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Preventing saddle theft

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Old 02-21-11 | 04:54 AM
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Another security option is to pay 2 bike messengers to watch your bike while you are away from it.

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Old 02-21-11 | 05:17 AM
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Just weld the bolt in place...is not like you have to adjust the height everyday!

Besides, you can still remove the seat at the clemping mechanism at the top!

Possible Facepalm expected, I don't care
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Old 02-21-11 | 08:58 PM
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Use tamperproof bolts and fill the opening with super glue. A little expensive because you need to buy a specialized screw and bit, but probably the best deterrent to the average thief. A professional might carry specialty bits with him and the superglue will then slow him down a little. You could still even use a chain as well.

Something like this: https://www.oemhardware.ca/oempdf/GENERIC.pdf

Probably about a $10-20 investment on ebay for a bit and about 10-20 bolts.

Last edited by jchibante; 02-21-11 at 09:00 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 02-21-11 | 11:16 PM
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Old tube and chainlinks
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Old 02-24-11 | 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by jchibante
Use tamperproof bolts and fill the opening with super glue. A little expensive because you need to buy a specialized screw and bit, but probably the best deterrent to the average thief. A professional might carry specialty bits with him and the superglue will then slow him down a little. You could still even use a chain as well.

Something like this: https://www.oemhardware.ca/oempdf/GENERIC.pdf

Probably about a $10-20 investment on ebay for a bit and about 10-20 bolts.
You probably don't even need to use special tamper-proof bolts. Just use something weird from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_drive

How many people carry around weird screw types like tri-wing or security torx? Heck, if you're not in Canada, you could probably even just use a Robertson bolt.

Although if you don't mind never adjusting you saddle, use a one-way bolt
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Old 02-24-11 | 04:00 AM
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I just use a little cable
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Old 02-24-11 | 04:03 PM
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Personally, I am tempted to go with this kind of set up:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7612786...2842/lightbox/

She locked the chain with a padlock which is the blue thing under the seat. I was thinking of getting something like the £10 Abus chain (i think it's 8mm links and 90cm in length) with an integrated lock. As least it isn't going to be as easily cut as something I would use with the stock seat on my QR seatpost like the kryptonite saddle saver cable.

The only downside I can see is trying to find a chain which is exactly the right length to hook from the frame round the rails of the Brooks. Then it's a matter of using some tape to make sure it doesn't shift around and damage the frame, and maybe like her, cover the padlock with some tape too and somehow affix it under the seat so it doesn't interfere with how the saddle functions. Also the plastic bag when parked is a must in UK anyway.

I get my replacement bike next week after saving up for 8 months after the last was stolen (insurance didn't cover the whole cost). The saddle post on it is quick release and rather than spending £8 for a cable which might be replaced with a chain when I get the brooks, I'd rather sort everything out now...i.e. custom bolt vs chain like in the pic? Where exactly can I get a custom security bolt in the UK which will be suitable for both the stock saddle on a Marin Muirwoods 29er and the Brooks B67.

Is this good enough:
https://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/prod...20Seat%20Bolts

Or even this set?
https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...t-set-ec011572

Not sure if the bolt is for the seatpost or the saddle itself. I have QR wheels/hubs, so I don't mind getting a kit since it would prob be good to replace my QR with security skewers/bolts at some point.

By the way, does the below imply that these kind of bolts are not so secure?
https://answers.evanscycles.com/answe.../questions.htm
Can i get the tool for this seperately?

I was given the skewer when i bought my bike and don't have the tool to get the wheel off if i get a puncture. Help? Any ideas where i can get one of these tools on its own/
asked 6 months ago by Anonymous on KF Locking Skewer and Seat Bolt Set

Answers
answer 1
as daft as it sounds have you tried a 6"nail and a pair of molegrips
Anyone know if these security bolts would be easily removed into using a 6" nail and a pair of molegrips?

Last edited by the watcher; 02-24-11 at 04:14 PM.
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Old 02-24-11 | 04:27 PM
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Like this totally:



I LOL'd hard when I saw it parked in a rack on campus today.
/fail considering how you can just undo the seatpost and its all yours...
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Old 02-24-11 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by chadbrochill17
a thief that has seen your seat post before and has planned a way to get it. Thieves carry whatever it is they need to steal what they want, and if it's a seat post with ball bearings in it, they might have the tools to get the job done.

I agree with you that they will get it if they want it and that all we can do is slow them down, but I have simply not been convinced that the bearings are a good enough idea to go out and do it.
it definitely wont prevent thieves that have seen your bike and saddle, know your routine, and plan to steal it. and it wont prevent thieves that actually do carry around acetone with them...although im thinking that is a very small percentage.

it will most likely deter 'opportunistic' thieves though. ones walking around with an allen wrench.


edit: not that i use the ball bearing method lol....im still tuning the bike's seat height on a few builds. but i think once i have it perfectly set (im anal retentive) i wouldn't think it a bad idea....

oh and i have seen bolts you can buy from some specialty manufacturer with unique bolt patterns, so you would need to have the odd shaped allen wrench that comes with the bolts. well, i guess the odd shape wouldn't make it an allen wrench anymore.

right now i just run a cable from my ulock. cables are easily cut yes i know. but its at least something?

Last edited by illdthedj; 02-24-11 at 04:58 PM.
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Old 02-24-11 | 05:07 PM
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ah thats what i was talking about.
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Old 02-24-11 | 06:19 PM
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Just came across this post on Bike radar about the security bolts:

Most off the shelf 'tamper proof' like the pin filled are pointless, you can get the tools, or often ping the pin out with a screwdriver anyway!

