John E

This takes me back to my days at UCLA, 1968-1978. Bike theft was rampant, particularly as the early 1970s bike boom kicked in, coupled with various dock strikes in 1972-3. My first Capo Modell Campagnolo, #45211 (no longer with us due to my only close encounter of the wrong kind with a motor vehicle) had already been repainted flat black, so I spray painted blotches over it. I had a 4-pound chain and an Abus Diskus lock, and I always tried to park next to a better-looking bike with a flimsier-looking security system. Fortunately, my wife-to-be was living at the YWCA across the street from campus, and I was able to lock up my commuting bikes inside there.

DonTx

Just to circle back with you guys. The Bike will be at LSU but she lives off campus in a third story walk up apt. I'll take a look at the bike racks there and alternative parking locations. The bike will only be on campus for short periods of time. The reason I am using this bike is I have several bikes, this one was free and is roughly her size and was already a fixie to start with. I ride a beater old Puch Tourer as my daily, it would be a better frame for the project but it is a 23" frame so its too big for her. A good lock will be a prerequisite in general.

Wildwood

i sent my daughter off to college for 2nd & 3rd year - when she went off campus - with a BridgeStone step-thru, 26" wheels. So well 'disguised' she hardly ever rode it. She was only a few blocks off the campus.

Lbxpdx

In the late 90’s at the University of California Santa Barbara, I borrowed my roommates ****** old beach cruiser. I don’t recall how, but it ended up getting stolen. I replaced it with another ****** old beach cruiser, but decided it was easier to use a long board skateboard than hassle with bike. I always figured that if someone would steal a rattle canned beach cruiser, anything was fair game.

I think a mixte of some sort is probably the safest bike to not get stolen.

sabele

I would be more concerned about a "fixie" versus a single speed and your daughter crashing with a fixie. I realize many people use "fixie" when speaking of single speed with freewheel capabilities but you cannot be too careful. First time I road my fixie, I crashed in the driveway trying to clip in my right foot as the forward momentum of the bike threw me off the bike. I am accustomed to "coasting" with my left leg straight while I clip in on my mountain and road bikes. As I kept my left leg straight instead of moving with the pedal movement, I was thrown off.

sabele

The old saying is that al bikes weigh 35 lbs.

15 lb bike: 20 pound lock
25 lbs bike: 10 pound lock
35 pound bike: no lock

himespau 

I have an old mixte frame that I'd planned on repainting at one point (paint on it was terrible). I got as far as 2 coats of primer before remembering how much I hated painting. If I still have it in another 8 years, I may build it up for my daughter when she goes off to school. Not too many people will be interested in stealing a late '70's Fuji Gran Touring mixte that's just primered. I hope.

relrrt

Her money is his money.

dobo

Well played, sir. Or is it plaid?

tricky 

DonTx

It is no longer a fixie, it is a single speed with a freewheel. I think only flat pedals should be used with fixies, for the reason you stated. Unless on the boards at a track of course.

bikemig 

You could do worse than contact LSU security and the Baton Rouge bike collective to get an idea of bike theft on campus. Given the low entry cost of the bike I wouldn't feel too bad it it were stolen. Like others have said, just invest in a good quality lock. That way other bikes will look more attractive to steal. And start looking for a cheap backup lock up bike.

By the way, there are terrific roads to ride north of Baton Rouge in the Feliciana parishes and into MS. I grew up in New Orleans and did a lot of riding in that area. It's fine countryside.

For what it's worth I rode and locked up a pretty nice bike when I went to school in New Orleans but every campus is different.

ShelterIslJoe

Just forget about leaving a nice bike outside, even with a heavy kock. I'd suggest fixing up a $15 Craig's list special to be reliable and safe to ride. If it gets stolen there would be limited pain and easy replay cement.

ADguy

If I could get a do-over, I’d give my 3 university bound kids a weathered beater that fit them and was thoroughly overhauled, along with a lock. Most kids are going to leave their bike in a rack, especially overnight. Any nice looking bike with a recognizable brand label will be a thieve’s first choice.

if DonTx has no other options, I do like the idea of wrapping the entire frame with black electricians tape. Not sure, though, of the best way to dull out any shiny components in a manner that could be reversed later…

xiaoman1 

OP,
My daughter rode a MOTO for her 4 years at Cal, she never had an issue and from my point of view I was not interested in camoing it so she could ride it. Maybe she was lucky just lucky, IIWM, I would be more concerned about locking it downstairs overnight than at her school.
JM2C's, Ben

DonTx

This is exactly what I was going to do, but I looked quite a lot and found only junk for cheap. Used bikes have gotten expensive on craigslist.
I talked with her about the bike and storing it. She likes the idea of plastidipping or sticker bombing it. She also found a bike rack within sight of campus police office so that will help a little. The bike is made up of parts bin parts, with old dia compe brake levers, mismatched brakes, and a cheap bottle cage. I did spend money on new brake pads and a singlespeed freewheel. But lets be honest getting something stolen sucks, sometimes even more if it is something that was built rather than bought. So I am still worried about it but I will try to let it go. As for locks I will likely go with a Abus U-lock and a cable to link the wheels through the frame.

ofajen

How big is the campus and how far will she need to go? I built up a “campus bike” for my son and as an undergrad he basically just walked everywhere because it was easier.

Now he’s in grad school and has to commute a few days a week off campus to his research group office, which is four miles each way, so he’s finally using the bike.

70’s silver Le Tour frame, drive train and bolt on wheels from an 80’s Sprint, with non-matching blue steel flat bars from one of the kids’ old MTBs and cheap thumbies. Utterly indistinguishable from the other crappy old bikes the students park outside all the time.

He uses a cheap cable lock like most everyone else there.

Otto

Chombi1 

A foldable electric scooter might be a good alternative for your daughter.
She can take it indoors into her classes, dorm or apartment and she might even find it more fun to ride around the campus.
There are lots of them available to choose from at very reasonable prices....