I'm looking for some bike parts

[Typhon]

however I'm not sure if they even exist.

I'd like something to plug the hole where my seat goes, so I can use it without the seat if I need to.

Also I'd like to know if there's something that can make the handlebars of my bike more difficult to take off/steal.

Is there anything like this out there? A shop in Oxford/Nottingham would be nice but that isn't too important.

Edit: The bike is a Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc

Edited by Typhon on Sunday 21st October 15:18

[catso]

My Hardrock was delivered without the seat fitted and had a plastic plug in the frame.

Loctite the bolts holding the bars on or get anti-tamper screws? or in extreme case weld them on....

[Trooper2]

For your seat tube issue new bikes are shipped in the box with a plug in the seat tube so should be easy enough to source one at a local bike shop. Get one that fits snug and has a flat disc at the top that overhangs the diameter of the seat tube. You might have to ask them to save one for you, take your bike with so they can drop a seatpost measure in it. Shops that routinely re-box bikes for customers who travel, often have a few lying around.

To make your bars harder to steal you might see if you can source machine screws with a security head on them, such as a square drive, etc. Measure one of the existing screws with a caliper and thread pitch gauge then shop on-line or your local hardware store for matching security screws.


dang, I type slow

Edited by Trooper2 on Sunday 21st October 16:57

[mk1fan]

Instead of fitting 'security' bolts to secure the bars and stem why not just fit Torx head bolts. That way it shouldn't hamper you servicing / altering the bike but would be harder for someone to tamper with them. Additionally you could fit a stem with the bar fixing bolts on the backside - ie not facing forward like normal ones. 3ttt make then I think??? Finally you could fit a one-piece bar and stem but I suspect that this is spending too much.

[horza]

But why would someone want to steal your handlebars?

[mk1fan]

Unfortunately people do.

Living and working in London I'm never too far from a locked up bike with bits missing from it. The other day I walked past a wheel u-locked to railings, it's axle had been nicked! Along with, I assume, the rest of the bike.

[Typhon]

Yeah, it happens. Torx bolts sound like a very good idea too , I should look around for this

[mk1fan]

It wasn't 3ttt that do those stems I mentioned it's Oval and they're only about £15. They're a PITA to fit'em, really fiddly and time consuming to do the bolts up one a half turn at a time! That combined with Torx bolts should deter any opportunist onto (unfortunately) the next bike. But sadly, as with everything, if someone wants to nick your particular peice of kit then they will.

As for the bolts there are several fixings specialists on eBay - I've used Tibolts recently and he was very helpfull with advice (I wanted some bolts not in his shop) and very quick delivery. Combined postage costs too which is good.