Making removable blinky lights not so removable
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Making removable blinky lights not so removable
I'm tired of removing blinky lights whenever I lock up my bike. It's ridiculous that bike shops don't offer blinky lights requiring tools for removal. Anyone ever alter their blinky lights to prevent theft? I'm considering super glue. The one thing I'll have to factor in is that I'll need to be able to change the batteries with the lights still attached to the bike.
#2
commu*ist spy
thieves steal lights? there no resale values for those things. why would anyone bother? unless you're talking about teenager punks who don't have anything better to do...
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Posts: 592
Bikes: Soma Double Cross DC, Salsa Vaya, Redline D440, '87 Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thieves steal anything and Craigslist creates value. Anything can be sold.
I agree there should be a more permanent solution to keep the honest people honest but then the price would get to high and real thieves would start stealing them. Maybe just use really cheap lights and carry extras.
I agree there should be a more permanent solution to keep the honest people honest but then the price would get to high and real thieves would start stealing them. Maybe just use really cheap lights and carry extras.
#4
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
I remember seeing this on Kickstarter and it looks like they are now fully operational. https://blinksteady.com/.
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#5
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Yep. I've had two cheapies stolen(I remove the good ones). A quality set of lights can be $50 or more,so not surprising someone would boost them.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#6
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I remember seeing this on Kickstarter and it looks like they are now fully operational. https://blinksteady.com/.
And bolted to a seatpost that has a regular binder bolt on the collar. Plus it can only be used on certain sized seatposts,and you can't adjust the angle to get it perfectly level.
Pure bling.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#7
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
I currently have a 4D Toplight mounted on the seat post using this bracket- https://www.biketechshop.com/busch-an...er-p-2380.html. Gotta take a screwdriver to remove the front housing to remove the batteries, which leaves the back casing still mounted to the bike. A thief wants that light, they are gonna have to take the whole bike and work on it somewhere else
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#8
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Made in Brooklyn and you can use a Pitlock skewer to replace the binder bolt, but I agree with the apparent design limitations.
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Costa Mesa CA
Posts: 2,636
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Never underestimate the stupidity of thieves. Never assume they won't take something. Never expect them to make rational decisions.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I currently have a 4D Toplight mounted on the seat post using this bracket- https://www.biketechshop.com/busch-an...er-p-2380.html. Gotta take a screwdriver to remove the front housing to remove the batteries, which leaves the back casing still mounted to the bike. A thief wants that light, they are gonna have to take the whole bike and work on it somewhere else
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,589
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
the blinky is removed from its bracket by sliding upwards
so, mount the bracket up high at the top of the seatpost; thus the light cant be slid out -it hits your saddle
bonus, higher mounting is better for being visible
also, gorilla glue, expands and fills space as it dries. better odds than thin superglue that will flake off the nonporus engr. grade plastic
it goes like this,
student gets caught by campus police for riding at night with no light
recieves a fine, and must also show that they now have a light
pissed off student doesn't want to have to buy a light on top of paying the fine
steals light from other bike
so, mount the bracket up high at the top of the seatpost; thus the light cant be slid out -it hits your saddle
bonus, higher mounting is better for being visible
also, gorilla glue, expands and fills space as it dries. better odds than thin superglue that will flake off the nonporus engr. grade plastic
it goes like this,
student gets caught by campus police for riding at night with no light
recieves a fine, and must also show that they now have a light
pissed off student doesn't want to have to buy a light on top of paying the fine
steals light from other bike
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The beautiful Virginia Piedmont.
Posts: 84
Bikes: Pinarello ROKH, Masi CX, Cannondale CAAD X
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maybe not ...
I remember seeing this on Kickstarter and it looks like they are now fully operational. https://blinksteady.com/.
#13
Cycle Year Round
__________________
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for all the tips. I've got to admit, I never thought of raising my red blinky to the top of the post so that it will hit the underside of the seat (or rear reflector), thus preventing a thief from sliding it off.
I also like the Shoe Goo and gorilla glue ideas.
On a side note, I'm pretty sure people from Holland would laugh at this thread, as most of their bikes come with generator/dynamo lights. They never remove their lights.
One last question: Can anyone recommend a cheap white blinky? I've heard Harbor Freight has one for under $10, but I don't have any Harbor Freight's near me. Thanks.
I also like the Shoe Goo and gorilla glue ideas.
On a side note, I'm pretty sure people from Holland would laugh at this thread, as most of their bikes come with generator/dynamo lights. They never remove their lights.
One last question: Can anyone recommend a cheap white blinky? I've heard Harbor Freight has one for under $10, but I don't have any Harbor Freight's near me. Thanks.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Far, Far Northern California
Posts: 2,873
Bikes: 1997 Specialized M2Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Planet Bike superflash uses AAA batteries. Thus you could superglue the mount, and just replace the batteries as needed.
#16
aka Phil Jungels
Thanks for all the tips. I've got to admit, I never thought of raising my red blinky to the top of the post so that it will hit the underside of the seat (or rear reflector), thus preventing a thief from sliding it off.
I also like the Shoe Goo and gorilla glue ideas.
On a side note, I'm pretty sure people from Holland would laugh at this thread, as most of their bikes come with generator/dynamo lights. They never remove their lights.
One last question: Can anyone recommend a cheap white blinky? I've heard Harbor Freight has one for under $10, but I don't have any Harbor Freight's near me. Thanks.
I also like the Shoe Goo and gorilla glue ideas.
On a side note, I'm pretty sure people from Holland would laugh at this thread, as most of their bikes come with generator/dynamo lights. They never remove their lights.
One last question: Can anyone recommend a cheap white blinky? I've heard Harbor Freight has one for under $10, but I don't have any Harbor Freight's near me. Thanks.
You can order on line from HF.
#17
Lover of Old Chrome Moly
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NW Minnesota
Posts: 2,949
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 23 Times
in
17 Posts
Depending on the design of the light, you may be able to run a zip tie through the light and around the bar/post. Still not hard to cut, but at least not a quick walk off and may thwart opportunistic thieves who don't have a cutting implement with them.