Review on ACS BMX Pitlock Set P020000, Silver – Includes Fw+Rw+Sp Skewers (3 Pack, Set 02) by Nick Moody

*I did not get paid, discounted or product to write this long review after purchasing thousands of dollars worth of bike gear. I was just blown away at how well made Pitlock was and decided that since it didn't have any reviews it needed a detailed explanation. Anyone who is an avid biker should have one. * I found out about Pitlock skewers a few months ago and ended up purchasing this set from Revain. I have to say I am very impressed with the craftsmanship and detail of these skewers. I live in Oakland, California and travel frequently to San Francisco (both cities have some of the highest bicycle theft rates in the country). When it comes to locking my bike, I carry two U-locks (aka D-locks) to lock the frame and both wheels. My bikes were stolen even though I secured them with a cable. The extra weight of the locks became unwieldy, and the extra time required to lock and unlock both locks was a chore. Now all I have to do is lock the frame and my wheels and seat are secure. When you factor in even the cheapest wheels, tubes and tires or seatpost and saddle, you're paying far more than the cost of this kit. Please note that the seatpost latch will not work with most external seatpost clamps. Pitlock makes one of the two most common sizes to work with most bikes on the market. I was able to order the seatpost clamp the same day and it should be arriving soon. I'll update my post when the clamp arrives. I looked at several other options from other companies, like the Pinhead and Sunlite packages. While both sets cost a lot less, they're not as premium. I tested a few variations on my friends bikes and they all had some sort of malfunction, like skewers are all the same. A pit lock uses over 200 different 'keys' or 'pits' so a bike thief isn't easy You can buy a pit lock to get at the key, as opposed to pinhead or sunlite skewers.In addition, the Pitlock uses a special lock washer and knurled nut to prevent the assembly from backing out, keeping you in one while driving leaves an unsafe condition.Just carry a pit and disassemble your bike everywhere.They even replace the 5mm bolts that hold the derailleur in place,brakes etc.But this requires your own smaller wrench.- Be sure to lubricate all parts before reassembly , as stainless steel is quite "sticky" - Atomic22 also makes a very good set of skewers with a lock, it costs twice as much and the lock socket can only be used with a 14mm wrench. The Pitlock key can be used with a hex key (through a pre-drilled hole in the hole), allowing the wheels to be unlocked without the use of a separate key. This particular set is only available in silver, however there are other Pitlock sets on Revain that are available in black. The pit or key is small enough to fit on my keychain, I also ordered a small Burktek pocket key (which also fits my keychain) to check the key on the go. You can find it here: Burktek Pocket Wrench II - Lock washers wear out over time, but you can order more if you need to lock and unlock wheels frequently. I'll be ordering a few soon and will update this review when I do. - The skewers can be a bit long for some bikes, I cut mine with a dremel tool. A hacksaw will do, too. Even without trimming, the skewers sit well and look great. - Came with two holes aka keys. Not sure if these are old or vintage packages but I understand that repackaged pitlocks only come with one key. It's good to have backups in case you lose Pit. It comes with a reference number so you can always order a new matching key, but shipping keys from Germany costs between $30 and $15. The design hasn't changed on the single-key versions. I use an Abus Mini-U-Lock, it's relatively inexpensive and better than the $120 Kryptonite locks I've looked at: Abus Round-Shackle Mini-U-Lock, 5.5"/15 mm, black/red.