Hal tells us how to properly lock our bikes. Is bike theft so bad in NYC that even the crappiest bikes have to have chains locking their seats? This is getting out of hand.
Hal tells us how to properly lock our bikes. Is bike theft so bad in NYC that even the crappiest bikes have to have chains locking their seats? This is getting out of hand.
Comments
PedalPowerPat
Hal is a character
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 13:06That Hal guy is one funny cookie.
He had some pretty neat inventions for locking up his bike / theif proofing it.
Worth a look, you'll atleast get a chuckle from the vid if you already know everything Hal is lecturing about, but I doubt you already do.
Random cyclist (not verified)
seat locking
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 10:28Did anyone get a good look at his "invention" for locking up his saddle? Was it just a bit of bike chain?
I've never actually seen a saddle locked up in Toronto. Is that common on anything but an expensive saddle?
electric
re: seat locking
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 17:57Yeah, it's just a bike chain
Here is what i did:
And yup. Seats get stolen... some master-mind thieves do own allen keys!
The effort is worth not having to carry another cable-lock or awkwardly cycling home trying not to be sodomized by your seat-collar. ;)
Random cyclist (not verified)
Saddle locks
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 18:49Okay I confess I have not had a conventional bike since 1994, after nearly being run over after doing a header due to streetcar tracks. (I landed on the oncoming car's hood. Had it been 5 feet farther away I would have landed under it and been run over.) Since this spring I am now a yellow-bellied, cowardly eScooterist.
But why wouldn't this work as a saddle lock: drill a hole through the frame tube where the saddle mounts into the bike frame. Drill a hole though the saddle stem at the matching position. When the saddle is in position, insert a padlock with a long (6 inch) hasp.
Of course it would require a bike shop's pro tools to do the drilling, but is there a design reason this wouldn't work?
electric
Yup, that would work
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 20:55However, you'd have to drill the frame and your seat-post(I think that counts as bike abuse!)... afterwards you'd be unable to adjust the height of your seat.
There is a Canadian company here, selling locks
Sorta expensive, but i think the headset lock is worth a look if you've got an expensive fork.
As an aside; sorry about your accident... street car tracks are dangerous, even on an escooter or full-size motorcycle. It's simply a two-wheeled vehicle problem. Those tracks are polished so well that unless you've got diamond bits in your tires you'll be sliding out. See Jobst Brandt's explanation:
Ben
let's not...
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 15:17I don't think that is a fantastic idea:
One could probably find a padlock that would attach the saddle rails to a seat post, given the proper seatpost. You'd need to find a seatpost with a hole in it big enough to get the lock through.
Random cyclist (not verified)
awesome explanation
Sun, 06/28/2009 - 18:45thanks for the detailed instructions. I wasn't expecting that, but it's certainly appreciated.
PedalPowerPat
The only reason I would say
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 20:01The only reason I would say someone would not want to do the above mentioned locking technique for their seat is the metal from the padlock will be a unwelcome surprise if you land on it with any force.
I read your explanation twice and realise it is in the front area of the seat where you dont usually use to rest your bum on but I can just see the 1-100,000,000 time you land on that little bit of metal and it ruins your day.
I would go with Hal's method explained by electric, it is much simpler, doesn't damage the seat in anyway and uses parts we have lieing around anyway.