clipless pedal - a security measure

[Yellow Fang]

What do you reckon about clipless pedals as an anti-theft device? I know opportunist thieves will nick any sort of bike, but a lot of them prefer bikes they can sell on quickly and easily. If the bike has clipless pedals then either they or their crooked customers have to source some other pedals, unless they already have cycling shoes. If it's only a cheap hack anyway, it might not be worth their while.

 

[marinyork]

Well if they were that desperate I'm sure they could steal some pedals...

I do kind of see what you meant, someone might have slightly more problems selling on/cycling off with eggbeaters but I don't think it'd ultimately stop them, more a kind of minor annoying hurdle.

 

[Chamfus Flange]

If there were two (or more) bikes easily available, one with clipless, the other with normal pedal, the would be thief will probably go for the one with normal pedals, but I wouldn't put money on it. If these only one bike then pedals become unimportant.

 

[Twenty Inch]

There's some very targetted high-value bike theft going on these days. See ttcycle's thread in Stolen Bikes. Clipless might advertise the bike as a decent one. Put a basket on the front for utmost security.

 

[Tynan]

I suspect that casual bike thieves, like most casual thieves sell on for a fraction of the value of the item so things like that don't matter, and the next fella along will either sell to someone that doesn't mind or even wants those pedals

you not seriously suggesting that a thief wouldn't steal a £500+ bike because it had clipless pedals on it?

 

[ttcycle]

Not going to make any difference!

Two bikes stolen last year with clipless - the ****ers just put more high end different pedals on (from another stolen bike no doubt) or even keep them on. GRRR

 

[Yellow Fang]

I suspect that casual bike thieves, like most casual thieves sell on for a fraction of the value of the item so things like that don't matter, and the next fella along will either sell to someone that doesn't mind or even wants those pedals

you not seriously suggesting that a thief wouldn't steal a £500+ bike because it had clipless pedals on it?

No, but if it was a slightly tatty bike, only worth £100 (presumably less when it's stolen) it might put a thief off.

 

[ttcycle]

Not at all- opportunists maybe but not fences and people stealing for a living ie high end stuff. It doesn't take much to replace pedals and a bike only worth £100 they might not steal anyway.

 

[potsy]

I'd have thought a really unfashionable rack and mudguards combo would be much more of a deterrent,Oh and a big rotweiller tied to the handlebars

 

[Yellow Fang]

You may have a point about the rack. I have a friend who put a rack and mudguards on his Revolution Courier (8 speed fixed suspension commuter) and then fixed a supermarket shopping basket to the rack. It does seem to have some deterent effect.

 

[Tynan]

all different sorts of thieves but at the botom end there's people that'll steal anything at all that they can sell on for £5 very quickly

 

[HJ]

Clipless pedals may well deter opportunist thief, but not the pro, according to the Home Office 50% of bike thefts are from the home, a lot of bike theft is planned...

 

[TheDoctor]

I know two people on here who've had bikes stolen, and IIRC both had clipless pedals.
It doesn't make any difference to the thieving scum who take them.
Or the people who buy them at Brick Lane, who are every bit as culpable and worthless IMHO.