A lot of 'coded' tamperproof are likewise pointless, I know of 2 car manufacturers whose locking wheel nuts involve a fixed location and a variable one as the code, remove the variable one and your tool fits all.

I can remove most bolts using an electric drill (in reverse) and a special tool you can buy from most automotive factors that bites into the bolt head.
Any thoughts? Any thief able to recognise a brooks saddle or who is used to stealing parts from bikes like disc brakes would surely have a hex tool or whatever in their arsenal? If they can spend a lot of un-earned money on a something I can't afford (a van for transporting their ill gotten goods), surely they can afford a cheap hex tool to undo those kind of bolts? I'm again leaning towards using a chain and padlock for the saddle, lol.
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Old 02-24-11 | 07:52 PM
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Speaking of Brooks B67/66, Champion and other sprung saddles, just realised that there might be room to slip the D/U Lock though the rails right like in that pic above? So this means one of the following is possible:

1) If it's like the one in Happy Pill's Post, you could slip a light weight chain (4-6mm links) through it and padlock the D Lock to the bike (and perhaps even round a pole supplying a further deterrent/obstacle for bike theft). Going with relatively light chain since I'm assuming it's on top of other setups I see which involves carrying a D lock to secure the real wheel and frame to the bike rack and the chain (say one with 11mm links) and padlock used to secure the frame and front wheel to the rack.

2) If the D lock is slim enough or there is enough clearence, and depending on the geometry (and seat height), you can attach the D Lock to the top tube of the frame? Even if it's a slim one, it's got to be better than using a cable since it can't be locked by simple croppers but would require something more heavy duty.

I wonder though, what is safer? A Slim D lock (say 12mm shackle) or a Slim chain and padlock (say with 4-6mm links). Can bolt croppers be used on a d lock with a 12mm shackle, or would it require an axle grinder/saw which is unlikely just for a saddle.

Oh, here's the post which got me thinking:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post12275129

Last edited by the watcher; 02-24-11 at 07:53 PM. Reason: forgot to link post
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Old 02-24-11 | 08:25 PM
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By the way, this is my planned bike:
https://www.marin.co.uk/2011/bikepage.php?ModNo=11M29

At the bottom with the frame measurements it says 27.2 for the seatpost height. So this means that assuming I'm not raising the height of the saddle, I can fit a 300mm D lock through the rails to the toptube with nearly 3cm to spare?

Assuming I am right about what they mean by seatpost height then hopefully with the extra 3cm, maybe I can even Fit the D Lock onto the tube just behind the seatpost. The thing which this person has attached the chain to:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7612786...2842/lightbox/

Still interested to hear about Slim D Lock vs Slim Chain and padlock

Otherwise, I'll report back on my own findings when searching tomorrow.
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Old 04-13-11 | 02:44 PM
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Instead of bicycle chain, use a length of 530 motorcycle chain. This stuff is heavy and a bolt cutter WON'T get through it. The only way is using an angle grinder to grind off the heads of one of the rivets. To anyone who has changed a motorcycle chain without a master link, hardened steel isn't easiest thing to get through. No pry bar or chain break is getting through that easily. That being said, I ride a Charge Spoon saddle which is about $25, so I don't go out of my way to obsess over saddle security.

At this point in time, I'm only riding recreational and don't lock up. When I was in college and riding to campus, I'd pick the first light pole outside of a busy lecture hall and lock it to that. The constant foot traffic made it a conspicuous target and I never had a problem.
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Old 04-13-11 | 03:10 PM
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I they really want it ... they will scope it out, then come bcak with whatever tools they need...
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Old 04-13-11 | 04:28 PM
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A determined thief will be able top steal anything if the opportunity presents itself. The best you can do is slow them down.

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Old 04-14-11 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by martinus
I they really want it ... they will scope it out, then come bcak with whatever tools they need...
This is the sad truth.
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Old 04-14-11 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by johnnytheboy
Super glue ball bearings in the heads of your allen screws. When you need access to that particular bolt, a little acetone will melt the glue and you can remove the ball bearing.
You could pretend to do that with these 5mm magnetic balls; group buy, anyone?
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Old 04-14-11 | 02:45 PM
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uh, yes a bolt cutter will get through it. I regularly use a bolt cutter to remove my old chain (when I'm not going to use it anymore) from my motorcycle and it takes zero effort.
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Old 04-14-11 | 03:01 PM
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or you could just ride on a saddle that looks mad ****ty and beat up.
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Old 04-14-11 | 03:20 PM
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I have expensive saddles so I always lock them with a chain along with my rear wheel through the seat stays... yeah, I know they can still be stolen, but chances are less with the chain.

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Old 04-14-11 | 04:51 PM
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gun cable lock

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Old 04-14-11 | 04:59 PM
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What chain is that, bhop?
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Old 04-14-11 | 05:24 PM
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I find it quite annoying that people keep having to say, "If they want to steal it, they will."

No ****.

But using a small chain will definitely be a deterrent as opposed to no chain. You could essentially use that same argument for just locking your bike up.

"Why lock it up with a hefty chain? If they want to steal it, they will."
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Old 04-14-11 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
A determined thief will be able top steal anything if the opportunity presents itself. The best you can do is slow them down.

That's pretty dope. How'd you make that?
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