It was after having her own bike stolen that Aïko Leroux, a recent engineer from Lyon, decided to work on a deterrent solution. The result: CactUs Lock, a U-shaped lock that's solid, compact (30 cm by 13 cm), and above all... pestilential. This lock is distinguished by an internal mechanism containing a pressurized gas. If someone tries to cut it, a compound called putrescine is released, producing a particularly foul odor, similar to that of a... decomposing body. Urgh.
An unforgiving gas
This isn't a joke or a dubious marketing concept: the startup CactUs promises a real olfactory punishment for any attempted theft with an angle grinder. The lock is also clearly labeled to warn potential burglars of what awaits them. And while it might not prevent all thefts, it might be enough to make you think twice.
The chemical compound used, putrescine, isn't dangerous in itself in the quantities intended. But its effect is immediate: eye irritation, breathing difficulties, and, above all, an urgent urge to get away as quickly as possible. Cactus points out that the gas can't be neutralized or inhaled, and that only time can dissipate its effects. In other words, if the lock is triggered, it becomes unusable. It is a single-use device.
To avoid false alarms, the mechanism is well protected: three valves secure the injection and the metal must be cut at least one centimeter deep for the gas to be released. No need to worry about your garage or apartment, unless you accidentally use a grinder on it.
CactUs Lock is still in the pre-order phase. The first copies should be delivered this summer, with a preferential rate set at €179.99, compared to a final expected price of €259.99. A significant sum for a lock, but one that's aimed at a clientele of urban cyclists fed up with repeated thefts, particularly of e-bikes.
This concept isn't entirely new. Other devices, like the American Skunklock, have already explored the use of repellent substances. But the Lyon-based startup is banking on a simple formula: no connected technology, no audible alarm, just a good old-fashioned sensory attack.
And while this first version is aimed at conventional and electric bicycles, the team is already working on a version for motorcycles. In the meantime, CactUs hopes that a deterrent lock is worth more than a missing bike.
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