Comments on: Just Ask Jack — Skewers or Bolts?

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:30:38 +0000

@Gail — not in a bike shop, that’s for sure. That’s way shorter than even a front wheel skewer. If you had access to threading tools, you could cut down and re-thread a standard skewer in whatever length you like.

By: gail skinner

gail skinner — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:42:27 +0000

Where could I find skeewrs 3.5 inches in lenght. ?

By: plutosdad

plutosdad — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:58:33 +0000

It depends on where you live. My coworker used to rely on the thief having tools, and his rear wheel was stolen while we were at work one day. Apparently bike messengers in Chicago don’t have the time to fix flats and would rather swipe a wheel, and they carry tools. (He saw the guy later, and recovered his wheel).

So if you have a 700c fixed gear bike and live in a city with lots of bike messengers, you may want to take more precautions with your wheels.

I am about to get spiked tires for the winter, and need to think of a solution, I’m thinking 2 u-bolts. The cables are next to useless.

By: Review: Velo Orange Anti-Theft Wheel Skewers | Bike Commuters

Review: Velo Orange Anti-Theft Wheel Skewers | Bike Commuters — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:04:10 +0000

[...] We’ve discussed wheel security strategies in the past, and some of the drawbacks of existing “non-QR” skewers have been addressed by Velo Orange in their design. Read on! [...]

By: David Snow

David Snow — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:58:51 +0000

I have pitlocks and like them a lot. Basically, they have to almost destroy the axle to get the wheel off, and if they have the tools to do that, they’re probably stealing that bike on the other rack with only a cable lock.

I just installed the pitlock for the stem cap and seatpost collar too. Not nearly as aesthetic as the old parts, but I’ll feel better about locking it up for a while.

By: Smudgemo

Smudgemo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:03:50 +0000

I’ve got the pitlocks on a couple of bikes. I can’t figure out why, but it doesn’t hold the rear wheel securely on the Xtracycle. I plan to swing by their shop one day to look at it. Since it works for another bike, I can only guess the dropout on the X is somehow the issue.
Aside from that, I love them. For short trips like the grocery store, I just U-lock the frame and call it good. The seatpost lock is too big to use for most bikes, but you can get around this with a Surly Constrictor and a file to flatten the sides and narrow it down to where the lock is long enough.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:19:28 +0000

I have one of those heavy OnGuard chains…12 lbs. of hardened steel. I leave that one at work where I lock up every day…the “around-town” setup is a smaller cable and a regular U-lock. Toting around a few pounds of security is definitely worth it, and you’re right — it gives good peace of mind.

By: nailheadtom

nailheadtom — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:34:11 +0000

A good U-lock used in combination with a short piece of chain and a second lock is where it’s at except for one thing . . . . weight!!! I have a three foot section of 3/8 chain with split connector links welded on each end and then snaked through an old tube. This is heavy but the piece of mind makes up for it.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:18:31 +0000

Tony, that’s a very cheap and effective deterrent — good tip!

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:09:18 +0000

What’s worked for me is to buy a small hose clamp and use it to clamp the front wheel quick release handle to the fork.

If push really comes to shove, a flat-blade screwdriver will get the clamp off. But, it will take a bit of time … so it’s really more of a deterent to someone walking off with your front wheel.