Zefal Lock n' Roll v. magnets

[Z I]

I've been thinking about buying a set of the Zefal Lock n'Rolls first
for my commuter bike, and then maybe for the Atlantis (which I can
rarely make myself leave unattended, yet). So while doing a google on
them, I found someone had left a review on them at Bikeman.

Here's what the guy had to say: "These are already obsolete!! Twisting
is one way to defeat them, but its much easier to just use a magnet.
No twisting, they open as if they are in the unlocked position!"
http://www.bikeman.com/QR1497.html

That'd be a bummer! I'm having a hard time believing that the Zefal
engineers would not have thought of something so simple when designing
an anti-theft device. I also can't seem to find any further
collaborating links, so I wonder if this is just hearsay...

The Zefal Lock n' Roll skewers were discussed around the beginning of
the year, and someone asked if a magnet could trip the internal
mechanism, but the discussion moved on to the Pitlocks. Has anyone who
has them actually tried triggering the mechanism with a magnet?

- Zach

[Ryan Watson]

Didn't try magnets, but twisting them allowed me to open them right up.
I could never get them set up such that they couldn't be easily opened
without inverting the bike.
I asked on a couple lists if anyone had been able to get them to work,
but got no replies.
I ended up returning them.

Ryan

[Ian]

I had my bike on the stand today, so I decided to test out this magnet
trick.

Using my shop magnet (strong enough to pick up large screws & bolts
off the floor, or to pull a chain out of a degreaser bath), I was not
able to trick the Zefals into unlocking.

I'm also unable to twist them open, as Ryan was. Could be a strength
thing, or maybe something with the dropouts (I have them on a Surly
LHT). Or maybe a setup problem. Regardless, I wasn't able to open
them.

I'm not going to claim that they are totally thief proof. But for $30
they are pretty much exactly what I need. As far as I can tell,
they'll stop all but the most determined wheel thief and I don't have
to carry around a special tool -- unlike a Pitlock. Yes, I'm sure
there's a guy out there with a huge magnet or super strong hands who
can pop my wheels right off, but I can't say that I'm concerned about
him. Guys like him will be able to steal stuff off my bike regardless
of what I do.

As always, YMMV.

On Aug 13, 11:48 pm, Ryan Watson <rswat...@nyx.net> wrote:
> Didn't try magnets, but twisting them allowed me to open them right up.
> I could never get them set up such that they couldn't be easily opened  
> without inverting the bike.
> I asked on a couple lists if anyone had been able to get them to work,  
> but got no replies.
> I ended up returning them.
>
> Ryan
>

> On Aug 13, 2009, at 21:38, Z I <rockscissorpa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I've been thinking about buying a set of theZefalLock n'Rolls first

> > for my commuter bike, and then maybe for the Atlantis (which I can
> > rarely make myself leave unattended, yet). So while doing a google on
> > them, I found someone had left a review on them at Bikeman.
>
> > Here's what the guy had to say: "These are already obsolete!! Twisting
> > is one way to defeat them, but its much easier to just use a magnet.
> > No twisting, they open as if they are in the unlocked position!"
> >http://www.bikeman.com/QR1497.html
>
> > That'd be a bummer! I'm having a hard time believing that theZefal
> > engineers would not have thought of something so simple when designing
> > an anti-theft device. I also can't seem to find any further
> > collaborating links, so I wonder if this is just hearsay...
>

> > TheZefalLock n' Roll skewers were discussed around the beginning of

[Z I]

Thanks for checking that out for me Ian. I felt like it would be a
long shot that a magnet would open them up. Seems like it would be an
obvious ploy for any professional bike thief, so they'd design against
that. On the other hand, I suppose the pros are the ones that are
going to get your bike regardless.

I feel like I read somewhere else about someone having trouble with
being able to twist the Zefals around. I wonder if it might be a
tightness thing... or somehow not being able to grip the dropouts
properly? Well, I will find out soon, I'm going to go pick some up and
try them out.

Thanks for the replies guys.

