After going to change my flat tire from last week, I came to see my bike completely picked apart, down to the frame. Nothing but the lock, pedals and frame left. My question is could I switch out fasteners for harder to come by tools? This person obviously had some tools handy, but maybe locking wheel nuts, unusual heads instead of Allen’s?
by Silversalute
7 Comments
See if you can find torx or security bolts in the correct sizes.
That’s very unfortunate. Usually strip downs like this are a matter of how long a bike has been left. Locking wheels to the frame helps and was my standard when in Vancouver, BC – frame & front wheel with a big U-Lock, rear wheel to frame with a mini u-lock.
There are fancy security skewers to help with theft however forgetting or loosing the special tool can also be annoying. I hit glued bearings into my stem/faceplate bolts and ran an old chain through a tube to ‘lock’ the saddle to the frame (frame rails and seat stay).
Ultimately it’s about making your bike harder to steal than the one next to it or more of a hassle (time) than the parts are worth the risk for. 3am in a low traffic area pretty much anything will get stollen eventually since risk is low and a thief can take their time.
Thank you, all very great points and I think thats what happened here. It sat on the bike rack in a parking garage a little away from the main entrance for about 5 days, I’m sure they drove up off hours and took their time, like you said probably in the middle of the night. In this situation is a cable fed through both wheels even worth it or should I go full chain. I’m also looking at getting something that looks more beat up/less desirable and ideally not leaving it on that particular rack overnight
Bring your bike inside your apartment??
Proof that the frame is the least important part of the bike
The thief needed only two tools:
1) night (darkness)
2) time … nobody is watching them in middle of night.
Question? Who rides nice bikes without a pump, spare tube(s) & patch kit?
Forest Gump always said …. “ “ ….. he’s absolutely right.
bicyclebolts.com
hexlox.com