Stolen Bike

Saxman said:

Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike lock? I
don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least
1 disc on the way. Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists
nabbing QR wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the
bike to stay put for sure (or at least relatively high values of
"sure"😉 then it's a D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy
and clumsy :-(

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Saxman said:

Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike lock? I
don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least 1
disc on the way. Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists nabbing QR
wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the bike to stay put
for sure (or at least relatively high values of "sure"😉 then it's a
D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy and clumsy :-(

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

On 14/05/2006 18:34, Jim Price said,

Quoted message said:

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

I should register the idea now, if I were you!! http://www.patent.gov.uk/

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Jim Price said:

I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

That's such a good idea that you were unwise to give it away for nothing!
;-)

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

Jim Price said:

I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

That's such a good idea that you were unwise to give it away for nothing!
;-)

If someone goes and makes one and I can buy one at a reasonable price
I'll be happy. If the idea takes off, the manufacturer not being able to
protect their invention thanks to it being in the public domain means
I'll be able to get one quite cheap when a few other people start making
them. Think of it as an open source type of thing.

Then again, there may already be a patent for it that is not being used
and thus stopping a desirable product being made 🙁

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Paul Boyd said:

On 14/05/2006 18:34, Jim Price said,

Quoted message said:

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

I should register the idea now, if I were you!! http://www.patent.gov.uk/

Thanks for the vote of confidence in the idea, but I think I just made
it public domain (see my reply to Pete) and on the patent website it says:
The invention must never have been made public in any way, anywhere in
the world, before the date on which an application for a patent is filed.

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Jim Price said:

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

It doesn't seem to deter bank/building society/post office robbers. :-(

On that note (sic) I had occasion to withdraw the better part of a grand
from the bank. I asked for fifties, and three of them were heavily
stained with what I can only assume to be the anti-theft dye. In which
case, I have to say, what's the point?

R.

Richard said:

Jim Price said:

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

It doesn't seem to deter bank/building society/post office robbers. :-(

That hasn't deterred people using such systems. In fact, usage seems to
be on the up.

Quoted message said:

On that note (sic) I had occasion to withdraw the better part of a grand
from the bank. I asked for fifties, and three of them were heavily
stained with what I can only assume to be the anti-theft dye. In which
case, I have to say, what's the point?

Well, at least I have established the point isn't for me to make lots of
money out of it 😉

Slightly more seriously, the criminal gets covered in dye, it would make
it more difficult (though not impossible) to sell the bike, and did I
mention the criminal gets covered in dye!

JimP

P.S. Sad to hear about the sick note - GWS 😉

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Jim Price said:

P.S. Sad to hear about the sick note - GWS 😉

Eh?

R.

Richard said:

Jim Price said:

P.S. Sad to hear about the sick note - GWS 😉

Eh?

I'll get me coat.

JimP

--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Jim Price said:

Richard said:

Jim Price said:

P.S. Sad to hear about the sick note - GWS 😉

Eh?

I'll get me coat.

Re-reads.

Whooosh.

D'oh.

R.

Jim Price said:

Peter Clinch said:

Saxman said:

Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike lock?
I don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least 1
disc on the way. Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists nabbing
QR wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the bike to stay
put for sure (or at least relatively high values of "sure"😉 then it's a
D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy and clumsy :-(

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it.

Or maybe make the lock of magnesium, and fill it with TNT ...

Slightly more seriously, how about using the metal loop of the D (and the
crossbar too) as a circuit, running at a very low voltage, connected to a
mechanism which would sound an alarm if it was cut? The sounding mechanism
wouldn't need to be much bigger than a rape alarm, and the circuit could
be very small indeed. I'm not quite sure how you'd handle unlocking the
lock, but i'm sure it's not complicated.

tom

--
I really don't know what any of this [censored] means, but it looks
impressive. -- zerolives, on YVFC

Tom Anderson said:

Jim Price said:

Peter Clinch said:

Saxman wrote:

> Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike
> lock? I don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least 1
disc on the way. Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists nabbing
QR wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the bike to stay
put for sure (or at least relatively high values of "sure"😉 then it's
a D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy and clumsy :-(

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made of
something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it.

Or maybe make the lock of magnesium, and fill it with TNT ...

That oughta do it!

Quoted message said:

Slightly more seriously, how about using the metal loop of the D (and
the crossbar too) as a circuit, running at a very low voltage, connected
to a mechanism which would sound an alarm if it was cut? The sounding
mechanism wouldn't need to be much bigger than a rape alarm, and the
circuit could be very small indeed. I'm not quite sure how you'd handle
unlocking the lock, but i'm sure it's not complicated.

