Got back to my bike to find the brakes removed

memphis32
memphis32 Posts: 55
edited September 2007 in MTB general
Was in work for about 30mins (it's normally my day off, but had some catching up to do) and when I came outside again, there was a man standing next to my bike. It being a row of bike racks, I assumed that he was just locking up his bike, so gave him a smile and a "Hi" as he went off into town. When I started unlocking the thing, I noticed that the brake calipers were just hanging from the hoses, and all the zip ties holding the hoses had been cut, and on closer inspection, the rear brake lever had also been loosened.
The bloke was obviously prepared for what he was up to, having the right allen keys, and something to cut the ties, and had already pocketed the caliper bolts, so I had to find an LBS to get things just so I could get home!

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I could discourage people from stripping my bike while I'm at work?

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    dont leave it in the same place each time.

    get a rat bike for work.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • yep buy a 2nd/3rd hand thing that will make it to work without too much trouble and you won't mind if something gets taken.
  • bryanm
    bryanm Posts: 218
    buy a fixie - it only needs one brake!

    Half the problem solved.... :wink:
  • russ0228
    russ0228 Posts: 228
    edited September 2007
    and make sure its black or grey as it wont stand out that way.

    p.s i would of chased him down and put a mad beat'n on him. whats he gonna do go to the cops with a handful of tools and your stolen bolts on his person. yeah right, he is probably already known to the police. besides they couldn't catch a cold let alone a crook. lol
    internet (in ter net), secret sanctuary of idiots and nutters.
  • That sucks man. Security guard where I worked said this happened to him the other day, he went to collect his bike after work & found out that someone had nicked his rear vee-brake pads.

    The thing is he said they were really really worn down - the mind boggles!!
  • connect it to mains socket :twisted:
    Where'd that bloody Deer appear from?

    My Bike plus Cannock Chase: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8222097@N03/492524919/
  • forcutty
    forcutty Posts: 1,055
    security bolts come in all different sizes try this supplier below

    http://www.ahc-camberley.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=32_133_241

    Now let his allen keys fit. lol :P
    Works fine for me. They just find an easyier target. :wink:
    LBS don't like them though. ha ha. they keep asking for the tool LOL
  • dhxcme
    dhxcme Posts: 1,467
    Security bolts are the answer. I had the smae happen to me outside the local cinema. Also lk other people say, get a cheap looking bike that makes the effort look not worth it.
  • do them up real tight then strip the ureself..... that probably wasnt helpful, sorry....
  • Thanks for the tips, have ordered myself a range of lengths of "pin-hex" bolts from screwfix (and the screwdriver bits to fit them!), will have to see whether that does the trick.
    Incidentally, when I put on the bolts that the LBS supplied me with, on the day the incident occured, the paint on the frame cracked and flaked off around the head of the bolt (at the rear disc mount). Is this normal? The frame is a 2008 Specialized Rockhopper.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    paint does that.

    what grade are these new bolts?

    wont take a thief long to get the tool to remove them. i have a full set.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Yeah, i figured that as it was so easy to get the tools myself, any thief could, but it will then take that much longer to realise that the tools he has in hand aren't the right ones, and the bike racks in question are in a fairly busy street...
    I'm hoping these will serve as a deterrant rather than expecting them to be completely tamper-proof!
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    yes but when he ifnds it is wrong he will just come back later with the correct ones.

    do lot leave good bikes locked in bike racks get a rat bike.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Nick has it right, I have a Rat bike to use, never gets looked at twice... even I walk past it sometimes pretending its not mine!
    I'm lucky though and can keep my bike next to my desk in the office so either way its safe.

    Only other thing to do is strip the head off the bolts when they are tightened or fill them with superglue.. although this poses problems when you need to get them off!
    ....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....
  • forcutty
    forcutty Posts: 1,055
    Yeah o,k but should you have too put your self down to such a level that you have too ride some old tat that know one will pinch. Surely if the security guard has had the same problem can you not ask your boss to provide better storage facilities. Why should we be made to suffer/give in to criminals.
    It's all too easy to say get a rat bike but at the end of the day why should you have to. i agree not to leave expensive bikes in bike racks but surly it should be the company policy to provide safe storage for your bike. If not should this not be a governmental policy in which to incourage cyclists to bike to work. This and more advertising of the bike to work schemes would surely increase the amount of cyclists :?
  • you could start an online petition on this site and send it to the government to realize that if they want us to think green and cycle to work then they should do someting about the rate of stolen bikes in the uk. you could also get the mags who run this site to advertise it in their mags and we could email the link to everyone we know and who know you might get a fair few signatures. it only takes one person to get the ball rolling. i will certainly sign it
    internet (in ter net), secret sanctuary of idiots and nutters.
  • forcutty
    forcutty Posts: 1,055
    i'm not the political type, but i don't understand why knowone else has thought about it and i think it could combat several problems for us bikers. i,e changing facilitys, showers, storage and overal shock those big wigs bosses into some action.

    P.S I overtook my boss in his porsche 911 twice on the way into work today, taking all the shortcuts, he did look at me a bit funny as he saw me there as he entered the gate. LOL. :wink:
  • Seems a good plan. May not make any difference, but we won't know unless we give it a go!

    I regularly overtake car-driving colleagues on the way in to work, but Cambridge isn't the most car-friendly city!