Do Pitlocks scratch paint on your seat tube collar?

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Michael

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Jan 10, 2013, 12:02:30 AM1/10/13
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Thinking about getting pitlocks for my seatpost and saddle (yes, they actually have one that clamps onto the post at the saddle bolt, thus blocking access to it). Noone can steal your seatpost or saddle, then.
 
I am more concerned about the pitlocks scratching the paint on the seat tube collar.
How has yours worked out?

Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery

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Jan 10, 2013, 12:51:02 AM1/10/13
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Unless something has changed since I tried it a couple years ago, I don't believe there's a pitlock that's easily compatible with a Riv seatpost clamp.

Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery

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Jan 10, 2013, 12:54:01 AM1/10/13
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Come to think of it, I've kinda forgotten that saddle theft is an issue. I think about wheel theft, or whole bike theft when I lock up, but it's been a long time since I've heard about a saddle theft. I often park with a saddle cover over my B67 saddles, both for weather protection and for disguise. So far, so good. I'm sure none of this applies in NYC.

Robert F. Harrison

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Jan 10, 2013, 1:05:45 AM1/10/13
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I use Pitlocks on both my Quickbeam and Hunqapillar seat posts. While I may lose a little paint I feel much more secure. I've had no trouble with the installation.

Aloha!

Bob
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On Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery wrote:

Unless something has changed since I tried it a couple years ago, I don't believe there's a pitlock that's easily compatible with a Riv seatpost clamp.

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Joe Broach

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Jan 10, 2013, 1:52:26 AM1/10/13
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I lost a Champion Flyer and seatpost last year the one day I forgot to put the saddle cover on. Working late, I missed the last bus and had an interesting 5 mile ride home. The worst part was losing the post--a unique 26.7 Nitto on my Miyata. Impossible to find a perfect fit to replace it.

Best,
joe broach
portland, or

On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 9:54 PM, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thil...@gmail.com> wrote:
Come to think of it, I've kinda forgotten that saddle theft is an issue. I think about wheel theft, or whole bike theft when I lock up, but it's been a long time since I've heard about a saddle theft. I often park with a saddle cover over my B67 saddles, both for weather protection and for disguise. So far, so good. I'm sure none of this applies in NYC.
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David Spranger

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Jan 10, 2013, 8:44:56 AM1/10/13
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Same here. Use them on all my Riv bikes seatposts with no issues. I do put a washer each side of the pitlock before installing. Yes, I do loose a little paint, but I think it is worth it for piece of mind when I lock up.

David
Charlotte, NC

Matthew J

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Jan 10, 2013, 8:57:24 AM1/10/13
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They are designed to work with a collar clamp.  The pit side holder (probably not an official term) has grooves in it.  So it probably will rub off some of the paint.

Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery

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Jan 10, 2013, 9:04:32 AM1/10/13
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Riv seatpost collars are counterbored on each end, one for the bolt head, and the other for a hex nut, which is pretty and elegant and functional. The pitlock ends do not fit into this counterbore. That is what I meant when I said pitlock wasn't easily compatible with Riv seat collars. Sure, you can run any bolt or, apparently, pitlock through that hole, and clamp down on the area outside the counterbore, which is likely to scratch the paint. I wouldn't do that, not so much because of the paint, but because it seems like a bad idea to just smoosh down on the seat lug over that counterbore.

SteveD

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Jan 10, 2013, 10:17:14 AM1/10/13
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I agree. I use pitlocks on both wheels on my Atlantis. But when I applied the pitlock on the seat post, the seat post kept slipping. Yeah, I could've clamped down harder on the pitlock, but the amount of pressure seemed a bit much to make it work. Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I stopped using it on the seat post because I was worried that it might damage the bike. Just my two cents.

Philip Williamson

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Jan 10, 2013, 4:06:56 PM1/10/13
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I have not seen a Pitlock seatpost skewer. Is it possible to slip a spacer or collar over the skewer? Basically cut the head off an M5 bolt and drill it out to turn it into a sleeve for the Pitlock to apply pressure to? 

Philip

René Sterental

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Jan 10, 2013, 4:36:22 PM1/10/13
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That is exactly what I'm planning to do at some point... Use the nut on one side and the bolt head on the other side so the Pitlock applies its force on those two elements. Haven't gotten around to do it, as I rarely leave the bike locked. Based on my new 2013 goals of just riding more, the candidate for this experiment will be the Betty, which is what I'm planning to ride around town on errands.
 
René


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Andy Smitty Schmidt

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Jan 10, 2013, 5:32:43 PM1/10/13
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I'm pretty sure I got this link for torx security head bolts off this here Riv list a while back. 

--Smitty

Robert Harrison

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Jan 10, 2013, 6:05:53 PM1/10/13
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I took a few quick pics of a Pitlock seat tube lock on my Hunq. I've got the same on my Quickbeam. There may better way of putting this on, but it works and I haven't lost my saddle yet.  I also don't find it unattractive but, of course, tastes vary so if you hate it…good enough. :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgps-bob/sets/72157632487313403/



Aloha, 

Bob



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René Sterental

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Jan 10, 2013, 7:27:07 PM1/10/13
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Ah, yes! Thanks for reminding me...


On Thursday, January 10, 2013, Andy Smitty Schmidt <54c...@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm pretty sure I got this link for torx security head bolts off this here Riv list a while back. 




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Michael

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Jan 10, 2013, 11:30:36 PM1/10/13
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But, does a regular torx bit work on the torx head bolts?

