Stolen - Avanti Hardtail MTB, Federation Square Melb.

Pete.B wrote:
> AAARGH F@$#%ng bike thieves.
>
> Someone is targeting bikes parked at Fed Square in Melb and, yesterday, mine was the latest to
> go. Stolen between 1pm and 2:30 pm Sat 2/8/03 from the railings on Flinders St. Can't say how
> they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I wont be using a cable lock ever
> again. I doubt I'll ever see the bike again but if I could ask people to keep an eye out just in
> case, thanks.

If your bike is halfway valuable or attractive, I suggest lashing out for a steel "U" lock (mine's
a Kryptonite). All the recent bike thefts seem to have occurred when the bike was only secured
with a cable.

&roo

If you must use a cable, make sure it's not hanging near the ground, because if the thief is using
boltcutters, they won't be able to get leverage by bracing the boltcutter handle against the ground.

"Andrew Swan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Pete.B wrote:
> > AAARGH F@$#%ng bike thieves.
> >
> > Someone is targeting bikes parked at Fed Square in Melb and, yesterday, mine was the latest to
> > go. Stolen between 1pm and 2:30 pm Sat 2/8/03 from the railings on Flinders
St.
> > Can't say how they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I wont be using a cable
> > lock ever again. I doubt I'll ever see the bike again but if I could ask people to keep an eye
> > out just in case, thanks.
>
> If your bike is halfway valuable or attractive, I suggest lashing out for a steel "U" lock (mine's
> a Kryptonite). All the recent bike thefts seem to have occurred when the bike was only secured
> with a cable.
>
> &roo

"Pete.B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> AAARGH F@$#%ng bike thieves.
>
> Someone is targeting bikes parked at Fed Square in Melb and, yesterday,
mine was the latest to go.
> Stolen between 1pm and 2:30 pm Sat 2/8/03 from the railings on Flinders
St.
> Can't say how they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I
wont be using a cable lock ever again.

FWIW, I think that the way they get quickly through some types of locks is to spray some really cold
gas into the mechanism, then hit it with a hammer. Some locks can (from only here-say that I have
picked up) have the mechanism broken and opened up using this method.

Tim

Tim Jones:
>
> "Pete.B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > AAARGH F@$#%ng bike thieves.
> >
> > Someone is targeting bikes parked at Fed Square in Melb and, yesterday,
> mine was the latest to go.
> > Stolen between 1pm and 2:30 pm Sat 2/8/03 from the railings on Flinders
> St.
> > Can't say how they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I
> wont be using a cable lock ever again.
>
> FWIW, I think that the way they get quickly through some types of locks is to spray some really
> cold gas into the mechanism, then hit it with a hammer. Some locks can (from only here-say that I
> have picked up) have the mechanism broken and opened up using this method.

You'd have to have a decent amount of liquid nitrogen or other frozen gas-turned-liquid, as well as
time, to be able to freeze the metal lock innards to such a temperature that it becomes brittle.
Liquid nitro etc. is not cheap nor conveniently portable/deliverable, and much too time consuming to
use as a freezing medium for a lock, even if you had enough of it. Cables are much easily and
quickly cut by cable cutters.

Bike lock companies push the plastic-covered chain-type locks as higher security items, presumably
because it's a bit more difficult to get access to the flat sides of the links to cut these with
cable cutters.

I think you'll find they are using one of these on the cable locks.
http://hittools.com/catalog/itemlist.asp?catid=52&parentid=10 Stock No Wire Rope Cap. Steel Wire
Cap. Wt. (Lb) Replacement Head 22-WC42 3/4" 3/8" 18 3/4 22-WC42B

Tim Jones wrote:

> "Pete.B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>AAARGH F@$#%ng bike thieves.
>>
>>Someone is targeting bikes parked at Fed Square in Melb and, yesterday,
>
> mine was the latest to go.
>
>>Stolen between 1pm and 2:30 pm Sat 2/8/03 from the railings on Flinders
>
> St.
>
>>Can't say how they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I
>
> wont be using a cable lock ever again.
>
> FWIW, I think that the way they get quickly through some types of locks is to spray some really
> cold gas into the mechanism, then hit it with a hammer. Some locks can (from only here-say that I
> have picked up) have the mechanism broken and opened up using this method.
>
> Tim

Jose Rizal wrote:

> Tim Jones:
>
>>>Can't say how they broke the cable lock as they left nothing behind but I
>>wont be using a cable lock ever again.
>>
>>FWIW, I think that the way they get quickly through some types of locks is to spray some really
>>cold gas into the mechanism, then hit it with a hammer. Some locks can (from only here-say that I
>>have picked up) have the mechanism broken and opened up using this method.

> You'd have to have a decent amount of liquid nitrogen or other frozen gas-turned-liquid, as well
> as time, to be able to freeze the metal lock innards to such a temperature that it becomes
> brittle. Liquid nitro etc. is not cheap nor conveniently portable/deliverable, and much too time
> consuming to use as a freezing medium for a lock, even if you had enough of it. Cables are much
> easily and quickly cut by cable cutters.
>
> Bike lock companies push the plastic-covered chain-type locks as higher security items, presumably
> because it's a bit more difficult to get access to the flat sides of the links to cut these with
> cable cutters.

I agree. The frozen lock method sounds like it is straight out of the movies. Never thought it would
be practical.

I think the thieves are using something like these with cable locks

http://www.rodefeld-sales.com/graphics/baudat/baudat_vc.jpg VCS 22 Single handed Cable cutter with
ratchet mechanism and gear change. Cutting material - Flexible wire ropes up to 16mm dia. length:
290mm weight: 1.0 kg Forged cutting blades. Heat treated and specially hardened. Ratchet action
multiplies power.

http://www.rodefeld-sales.com/graphics/baudat/baudat_hc2.jpg HCS 22 Cable cutter with ratchet
mechanism Cutting material: Flexible steel ropes up to 20mm dia. length: 430mm weight: 1.4 kg

> Bike lock companies push the plastic-covered chain-type locks as higher security items, presumably
> because it's a bit more difficult to get access to the flat sides of the links to cut these with
> cable cutters.

What are the best type of locks? Obviously chains/cable/U locks can all be cut somehow , someway. I
suppose it comes down to , what is the slowest and hardest to cut? I've a fairly heavy chain/padlock
combination with an old tube slipped over to stop the scratches, but it is pretty heavy to cart
around. I always thought one day I may pop along to a heat-treatment shop and get it case hardened
just to make it that bit stronger. Then again if I do that I would probably be better to get a
smaller chain but make it stronger.

gaza:

> What are the best type of locks? Obviously chains/cable/U locks can all be cut somehow , someway.
> I suppose it comes down to , what is the slowest and hardest to cut? I've a fairly heavy
> chain/padlock combination with an old tube slipped over to stop the scratches, but it is pretty
> heavy to cart around. I always thought one day I may pop along to a heat-treatment shop and get it
> case hardened just to make it that bit stronger. Then again if I do that I would probably be
> better to get a smaller chain but make it stronger.

"Light weight" usually translates to "easily cut". I think heat-hardened U-locks provide a good
deterrent to thieves. Two of these, one between the front wheel and down tube, and one between the
rear wheel and seat tube, with either or both also being attached to a secure object, should provide
adequate deterrence in reasonably populated areas. I've seen some take their pedals or seatposts
off; how bad is the place where you leave your bike?

Of course nothing's completely thief-proof, given enough time, especially in non-too-frequented
areas and/or under darkness.