Or even run a current around the D through as big an inductor as will
fit in the body of the lock. Then there'll be a good sized (but not
necessarily dangerous compared to the magnesium-TNT version) spark when
you break the circuit.

Slightly more seriously again[1], what I was thinking of was a D lock
sized body with a double concentric hollow tube coming out of one side
of it. The tube would have an air filled inner and dye filled outer. To
arm the lock, you put the free end of the tube into the body and pump it
up through a one way valve connected via the free end of the tube
through the lock body. The separate release valve is controlled by the
same lock and key which allows you to remove the free end of the tube
from the body. This way if you don't pump it up, its just a normal lock,
and you would avoid having to carry something around which could go off
in an accident. Having said that, you could put it on your bike rack
still inflated so anyone who hits you hard enough to break the lock will
get dyed along with you and the bike!

JimP

[1] Funny design process, this!
--
Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after
all. - DNA

Peter Clinch said:

Saxman said:

Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike lock? I
don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least
1 disc on the way.

But do make sure that you don't leave enough space to put a car jack
between the sides of the D. Then it takes about ten seconds to break
the lock. If it bends it is reasonably cuttable. If it is too hard to
cut it may be brittle and easy to shatter.

Quoted message said:

Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists
nabbing QR wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the
bike to stay put for sure (or at least relatively high values of
"sure"😉 then it's a D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy
and clumsy :-(

Concrete shed and armed guard, even heavier and clumsier but far more
effective.

...d

David Martin said:

Peter Clinch said:

Saxman said:

Does anybody have any advice as to what constitutes a good bike lock? I
don't want to get caught out again.

Hardened steel D-lock needs an angle grinder and some time to get
through, the better hardened steels will take the edge off at least
1 disc on the way.

But do make sure that you don't leave enough space to put a car jack
between the sides of the D. Then it takes about ten seconds to break
the lock. If it bends it is reasonably cuttable. If it is too hard to
cut it may be brittle and easy to shatter.

Quoted message said:

Cables are mainly good to stop opportunists
nabbing QR wheels when used in addition to a D; if you want the
bike to stay put for sure (or at least relatively high values of
"sure"😉 then it's a D-lock. Which is a shame becaus theye're heavy
and clumsy :-(

Concrete shed and armed guard, even heavier and clumsier but far more
effective.

I suppose that it's illegal to turn the down tube into a rifle barrel,
so that it will fire up through the saddle (shame about the Brooks), in
the event of theft and riding away. I know - you only need to forget to
turn on the safety once, don't you?

"Uncle Bertie's much improved
Since his tonsils were removed
Now his voice is so much higher
He sings soprano in the choir."

Tom Anderson said:

Or maybe make the lock of magnesium, and fill it with TNT ...

Thermite would be better. I don't fancy the idea of hitting a pothole
with a TNT filled D-lock between my legs.

in message <[email hidden]>, Jim Price

(') said:

Paul Boyd said:

On 14/05/2006 18:34, Jim Price said,

Quoted message said:

Wot e said, plus I've always wondered why you can't get a lock made
of something not necessarily too strong but hollow, and filled with
pressurised inky stuff so that anyone breaking through it will get
themselves and the bike covered in it. It could be both light and a
serious deterrent.

I should register the idea now, if I were you!!
http://www.patent.gov.uk/

Thanks for the vote of confidence in the idea, but I think I just made
it public domain (see my reply to Pete) and on the patent website it
says: The invention must never have been made public in any way,
anywhere in the world, before the date on which an application for a
patent is filed.

In that case make a small and subtle change to your idea and then patent
it. I can think of two off the top of my head, if you'd like to drop me
a mail.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Friends don't send friends HTML formatted emails.

TheMgt said:

Tom Anderson said:

Or maybe make the lock of magnesium, and fill it with TNT ...

Thermite would be better. I don't fancy the idea of hitting a pothole
with a TNT filled D-lock between my legs.

So don't hit potholes.

HTH. HAND.

tom

--
There is no latest trend.

Quoted message said:

Thermite would be better. I don't fancy the idea of hitting a pothole
with a TNT filled D-lock between my legs.

Better yet, should we petition the CTC to use some of our membership money
to leave 'Q-bikes' in theft hotspots. I'm thinking a mid-range mountain
bike secured with a reasonable cable lock. A driver prone to momentary
lapses of concentration lurks nearby...