Bike for college commuting
 

So like all the rest of the college students in the world I'm sort of broke and need a way to get to school. The parking lots are always full so it's sort of lost cause to drive. Plus it would take about 15 min to get to class riding a bike or a 5 min drive to campus and a 10 min walk to class. :(

My dilemma is that I haven't owned or ridden a bike since I was a kid. I'm 23, in shape 6'0" 175lbs. I have no idea what I need or want in a bike. I was thinking road bike because I could get out and ride the touring trails on weekends and it would make the ride to class much quicker but the fact that it gets very cold in Idaho in the winter makes me think that road bike tires (super skinny) wouldn't be the best choice when the snow/ice is on the ground? What are cold weather commuting options?

Is there any entry level road bikes out there that would work for my purposes for around 400 dollars? I have the money for an expensive bike but a high profile bike at a bike rack on a college campus is probably not the best choice. Could be lifted in short order. On that note what is the best option for locking a bike up? I use to use a cable lock when I was a kid but seems like that could be cut pretty easily. . .

Oh BTW, its about 3 miles to campus. The streets are pretty good but there is the occasional pothole. . .

I'm sure you all are probably tired of the "what bike should I get" questions so thanks for taking the time to read this. Any tips pointers or advice would be much appreciated!

Kelpy

is there a bicycle co-op near you? save your money and buy a used bike that you mind if it gets rained on, vandalized or stolen

college campuses are prime spots for thievery

kryptonite + cable, both tires need to be secured or they will be taken. cable your seat too, or take it with you

Depending on the road bike, you might be able to install wider tires for the winter.

How are you going to carry your books? Will you use a backpack or are you looking to use a rack? Not all road bikes can handle a rack.

You might consider a hybrid bike. It has wider tires, can hold a rack, and is good for riding on roads or trails.

You don't want to leave a nice bike parked outside class in the sun and rain every day. I commuted on a road bike for part of undergrad up north and through grad school in the south, but the exposure was tough on it, and since then I've replaced most of the components. Up north you'll also have salt to accelerate the corrosion, and road tires will be slippery on ice and snow. Somebody tried to cut the cable lock on my road bike at the bike rack in front of the lab one evening, but failed. I switched to a U-lock and added locking wheel skewers.

A used rigid-fork MTB or hybrid would work well enough for a 3-mile commute. You can put slick tires on it for most of the year, and change to knobbies for the winter.

I had planned on using a backpack for books. Maybe a hybrid will be the better choice. I had just hoped to get going a little faster with a road bike.

A hybrid would be a good choice, but if you're set on a road bike then maybe a cyclocross would do you better, though I imagine finding an older cyclocross would be harder than finding an old roadie. If you could give us your budget, that would go a long way in deciding whether or not you're in the new bike range. A late 70's to 80s bike would probably be perfect for you, they're plentiful and often a good deal if you know what you're looking at.

But if you're going to use it mainly for that 3 mile commute, then a road bike would not be necessary, a non-suspension mtb would suit you just fine. Or you could get a singlespeed/fixed gear bike, being around a college, I'm sure there's a bunch of them for sale in craigslist.

Being a college town, you need to get yourself a cable and a good quality U-lock. put the u lock between the front wheel, fork, and the item you're going to lock it to. And run the cable through the U-lock and through the rear wheel.

Kelpy, I was in the same situation a few years ago. I ended up going to my LBS and buying the second-cheapest bike there. It was a Giant MTB with absolutely nothing special except a cheap front suspension fork. Cost me $150 IIRC, and with the shop offering free tuneups and whatnot. Used it for three solid years, left it in the rain with a bag over the seat, barely did any maintenance. It never got hassled by thieves, and I always locked it up with a U-lock + cabled front wheel. Worst that happened was one day I left some accessories on and they got stolen.

So, I'd suggest walking into your college's LBS and see if they have any REALLY CHEAP bikes for sale. If it's a college town, they may well.

(edit) Plus, I still have the bike. I have since gotten a new one though :)

3 speeds are classics, , one with aluminum rims on the wheels will stop better than chrome plated steel.
internal gear hubs just need a few drops of oil in them occasionally , as does the drive chain ,
other than that they are a Utility.

lock the sucker up well ! frame and both wheels and onto stuff that is solid.
If , You got a better lock-up than the guy next to you they will leave yours be,

Get this bike: http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm

has eyelets for racks and comes with 700 x 26 tires which is wider than your normal race tire 700 x 23. Good price too for what you get.

Craigslist is the student's best friend. With your 400 bucks don't forget that there are many factors that dictate how comfortable you are with riding your bike. You will want a bicycle commuting specific bag, a big blinky taillight, a blinding bicycle headlight, a helmet you like, U-lock, mirror, and I like to commute with cycling specific clothing so that I can change into a sweat free t-shirt and jeans

I think and early to mid 90's mountain bikes make excellent commuters. Put on some slicks to go faster. Change to some knobbies or winter tires for the rough weather in Idaho. You should probably check the local area to find out price ranges either through craigslist, coops, bike shops that sell used, or even pawn shops. Some had eyelets for racks and/or fenders as well.

Not all college campuses are the same as far as thievery goes. Your best bet is to check with the college or town police. Still, a good u-lock, locking skewers, and cable should be adequate. Remember some colleges can be in the heart of a major city while others are nestled away and isolated with one main artery to get on and off campus.

Looks like a great bike for my needs. :thumb:

Anyone else second this as a good deal?

Kelpy

Good advice on the thievery. The University of Idaho campus seems like it's pretty well secured and definitely not in a big city like some schools. . . still don't want to tempt the honest/broke college students tho. . .

It looks great but I don't think they have your size (they jump from 56cm to 64cm and I'd assume you would need something around 58cm).

Another bike on their site, the Windsor Wellington 2.0, is a possibility (a friend just bought one and likes it a lot plus I've read some good reviews on it) and they have a 59cm in stock. It's AL instead of steel and a little cheaper but should do the job. Remember, if you buy a bike from BD (or anything online) you'll need to assemble and adjust it or pay to have that done.

How hard is it to assemble a bike? I use to be a helicopter mechanic so I have some mechanical skills but looking at something I know nothing about is a little different. Plus putting something together that I didn't take apart makes things a little trickier. . .

Kelpy

I agree that craigslist can be a good place to look. That's where I've gotten both my upright and recumbent bikes for great prices. I then got all my accessories (fenders, rack, seat bag, lights...) from the LBS or online. I definitely recommend getting a bike that can accommodate a rear rack. It's a lot nicer putting your backpack (or whatever you decide to use) on the rack, especially if it's loaded up with heavier books, clothes, lunch, or anything else.