Unremovable screws? (without special tool)

[scotsbikester]

I need a new bottle cage. Searching, I saw this:

https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1463-NINJA+-CAGE-Z-WITH-AIRTAG-MOUNT

I haven't got an Airtag, yet. and I know the various caveats that have been written about not using them as an anti-theft tracker. Because they make a noise, and will alert the thieves, who will then dispose of the Airtab.

But if that bottle cage was secured with non-standard tamper proof screws, that should at least slow them down. And maybe even stop them, if they couldn't figure out where the airtag was hidden.

I suppose the might just tear the bottle cage off.

Does anybody have one of these cages? How tough are they? Though given that the battery angle grind is tool of choice, they might just angle grind their way through this.

EDIT - doh! It comes with anti theft screws already. I guess I'm thinking of this as a sort of catch them in the first hour or so thing. Once they've had the bike for a while and a chance to break it up into bits or attack it with tools, it's probably not coming back.

 

[presta]

What's anti-theft about an Allen key? Most of the fasteners on my bike are hexagon socket screws.

 

[wafter]

What's anti-theft about an Allen key? Most of the fasteners on my bike are hexagon socket screws.

Centre security pin; which will obviously stop the use of standard keys although it's a very common "tamperproof" fixing with tools readily available.

I too am interested in the airtag thing (well, similar as I won't own Apple products); although if it makes noise that's going to shaft it from the off while IIRC they can be detected by anyone with an appropriate phone this is presumably the first thing scumbags will do before taking the bike back to the rock from beneath which they crawled..

 

[presta]

Centre security pin

Missed that.

they can be detected by anyone with an appropriate phone

AIUI you can set your phone to warn you if you're being followed by an unidentified tag.

 

[markemark]

Missed that.

AIUI you can set your phone to warn you if you're being followed by an unidentified tag.

All iPhone will automatically warn you if you're being followed by an Apple device. It's an opt out feature so all iPhone users have it operating unless they've turned it off. Doesn't work with Google tags but you can install a free app to give you notice.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'm assuming those allen heads are the security ones with a pin in the middle? These days most bit sets come with those anyway. I'd be more inclined to use the hammer-in-ball type. Those type came with my wall anchor bracket, you do the bolts up and then hammer a small ball bearing into the hole which you can't ever get out without a very strong tool and lots of time and effort. Drilling out the head so it's round is also an option if you never want it to come off. I'd assume a stronger insurance case could be made if you provided pictures of such an anti-theft mechanism

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I'm assuming those allen heads are the security ones with a pin in the middle? These days most bit sets come with those anyway. I'd be more inclined to use the hammer-in-ball type. Those type came with my wall anchor bracket, you do the bolts up and then hammer a small ball bearing into the hole which you can't ever get out without a very strong tool and lots of time and effort. Drilling out the head so it's round is also an option if you never want it to come off. I'd assume a stronger insurance case could be made if you provided pictures of such an anti-theft mechanism

How do you replace the bottle cage when it becomes time?

 

[Tenkaykev]

Sent a couple of Brommies up to our daughter via courier. Put an airtag in each box so I could track them in real time. Very interesting watching the route that the driver took when they were out for delivery and texting the daughter " should be with you soon, he's a couple of roads away " " maybe not, he's driven straight past the end of your road " 😁

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

All iPhone will automatically warn you if you're being followed by an Apple device. It's an opt out feature so all iPhone users have it operating unless they've turned it off. Doesn't work with Google tags but you can install a free app to give you notice.

A sensible feature/option given the reports of controlling behaviour from some (eg towards a partner). Makes me wonder if that social need to avoid stalking makes any small anti-theft tracking device void? Bike thieves will be aware of tracking tags so likely would have iPhones/Android (with app) to warn them of devices on their theft.

 

[Pblakeney]

I wouldn't rely on any tracker for anti-theft. Once it is stolen then it is gone, unless the thief is a complete incompetent.
Trackers are for tracking movement, or finding something lost. Not stolen. That's my opinion anyway. I use mine for finding oversized luggage.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I wouldn't rely on any tracker for anti-theft. Once it is stolen then it is gone, unless the thief is a complete incompetent.
Trackers are for tracking movement, or finding something lost. Not stolen. That's my opinion anyway. I use mine for finding oversized luggage.

I would agree.

I use the Knog Airtag based system not for the tracking (which as you say I don't regard as useful) but for the movement alarm (not part of the Airtag). System where initial bike movement makes a warning sound and if it continues a screaming loud alarm.

For me I regard it as reassuring whilst I'm in a shop and with plenty of people around and I'd likely hear and be able to rush out hopefully before it has disappeared.

When on tour I don't set the alarms overnight as rural campsites as some wildlife sniffing around setting of alarm is highly unsociable and if really concerned about bike being taken overnight there are alternatives.

I used to use an Abus alarm Box (very solid movement alarm for bikes, with no tags, no tracking) but over the years the button accumulated too much grit and cleaning it out I couldn't get it back together properly! I prefered it as an alarm to the Knog system as it used a simple key rather than needing a phone/Bluetooth/app to enable/disable.

 

[scotsbikester]

I wouldn't rely on any tracker for anti-theft. Once it is stolen then it is gone, unless the thief is a complete incompetent.
Trackers are for tracking movement, or finding something lost. Not stolen. That's my opinion anyway. I use mine for finding oversized luggage.

Here is what I said in my original post:

"I guess I'm thinking of this as a sort of catch them in the first hour or so thing. Once they've had the bike for a while and a chance to break it up into bits or attack it with tools, it's probably not coming back."

 

[Alex321]

How do you replace the bottle cage when it becomes time?

Cut away the plastic parts until you can get a mole wrench onto the outside of the bolt, then use said mole wrench to undo it.

Not sure they are still calle a mole wrench, but that is what I know them as.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I call(ed) them mole grips.

 

[markemark]

A sensible feature/option given the reports of controlling behaviour from some (eg towards a partner). Makes me wonder if that social need to avoid stalking makes any small anti-theft tracking device void? Bike thieves will be aware of tracking tags so likely would have iPhones/Android (with app) to warn them of devices on their theft.

Professional bike thieves, like car theives, know how to combat any tech. The safety way for bikes ans cars is to slow the process as much as possible with heavy locks. £200,000 car tech don’t have the deterrent as a decent steering lock has.