Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on October 20, 2009 at 6:59am

Take a section of old chain in an old tube or heat shrink tube and use it to secure the seat to the stays.

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Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on October 20, 2009 at 7:04am

When you say 'cable lock'.. do you mean the seat itself was locked with a cable through the rails? If so, I'm not sure there is anything that will deter THAT level of seat thievery without taking it with you (get a quick release seat collar and pull it off when parked). Otherwise, I like a small wire cable that goes over the seat rails and through the seatstays. Locked with a mini padlock. Unless she has a relatively "desirable" seat (Brooks, nice Fizik), which it sounds like not, that should give zero problems from now on.

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Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on October 20, 2009 at 7:07am

Otherwise, if you want to be a sneak...
Depending on your seatpost collar lock and seatpost's rail locking mechanism, you can replace those two (or three) screws with these:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#=457mz5

Otherwise, for the $$, you can invest in something like Pitlock:
http://www.urbanbiketech.com/

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Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on October 20, 2009 at 7:11am

Sorry, bad link before for the McMaster screws. Try this:
http://tinyurl.com/yzx4vek

They have various styles of very unusual head designs that are listed as "security" style. Just search under socket head screws.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on October 20, 2009 at 7:14am

Does it have a quick release? If so, replace it with a non-quick release binder (not sure of the exact term)
should be like $7 at a bike shop. Quick release seat posts are unnecessary on a bike that one uses for commuting/errand running, since you rarely change your seatpost once it is dialed-in.
Frank

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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on October 20, 2009 at 9:36am

OnGuard makes a locking skewer set for a bike's wheels and seat. This has (knock on wood) worked real well for me. Of course, you must have the special key with you if you ever need to remove the wheel. Getting a flat and not having the key is a real pain.

Here's a link to a site that sells the set, but many bike shops also carry this.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=27027

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on October 20, 2009 at 10:07am

If the bike doesn't have a quick release and the height is adjusted right where she needs it, she can just dip a BB pellet in superglue and stick it into the bolt. Easy enough to get the pellet out with some acetone if necessary but there's zero chance a seat thief is going to bother.

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Permalink Reply by spacemodular on October 20, 2009 at 10:32am

Another option which is super cheap and easy and works with any of the other suggestions given is to carry a plastic bag under the seat and cover the seat and tie it down to the seat post. More of a 'out of sight out of mind' deterrant, but effective in that it takes effort to discover what kind of seat is on the bike. Liquid vinyl on a section of bike chain is good too.

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Permalink Reply by Jasonk on October 20, 2009 at 10:47am

Everyone - Thank you so much! I'll have to take a look at her setup and see what I can do to fix it for her.

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