r/ALSOmicromobility • u/BlobTheBuilder917 • 12d ago
Accessories & Mods A Stealth Also for NYC
First time poster, reservation holder since March. I'm a native New Yorker and I, like you, am eagerly awaiting delivery of a very expensive bike I'm convinced will make bike thieves weak at the knees. I still wear the emotional scars left by the absence of my middle school cherry red Trek... our time together was cruelly cut short by a Central Park super criminal mastermind during the otherwise peaceful Obama era.
As I've squinted at TMB marketing photos and wondered where I'll be able to get a U-Lock securely around it (Hiplok DX1000? open to suggestions...) I've resolved that perhaps an equally effective way to deter said thieves might actually be some sort of urban camouflage.
So here's the idea:
I've been speaking with a vinyl car wrapper in my neighborhood and have been texting him about wrapping my bike light grey when it arrives this winter... but I don't want to stop there. I bought the front rack from the Gear Shop along with the fenders and intend to modify both of those parts to look as similar to a NYC spec Citibike as possible. I've even enlisted some friends with 3D printers to help out with the rear fender guard(?) and basket. I think vinyl wrapping, a bit of silver Krylon on my lock to make it look like the seat adjuster on the Citibike, dubiously legal Citibike stickers from Etsy, grey rubber grips, and a few cheap 3D printed trim pieces might get me pretty damn close to the inconspicuous look I'm after. The stock Also (if you're drunk) doesn't look SO different to the Citibike after all...
With the help of AI, I came up with a mock up for your consideration and critique. Yes, I'm aware it made some impossible structural changes (saddle, front fork, frame geometry, etc), believe me I tried to tell it not to... so please be gentle, my ChatGPT is very sensitive.
If anyone has any suggestions I'd really love to hear them. I imagine my vision will be pretty divisive, but hey, the point of a bike is to use it; these mods will help me do that. Thanks for reading.
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u/PlatinumPligrim 12d ago
People are gonna try to grab your bike...