Parts theft in the Loop

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Permalink Reply by Amber K on November 22, 2011 at 8:53pm

You could just take your saddle and post with you if all else fails.

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Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on November 23, 2011 at 9:26am

Thanks.  I get it.  Good idea.  But like you said a B17 is $85, not hugely expensive.

kiltedcelt said:

The way I've seen it done is you have a Pitlock or Pinhead locking the seatpost into the frame via a traditional collar. I'm talking specifically about a separate collar piece versus the frames that have the quick release attachment built into the top of the seat tube. You prevent someone undoing the bolts that hold the saddle onto the seatpost by installing a second collar on the seatpost but you snug it up against the very top of the seatpost so that it blocks being able to get an Allen wrench at the bolts that hold the seat onto the seatpost. It's a way to defeat anyone except for a thief who really wants to steal your Brooks saddle. If he's carrying a pipe cutter (as another poster suggested), or hacksaw - all bets are off. Of course a Brooks B17 can be had from Wallingford for only $85, so I'm not sure a set of Pitlocks at their expensive price is really worth it. As you know from experience, a hex bolt isn't going to deter anyone really. You could save a few bucks by purchasing Pinheads over Pitlocks, but the regular Pinhead set only goes as high as four locks - two wheels, headset, and seatpost. The Pitlocks at least allow you to buy a few more options. If you wanted to dual lock your seatpost into the frame and the saddle to the seatpost, Pitlocks have a kit that will let you do that all with one key, whereas with Pinheads you'd need to buy another seatpost bolt which would mean you'd have another separate key. Hope all this makes sense.

Brendan Kevenides said:

I haven't decided whether to replace the Brooks or not.  I'm not sure I understand your use of a separate collar on the seat clamp.  Could you perhaps explain more?  Thanks.

kiltedcelt said:

The light bracket was probably stolen by someone just being a dick. The Brooks, well I would never trust a saddle like that to a hex bolt collar. I plan on buying a Velo Orange touring saddle, or a Brooks. When I get mine I plan on securing it with Pitlocks to lock both the seat post and a separate collar to block the use of Allen wrenches on the seat clamp on the top of the seat post. I see a lot of folks securing fancy saddles with either a cable or occasionally with a piece of bike chain. Either option will slow down a thief but will not defeat them. Thinking that a thief will need a chaintool to steal your saddle, provided you've secured it with a section of chain is just wishful thinking. A good set of lineman's pliers (probably already in the thief's tool kit), will cut right through the chain plates. Pit locks combined with collars are probably the most secure way to ensure your expensive, well-broken-in saddle will still be on your bike at the end of the day. Of course there are supposedly ways to defeat even Pitlocks, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say most thieves will give your bike a pass if you're protecting it that heavily. Of course now that I think of it, a really determined thief who just really has to have your fancy leather saddle, can always just cut your seat post in half with a hacksaw, Pitlocks or not. The only way around that is to upend your seat post and fill it with concrete I guess.

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Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on November 23, 2011 at 9:27am

Just a pain.  Besides, if it rains, then water dribbles into your seat tube.

Amber K said:

You could just take your saddle and post with you if all else fails.

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Permalink Reply by Chucko on November 23, 2011 at 9:28am

A trick I picked up a while ago- if you don't need to make adjustments regularly, silicone a ball bearing into the place where the hex wrench would go. Makes it damn near impossible to get anything off quickly. You'd need to dig out the ball bearing first, which is annoying and time consuming. It protects against quick thefts. I do this to my rack bolts especially since I had one stolen a while ago.

 

I also have pitlocks for my surly LHT for the wheels, seat post and stem cap. Probably over protected, but I hate replacing parts due to theft. The pitlocks work well so far. And because of the pitlocks on the wheels I only need to carry one small ulock for the frame.

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Permalink Reply by Jin Nam on November 25, 2011 at 11:02am

I feel your pain!!!!! Someone stole my Brooks B66 on Nov 23! Streeterville by Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Security camera in the bike rack area, too. It was covered with ratty plastic bag. But I am sure someone's been casing it and figured it out. Prices went up for all the saddles n 2011...I hope yours was a standard and not the Special or Ti variety. Very sorry for you loss of a perfectly molded seat. Major bummer!

I replaced mine the same day. The shop put a bike chain lock from the seat to my rear rack which is immensely difficult and time consuming to remove from this partic bike. But to be sure, I put epoxy on the hex itself and am waiting for the Pitlock for the seat post. 

 

Good luck with your next saddle.

 

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