yep... once again my sixth sense was tingling as i was walking out of the metro... i could just feel something was taken from me yet again... I took a glance towards my bike from 30 feet and saw my bike so i was a releaved until i walked up to it, i was a bit confused at first but after looking at it for 10 seconds i noticed something was wrong

My marin mtb has been getting ***** over the past month, it started with a loose front tire one day and then a missing rear tire 3 days after... i knew in the back of my mind someone had tried stealing my front tire but i figured he chickened out and forgot about it so I put off on getting a new bike lock because i was a bit to lazy to bike to a walmart.... first mistake = $200

Two weeks later my seat and post where missing... i didn't replace all those quick clips with bolts, second mistake = $60

so after loosing my rear wheel and seat i went out and bought another lock to wrap around my rims, one U-lock for my frame and another cable lock that went through both rims... i tripple checked it every day and thought i had won, no more thieves will be looking at my bike anymore... I WIN!!!

Three days ago i had got off the metro and noticed my bike was flipped upside down while still locked.. i found it strange and thought someone had fliped it over in anger because i took up 4 spots on the rack to lock my wheels... well now i know why it was fliped upside down, someone had tried taking my fork/shocks but must have gotten scared off.. well he came back and finished the job last night, he even took every single ball bearing, I feel so foolish for not even knowing what was going on, i feel like i've been *****!


I have a spare fork with rock shox so it isn't that bad this time but what really ticks me off is that the thief picked on me and my bike 3 times in a row, my bike... out of 40 others that are locked up beside it... MINE HAD TO BE THE ONE! The only thought that makes me happy right now is the fact that the thief will never smile with his original teeth again.... my plan is to lock my bikes frame and leave the rims exposed and then i will wait in the bush 30 feet from it every weekend night for as long as it takes.. which won't be long since the thief has touched my bike at least 5 times within the last 4 weeks... I won't even ask for my stuff back, he will just pay me back in pain... that is my plan and it will be carried out.

so that is the end of my complain/rant, i had to vent somewhere... might aswell be a bike forum ahah

Maybe it's someone who knows it's your bike??

Time to coat the handlebars with capsaicin and just let nature take its course.

It must be documented on youtube!

Rather than do that, I personally went with a Pitlock set on one bike which protects the wheels, seatpost, brake bolts, and Ahead-set bolt for the fork, and a Pinhead set on another bike.

Its getting pretty common for people to jack forks these days, especially suspension forks. Other than locking skewers, there is no way to lock a fork down, as one can pop the quick release from the front wheel, unscrew the Allen head bolt on top, and be on their way. I've been in bike shops and have overheard people shopping for replacement forks because even though the wheels and bike were secured, someone yanked the fork.

Personally, I think bike makers, similar to keys to a car, should offer Pitlocks as part of the factory standard.

can you just lock your bike somewhere else? paying back someone in pain seems like asking for a lawsuit. which would cost a bit more than a wheel and saddle.

It seems like by now you would have figured out not to leave your bike there?

The OP seems to be a glutton for punishment.
After the first incident I doubt I would have come back for more. Then again I am a big old chicken.

break his jaw with your u-lock

Maybe your bike is the only one left there over the weekend.

This sounds like a good reason to use Torx bolts. Who carries those around?

I wonder why more people don't use Torx stuff. It seems to be able to handle more stuff, and not strip as readily as Allen head bolts. That is a good idea, but I wonder if someone would just whip out a Phillips screwdriver and have a go with that, as in some cases it works, although it strips the head.

Ok then, Torx plus Loctite and good luck with that Phillips Then you're safe from anyone except Saab drivers with the factory Torx screwdriver kit in the trunk. In all seriousness, I plan on attaching lights to my (soon-to-be-bought) commuter bike with Torx bolts for the added security. I suspect it's just not known to many people, you typically need to buy a bunch of bits in a package in a dusty corner of the hardware store along with a 1/4" driver to use 'em.

I have noticed in certain areas around here, if you leave a car sitting beside the road, it may be okay the first night, but wheels start disappearing shortly thereafter. The moral is, if you value your car, don't leave it sitting there overnight and for sure not for a second night. Locking lugnuts is not the answer, moving the car to a safer place is.

So wait.. after reading all that... what happened? He just took your fork? Or what?

I'm so lost..

Hmm. I do, but I drive a Jeep and they're used everywhere. FYI though, a lot of the Torx sizes are easily removed with a standard allen wrench.

-Roger

Ahh, TORX + ball bearings + solder !!! WHAAAT ???

Sounds like it may be cheaper to start visiting garage sales and pick up a bike or two for $10 that you don't have to worry about.

Replace all your bolts with these:

I'm guess that the OP has a fancy, somewhat flashy looking bike, nice parts, all shiny, clean and in good repair.
I'm also going to take a stab in the dark and assume the OP left their bike in the same place, possibly even the same rack, at the same sort of time each day, and the area has low foot traffic.

Taking these points as given, even if you used funky unique bolts the parts would still disappear. Maybe even repeatedly. Because the thief has time to scope out the bike, work out what tools are needed, and can just go out and buy them, and come back the next day to get the parts. The tools are then useful for the next person who uses the same defences.

Why would a thief go to so much trouble to steal parts of the OP's bike, well, $260+ seems like a pretty good reason. When it comes down to it if you keep putting your bike in the same sort of place, and it looks expensive, undesireable elements will start looking for ways to take the parts if they think they can get away with it.

You might take your seatpost with you when you go. FWIW they also have pedales that can be removed QR.

If you are an extreme anti theft person, etch your name onto all the parts in an obvious manner. That will make the parts worthless to a theif. It will also make it impossible to sell the bike used.

There are neighborhoods where it is impossible to park a bike for more than fifteen minutes or so. When I go to such neighborhoods I take a twenty year old bike that has faded and scratched paint. Looks horrible, and rides great.

I've replaced the quick releases with bolt-on skewers on the wheels and seat, and use massive u-locks to secure both the rear wheel and the front wheel to steel posts that are set in concrete.

When possible, I lock next to a new Cannondale that has only a cable lock. Crooks have good taste and they are lazy. They will steal the new Cannondale.

Anytime I am taking the metro and will be leaving my bike for a weekend, I lock next to the Marin MTB with the new wheel, new saddle and loose fork.

OP, it sounds as if your bike is being targeted by someone. Who did you piss off?

Pinhead skewers would be a good addition, they protect everything you've mentioned quite well.