Kryptonite is supposed to be invincible -- at least in the comic-book world of Superman.
But it turns out a few twists of a ballpoint pen can be enough to render it impotent.
Videos posted recently on the Internet showed how the barrel of a standard ballpoint pen can be used to unlock certain models of bike locks made by Kryptonite, suggesting to many on campus that even bikes secured by nation's leading bike lock company may not be as safe as they once seemed.
The news sent shockwaves through the cycling community, which was stunned that a cheap pen could pick a lock priced at $90. In Hanover, Omer and Bob's, though skeptical about the reports' validity, reacted by removing all U-shaped Kryptonite locks from its shelves. Salespeople said no one has yet asked for a refund, but the sporting goods store now sells only Kryptonite's cable locks.
Kryptonite also manufactures locks under other brand names, but only its tubular cylinder locks appear to be affected. The company is offering an exchange program on their web site for customers who wish to exchange their defective locks.
Dartmouth students, whose locked bikes dot the facades of campus buildings, seem to have fared well.
Of 13 bikes locked outside of Baker-Berry Library Monday, only three were U-shaped, and none appeared to be manufactured by Kryptonite. However, several tubular cylinder Kryptonite locks secured bikes outside Thayer Dining Hall.
Omer and Bob's salespeople downplayed the issue of Kryptonite's faulty design, saying that bikers can prevent most thefts by locking bikes to fixed objects.
Several bicycles outside Collis Student Center Monday were locked only to themselves, exposing them to theft.
Unsecured bicycles result in many campus bike thefts, according to College Proctor Harry Kinne.
Last year, Safety and Security received 115 reports of stolen or lost bikes-- a tally comparable to similar campuses.
Fifty-six of the stolen bikes were recovered by Safety and Security.
Kinne recommended that students register their bikes and not leave their bikes on racks between terms.
Bicycle theft is a nationwide problem.
According to the FBI, 275,000 incidents occurred in 2002, resulting in an average loss of $257 per owner.
The Dartmouth Cycling team, which rides bicycles averaging between $1,000 and $2,000, has been unaffected so far by the recent revelations.
Amy Wallace '04, a member of the team who uses a cable Kryptonite lock not susceptible to the pen trick, said she isn't worried.
"I've never heard of someone getting a bike stolen while it was locked," Wallace said, noting that most cycling team members stow their expensive racing bicycles in their rooms.
But for students who do not wish to take up precious dorm room space, the advice is simple.
"Lock the bike to something," said an unidentified Omer and Bob's employee.
And according to Kinne, "any type of lock makes it harder to steal a bike."
