Theft prevention strategies for bike lights
July 26, 2011 8:44 PM Subscribe
How do I keep my bike light from getting stolen?
After having the batteries stolen out of my handlebar-mounted bike light several times, and now the entire bike light stolen, I'm looking at new lights and trying to figure out how to keep the next one from getting lifted or emptied. I've seen theft-resistant skewers that require special tools or keys to release, and I'm wondering if similar solutions either exist or can be relatively easily DIY'ed for lights. Thieves in my area seem to be most interested in easy targets, so I don't think I need some crazy tempered steel contraption; even something as simple as a a light with its battery compartment and fastener to the bike secured with a semi-unusual screw like a torx screw would probably do the job, but I haven't been able to find anything like that so far.
To preempt one suggestion: while I'm aware that one solution to this problem is to get lights that pop off easily and take them with you rather than leave them on the bike, I'm the kind of person that would forget to do so, and would prefer not to go that route if I can avoid it.
Suggestions?
After having the batteries stolen out of my handlebar-mounted bike light several times, and now the entire bike light stolen, I'm looking at new lights and trying to figure out how to keep the next one from getting lifted or emptied. I've seen theft-resistant skewers that require special tools or keys to release, and I'm wondering if similar solutions either exist or can be relatively easily DIY'ed for lights. Thieves in my area seem to be most interested in easy targets, so I don't think I need some crazy tempered steel contraption; even something as simple as a a light with its battery compartment and fastener to the bike secured with a semi-unusual screw like a torx screw would probably do the job, but I haven't been able to find anything like that so far.
To preempt one suggestion: while I'm aware that one solution to this problem is to get lights that pop off easily and take them with you rather than leave them on the bike, I'm the kind of person that would forget to do so, and would prefer not to go that route if I can avoid it.
Suggestions?
I epoxyied mine to the clip. I never take it off, anyway, and the epoxy doesn't prevent opening it up to replace batteries. If the batteries get stolen, then I just replace them, but it hasn't happened.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:51 PM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:51 PM on July 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
How about a helmet-mounted light - a headlamp, basically. These come in crazy-bright varieties these days, and you won't forget it as long as you take the helmet with you. You would want to find a lamp with a head that can swivel downwards, but this is almost standard feature these days. Not everyone is comfortable riding by headlamp light, but it works for me.
posted by blindcarboncopy at 8:53 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by blindcarboncopy at 8:53 PM on July 26, 2011
Response by poster: I did ask my bike shop, and they just recommended one of the easy-release lights, but I wasn't really interested in that strategy. I *could* probably just get one with a regular screw and replace the screw myself, but ideally I'd be able to secure the batteries, too. There seems to be a battery hoarder haunting the garage under my office where my bike lives during the day.
A helmet light would be another last-resort option for me, like the quick-release light. I don't like them as much, and will admit (as I prepare myself for a scolding from the Internet) that I'm not the most consistent of helmet-wearers.
posted by andrewpendleton at 8:58 PM on July 26, 2011
A helmet light would be another last-resort option for me, like the quick-release light. I don't like them as much, and will admit (as I prepare myself for a scolding from the Internet) that I'm not the most consistent of helmet-wearers.
posted by andrewpendleton at 8:58 PM on July 26, 2011
1.Lock it down
2.Take it with you
OR
3. make it so embarrassing to carry that no one besides the owner would carry it... I'll say this only once: there is at least one person who rides a bike in cambridg/somerville that has been repainted a flesh color and has a massive dildo sticking out of the handlebars. When I saw the bike, it was not locked up... I'm pretty certain it didn't need to be.
As far as how number 3 works with just a light... I don't know... write something horribly embarrassing on the side...
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:02 PM on July 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
2.Take it with you
OR
3. make it so embarrassing to carry that no one besides the owner would carry it... I'll say this only once: there is at least one person who rides a bike in cambridg/somerville that has been repainted a flesh color and has a massive dildo sticking out of the handlebars. When I saw the bike, it was not locked up... I'm pretty certain it didn't need to be.
As far as how number 3 works with just a light... I don't know... write something horribly embarrassing on the side...
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:02 PM on July 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
Bike lights, much like bicycles, are going to get stolen if someone wants to bother stealing them no matter what you do.
