mkeHENRY

What size ball bearing will best fit into Thomson stem bolts? I want to try the glue method.

homebrewk

I dunno. Try finding a ball bearing with a diameter of 4-6mm, that is generally the size of stem bolts. Maybe even 8 too. Maybe someone with a Thomson stem can chime in with some insight.

mkeHENRY

Matter of fact, where can you even buy just a couple of ball bearings (of all sizes)? I wonder if I could find something to put in my Nitto bar end plugs? Yes, I am trying to achieve protection overkill! haha.

Leukybear 

Your LBS

Sherblock

Just had an idea... not sure if it's any good.

Would locking a small Masterkey combo padlock to a spoke do anything? I had classmates that would do it to one another, and I guess it's so small no one notices, except when they bike away and all the spokes get ripped out of the wheel.

Would it work? Worth the effort?

mkeHENRY

^ Damn, haha. That sounds so ****ed up. I cringe even thinking about the sound it would make.

adriano 

id guess that the ball would be 2mm less than the allen size.

rpf

I usually wrap my u-locks in old bar tape when it comes time to rewrap my bars with fresher stuff. Stops the frame taking a hiding, although i'm not all that bothered about scratches but it's a handy fix for no money if you are replacing bar tape anyway and it's good for the environment innit'

I mostly ride parts bin beaters around the city I live in. They would steal the milk out of your tea in this part of the world..

Not that that puts scumbags off, a bag of gear is a bag of gear and a bike is just a means of paying for it should it be a Bianchi or a gaspipe raliegh, it's all just worth 50 quid to the scuzzbucket.

Jonpwn

i know a bike will get scratched, my first bike is all scratched and nicked.
but it's like buying a new car.. of course it will get dinged and paint chips and such but why would you allow it to happen if you could (try to) prevent it?

thanks for the idea of wrapping the locks. Mine already has some rubber coating over it but i guess it doesn't hurt to put another layer on it. makes it look beefier.

rpf

Yip, a welcome side effect of bar wrapping the u-lock is that it looks even beefier and more of a deterrent to the uninitiated, in theory anyway.

UrbanPoet

I find that the U-LOCK + Cable is a good combo.

The U-Lock will 80% of the goods... Your rear wheel and frame, and the cable will potect your front tire.

I find it a good deterrent to the opportunist thief.

fuji86

When a thief comes into your home to take your bike, that's what should be the spirit behind "stand your ground" is all about. It's bad enough someone may steal your bike from a balcony, but breaking and entering, that's death penalty kind of stuff and swift justice should be legislated into it. Judge, jury & executioner in the time it takes one to go into a rage. There's gotta be a point, where even the most liberal of bleeding hearts has got to agree that enough is enough and turning the other cheek is not the only legal recourse in any theft.

Leukybear 

Gotcha, shoot to kill.

highonpez

Wut.

Stezzy

Gotcha, set snares in the windows.

JesusBananas

^

I don't even . . .

chi0dos

Hi BF. Ive been lurking on this site for a long time and I wanted to ask if any of you carry some kind of self defense just incase you catch someone trying to break your chain or someone tries to "tax you".

Nagrom_

I always carry a knife, regardless of whether or not I have a bike with me.

Although, I live in the ghetto.

chi0dos

Have you been in a situation were you actually have to take it out?

Pinkbullet3

I believe one time, he had to open a box and he didn't have anything else sharp nearby.

Nagrom_

Yeah, this one time, this guy was acting hella shady, you know, pacing back and forth, looking all crazy. So I went the other direction, and as I was walking, I noticed a long thread coming from the seam on my zipper fly, so I cut it.

But in all seriousness, no I haven't.

JesusBananas

Oakland?

Keys are great for opening boxes though. Although I prefer using a sawed off shotgun myself . . .

Nagrom_

Eh, close enough. I can see the city limits.

GENESTARWIND

i usually take my bike inside with me to whichever store im going to, well all except the walmart down my street as they are nazi about it. Im like what about all these fat people who use scooters just so they dont have to walk but dont need them? since i take up far space than even a fat person without a scooter. they dont care...ive tried explaining to them that locking my bike up outside a high meth area is a horrible choice but they dont get it, so i just goto target now and they let me carry it around on my shoulder.

Mumonkan

just saw this posted on one of the blogs i read:

https://atomic22.com/

its a keyed bolt/nut type of deal
each key is made unique for the customer, and they have fasteners for just about everything from derailleurs to chainring bolts

thought it might be worth checking out