I'm considering just spraying rustoleum all over a frame for the winter, this might be a good option, but the bed liner sounds better.

Hmmm. Bedliner you say?

If I don't prep the frame, or if I intentionally put something over the paint like wax or polish first, will this flake as well and making everything looking janky? That's the overall goal here.

Go to a barber shop and/or hair salon. Collect a bag of hair clippings. Spray the frame and fork, the spokes, the rims with 3M #77 adhesive. Spread hair clippings onto sprayed areas.
Who needs a lock.
Not even a hipster would steal your hairy beast.

Had one of these as a kid, it was pretty safe, I traded it in for a 26" Schwinn single speed coaster brake conversion from a 3 speed and cash deal.

https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/blog/w...y-scout-06.jpg

That's really foul, and probably very effective, I'd mix in some random leaves and debris for maximum effect. The problem is that you wouldn't want to store it in the garage when you get home, so it would probably get stolen from the back yard at night when the horror isn't as apparent.

many years ago when painting a bmx, I thought I would try and throw glitter in with the paint. It just gave a rough sandpaper like finish with no glittering

Is theft in your area really THAT bad? If it were me, I'd ride what I wanted as is and lock it up well. I mean, how far should a cyclist take this? Do people really steal bikes locked up with the front wheel removed and locked up in a high-traffic, well lit area?

Yes. Welcome to Oakland.

I bet you could simulate rust under electrical tape by crumpling tinfoil, then flattening it back out so it has a rough texture. then wrap the frame tubes in the crumpled foil and wrap tape over the top.

Just put a sticker on the top tube that reads "Please don't steal this bike. Jesus loves you."

Seriously, though. You're telling me if you lock up your bike like this in a well lit, high-traffic area a thief is going to somehow cut the U-lock while people are watching? Someone who would do that would steal anything. I'm not convinced any type of camouflage is gonna deter them.

videos once showed a fellow out to see what people would do if they saw a bike thief cutting a lock. He stole his own bike, cut locks blatantly in busy areas and campuses. No one cared, and one guy stopped to help. This was in the lower East Side of Manhattan.
One can disable a U lock in seconds if you're so determined to do so.
We toured the ASU Tempe campus with our boys. Bikes of all kinds everywhere. No.1 crime is bike theft. Saw bikes vandalized and stripped. The guide's advice was to not bring a nice desirable bike.

...like I said.

Sounds like you should be prepared to lose your bike.

Wrap it in poison oak, there is a ton of it at Chabot free for the taking

That only works if the thief is allergic. It would work because I'm not, though.

As for some of the posts here about buying a POS bike, THIS IS THE POS BIKE! I just want to make it POS-ier.

The Neistat Brothers did that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooa3NVfFlEU

I've got a Free Spirit I've fixed up as a beater. It has foam grips that are starting to flake off, so I wrapped them in old inner tubes and covered the ends and the space around the brake levers with some electrical tape. They look freakish b/c of the thickness but they're super comfy.

Also, get some cheap craft paint and put it on your bike. Without any UV protection (i.e. clearcoat) it will quickly fade. A few squirts of silicone sealer on the frame will also look nasty.

I think all these suggestions are good ones. But, as someone who lives and works in a high crime area, may I suggest a second U lock, preferably a different brand/type?

I've seen the electrical tape thing done; sometimes it actually looks better or more creative than it does ugly.

Beat some dents into the main tubes. Particularly knock a nice one in the seat tube right below where the seatpost comes to any theif with even a bit of brain won't take a dented up bike.

That is brilliant. Reffering to the red bondo and spaghetti idea.

I once met someone who said that when he wanted to make his bike less pretty so as not to attract theives he first waxed his bike; then he put a lot of liquid car wax on the frame and then stuck crepe paper on it before the liquid wax dried. I guess some red paper could imitate rust. The idea is that when he wanted a nice bike he could remove the crepe paper and wax.

This is all hearsay, and I haven't done it myself.

That is both fantastic and terrifying to imagine. ....Though here in Austin, it could probably get a few fans. Even the hipsters can be a little demented, too.

Good point. ...Though if I touched a hairy bike in the dark, I'd think twice.

Really enjoying these ideas.

The best idea I've ever seen for making a bike uninteresting to thieves is to cover the entire frame is white cloth handlebar tape. It will look OK for a little while, but after some riding, it will be truly unattractive. You won't need a lock any more. Adhesive tape would do in a pinch if the old fashioned white cloth handlebar tape is not available any more.
-Mark

I nearly spat out my water.

Is this supposed to imitate what I think it's supposed to imitate? Cause if so, gross and definitely effective. I'd say an extra lock and a wheel mod in addition to uglifying a bike would be the safest: put solid or locking axles on the wheel, then lock everything to something solid.

I wish I could find the youtube vid where some guy actually rigged his bike so that he could text a phone number and deliver an electric shock to the bicycle frame. the actual implementation didn't seem great, but the idea made me laugh.