Bike Customization #7: Seat Security

It would not be comfortable to ride without a seat, and the seat is one of the easiest things to steal on a bike.  I don't know why someone would actually want to steal a seat. I mean the sweaty waste orifices of the owner rub up against the seat for hours and hours - I don't know about the rest of you, but a used seat would not be that appealing to me.

Anyway . . . To keep people honest I do employ a seat lock. It certainly don't use the most burly lock, if someone really wants my seat that bad (I am told I do have a nice ass) they are going to get it, but they will have to work a bit for it. It's a simple cable with a combination lock.

I looped it through the arms that connect my rear rack to the frame and then through the rails underneath the seat. To keep it from banging around I connected the cables to the rails with zip ties. 

After riding for a bit with the lock like this I did choose to add a bit more style by adding another zip tie to bring the cables together. I simply cannot resist any opportunity to utilize another zip tie. 

Total zip tie count to date: 10.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Your local hardware store can also attach a security cable around one of the rails and one of the seat stays; that looks nice and neat and is lighter than a locking cable like you use.

[atom]

The saddle is mounted to a seat-post; the seat-post slides into the seat-tube; the top of the seat-tube is connected to the rear-wheel via seat-stays.

So it should be obvious that bikes don't have seats; they have saddles.

;)

[Frames]

If you don't pass that cable through the frame (the part under the sock in the pic), you're lacking one extra security point.

The way you do it in the picture, three screws and I'd have a "new" saddle, red light and a seat post. All attached to a lock and a cable that I could saw off and get rid of afterwards (with plenty of time).

If you do as I say, I'd also have to actually cut the cable in two halves. That makes two different tools I'd need to use.

[Raiyn]

There's also the tried and true length of bike chain with a inner tube wrapper for ultimate hack and reuse points.

Also Matt, tell me that lock is actually around the seat stays and NOT just the ridiculously easily unbolted rack supports.

[Leo Horishny]

Reason #1347 why I prefer recumbents to diamond framed bicycles...a recumbent seat is not a desirable item to steal. ;-)

[Leo Horishny]

Reason #3 why diamond frame bikes are preferable to recumbents...if it's rainy out, you don't have to worry about a soaking wet seatbase.