StayLocked bicycle by Andrew Leinonen

Toronto based industrial designer Andrew Leinonen wanted to find a solution to the problem of urban bike theft- “I realized that in a big city like Toronto or NYC, any lock (no matter how bulky or heavy) can only serve as a deterrent for a determined thief with the right tools.” His design solution, the StayLocked bike, integrates the lock directly into the bike’s seatstays. While riding, the U-lock shackle is securely clamped into the rear triangle, but when the rider wants to lock up the bike, he or she simply unlocks the shackle, swivels it into place around the post or rack, and slides on the lock body. Since the U section of the lock is an integral section of the seat stays, any thief who breaks it will render the bike unrideable (similar in concept to the Puma Urban Mobility bike that featured an integrated cable lock in lieu of the downtube).

Andrew built a prototype of the concept, which he now rides everyday (over downtown potholes and other rough urban terrain). He points out that, in addition to always having the lock with him, he saves weight by not having to carry an additional chain or U-lock. The only functional compromise he has discovered is slightly unconventional brake layout in the rear, but discs, drums, coaster brakes, or chainstay mounted rim brakes like mini-Vs, or U-brakes are all possible options.

Overall, Andrew is very comfortable with the ride and stability of his prototype frame, but it should be interesting to see how this concept progresses as he continues to tweak a few of the details.

Posted

September 12, 2011

Commuter, Concept

James

Tags:

bike lock, prototype, urban bike

Comments

6 responses to “StayLocked bicycle by Andrew Leinonen”

Andy

September 12, 2011

Neat concept. I have a hard time believing that a $500 (or however much the frame will cost) is a practical solution, but I also survive with a $20 lock because I’m not in NYC.

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dothebart

September 12, 2011

Solution for the gates carbon drive need to open the frame also…

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Ross Nicholson

September 12, 2011

Here is a thoughtful idea! (His not mine.)
Perhaps just opening a lockable top tube would work as well or better, though, since there’s much more room in the diamond. That would still leave the wheels and other components vulnerable, but an alarm hidden in the frame could ameliorate even that risk.

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Mike

September 13, 2011

Great design. Where is the integrated spool of caution tape so that someone doesn’t bump or lean on the bike while it’s locked up, torquing the chainstays and ruining the frame? Bonus points for at least building a working prototype, though.

I cannot for the life of me understand what it is that causes 90% of designers who look at the bicycle and its components to fix themselves on its most mechanically perfect and aesthetically elegant element, the double triangle frame, and say to themselves “This is what I want to futz with. Oh yes, it is I who will bring divine insight to the task of fixing that which has been proven unbroken for over a century.” You should have to design a caliper brake before you design a frame, most of these dilettantes would get bored and give up, but maybe once in a while we’d identify some real talent by seeing someone do something interesting with a part that genuinely needs improvement.

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Amoeba

September 13, 2011

In the bottom right photograph of the four, I notice the key type appears to be the same type of ‘high-security’ key that was the downfall of Kryptonite. Clearly, that doesn’t necessarily mean this particular lock can be opened with a cheap pen instead of the correct key, but high-quality, high-security lock-mechanisms that employ discs and use no springs are probably essential to defeat thieves. If the lock is an integral part of the frame, then the thief’s attention is going to be directed at defeating the lock mechanism non-destructively. Also, a robust system requiring proof of ownership is going to be required to prevent thieves obtaining replacements of parts likely to be damaged during theft.

The rear wheel needs to be secured, otherwise it will be appearing soon on another bike.
The more I think about it, the more problems I foresee. I suspect if this bike frame type became sufficiently common, the bike thief community will find vulnerabilities. Not being a bike thief and only learning some of their many tricks via the .net makes me suspect that if vulnerabilities exist they are likely to be explored. I hope this idea works, but I suspect it isn’t nearly ready yet for production.

Also, the simplest tactic may be to steal the bike and keys from the rider, which could be thwarted by the secure proof of ownership scheme mentioned before.

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StayLocked- Frame with integrated U-lock | urbanBIKE

November 1, 2011

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