Black_Gold

hey guys. got a question for you all.

next year i will be heading up to Missoula, Montana for college and was wondering if you had and suggestions for a good campus/commuter/light trail riding bike. I'm pretty sure i want a single speed because of the low maitinence aspect (this will be my only transportation). and i'm also pretty sure that I dont want shocks (i just prefer the more solid cornering feel to rigid forks).

Do you guys have any idea of what type of bikes i should look at? My budget would probably be $450 and under and i would most likely buy used off of craigslist (unless i found a really good deal new). keep in mind that this would be used on campus and streets about 90% of the time, with occasional dirt road usage. i also would like something that can hop curbs and not have to worry about potholes too much. to sum it up... a bulletproof, low-maitinence, simple commuter.

Thanks in advance,
Black_Gold

KrisPistofferson

I have an Electra Townie 3-speed as my campus bike. I keep it locked to a lamppost (foils leverage attacks on the u-lock,) with a cable going through the front tire. In the process of defeating the lock, the would be thief will probably destroy the frame, as well. Nice campus ride.

M_S

Hey Black Gold.

I am also from Portland--back for the summer, as noted in my "location" and go to school in Missoula.

I think a singlespeed is a good call for Missoula. The town itself is very flat except for the south hills, which I imagine you won't need to go to often unless you live there. Once you get out of town on trails and dirt roads it can start to get hilly, but there are lots of people that swing it on singlespeeds.

Were I you, I would get a Redline Monocog 29er. It meets all of your requirements perfectly, IMO. Singlespeed, no suspension, and will be good for the occasional times you'll need to ride roads that haven't been plowed yet. Best of all it retails for about 450 bucks. For not very much more the same company offers the D440 29er which is a similar bike, with a 1 x 8 drivetrain, if you want a few gears.

There are other rigid 29er singlespeeds to consider if you up your budget a little bit. The GT Peace 9r retails for about 600 bones. Similar to the monocog but with a few more name brand components and mechanical disc brakes, which are good for the rain and snow but not required.

The Bianchi San Jose is a singlespeed cyclocross bike, also around 600 dollars. More road oriented, obviously, but still able to take reasonably wide tires.

Good luck with the bike hunting. What will you be studying next year?

Black_Gold

M_S,
your not by any chance the guy i talked to at performance bike are you?

i was also looking at this bike: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...tcast29_08.htm

M_S

I am by chance that guy. I was wondering the same thing.

The Motobecane is also a good option if you are comfortable setting up your own bike or have someone who can do it for you. There is a kid on campus who rides one.

My only complaint with that frame is the lack of dis tabs on the frame and fork. If you are fine only running rim brakes it's not a big concern.

jzamor

My campus cruiser was a Redline Monocog. I bought the frame (the original generation) and fork for $110 from Pricepoint (I think) and built up the bike largely from old leftover parts plus a $100 wheelset. Overall I think I spent about $400 total. This bike is bulletproof, and I still have it. Over my college career (so far, may be going back for a masters) the only thing I ever really needed to do was change brake pads and tires. And I sure put it through its paces.

My frame however did lack proper mounts for full fenders or a rear rack. I'm not sure if this is still true for the newer revamped monocog frames, but something to keep in mind. Especially if you have to ride to class in the rain. Sitting through class in soaked clothes is not really tolerable.

One thing I would not do, regardless of the bike, is leave it outside too much. Left in the rain extensively any bike will rust and need more maintenance. Also as you will find out soon enough, bikes left out on the rack overnight frequently become the victims of theft and random acts of destruction from druken fools.

If I resume the student life this will be the goto bike once again. Good luck.

Black_Gold

M_S:

yeah! i was in there looking at tires with my friend the other day... thought that was you...

what are the advantages to a 29er? are they any harder to pedal?

Black_Gold

thanks for the info, that Monocog looks like a sick ride. i guess i could always get a rack like this though: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...estore_ID=1034

M_S

I'm personally sold on the 29er concept. They roll over stuff very easily--good on a non-suspension mountain bike. For commuting I don't think the wheel size is going to matter too much. One nice thing about 29ers is that you should be able to run all but the narrowest 700c tire options. This means cylocross and touring tires. There are narrower tire options for 26 inch wheels, but not as many. Then put the stock tires back on for off-roading and winter use.

