Recommendation on College Student Bicycle

GG said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

I would buy a cheap used mountain or hybrid bike. That's what I see on most
college campuses. Try garage sales or www.craigslist.com

But since you asked for bikes available online:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/motobecane_elite.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/motobecane_300HT.htm

Or from a local bike shop:
http://brandscycle.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3326&Catalog=39&sort=Price

Art Harris

College student here as well, to solve this problem I just bought a used
Nishiki 12 speed off of craigslist for $110.
Didn't come with mud gards or chain gards but it came with a rack.

"GG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

1. Under $500.
2. Able to withstand water, rust, snow, cold in a northern USA winter.
The bike does not have to be pretty after a winter but it must keep
working.
3. Well-made, with minimum maintenance (just keep tires pressurized and
oil a few joints).
4. Gears suited to distances of 4 miles one-way over hilly campus.
5. Available over the Internet pre-assembled or with assembly requiring
only non-specialist tools found in a college dorm.
6. Available with mud guards, chain guards and other accessories for
someone who will be using it in ordinary student clothing, not
all-weather racing gear.
7. Does not have odd construction preventing use of Kryptonite or other
strong lock.

Thanks.

Hey are you in MPLS?

Varsity Bikes in Dinkytown has an awesome selection of used mountain
bikes CHEAP and totally tuned-up. Because racks, chain guard and
fenders will cost about $100, it's worth it to find a used bike that
you like. Plus the maintenance (that it might need) after sitting in a
snowbank all winter will be easier to swallow.

After a winter outside, consider oiling the chain (easy) and having the
shop check the bottom bracket. If they buit the bike, most shops will
do this cheap.

With a good used MTB, you'll come in well under $500 and have weed &
shroom money left over.

"GG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

1. Under $500.
2. Able to withstand water, rust, snow, cold in a northern USA winter.
The bike does not have to be pretty after a winter but it must keep
working.
3. Well-made, with minimum maintenance (just keep tires pressurized and
oil a few joints).
4. Gears suited to distances of 4 miles one-way over hilly campus.
5. Available over the Internet pre-assembled or with assembly requiring
only non-specialist tools found in a college dorm.
6. Available with mud guards, chain guards and other accessories for
someone who will be using it in ordinary student clothing, not
all-weather racing gear.
7. Does not have odd construction preventing use of Kryptonite or other
strong lock.

GG,

I'm going to suggest you look at a folding bicycle and instead of locking it
up, fold it up and take it inside your dorm and classes with you.

I test rode the Impulse D6 (about $350 CAD or $275US "ish"😉 as well as a few
others. I bought a KHS and don't have a lock for it, instead taking it
inside with me whereever I go. You can get a pannier that actually has
backpack straps so you can ride with the pack on the rear, get off the bike,
sling the pack on your back and carry the bike with.

I realize I'm biased toward these things because of my situation (small
apartment, travel in small aircraft, absolutely *paranoid* about theft) but
if you're solely concerned about theft, which happens all too often in large
cities, taking it with is foolproof security.

See: http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/
And my buyers review:
http://www.halffg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/foldsoc/canada.html

If you decide to get a bike and lock it up, I suggest that used, $100
Craiglist beater (or one found in a dumpster that you've fixed) that A)
thieves will forego stealing B) you won't feel bad about losing if it does
get pinched

😉

Chris

GG said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

1. Under $500.

Breezer Freedom.

Internally geared, fenders for sloppy weather, lighting and a rack.
Perfect.

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_details.cfm?bikeType=town&frame=d&bike=freedom

"GG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

1. Under $500.
2. Able to withstand water, rust, snow, cold in a northern USA winter.
The bike does not have to be pretty after a winter but it must keep
working.
3. Well-made, with minimum maintenance (just keep tires pressurized and
oil a few joints).
4. Gears suited to distances of 4 miles one-way over hilly campus.
5. Available over the Internet pre-assembled or with assembly requiring
only non-specialist tools found in a college dorm.
6. Available with mud guards, chain guards and other accessories for
someone who will be using it in ordinary student clothing, not
all-weather racing gear.
7. Does not have odd construction preventing use of Kryptonite or other
strong lock.

Thanks.

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015
Or maybe this one would work for you too
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513014
If they are too expensive, the classic
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3985034 would work
Can't beat this one, super simple and cheap
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3596787
Putting on a rack or fenders on these isn't a big problem.
Normally, you will need to perform some minor assembly and or tuning as even
at the stores they don't do a lot to them, or even put air in the tires.
The bike will likely be stolen no matter what you do, so no sense putting a
lot of mony in a really nice one.

