Wheel and seat theft are a real issue in metropolitain areas. Bicycle wheels range in cost from $100 for a standard set all the way up to more than $1,000 for high-end race wheels.
1. Render your wheels virtually theft-proof. By combining four different characteristics/mechanisms into one small package, Pitlock has made life very difficult for would-be thieves.
- The uniquely-CNC-machined nut requires a matching coded key to turn (there are 256 different nut/key combination)
- A free-rotating housing prevents thieves from being able to use pliers or vice-grips to turn the nut
- An independent lockring inside the housing (does not spin with the housing) meshes with teeth machined into the back of the nut. This prevents thieves from being able to turn the nut by reaching in with needle-nose pliers
- The opposite end of the skewer is CNC-machined into a near-flat slope making it impossible to grip with pliers or vice-grips.
2. Will not rust! These skewers are CNC-machined in Germany from high-grade stainless steel.
Peter Busse, inventor of the Pitlock design and owner of the company, is a mechanical engineer by trade, and has taken every opportunity to make these skewers the best out there.
3. Save you from having to carry an extra U-lock (3-9lbs).
The only alternative to locking skewers is to carry two heavy U-locks. The first U-lock is used to secure one wheel to the frame. The second secures the frame and remaining wheel to an immovable object such as a bike rack. Unfortunately, U-locks are heavy and cumbersome. Some people would suggest using a cable-lock as the second lock, however, cable-locks are remarkably easy to cut.
With Pitlock skewers, your wheels are already securely locked to your dropouts. All that remains is to use one U-lock to fix the bicycle to an immovable object.
4. Are field-serviceable
If you have the unfortunate luck to have a flat tire on the road or trail, there”s no need to worry. As long as you have your Pitlock key with you, you can remove your wheel for a tube change. The Pitlock key is cross-drilled to allow you to use any narrow rigid tool such as an allen key to turn it.
