locking seat collar

[BobFromConshy]

The combination of a hitch-mount tray style bike rack and a dropper seat post makes me nervous, esp. compared to my previous, inside-the-minivan method.  Seems like anyone with a a multi tool and bad intentions can upgrade their bike at my expense.  I started doing some research on seatpost security.  Seems like it boils down to locking seat collars vs. replacing the pinch bolt with one that has a non-standard head, i.e requires a matching tool.  Any recommendations?

[Greg Heil ✓ supporter]

Realistically, you could say this about any of your bike parts. Wheels–do you run a cable through both wheels, front and back? Derailleur–that’s a quick off. Brakes are probably as easy to remove as a dropper post. Someone could also pop your rear shock off more easily than they could grab your dropper post. Heck, on a hanging-style hitch rack it’d be pretty easy to steal a suspension fork if you didn’t run a cable lock between the stanchions.

And if you’re assuming that the thief has this much time with the bike anyway, it takes like a minute to cut through a cable lock.
And you can’t U Lock both of your wheels, your fork, and your frame, unless you’re carrying a fleet of U Locks.

tl;dr, if you think there’s a good chance your dropper post will be stolen, you’re pretty much screwed.

[BobFromConshy]

Greg, your reply is kind of dismissive.  Like my question was stupid.  By your logic, if I can not get 100% security for all of the bike components I ought not to be thinking about marginal increases for any of them.  Even if it’s just to deter a causal thief.

First, if the was a “good chance my dropper post will be stolen” the bike would be inside the van or my house.  I’m very conscious of how time & place effect threat level.  Additionally, I already cablelock the frame and wheels.  Based on the age and component mix of my bike I think that the dropper post is the most attractive and vulnerable thing I have not already tried to secure.  So I look forward to anyone who can share their constructive thoughts on doing so.

Thanks,

[triton189]

First of all try not to interpret tone in an email or post, I have in the past and usually am wrong.  Secondly Greg makes a good point that you really can’t make your bike or parts of it immune from theft, my advice is to be sure to schedule it on your homeowners policy correctly and then go ride!

[Caspr]

I hear you, I had a bike taken piece by piece aver a couple days. My university had a no bike in room policy so I had no option but to lock it outside. They finally let me take it in when it was nothing but a frame and rear wheel.

I agree a dropper post would be easiest to steal, someone would just need a multitool and housing cutters, I bet 30 seconds or less and it could be gone. It’s small and expensive.

An off size/different driver would be best but other than custom made I’m not sure where to find them. Hopefully someone has a good suggestion.

[Author]

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