Andy Smitty Schmidt

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Jan 11, 2013, 2:46:38 AM1/11/13
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No, they've got a little security pin thing in the middle. Not quite as much of a "unique key" as a pitlock, but definitely not something in the average tool box.

--Smitty

Toshi Takeuchi

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Jan 11, 2013, 12:40:15 PM1/11/13
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Ha! Good point. Just garbage bag your brooks and duct tape your
Nitto lugged seatpost and all will be good ;).

Toshi


On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 5:03 PM, Andy Forquer <for...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think if you are paranoid about your saddle getting stolen by guys
> carrying hex wrenches, then you should recognize that they could just as
> easily disassemble the saddle from the post itself. Given the relative
> value of the saddle, I just loop a piece of vinyl covered steel braided
> cable, crimp it at the hardware store, and leave my post to be stolen or not
> stolen.
>
> I also have some locking skewers --- so around Oakland and SF I only bring a
> mini u-lock to secure the frame.
>
> -Andy

Peter Morgano

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Jan 11, 2013, 2:49:37 PM1/11/13
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Not to be a fly in the ointment but this again makes me thankful I have a beater bike. I know there is a pride and joy from riding your well pride and joy everywhere but my 10 dollar yard sale folding bike is a beast for running around town and doesnt get a second look. When I lock it up with a simple u-lock its all right there where I left it, pleather seat and sissy bars still looking terrible, haha.

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Robert F. Harrison

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Jan 11, 2013, 3:58:15 PM1/11/13
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The problem I have is my beater bike got a new drive train. Then new wheels (one of which I built myself around a two speed kickback shift hub). Then it got a new coat of paint and one of my older Brooks saddles. Ultimately it's not exactly a beater anymore. Actually, since I've had the frame since the early 90's I'd be loathe to part with.

Guess I need a new, old, beater. :-)
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Robert Harrison

Matthew J

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Jan 12, 2013, 9:58:44 AM1/12/13
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My issue with the beater bike solution is that life is short. Much as I like to pleasure ride out in the great beyond, truth is most of my riding is going to work or running errands in the city.

Sure, a beater bike means less to worry about when parked. But it also means most of my riding will be on something that is anything but fun to ride. In 8 years of bike only living the only bad luck I had was when a truck backed over my then favorite bike. Sure I was down for a while, but now I have a great new custom that I really enjoy riding.

Good bikes and quality parts are replaceable. Time wasted riding a junker is not. Haha.

René Sterental

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Jan 12, 2013, 10:11:01 AM1/12/13
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Couldn't agree more...
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Allingham II, Thomas J

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Jan 12, 2013, 10:36:46 AM1/12/13
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Junkers don’t need to be not fun, or time wasted.  I have an old Motobecane Super Mirage set up as a single speed with porteur bars that’s a blast to ride, and I’m nearly done building up (with Bosco bars – Riv content!) a 1 x 8 Sears bike from the ‘80s (a “Ted Williams” model) that it turns out was built by Puch and is all 531 – lovely riding frame, though it looks like absolute crap.  Sometimes I lock them, sometimes I don’t.  (Sometimes I use the Mark Abele trick of running my helmet strap through rear wheel and frame – very quick and so far enough to foil joyriders during a really quick stop.)  They’re both definitely beaters, but still VERY comfortable and fun to ride.

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Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery

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Jan 12, 2013, 10:54:40 AM1/12/13
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I always enjoy the artful beater. Doesn't look like much, doesn't cost much, but functionally great.

Peter Morgano

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Jan 12, 2013, 11:06:06 AM1/12/13
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I guess i have the exact opposite view. Life is actually pretty long and the life of a bike can be very long if taken care of. I would rather have my favorite bike 30 years from now than have beaten it to hell in 10. I take my nice bikes when I can but it still nice to have a beater when I know I have to ride out to the seedier areas of our fine city.

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Peter Morgano

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Jan 12, 2013, 11:09:03 AM1/12/13
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Oh, and I also had a super mirage, got from a bike shop, someone had traded it in. It was a sweet ride and I rode it all around brooklyn. It did get stolen about 2 years later, locked up on a friends front porch. I was pissed but just went to the bike shop and got another $150 bike instead of being out almost 3k like if my Rivendell got lifted.

Matthew J

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Jan 12, 2013, 11:26:43 AM1/12/13
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All a matter of perspective, I guess. Having seen my share of friends' riding days or days in general cut short out of the blue, I have a lot more confidence in my ability to come up with another $3,000.00 than I will have another 30 years worth of riding.

Sure beaters can be fun, but a bike perfectly matched to your body and riding style is special.

Philip Williamson

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Jan 12, 2013, 9:09:36 PM1/12/13
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Ah, this is a great quote. Thanks. 
A bike is to ride. The better the bike, the more I want to ride it.
I don't save my nicest watercolor brushes for special occasions, I use them every time I paint. A good tool makes any job easier and more enjoyable.

Philip

Alex Zeibot

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Jan 11, 2013, 8:59:54 PM1/11/13
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Hi Michael,
Scroll down to the 5th picture and the info under it.  That should give you a good idea.  Hope it will help you. Good luck.


On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 11:02 PM, Michael <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:
Thinking about getting pitlocks for my seatpost and saddle (yes, they actually have one that clamps onto the post at the saddle bolt, thus blocking access to it). Noone can steal your seatpost or saddle, then.
 
I am more concerned about the pitlocks scratching the paint on the seat tube collar.
How has yours worked out?

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