Locking a Velomobile Hood

[@andkar72]

Can you provide a link to said components used today? Thank you!

[@JohnDTrites]

The fasteners: www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07W8N6W4X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The Master lock www.amazon.ca/dp/B000XTPNZK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[@twilwel]

I'm confused as to why you put extra unnecessary big buttons on the outside where everybody can see the rubber band and figure out very quickly how to open the Bülk? There are hooks on the inside of the hood that you can reach, be it a bit awkward, through the open visor. They are out of sight, so nobody knows what is "magically" holding the hood down. The hooks are difficult to reach, unless you know from experience where they are. And the lock? Sorry, but a determined thief will no doubt get the lock over the edge of the buttons. But it does not even matter much, because the whole Bülk can be lifted on a pick-up truck in seconds by two persons. I'd rather have a chain lock through the rear wheel attached to something solid. I hope I don't come off as rude here, but I would hate to see anybody seeing this video and copy this so-so solution when there are better ways.

[@JohnDTrites]

I always lock the Bulk itself with a cable lock through the lift hold. The extra buttons are for the rubber O-rings to keep the hood down when trailering it. The ones further out are to lock it the hood. The cable will not stretch so either the hood or the bike would need to be damaged to get it off. That lock on the hood is in case I have stuff in the bike and it is never parked for very long like that, or out of sight. A determined thief will get it no matter how it is locked. A chain lock can be broken in a few seconds if the bike is parked out of sight. I tried it with the old hood; you don't need to reach them. You pull up on the hood slightly and slide a knife along the length and it cuts the bungies and opens the hood. My solution will not deter a really determined thief, as no locking system will, but it is a better deterrent than using the latches.

[@twilwel]

@@JohnDTrites Thank you for your clarification, but....While the cable will not stretch much, the hinge of the hood is simply not rigid enough. You can get the hood off without difficulty and without any damage by prying the cable over the button. The hood will move rearward because the hinge that consists of a 5mm shift cable through two holes, is not exactly solid. The reason to prefer the standard, invisible bungees over bungees in the open, is because they are out of sight and it takes some effort to find them and then to work out how to get the hooks off or work out they need a knife. Such strange behaviour might draw unwanted attention towards the perpetrator. Your bungees out in the open.... they see it and it's clear how to get them off easily.

[@JohnDTrites]

@@twilwel The o-rings are not used when locking the hood. They are solely for holding it down at highway speeds on the trailer. As for the cable, I assure you I have tried it. It will not stretch the 5mm required to get over the hood pins. As for the hinge on the hood, it is brake cable housing, not a shift cable, and it is a very close tolerance. It is very rigid. Even if it is not locked, if you tried to pull the hood off the hinges without removing the brake cable housing, you would damage the hood.