ruskiantonov

Hey everyone, so after about 2 hours of research on locking your bike, I've concluded that nothing is full proof. Currently I have a Kryptonite "Faggetaboutit" that I use to lock my back wheel and frame, Sheldon says all you need to do is lock your back wheel through the triangle, but that makes me uneasy, as I love my frame way too much. I also have a cable that i run from my front wheel and loop it around the Ubolt. Still, the cable is easy to cut and my front wheel will be missing if they also have an allen wrench. Plus my seat post/seat, and stem/bars are vulnerable. I dont really care about my front brake, it doesnt cost that much and isnt a rare part unlike the rest of the bike. I have no quick releases either, so thats good. Pitlocks seem to be incompatible with track frames, and putting one on the front wheel seems like a hassle, for phil high flange hubs. My question is, is putting a ball bearing and and filling with epoxy basically the most secure way to safe guard your components? I'm willing to take 30 minutes to change a flat, using acetone and q-tips, if it means my bike is as safe as it could be.... I understand that even with this system, a dremel can still turn a hex bolt into a flathead bolt, but it seems that there is just no way to get around that, except for always having your bike in your presence. anyway, I need to get one this and make a decision. Please let me know what you guys think. What do people use in cities with high bike theft (e.g. SF, NYC, London, etc.)? Thanks!!!

Scrodzilla

Where do you live? Is theft even a problem or are you just being overly paranoid?

mkeHENRY

Man, if my only ride was as expensive as you're making yours seem, I wouldn't leave it outside.
With my current ride, I don't even lock it at school, I lock it inside the place I work at down the street.

But, man, everyone is going to tell you no matter how good you lock your **** up it's only a deterrent, if someone wants your stuff they'll do what it takes to get it.

If you can afford it, I'd go overkill on protecting your bike.
I'd buy those pitlocks if I could and instead of that cable I'd get their New York chain.

ruskiantonov

Hey, thanks for the responses. Scrodzilla, I AM being paranoid because despite the fact that I live in LA, my school is actually in a really nice area (UCLA) and seriously I NEVER see people loitering around. But still, I built my dream bike and now I want to protect it. I didnt feel the need to protect my road bike as much as this one... and it is super expensive.... Cinelli Supercorsa, record cranks, headset, pista bars, 2a stem, cxp's on phils... etc. I look at this bike and cant even believe its mine... its amazing, worth everything I've spent on it (about 1700). Once I finish school here I'm likely moving to SF for more school and there I'll definitely need to be on top of it. I'm already thinking about wrapping all the cinelli stickers up with black tape. I love to ride it and thats all that matters, I could care less if anyone knows I have a nice cinelli, though I'm sure it'll still stand out. Let me know what you think. Hows the pitlock compatibility with the front hub? do I need to change out the skewer? will the pitlock one fit, I've read people have had problems. how bout the back wheel? I hate carrying around an extra cord, that can also be easily cut. Just looking for the best solution, and if that means carrying a cord around and filling my hex bolts with epoxy, so be it. Let me know what you guys think.

Squirrelli

Get a beater bike or don't ride it.

ruskiantonov

I know what you mean, but I bought this bike so I can ride it, not look at it.... alternative advice?

calv

Just spend the money on a Krypto chain and ulock if it's that important. Get a cable to run tightly through your saddle also and put ball bearings on your stem and everything else.

ruskiantonov

HAHA thanks calv, I guess I just needed to hear it from someone. I think that'll be pretty secure, I HOPE IT DOESNT GET STOLEN!

hairnet

I have heard of a lot of thefts at UCLA - lots of rich kids with nice bikes. If you lock up near other bikes make sure yours seems more of a pain in the ass to steal. Every time I ride through Westwood I feel like it's a thief's paradise.