"harder to pedal?" Not inherently so. They may be slightly slower to get up to speed, but they will maintain momentum a bit better. It's all a matter of tradeoffs. Try riding bikes with both wheel sizes to get an idea of what you like.

The Redline monocog also comes in a 26 inch version if that's preferable to you.

Also, for a college campus bike theft doesn't seem to be much of an issue in Missoula. Don't leave a nice bike with just a ****ty cable, but if you have a lock that takes any sort of real effort to defeat you should be fine. Most bike theft is of the "I'm drunk and too lazy to walk, I need a ride" variety.

jpdesjar

buy a steamroller, they are super fun and you can put fatter tires on it for trails or snow

Torrilin

Kent Peterson's Monocog Log might help you out. He used his on the Great Divide race, and the log discusses things like getting a rack on, carryng stuff, repairs...

The bike won't make you into him but he did really ride the hell out of it so it gives you some idea of how the bike would hold up.

daveinduluth

I'm just throwing this out there as a recent college grad but, you may want to consider you living conditions. My brother, while in college, had his nice trek stomped on while it was locked up outside his dorm. Obviously his dorm room had no space to bring it inside. So, if it is going to be outside unprotected, you may want to consider something nice but cheap off of craigs list. College campuses seem to attract Hooligans.

MNBikeguy

I agree Dave. Son #2 is just finishing up. Based on our experience, I'd recommend the $25 thrift store sh*tbox for rolling to and between classes. Since most of the time it's left outside unattended (locked or not) you don't have to worry about it. Use the remainder of your $$ for something decent from some of the good recommendations here, for your "real" bike rides. Hopefully, there is some storage protection available.

Black_Gold

theres also the possibility of a folding bike that i could keep in my dorm...

do you guys have any suggestions?

maximan1

Smith and Wesson Tactical.

Its a police bike, hard to find, but bulletproof and low maintenance

MNBikeguy

I have no experience with folding bikes, but there is actually a "folding bike" forum here in BF. Perhaps those guys can give you some ideas. Goodluck! (That would be a slick alternative for a space cramped dorm room!)

zeppinger

Well there is lots of good advice on this thread but i thought that i would throw in my two cents. I understand that that area of the world is nice a flat but, if this is going to be your only form of transportation and if the mass transit system there is as poor as where i live, I would suggests some gears. They will make your life a lot easier while riding is traffic areas and on open boulevards when you want to really haul. You dont need 27 gears or anything but a nice 8 speed would do wonders and probably never have any problems as far as maintenance at all! Are you going to be hauling your groceries and other random crap with a single speed? Like I said, i am lots of gears and love them so i cant imagine going back to a single. Good luck!

martianone

Check out an Xooter Swift folding bike ?
Nice balance of features and portability for campus.

evan_phi

find an old Schwinn or Raleigh. nobody except the hipsters will want to steal it



or, go with the new mono's you're looking at. My campus bike is a mid 70's Raleigh I am hacking into a SS.

timdoug

Buy the bike you want. Even if something happens to it, you can always fix it. Just be sensible where you put it. For example: Don't leave it alone for 2 weeks. When go away for x-mas break bring the thing inside. Ride it often. It will likely be fine.
Remember, you are in Missoula not Chicago.

MNBikeguy

You can't fix what's stolen.
College campus' are the same, whether in Mayberry or New York City.
Trick question: On campus, which bike is more likely stolen; a shiny brand new Target Store "Magna", or a really good quality expensive bike that shows signs of heavy use.
My take, is you want a campus bike that sits under the radar, and won't stress you out if it's gone.

M_S

No, really, theft isn't a big issue in Missoula. Just don't use a cable and leave the bike out overnight.

I kept both my bikes under my med in my dorm, though...

Black_Gold

yeah thats what i was thinking. i have 2 u-bolts and was thinking of using one to bolt the front wheel to the frame and one to blot the bike to whatever im locking it to.

Black_Gold

no, i will just be hauling my self and whatever stuff i have in my messenger bag like books etc. also, since mountain biking is pretty big up there i would probably want something i can do some light trail riding with.

timdoug

I agree with one thing you say here, it's not worth stressing out about your bike when in class. Don't get a bike you'll freak out about leaving it alone.
I'd worry more about leaving the bike out in the weather, than the thief.
Listen to the dude that lives there.