Exploding bike lock: Interesting concept, questionable execution

Something has gone horribly wrong

(Credit: Mike Lambourn)

(Credit: Justin Yu)

As an avid cyclist, my biggest concern about riding my bike in New York City isn't king-size potholes, wayward pedestrians, or even the hordes of aggressive cabbies itching to smash me into gray matter, but rather the constant fear of getting my bike stolen. I've been a victim of bike theft in the past, and it literally feels like the loss of a limb (not good), so I'm constantly researching new ways to deter thieves from snatching up my precious Surly Cross-Check. Whether it's making my bike ugly with stickers or carrying around extra locks in my bag, there's only so much you can do, because if a thief wants what you got, they're gonna get it no matter what.

(Credit: Mike Lambourn)

Michael Lambourn gives cyclists one more bullet in the barrel with his SmartLock design. It's a cable lock with colored liquid inside that explodes everywhere if the lock is cut. It's a clever idea, and one almost certainly hatched after a freak skunk accident, and I applaud Michael Lambourn for making an effort to make cycling safer for paranoid city dwellers like myself. The goal is to achieve peace of mind while your bike is locked up, and the SmartLock is definitely a step in the right direction. If this product is successful and helps get people out of their cars and onto the bike, then I'll get behind it 100 percent. I just have a few critiques to make in the meantime.

• The colored liquid inside the lock will literally cover everything in close proximity to the bike, including poles, passersby, the bike itself, and the street surrounding it. Aside from the fact that this is a street cleaner's nightmare, Mike claims that the dye will identify the thief to the proper authorities. Quick question: has anyone alerted the authorities that anyone with paint on their clothes should immediately be thrown in jail for bike theft? What about innocent people walking by who get sprayed by this stuff? They're going to hate you, the lock, and your bike. And I bet legit painters definitely won't appreciate all the accusations that will inevitably be thrown their way.
• The dye washes off! Can you really call it a stain if a cup of Tide, five quarters, and some elbow grease will make it disappear? Of course, Mike contests that "invisible Smartwater lingers on perpetrators and can be detected by ultraviolet scanners used by the police." Smartwater? Didn't I buy a bottle of that this morning? And a mysterious fluid that can only be identified by ultraviolet scanners? I think I've seen this episode of 20/20 before. Anyway, let's not get overzealous here and haul anyone with random stains on their pants to jail; New York would be empty within the week.
• Finally, check out the video of someone cutting through the SmartLock with a pair of bolt cutters. I'm no locksmith, but maybe we should focus our efforts on a bike lock that can't be defeated by a tool that can be purchased from any hardware store across the United States? The fact that this lock "surrounded by a hardened steel casing, which is in turn encased in a DuPont Hytrel moulding" looks so flimsy that I could probably chew through it if I hadn't had breakfast doesn't exactly convince me to invest in the design.

[dtymazda]

So wait, you're saying that bike thieves are gutsy enough to steal a bike while there are passersby walking near them? close enough to get sprayed? Come on now.

The wash off part does kind of suck, but what would be worse is to have your car parked next to the bike and have that stuff get sprayed on it and not be able to wash it off.

I think this is a good idea, a cop rolling through a neighborhood is going to definitely wonder why some dude is running around with his pants covered in this stuff.

I wonder how this would work here in Las Vegas. It looks like it uses a pressurized capsule of dye. If so would the 110+ temperatures cause it to explode or leak? Also if only the lock is protected what is to stop a thief from simply cutting the cable?

Not sure how serious you are about the smartwater bit - have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartwater if you don't know about it...

[mdarmocida]

Judging from the video this product won't work. Look closely at the video, everything gets sprayed but only a few things get stained, the least of which is the person that cut the lock. His clothes show no indication of a dye or change of color. This stuff is way too thin and the color isn't vivid enough to be noticed.

[Bohica55]

The article about the cable/lock system has some flaws along with some of the comments.

1: The Dye is in the plastic housing that encases the cable, not in the lock.

2: The Dye does NOT!! wash off, and takes months to wear off, which sucks when its on sidewalks and cars etc. that are in the line of fire. Also, even when evidence of the dye is gone visibly, it is still seen under UV and has particles like explosives contain that are individual markers and are unique to the Cable/Owner as this can be purchased in containers so that you can mark your valuables, just like Spot does.
This way even if the dye comes off, there is still residue under UV light and if you used a brush to put your ID on anything valuable, it will stay for a long time with care maybe years (with touch ups on occasion).

3: To be truly effective, they should be more like dye packs that banks use when robbed, so that when the money is handled later the indelible dye sprays out and up which the cable does not do, making this a weak point in consideration when looking for protection.

I have used locks that are far more secure as the cable is almost impossible to cut, bolt cutters will do it but with extreme effort and the largest cutters you can get or solid U - shaped locks work well also. So think before spending a lot of money when there are alternatives that other cyclists will talk about.

[DarkHawke]

You hit on a better idea in your own article, Justin: instead of a dye, use a chemical equivalent to skunk spray! The truly brazen thief wouldn't likely be deterred by a few stains, but suddenly getting covered in skunk stink? He'd run like a madman! Sure you'd then have to clean your bike, but better a stinky bike than a stolen one!

[PedanticDave]

Cable locks are too easy to cut with the right tools. Filling the lock with a fluid will just get thieves wrapping a rag around the cut point before cutting. The only real security is a heavy chain with 16+mm hardened links like an Almax. There's video on youtube of Almax chains withstanding bolt croppers and thermite attacks.

[Visualdude]

There is also the case of law enforcement. I've had first hand experience with the "lack of effort" on the part of police departments, because of the insignificance of the theft. The hub caps were stolen off our vehicle in a medical office parking lot and was witnessed by someone that not only got a description of the theives and the get away car, but even got the license plate. The police couldn't be bothered to come out and when my wife went to the police station and filed a report, they told her it was not likely to be investigated! This was not New York City, it was a good sized suburb of Detroit.

So your right in investing in a good hardened U lock, but also use a cable to deter someone from stealing the tires too. The most important thing is choosing the right place to lock up your bike. Choosing a high traffic area and with a solid structure to lock to can be as important as the lock. Just because you can ride right to the door of your destination doesn't mean you should.

[gjkezski]

Interesting concept but not too effective yet, I like DarkHawke's addition to it. Still it probably wouldn't be too effective, too recognizable by looking at it. Most passive systems as fairly easily defeated.

I prefer a more active approach but nearly all active systems are severely frowned on by law enforcement as vigilantism as similar to boobytraps. Personally, I LOVE boobytraps! Something similar to adding say a 500KV stun gun to the seat or handlebars. Set it up with a micro-computer & the rider wears a small, short-range RFD chip that will ID the owner & if someone is sitting on the seat when it is out of range of the RFD chip it will trigger the stun gun. Maybe even add an indelibly colored & skunk scented super-glue spray dispenser that will glue the thief to the bike & lock the brakes & sound an alarm! Why not even take a page out of the law enforcement prototype book & make the glue that super-sticky foam that some of them have been testing? Spray the foam out the sides of the seat post to glue their legs to the bike. Most bike seat posts contain enough usable volume to hold something interesting! Especially since it should be possible to build one that should be undetectable under ordinary circumstances, at least until it goes off!

It would be a problem to clean it all off again BUT imagine the satisfaction to see at least one of them in a total panic!

How about it? I'm sure that out there is some gifted gadgeteer that can make this come true! I know for a fact that if one was available I would NOT be the only one buying it!