I would use a real beater bike to ride around the campus and Westwood while keeping the nice bike for other stuff.

ruskiantonov

mmm I donno about that, the only bikes that probably get stolen are the ones that are really poorly locked up. I was outside the library today and saw this mountain bike with a cable around the front fork... i started pulling the cable over the wheel to completely disengage the bike, the library closed and this kid was approaching me. He's like what are you doing?!?! He was this really clueless asian kid, and I gave him a quick lesson about locking your bike up properly, ie at least through the frame... anyways it was a funny little occurrence. but as for me, I think poxy for the bolts and krypto for the front wheel and the my ubolt for the frame and back wheel. I think that's as safe as I'm gonna get, unless people have other advise. anyone know a good site to get some ball bearings? and for the folks that use epoxy, any suggestions? Thanks.

yummygooey

This.

I'm scrambling to find a beater because the FTP is being sold and the TET is just too nice of a bike to be locked up every day and I worry way too much while I'm sitting in lecture.

If you're worried about getting enough riding time on your pretty new steed, that's just an excuse to get out on the road more instead of just riding to class.

ruskiantonov

I don't go on rides unless I have to get somewhere. I'll go 20, 30 miles but it needs to be for something, not just to enjoy cycling, I guess I'm not enough of an enthusiast. For me, surfing is something like that, I go surfing just for the sake of going surfing. I do like nice things, so I saved up for a nice bike. If I had money to burn, I'd buy an M3 but I don't race... I donno, maybe I'm a poser, whatever. But I do like to keep my nice things nice, and hence I want to do everything I can for it not to get stolen. :/ Anyone know how much the 3.5 Krypto NYC chain weighs? how but the Fuggetaboutit? thanks!

hairnet

sounds like a pain in the ass to steal compared to other bikes.

Not everyone has to be that way. You ride as a commuter/utilitarian and like an expensive bike, and that is fine.

ruskiantonov

I know, thanks hairnet, its just that sometimes I feel like you can say the wrong thing on this forum and then just get blasted with heat for it....

rustybrown

+1

FastJake

Seriously? I love cycling. I wish i had even $500 to spend on a bike for myself. If you don't care to actually ride why did you spend so much?

Just get a beater like everyone says, or a halfway decent bike that doesn't look so hot. No matter how good you lock up your bike, you'll still be paranoid about it, and there's still the chance that someone will steal it. How far is the ride to school? Do you really need that much bike to ride 5 miles a day?

Plus, carrying around 10 pounds worth of locks effectively makes your fancy bike just as heavy as my old beater.

dontpassthefenc

I envy you brave commuters. I only ride for the sake of riding/fitness and I never leave or lock my bike anywhere aside from my garage or upstairs in my office.

However, with that said maybe Im just a bit paranoid too. Ive had a few bikes stolen and I know it sucks BAD when you get something just the way you like it then someone takes it. Beefy locks plus epoxy sounds like a solid plan though, thatd be a real pain in the ass to just walk up and take.

ruskiantonov

I dont want a beater, god dammit. I want to ride my bike! haha. yeah epoxy and my NYC lock should do the trick. still waiting to hear if anyone know about the pitlocks and track hubs compatibility (eg Phil Wood hubs). Dontpassthefence, I do try to take my bike in with me whenever I can and not leave it outside. FastJake, the ride to school is not that far but I use my bike for almost everything else as well.

Eric the Ricer

I run errands on my bike. I just take it in every where I go. Thankfully I haven't had to lock it, yet. Maybe I should buy a lock...

Son Of Ra

Your posts make me wonder how you got into UCLA.

ruskiantonov

I think you're just feeling a bit indignant, it happens when you have high ambitions but lack of will. cheers, and piss off

rustybrown

This, regarding your original post.

ruskiantonov

I feel like that you might be trying to jab at me but I really don't get it... Either way, I dont think its constructive nor should you come on to forums and be smartass when people are just seeking some help...

rustybrown

coz mad and seemingly irrational requests for advice. Dem be trolling.

ruskiantonov

I don't know what "Dem be trolling" means; and how are my requests/questions irrational? Seriously, I would love to know... enlighten me.