Asif Zamir Bike Lock Project
I grew up in Malton, so I’ve had my bike stolen many times — probably 6 that I can remember.
It didn’t matter if I used no lock, a cheap dollar store lock, an expensive lock, they’d get the bike or at least parts of it no matter what. You live in Malton, just learn to walk because your car or bike will get stolen. Gosh, people’s shoes have been stolen in Malton, right off their feet.
Actually, quick story: In the mid 90s I purchased a bike for myself at Canadian Tire (I always get the cheapest one because I know it will get stolen). Anyway, I put it against my front door for about 5 minutes while using the bathroom, and when I came out, it was gone. I was too poor to buy a new one right away, so for 2 years I rode my sisters bike which was a child’s pink and white girl’s bike. People from school would laugh their butt off when they saw me, but it got me from point A to point B.
2 years later I had moved near the Westwood Mall. One morning around 10am I was at the mall doing errands when I saw my bike in the Price Chopper lobby. You won’t believe this – it still had my chain lock wrapped under the seat. The person who had stolen it took my bike, added a rear cargo hold, broke my gears so they were stuck on the hardest, and didn’t bother to lift the seat to slip off the lock. I rode my own bike home that day, and it lasted for about 4 or 5 more years as far as I can remember. My bike after that got stolen.
So here’s the idea: a titanium bike lock that’s designed as cleanly and thoughtfully as a bike. It’s secure but elegant, simple and easy to use and store. I came across this idea on a crowd funding site, and thought it was genius so naturally I had to play a small part.
The lock includes a flexible titanium bow, and a compact, almost pick resistant lock cylinder. It has a protective coating to protect your bike, and stores snugly and unobtrusively on the top tube with simple and light weight straps. The bow is flexible so you can lock your bike to a variety of structures up to about 5 1/2” in diameter. Depending on your wheel base, rim, and tire configuration, you can even lock both wheels (without removal), and frame to a structure. Thanks for reading!
Asif Zamir
