Uglify a bike to reduce theft

StereoSound

Anyone do this? Cover up brand names with electrical tape to make it look like a sh!tter so they won't bother nicking it? Its probably not fooling many but I see that in around city centre a lot.

crisco10

Covered my bike in black duct tape the day I got it. Looks really grimey, and dirt sticks to the tape more than it would the Alu frame so thing just looks extra grubby. Actually took it back to the shop where I got it for a little bit of work and they didn't recognise it! (they admitted it looked like sh!t)

Obviously, I don't know if it actually makes a difference but I've been locking my bike around town for 3 years now and still have it.

Lumen

uglification project. not exactly going according to plan...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055401033

Wishbone Ash

StereoSound wrote: »

Anyone do this? ...

Jesus wept! :eek:

If you drove a Ferrari, would you 'uglyify' it to reduce the chance of theft?

OldBean

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Jesus wept! :eek:

If you drove a Ferrari, would you 'uglyify' it to reduce the chance of theft?

Yeah, but if someone nicked my Ferrari, the press and Gardaí would be all over it. Then I'd have my insurance.

My bike, not so much.

Dipsomaniac

Does this count?

Keep_Her_Lit wrote: »

The Wasp is Dead ...





... Long Live The Wasp ...



"WTF is that?", one might politely enquire.

It's a medium sized Boardman Pro Hybrid. See here for the standard spec.


Tweaks & upgrades

Seatpost : Truvativ Stylo T20, 400mm x 31.6mm with 25mm layback
[OE item was slightly too short at 350mm]

Saddle : Charge Spoon
[A nice piece of kit at a real bargain basement price]

Slammed stem : Bontrager Race Lite, 105mm, 40deg
[Gotta get aero!]

Bar ends : Profile Design Boxer
[A must for climbing, accelerating and cruising; the longer Boxer variant provides space to mount the mirror in-board]

Grips : Grab On
[Good shock absorption; minimises risk of aggravating old wrist injury]

Cassette : 11-23, 10-Spd, Shimano 6600
[An old cassette pulled from my spares; replaces gappier 11-28 SRAM PG1050; some spacing issues had to be overcome on Ritchey rear hub but fits and works fine now]

Front rotor : Avid G3 Clean Sweep, 203mm
[Mental! An adaptor was also needed.]

Tyres : Conti GP4000S, 700-25C
[Tyre and tube upgrade yielded a 491g weight saving; that's more than a pound in old money]

Tubes : Conti Race 28 Light, 700 x 18/25
[Decided not to opt for the wafer thin Supersonic model]

Pedals : Time ATAC Alium
[Solid and dependable with bucket loads of float for dodgy knee and ankle]

Bottle cages : BBB Flexcage BBC18
[A mere 22g each. Not bad for the price]

Mirror : Mirrycle Original
[Bodged onto the bar end with a large P-clip, some spacers and a 6mm screw + nylock nut]

Aesthetic enhancement : 3M 9963 Fluorescent Yellow Vehicle Marking Tape, Diamond Grade, 35mm wide
[You know you want some]

Weight (as shown): 9.9kg


First impressions

• I've only just started commuting on it. Very happy so far.
• Riding position is sweet and the Charge Spoon is anatomically agreeable.
• It's a good couple of kg lighter and is slightly faster rolling than The Wasp Mk I.
• I've developed an instant liking for the SRAM double tap shifters.
• The brakes are hilariously good.
• Looking forward to the next 100,000km or so

JuliusCaesar

A Lidl or Aldi bag on the saddle works for me.

OleRodrigo

A second bike would be more dignified.