Hi,

I'm going to be living on Tallahassee, Florida starting this next January. I'd like to buy a good bang-for-the buck bycicle to get me around the campus of FSU, from the dorm room to classes and around. It's not necessary to say that I don't have a fortune to spend. Also, I'm completely new to the whole bike world, so excuse my ignorance on any matters.

Thanks,
Santiago

How tall are you?

https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2058186279.html

https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/bik/2056482080.html

It depends on how much you are willing to spend. Any bike that fits well and is in good working order will work.

Couple questions:
Do you ever plan to leave your bike overnight on campus?
Do you have a place to keep your bike indoors at home?

These are pretty important questions to think about when deciding on a bike, as you don't want to buy a nice bike and have it go bad or get stolen.

If I was just going to get around on campus I would consider buying an old x-mart (Walmart k-mart etc.) kids BMX style bike. You can get them for practically nothing (free-$20) and they are fun, get you around campus quick enough and not a huge deal it they are stolen. If the campus I worked on was bigger I would lock one up on campus to cruiuse around on. This is just one of many ideas.

Santiago, first off determine what size of bike you should get, get the one in your budget, whether it's free or $1000. After that oil the chain and keep air in the tires. If it's flat where you're riding get a one speed coaster brake bike and put good tires on it, fenders and chain guard optional. The cheaper the bike and more expensive the lock the happier you'll be. If it's somewhat hilly gears are a good idea. The above suggestion for a dirt cheap
bmx or mtn bike is a good one.

perfect college bike would be a 70's Schwinn Varsity or Collegiate with new wheels and the same one piece crank. With all the rusty parts covered in Ospho so it's kind of black/brown corroded.

look around - see what other people ride and how they lock them. go to some local shops and tell them your quest. hopefully you can find a used straight bar road bike.

Do you have a bike where you live now?

Old no suspension Mountain bikes with a rack with a milk crate. The uglier the better. If it is a decent bike make it ugly. You are trying to make it less desirable then the bike next to it to help avoid theft.

Some cheap slicks if its mostly paved will make it better for the roads.

Good bikes can come from the garbage. That's where I get mine.
Be prepared to spend some time on a garbage bike though. Do you think you can make minor repairs on your own? You might need to make some repairs before it can be ridden.

Not that you should get a beautiful bike for campus, but they can look sweet. https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/

I'm like 5' 2''


I still don't know exactly where I'm going to live but I think I'll be mostly leaving my bike in some bike parking lot outside.


No.

Thanks for all the responses

A mini velo or a folder is a good bet. You can take it in your dorm and lock it in there when you're not out riding.

Cuts down on campus bike theft.

those craigslist bikes are a good example of what to get along with a u-bolt lock. Again if it's flat you can't beat a simple coaster brake bike.

If you are that short a BMX style bike would be great or even go with a youth mountain bike with 24 inch wheels. Both are dirt cheap and less likely to get stolen since you will be locking them outside. Buy cheap and keep a $20 bill for in case you bike get stolen you can easily purchase another one.

I go to the largest university in the United States and I have had a Windsor Clockwork from BikesDirect for about a year now. It was $300 new and has held up very well. I have had it for about a year now and ride it every day almost all year round. Up until September it had always been locked up outside with a Kyrptonite New York lock because I lived in the dorm and couldn't bring it inside.

It has been very easy to maintain and keep clean and my only issues have been a few punctured tires and some chips and scratches from locking it up by all the other bikes.

I'd recommend it.