10, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
The Truvativ cranks on my RANS bikes have an easily-accessed hollowed out hiding spot inside the external bearing bottom bracket. I'd need a cork or rubber plug to keep the cash from falling out onto the ground, though. Loose change would be kinda noisy, I would guess.
Hmmm... It seems that a roll of nickels would fit in there nicely.
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Old 09-12-10, 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Ludkeh
I keep a twenty dollar bill and a quarter in my tube patch kit. I've never needed it but Murphy's law is always lurking.
Originally Posted by Nachoman
so do i.
What's the quarter for? I have seen a pay phone in forever...and last time I saw one I swear it was more than 25 cents.
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Old 09-13-10, 05:46 AM
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Inside the seatpost comes to mind as a possibility.
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Old 09-13-10, 07:25 AM
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Sakkit touring cycles used to be built with a security plug in the lower part of the seattube above the bottom bracket. i believe this frame fitting could be purchased and retrofitted on a steel frame if you were willing to sink the expense into the modification.

not the frame, but inside a frame pump would be an easy fit for some paper lucre.
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Old 09-13-10, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by abqtj
What's the quarter for? I have seen a pay phone in forever...and last time I saw one I swear it was more than 25 cents.
True, true. I got separated from my dinner date last week, and when I stepped into a market to buy a Reese's cup, I asked the teller where the nearest payphone was.
"You don't have a cellphone?! Even homeless people have cellphones!"

(And now we all have an excuse to talk to ourselves at full volume in public.)
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Old 09-13-10, 10:40 AM
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I use a Money Belt, and wear it beneath my clothing , on bike tours I have a mesh singlet with a tunnel sewn
across the back, so the strap does not have to be tight around my waist.

The rest of the time the cash , check book, D&C Card and my spare folding reading glasses are in my handle bar bag ..

Comes off the bike when I stop.

Last edited by fietsbob; 09-13-10 at 11:21 PM.
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Old 09-13-10, 10:50 AM
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I keep my credit card number in my brain. I've had to use it (the number, not my brain) on a number of occasions.

To date, nobody has ever accessed my brain looking for anything useful.


Since bikes are so easily stolen, I've never understood the principle of hiding money on a bike. It's like hiding a $20 bill inside a $100bill -- thieves might not see the money you've hidden, but they're happy enough just to get what's on the outside.

BTW, lots of merchants will take a credit card charge with just a number -- you also need your expiration date and security code.
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Old 09-13-10, 10:57 AM
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I see bar end plugs all over the road, I wouldn't stash money in the barends.
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Old 09-13-10, 11:42 AM
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Old habits die hard. Funny that you ask that because I always bring along my cell phone when I'm out riding.
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Old 09-13-10, 12:22 PM
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I'm a grown man,why would I want to keep money on my bike?Do you pin a note on your shirt too in case you get lost?

I put money in my wallet or my pocket and keep tools in my tool pouch.
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Old 09-13-10, 03:16 PM
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Perhaps folded tightly in a sandwich baggie, then duct-taped to a chain stay. It would look to all the world like you're just protecting the paint from chain slap. In a similar vein, if you finish your bar tape with electrical tape, maybe you could tuck a bill between layers. Or maybe even under the bar tape, if it's really just for emergencies.
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Old 09-13-10, 04:12 PM
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What emergency? somebody steals my wallet? If I'm in the city,I'll go get more money.If I'm in the middle of nowhere,who's going to roll me? Somebodys going to stop their car in the middle of nowhere to steal my wallet and leave the bicycle and all my stuff?
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Old 09-13-10, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Booger1
What emergency? somebody steals my wallet? If I'm in the city,I'll go get more money.If I'm in the middle of nowhere,who's going to roll me? Somebodys going to stop their car in the middle of nowhere to steal my wallet and leave the bicycle and all my stuff?
And of course you never mess up and forget to take your wallet and put in in your Jersey pocket, or have a week from hell at work and barely can make to the Saturday ride start, never even thinking that your last cash went to the pizza delivery guy, let alone worrying about stopping at the ATM on the way to a ride start.

Having a bit of cash stashed can sure make things easier. On the bike is as good a place as any. Blow out a sidewall in hte middle of nowhere and having the funds to have some food and drink can be the difference between a only mildly frustrating wait with a view (Any bike time lost is by definition at least a little frustrating) and a truely horrid wait.
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Old 09-13-10, 06:02 PM
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There is such a new fangled thing called a 'wallet" . . . stick it in your jersey or shorts pocket.
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