"GG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

1. Under $500.
2. Able to withstand water, rust, snow, cold in a northern USA winter.
The bike does not have to be pretty after a winter but it must keep
working.
3. Well-made, with minimum maintenance (just keep tires pressurized and
oil a few joints).
4. Gears suited to distances of 4 miles one-way over hilly campus.
5. Available over the Internet pre-assembled or with assembly requiring
only non-specialist tools found in a college dorm.
6. Available with mud guards, chain guards and other accessories for
someone who will be using it in ordinary student clothing, not
all-weather racing gear.
7. Does not have odd construction preventing use of Kryptonite or other
strong lock.

Thanks.

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015
Or maybe this one would work for you too
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513014
If they are too expensive, the classic
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3985034 would work
Can't beat this one, super simple and cheap
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3596787
Putting on a rack or fenders on these isn't a big problem.
Normally, you will need to perform some minor assembly and or tuning as even
at the stores they don't do a lot to them, or even put air in the tires.
The bike will likely be stolen no matter what you do, so no sense putting a
lot of mony in a really nice one.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:29:46 GMT, maxo <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1. Under $500.

bit over your budget, worth a look, nice bike,
http://www.bianchiusa.com/milano.html

---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon

Hats off to all of you! It is so rare to receive responsive, on-point
replies to a post asking for recommendations.

"GG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would be interested in recommendations on a bicycle (make, model,
supplier) for a college student to travel to classes on campus, that
satisfies the following requirements:

Whatever you get, it's a good idea for it to look like s**t, so it becomes
visually unatrractive to an opportunistic thief. *Anything* on it that is
removable needs to be locked down on it or removed each time it is parked.
The alternative is a folder, so instead of it being parked up somewhere, it
is taken with you.

Cheers, helen s

GG said:

Hats off to all of you! It is so rare to receive responsive, on-point
replies to a post asking for recommendations.

Don't get used to it.

Bill "Wisecracks for Frank Day" S.

Earl Bollinger said:

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015 Or maybe
this one would work for you too
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513014 If they are
too expensive, the classic

^^^ examples of exactly what to avoid. Cheap dual suspension and knobbies
you don't need. Mounting a traditional rack and real fenders is
impossible.

Quoted message said:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3985034

would work

Not bad at all, at least it comes with fenders, street tires, and no
suspension that'll only be disappointing.

Quoted message said:

Can't beat this one, super simple and cheap
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3596787 Putting on
a rack or fenders on these isn't a big problem. Normally, you will need
to perform some minor assembly and or tuning as even at the stores they
don't do a lot to them, or even put air in the tires. The bike will
likely be stolen no matter what you do, so no sense putting a lot of
mony in a really nice one

Wow, a SA hub on a 100 Wally World bike. I don't shop at the place, but
sheeoot--that's a great disposable campus bike.

I saw my neighbor's buddy on one of the Next "comfort bikes" and while I'd
venture to say the long term reliability it promises to be sketchy--at
least it was the right shape for a town scoot:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2061606&cat=5297&type=5&dept=4171&path=0%3A4171%3A133073%3A5297&xsell=3985034

not a fan of suspensions, but at least the rear doinger is pretty simple
compared to most. Nice chain guard too.

I'd rather you go to a nice bike shop like everybody else--but if you're
on a student budget and you must shop at Wally World--

I'd say either the 3 speed cruiser or the Next Avalon city bike are by far
the best choices.

Earl Bollinger said:

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015

Your post was sent three times to the news server, problems with OE?
Usually this is pretty common with G2 postings, not with standalone
readers. Just a heads up.

🙂

Me-thinks "web user got impatient and clicked submit multiple times..."

😉

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Earl Bollinger said:

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015

Your post was sent three times to the news server, problems with OE?
Usually this is pretty common with G2 postings, not with standalone
readers. Just a heads up.

🙂

If it's for college use, I would recommend the cheapest bicycle you
could find. If you're close to the Sacramento area, drive by the UC
Davis campus. You will find a myriad of beater bikes. You do not want
to risk theft with an expensive bicycle. Granted $500 is rather
inexpensive for a quality bicycle, but it's still a lot of money.

Use the beater bike to commute to school and leave your race rig at
home for the weekends.

Claude

"C.J.Patten" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Me-thinks "web user got impatient and clicked submit multiple times..."

😉

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Earl Bollinger said:

This one should do for you.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2513015

Your post was sent three times to the news server, problems with OE?
Usually this is pretty common with G2 postings, not with standalone
readers. Just a heads up.

🙂

Sorry, I had a network problem. My bad.
My apologies.

Hey man, no worries.

Electrons are recycleable.

😉

"Earl Bollinger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sorry, I had a network problem. My bad.
My apologies.

Bill Sornson said:

Don't get used to it.

Bill "Wisecracks for Frank Day" S.

Aren't you embarrassed?

I think you and I need to take the important business of usenet
posting, a whole lot more seriously. If in doubt ask Frank, he will
set us straight;-)

Life is Good!
Jeff