I know clipping it on and off all the time is annoying, but it's better than constantly buying new lights.
posted by bradbane at 9:07 PM on July 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
I know clipping it on and off all the time is annoying, but it's better than constantly buying new lights.
posted by bradbane at 9:07 PM on July 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
I have had bikes stolen and accessories stolen, but thieves have never bothered with my pedal-powered Reelight . Bonus, you never had to remember batteries. It's a permanent installation and no one can be bothered to take apart the magnet assembly. Con: it does add a little weight to your ride, and even though they are plenty bright, I sometimes like to take along an extra light for extra safety.
posted by ch3ch2oh at 9:16 PM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ch3ch2oh at 9:16 PM on July 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Expensive option for a battery-less lighting system (hub dynamo).
posted by BrotherCaine at 9:16 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by BrotherCaine at 9:16 PM on July 26, 2011
Response by poster: Hm, the Reelight looks slick. Is it weird to have the light so low to the ground?
posted by andrewpendleton at 9:20 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by andrewpendleton at 9:20 PM on July 26, 2011
I use two small 'frog' lights on my bike that are the same colour (black) as my handlebar...my reasoning is that they are hard to notice and so brings down the chance of them being stolen. So far it's been good for me for a couple years now, but of course a more observant thief is bound to come along.
posted by troubles at 9:21 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by troubles at 9:21 PM on July 26, 2011
If you don't want a quick release solution, you could try using security torx screw.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:27 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by wongcorgi at 9:27 PM on July 26, 2011
Re: the Reelight: I've had mine installed for a few years now, and do a fair bit of night riding. The convenience and not having to remember and switch out batteries outweighs everything. If you've ever left the house during the day and forgot your lights and then are forced to bike back to wherever in the dark, you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, it rides kinda low, but it's bright and I figure that's better than using a low-battery light. I think they make newer models now that can mount higher on the bike, but I'm not sure how they are secured. Another issue: since it's pedal powered, when you stop, it's (of course) lights out.
posted by ch3ch2oh at 9:45 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by ch3ch2oh at 9:45 PM on July 26, 2011
A lot of people with those frog lights just pop them off their bike and take them with them.
Personally, i bought one that is the same colour as my bike, and put it on the front wheel fork, and nobody ever notices it's there.
posted by Kololo at 10:14 PM on July 26, 2011
Personally, i bought one that is the same colour as my bike, and put it on the front wheel fork, and nobody ever notices it's there.
posted by Kololo at 10:14 PM on July 26, 2011
Seconding the Reelight; there's also fork-mounted and handlebar-mounted versions available on their website. I have the fork-mounted front light (a SL650) and it's great.
posted by joeycoleman at 3:49 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by joeycoleman at 3:49 AM on July 27, 2011
A less-messy epoxy option would be to glue the screw in or fill the slots on the screwhead, basically disable hte removal mechanism, but if it stopped working and needed to be replaced you'd still be able to get it off with a dremel tool or some other more forcible method.
posted by aimedwander at 6:26 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by aimedwander at 6:26 AM on July 27, 2011
The Reelights I have keep going for a little while when I stop pedaling. I got them three or four years ago. Similarly, I love them.
posted by advicepig at 7:30 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by advicepig at 7:30 AM on July 27, 2011
There seems to be a battery hoarder haunting the garage under my office where my bike lives during the day.
I don't suppose they have a camera watching the rack where everyone locks their bikes up, eh? I'd be pissed off at the building if my stuff was getting stolen multiple times and the building had no countermeasures.
Sucks that this has happened to you. You could possibly get a wire-mesh bag and lock it around your light and handlebar. that would at least deter them. Aside from that I would go the detachable light route.
posted by zombieApoc at 8:02 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't suppose they have a camera watching the rack where everyone locks their bikes up, eh? I'd be pissed off at the building if my stuff was getting stolen multiple times and the building had no countermeasures.
Sucks that this has happened to you. You could possibly get a wire-mesh bag and lock it around your light and handlebar. that would at least deter them. Aside from that I would go the detachable light route.
posted by zombieApoc at 8:02 AM on July 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have switched to cheap little LED lights. They just take a watch battery and are cheap to replace. Turtle light or BikeLit LED
posted by Gor-ella at 10:36 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by Gor-ella at 10:36 AM on July 27, 2011
Seconding the frog light for being easy on/off and also less noticeable to casual observers.
posted by mumblingmynah at 11:48 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by mumblingmynah at 11:48 AM on July 27, 2011
The only way that I've been able to keep my lights is to get lights that are easily removable and remove them every. single. time.
posted by sacrifix at 2:44 PM on July 27, 2011
posted by sacrifix at 2:44 PM on July 27, 2011
I'm late to the thread, but: I love these Cateye lights, which you can attach to backpack/satchel straps.
posted by soviet sleepover at 6:05 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by soviet sleepover at 6:05 PM on August 26, 2011
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posted by Slinga at 8:50 PM on July 26, 2011