Going to college? Here's your first lesson. Not wanting to look stupid indicates a desire to be accepted by a group of people. Groups of people who require you to conform to a set of behaviors "or they won't like you" are adolescent and asinine, and don't actually like you anyway. They are a group to which you do not want to belong. You have a good, workable plan. Protect the expensive bike while maintaining your comfort. If other people do not understand or approve, scrape 'em off.