- Zach

[Ryan Watson]

On Aug 15, 2009, at 22:40, Z I <rockscis...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Thanks for checking that out for me Ian. I felt like it would be a
> long shot that a magnet would open them up. Seems like it would be an
> obvious ploy for any professional bike thief, so they'd design against
> that. On the other hand, I suppose the pros are the ones that are
> going to get your bike regardless.
>
> I feel like I read somewhere else about someone having trouble with
> being able to twist the Zefals around. I wonder if it might be a
> tightness thing... or somehow not being able to grip the dropouts
> properly? Well, I will find out soon, I'm going to go pick some up and
> try them out.

That was probably me.
I tried on several bikes and also tried getting them super duper tight
and was always able to twist them open.
Might have been operator error, might have been my dropouts, might
have even been a defective set, I can't say.
Such a nifty idea, I hope you get them to work!

Ryan

[EricP]

I wasn't able to get mine to loosen by twisting. But did have an
issue with my set. Because of the fenders/rack on the Sam Hillborne,
couldn't get the levers level with the ground. This meant the only
way to open them was to flip the bike at a weird angle. Too much
hassle on this particular bike.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

> > > > �- Zach- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Rick]

Haven't tried the magnet trick, but mine don't open with aggressive
twisting.

Rick.

[Rititi]

Anyone else cares to weigh in on this issue? I like the simplicity of
the system.

Additional question: is it easy to erase the branding on the skewer,
so as not to advertise the eventual flaw at the same time as the brand
name...? What I am worried about is the crime of opportunity, my bike
when locked up will always be locked up for short amounts of time in a
way that doesn't let it be turned upside down.
Thanks.

[JoelMatthews]

The logo is white paint against a black background. Just paint it
over with black.

All in all, seems like a lot to worry about if you are not leaving
your bike chained in public in the same place day in and day out. I
have the Zefal seat lock on by touring bike which is equipped with a
lovely and price Berthoud saddle. I suppose it is possible in the
random towns and parks I visit there lurks an adept thief who just
happens to carry magnets with him waiting like a spider for days and
weeks on end to pounce on my poor Berthoud and the whole $150.00 or so
dollars its sale will recover on the black market. Somehow I am just
not able to get myself all worked up about this.

But then again, I remain annoyed at Sigg for not getting back to me
about my $25.00 bottle replacement.

[Z I]

I tried magnets on mine, and nothing happened. When you turn the
skewer upside down next to your ear, you can hear a little click as
something slides in there, allowing the ball bearing that locks the
lever closed to be to retract (I believe there is a spring behind the
ball bearing as well, since it always appears to exert pressure on the
lever as you flip it.). I'm guessing that the little thing that clicks
is non-magnetic, thus foiling the sneaky well-prepared magnet carrying
thief.

You could definitely use a little 220 sandpaper and sand off the black
paint, as well as painting over the white lettering as suggested.
Maybe you could use paint thinner? Don't know how that would effect
the internals though.

- Zach

[Z I]

Regarding the spinning issue, there is a little washer with a tab that
fits into the dropout. On it's other side, it's toothed. There is then
a second toothed washer like piece that locks into the back of the
tabbed washer, and has a concave surface on it's other side that
cradles the lever. When the skewer is nice and tight, the concave bit
locks to the lever, the toothed surfaces lock to each other, and the
tab sits in the dropout, preventing the whole thing from spinning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21174375@N05/3953925978/

Maybe the early models didn't come with this?

On Sep 23, 10:51 am, Rititi <peq...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Dan Abelson]

I have what I believe is an early model (I bought it pretty soon after Riv put it on their website).  I finally got around to installing it yesterday and it has the washer with the tab.  Based on my test everything seemed to work as advertised.

 

Dan Abelson

St. Paul, MN

[Jean-Baptiste]

I've been able to open mine with a tiny strong magnet.
Not easy, though, I needed several attempts (but it's probably easier
with a stronger or larger magnet).

"The little thing that clicks" and slide inside is indeed magnetic on
my former set. You can hear it click, and when you approach a magnet
it doesn't click any more. (Note that the whole lever is magnetic.)
I also find it strange that the Zefal engineers have not seen this
flaw (or why they did not choose a non magnetic pin).
Nice idea, though, I hope it can be improved to a working thing.

I returned it and shared my experience with the vendor.
I now use U-locks.


BTW, I wonder if the "gator grip" that pretends to be a universal
wrench (made of 54 hexagonal pins) would open the Pitlocks.