blm14

So I live in NYC. For 15 years (the last 12 of which I've lived here) I've been riding around on a 40 pound Jamis Ukiah steel-frame mountain bike. Totally indestructible but slow as hell. I finally got sick of lugging it around, plus the fact that it was too small for me - purchased when I was 15 heh...

So I just picked up a stock 2006 specialized tricross comp, which I love. It's light, fast, the right size frame (58cm), and the gear shifters are ace. The problem is that historically I have used my bike to go everywhere in the summer; I almost never take the subway when the weather's nice. Going to brooklyn for house party? Biking. Going to chinatown for lunch with the wife? Biking. Going to buy socks from Uniqlo? Biking.

This was all well and good with my old mountain bike which had no quick releases and wasn't particularly valuable. This lovely specialized has quick release front and rear wheels, and the handlebars and handlebar post are affixed with a total of 5 standard sized metric allen wrench screws.

I want to buy some security for this bike so if I make the 50 mile round-trip from my house to Coney Island I can get dinner on the boardwalk without having to worry about some idiot with a set of allen wrenches making off with my seat and handlebars. I realize I can get some Kryptonites for the front and rear wheels but that doesn't help with the other stuff. To say nothing of the awesome little bell on the second set of brake levers.

Is this just a complete fools errand, leaving me with no choice but to keep the Ukiah for days when I know I will need to lock up and just use the Specialized for biking for the sake of biking which would make me sad but I can accept it if I have to...

Isn't there some super light cyclocross bike that's made from a single piece of extruded carbon fiber so there's nothing to remove?! Will I have to buy a pair of vicious pit bulls to guard my precious new ride?

Thoughts? Thanks!

mlts22 

To aid piece of mind, I'd hit Peter White, Urban Bike Tech, or another PitLock distributer, and pick up a full set of Pitlocks that protect both wheels, the seatpost, all brake bolts, and the stem. Pitlock key-nuts are pretty small, so you can carry the key easily almost anywhere -- jersey pocket. It also allows for someone to stick a rod through, so a small Allen head wrench can be inserted cross-wise, then used to screw and unscrew the skewers, if you don't feel like carrying the proper size wrench for it.

Once you get Pitlocks installed, you really don't have to worry about major component theft. The new bike is more of a target for thieves, so a NY lock is a must, and if you can (and get permission to), hang a chain on the rack when not there, so you can have two locks at your usual haunts, but only need to carry one.

maddyfish

I'd loose the quick releases. Then you can either replace all the allen head bolts with something safer--say tamper proof torx, but I'd fill the allen heads with epoxy if you are really worried, PL premium adhesive if you are not as worried. Then use a top quality U lock, possibly 2, plus a top quality chain and lock.

blm14

Hrm I like that pitlock idea. I can replace all the allen wrenches on the stem and not worry about anyone getting my seat or handlebars. Dang I wish they sold those things here. I will have to order some online...

mlts22 

Here in Austin, thieves have discovered how easy it is to yank forks and separate those even if the front and rear wheels are secure, and as of now, there isn't really any way to secure a fork down other than using Pinheads or Pitlocks. I'm trying to urge bike shops to carry them because they can mean the difference in returning to a bike, or a frame, especially near the UT area. Even if wheels are secured down, someone popping the fork off is still possible in cases.