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Brilliant idea for a seat lock

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Old 06-19-14, 02:28 PM
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Brilliant idea for a seat lock

I came across this in downtown Chicago. Love the idea, it looks beautiful.

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Old 06-19-14, 02:29 PM
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Yes, i saved the chain from my old bike & plan to do exactly this.

- Andy
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Old 06-19-14, 02:30 PM
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My plan though is to wrap it in duct tape so it doesn't scuff anything. It has no grease, all rusted, so thats not an issue.

- Andy
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Old 06-19-14, 02:33 PM
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a tube out of a skinny tire will cover it too..

I don't live in Chicago where they strip bikes in a NY minute.

Upgrading becomes a theft Magnet ..
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Old 06-19-14, 02:51 PM
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Yep kind of old trick
chain + inner tube
Chain alone attract thieves eyes and give visual idea of how to defeat it, not a good idea. For this trick to last it should not be so obvious.
Rather than a good idea its way to implement it doesn't serve the whole cycling community at all

Last edited by erig007; 06-19-14 at 03:34 PM.
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Old 06-19-14, 02:59 PM
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You don't think a thief carries a chain tool in addition to a tool to release the seatpost? Takes about 10 seconds to break the chain and 5 seconds to remove the saddle and seatpost.
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Old 06-19-14, 03:23 PM
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Big City problems? Crap Bike FTW
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Old 06-19-14, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
You don't think a thief carries a chain tool in addition to a tool to release the seatpost? Takes about 10 seconds to break the chain and 5 seconds to remove the saddle and seatpost.
Most of them don't, actually. Anyway you can say this about almost any security measure--a U-lock can be defeated in any one of a hundred ways, should we not use one, then? The thing to remember is you are trying to make your bike, or in this case, your saddle, more of a hassle to steal than the next one. Most thieves are lazy. 9 out of 10 bikes won't have anything like this securing their saddle--so the thief will move on to an easier target.

As for this particular method, it was supposedly "invented" by a bike mechanic here in NYC some 20 years ago. Usually you use a piece of old tube around the chain so it doesn't rattle or scratch the paint. As far as I know, it is pretty effective. I have never heard of anyone who used this method getting their saddle stolen.
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Old 06-19-14, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by lostarchitect
Most of them don't, actually. Anyway you can say this about almost any security measure--a U-lock can be defeated in any one of a hundred ways, should we not use one, then? The thing to remember is you are trying to make your bike, or in this case, your saddle, more of a hassle to steal than the next one. Most thieves are lazy. 9 out of 10 bikes won't have anything like this securing their saddle--so the thief will move on to an easier target.

As for this particular method, it was supposedly "invented" by a bike mechanic here in NYC some 20 years ago. Usually you use a piece of old tube around the chain so it doesn't rattle or scratch the paint. As far as I know, it is pretty effective. I have never heard of anyone who used this method getting their saddle stolen.
If someone wants your $200 leather Brooks saddle, a bike chain is not going to do much to slow them down. The saddle on the next bike over is probably a worthless piece of junk, so not of much interest. A bike chain or thin cable is probably better than nothing, but I wouldn't leave a nice saddle unattended for the vultures to scavenge.
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Old 06-19-14, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
If someone wants your $200 leather Brooks saddle, a bike chain is not going to do much to slow them down. The saddle on the next bike over is probably a worthless piece of junk, so not of much interest. A bike chain or thin cable is probably better than nothing, but I wouldn't leave a nice saddle unattended for the vultures to scavenge.

Well, yeah, duh. If someone really wants it, I'm sure they can get it. Same with any bike lock. But the reality is that thieves will move to easier targets most of the time. There are lots of other bikes with fancy saddles, and most of them are not secured.
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Old 06-19-14, 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by lostarchitect
Most thieves are lazy.
Just make it a challenge and most will retreat to their meth labs in frustration. I get the saddle where I want and wreck the threads on the bolt holding the seat post, or drill out the head of the bolt so a wrench won't work. 30 seconds and they know they have to grind it off, and they still might!

Marc
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Old 06-19-14, 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
You don't think a thief carries a chain tool
Why would they? Boltcutters will make quicker work of a bike chain than a chain tool.
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Old 06-19-14, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by dynaryder
Why would they? Boltcutters will make quicker work of a bike chain than a chain tool.
2 snips. Done it myself to get chains off my own bikes. I dun have a chain too yet haha.

- Andy
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Old 06-19-14, 09:20 PM
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What about a pitlock? Pitlock locking skewers

more expensive than a bike chain, but waaaaay more secure.
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Old 06-19-14, 10:51 PM
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Now that you've posted it on BF... no longer so brilliant. Most thieves can now remember to pick a chain tool along.


I use shrink hose for electronics to wrap the chain (just get a thicker one):





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Old 06-19-14, 11:53 PM
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Soldering (or epoxying or whatever) all the pins but one on the bike chain and covering the bike chain will make the job way harder for thieves
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Old 06-20-14, 05:37 AM
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Geez, $10 for a couple of security bolts-- post binder and seat clamp-- would be much saner and probably just as secure. Having a chain clanking around back there, especially bare as pictured, is very unappealing to me.

One could even use Torx security bolts for an extra twist of security.
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Old 06-20-14, 05:46 AM
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Originally Posted by TransitBiker
My plan though is to wrap it in duct tape so it doesn't scuff anything. It has no grease, all rusted, so thats not an issue.

- Andy
What about dipping it in that plastic/rubber liquid that you can get at a hardware store?
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Old 06-20-14, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by chaadster
Geez, $10 for a couple of security bolts--
used chain = 0$
used inner tube = 0$
0 + 0 = 0
+
extra layer of protection = 0 to 150 millions dollars (F22 raptor aircraft)

Last edited by erig007; 06-20-14 at 09:09 AM.
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Old 06-20-14, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Ridefreemc
What about dipping it in that plastic/rubber liquid that you can get at a hardware store?
Hmmm, not a bad idea. Shall inquire bout that. Currently on bus to go get bike from shop, I guess I can swang by the hardware store & ask on way home.

- Andy
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Old 06-20-14, 03:03 PM
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This is nothing new to me...I've been doing that for many years, my chain is wrapped up tightly with some black tape to prevent it from flopping around. A much cheaper solution then pit locks which can also be defeated by a pro thief. Nothing is 100% but at least it will discourage thieves who are looking for an easy prey.
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Old 06-20-14, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by alan s
You don't think a thief carries a chain tool in addition to a tool to release the seatpost? Takes about 10 seconds to break the chain and 5 seconds to remove the saddle and seatpost.
Sure, pro bike thieves carry all kinds of tools, but not all bike thieves are pros...It's a good solution to discourage somebody who is looking for an easy steal. I doubt that most crackheads carry chaintools on them.
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