max-a-mill

or an ounce or two of some pretty good weed...

THIS is the type of advice someone going to college needs.

serioulsy you'll have plenty of time after college to make money and buy nice bikes, for now, EMBRACE THE BEATER.... garage sales are your friend. or wait a month and find the rich kid who's parents bought a nice bike for college he'll never use, trade him a case of beer for it... i can't tell you how many nice bikes i saw just waste away on the racks at my rich whiteboy college.

dolomite592

I disagree and with much proof. No problems thus far on campus. I park it there all the time. Just don't leave it overnight.

----
Reza

aluckyfiji

Well everyone bet me to it, but I figure since I am at UA and can give you my opinion...
If you go fixed you will be one of three (me, LBS wrench and you) if you go SS there is one other guy who has one. (I do not know what your physical condition is, or your bike skills, but I would suggest brakes on a fixed, the town is not very friendly to bikes but is fine outside the city limits) Both of us are on 42x16 and that it is nice, but you could go more hipsitter and through on something like a 47x16, but that is your call
Dependent also on were you live could be a big factor, if you in somewhere like northriver dorms than you will have some room, if you are in rose towers your screwed...
It never gets really cold here which is nice, but it gets pretty damn hot in the late spring through late fall (March-Oct)...
From March-June it will rain in the afternoons about three-five times a week, mostly just short showers, but you need to keep that in mind if you are going to be carring around a laptop/books/etc.
My opinion is don't take your laptop, it is alot of weight... and money...
Most IMPORTANTLY do not be like most of the people here and ride on the sidewalk... PLEASE ride were we belong, on the road with all the dick-head drivers...
If you have anyother questions drop me a PM
I hope you enjoy UA

thdave

I just want to add to the good comments here that you need fenders. Fenders make it practical to ride in the rain, which you will get caught in. Handling that is key to sticking with it. Some mountain bikes don't have provisions for fenders--look for ones that do if you want that kind of bike (I don't really like the goofy tires on them).

A folding bike would be nice.

I, too, think a single speed is fine for you, with rear brake. No maintenance needed. You don't need anything else. Get some good puncture resistant tires.

zorak8me

+1

It's a better idea to spend $75 at a thrift store/used bike shop/WalMart on your freshman year bike. When you're out of the dorms you can put your bike inside and that gives you a year to see what riding is like in that town, and determine your needs. My freshman year bike had leprosy. One day I come out and the front wheel is missing. Next day the seat is gone. Then the brakes. Then someone came and put it out of its misery.

I do recommend a rear rack with a classy milk crate strapped to it; this is great for carrying heavy books and bags. You can fit a couple big paper bags of groceries in it. I don't know if you're from the South, but it is fantastically hot and humid in the late spring, summer, and early fall, so backpacks really suck during that time....hence the rack recommendation.

Congrats on getting into Bama, that's a fun school. Too bad it isn't the University of Florida

oilfreeandhappy

Used Mountain Bikes are all over, and they're very reasonably priced. Thieves will more likely look for something better. I agree that you should buy a bike that was pretty nice when it was new.

yertsivad

Because I'm such a Good Samaritan I condensed the gist of what most of you just said down to a few points:
-Nothing flashy
-"College campuses are dens o' thieves. Cheap is good." -marqueemoon
-Used bike that was nice when new
-Quality locks
-If nice, find cover and don't leave outside overnight

Bike recommendations:
-Single gear road bike
-Folding bike
-Marin Muirwoods, or Marin Novato 9
-Surly Crosscheck
-Peugeots
-'85 Schwinn World Sport

To respond to some questions:
I'll be staying in the Riverside dorms and I've seen people keep bikes in their rooms. I won't actually be spending $600 on a bike, I thought I could aim high and try my best to find a deal (not sure how likely this is in the biking world).

I appreciate all of the replies and wise advise (like allotting money for alcohol, drugs, and pizza), but I have another question (behind yet another colon):
What is the best kind of lock for my case?

anonymouse99

Depends on what you get, but if whatever you get has value, then the best there is is the Kryptonite New York Lock. Use that to lock the frame and rear wheel to a bike rack, and use a KryptoFlex cable to run through the front wheel and U-lock. I actually use the Kryptolock with the newer key design and cable.

chephy

I wouldn't paint a picture so dark. I was expecting lots of those problems when I was living at the dorms (the noise was a particularly great concern for me) and I was AMAZED at how quiet it was my whole two years before I moved into an apartment with my boyfriend. It depends on the school and how good the dorm dons do their job, I suppose. I had a lot more trouble with noise in the apartment building BTW.

Yeah, you usually don't get a lot of space in a dorm room, but that didn't bother me. Actually one summer (I stayed in the dorms over the summer too) I got a double room all to myself at a rate of a single room, and it was on the first floor too, so I could just roll my bike inside (and there was plenty of space to accommodate it). Another year I had a HUGE single room, but then it was on the third floor and no elevator. That was a big drawback as I didn't want to keep carrying my heavy Crap-mart bike up and down the stairs, so eventually it did get stolen.

chephy

As to the original question, just about anything will do the job for riding for 2 miles a day (with the occasional 10 miles on a weekend or so). So cheap is good. Also simple is good since it's less likely to break, so a fixed gear/single speed, if you can find one, would suit your situation very well (especially given that you're riding area is all flat). But if you can't find or build one yourself, anything cheap and be fine as long as the wheels spin: used mountain bikes, used road bikes, used any other sort of bikes, crappy Wallmart bikes.... the list is practically endless. Check garage sails and www.craigslist.org (navigate to your area and the bikes section).

aluckyfiji

Here at UA, I have NEVER seen a kry. NY lock... I am not saying that bikes are not stolen from our campus, but I can say it is not bad... though my bike sits behind me now, for two years I locked mine outside with just a cable lock through the rear wheel, front triangle, front wheel and bike stand and had no problem.
Riverside are nice dorms by the way...
if you go with a road bike you are only 2.5 miles away from the meeting site of the group rides, so if you are a roadie than a road bike might be nice... or you could just do two bike... a campus crusier from a yard sale and than a true road bike, if that is your thing...
i hope you enjoy UA