jefnvk

I don't, sorry. I'll let you know around May 31, when I get home!

himespau seems to know of one source, though.

CliffordK

Yeah, those were popular in Italy too.

Keep in mind that Holland also has one of the highest bicycle theft rates in the world, with many of the stolen bikes just ending up in the bottom of the canals.

I've considered one of those wheel locks for maybe short tours without a lock. Something to allow a quick stop at a local store. But, for most of my regular commuting and shopping, I prefer a bit more substantial lock.

CliffordK

As far as the niece, what does she want?

Is she interested in bicycle touring & long road rides? Competition? Off road?

The answer to her goals would dictate a full road bike vs cyclocross vs touring rig vs MTB vs 3-speed cruiser vs single speed beach bike vs single speed "track" bike.

corrado33

Another suggestion is to go to the local coop with said niece and have her pick out what bike she wants. They're all relatively cheap and shouldn't hurt the wallet too much if stolen.

Just for the record, I got through college without my bike getting stolen once, and it sat in one place 300+ days out of the year (I didn't ride much and the bike was a wal-mart bike.)

I did, however, leave the bike on campus when I graduated. Now-a-day I lock my surly up with a chain and a strong U-lock to prevent it from getting stolen. (I'm smarter now...)

jefnvk

They are used in conjunction with a ridiculously heavy chain there. Their sole purpose is to keep the wheel attached to the bike, not as the only locking device. That said, I generally bike in a low crime area, so I'd probably use it as a solo defense.

VNA

Sturdy, simple with internal 3 gears (no dérailleur) even a coaster brake and a plastic seat!

JohnDThompson 

According to the original message, it would be used to ride around campus. For that purpose, an old 3-speed is ideal.

caloso

I had a Montgomery Wards 3-speed ladies shopping bike, which was probably a Raleigh Sports knockoff. It had a wire basket, a chain guard, and thick 26" tires. Just like you say, it was tough, easy to ride, easy to maintain, and quite cheap from the thrift shop. Plus it was nothing to look at so it didn't attract thieves. Really the ideal school bike.

CliffordK

I rode my Colnago racing bike (with sewups) around campus.

I generally just walked when actually on campus. What is the point of a bicycle to go one or two blocks? But, during the years I commuted from Mom & Dad's to campus, or wanted to go somewhere by bike, I drug it out and off I went.

And, it was locked up on campus many times.

A lot depends on the situation. Commuting maybe 1 or 2 miles to class, yeah, a 3 speed might be perfect.

Commuting 20 miles to campus? If you want the bike to get ridden, then get one that would actually make it there.

SlimAgainSoon

There are good bike shops in Tallahassee (which is hilly — she'll need gears).

University Cycles is close by, with good prices.

There is also a bike co-op that can help her put together a sturdy ride: Home

Darth Lefty 

You can even get them in Campus Green

AlexCyclistRoch

This is the one and only time that a Wal-Mart bike would be best.

hazben1

Thanks for all the input folks. Considering the propensity of a 19 year old young lady to change her mind. I may actually take an earlier suggestion and see about just renting a bike for the semester. Then if she likes it go ahead and buy her a bike. Sure I may be throwing away $35 which could be put towards a bike. But, I am playing the odds. I sure hope she likes it and down the road decides she wants to become a cyclist.

Darth Lefty 

Bike rental for $35 a semester sounds like a bargain, try spending that to get a single day in San Francisco

CliffordK

Does the rental include insurance?

You could teach her early about the N+1 Concept.

Road Bike
MTB
Commuter
Cargo bike
Gravel Bike

jefnvk

If you are at all mechanically inclined, $35 would buy a lower end (although, not necessarily bad) MTB with enough left over to buy a new set of commuter tires and tubes (and possibly even a set of Wal-Mart cables) at most thrift shops I go to. She doesn't like it after a semester, you can always toss it on CL and make a couple bucks.

Just be sure to read that rental agreement very carefully, if you go that path. It'd suck to find out replacement value on that $35 rental in the case it is stolen is $500.

CliffordK

Lots of old 60's, 70's, and 80's bikes, (3, 5, or 10 spds) periodically show up on Craigslist for under $100. Just keep your eyes peeled. Expect them to require a full tune-up though.

For example, this one showed up locally today.
Vintage Raleigh Bike...Made in England - $65

Gresp15C

Just a different perspective: What about letting her research it herself?

My inclination would be to talk with her and see if she can agree to the idea of finding a simple used bike and getting it into good working condition, then provide the cash and transportation part of the project.

I agree that the rental idea sounds iffy due to theft.

My college bike was an ancient Hercules with a single speed Bendix hub, that my house mate found in his family's barn and gave to me. I never locked it, and even left it leaning against the house at night.

CliffordK

You could give her a "bicycle gift certificate" worth up to $300, to spend on the bicycle (and bike accessories) of her choice.

Either in-shop, or a casual agreement that you'll send her the money when she picks out a bike.

goraman

Craigs list is always full of old 3 speeds, be picky get a good one, (new shift cable $5.00, new tubes and tires $45,00, new brake pads $10.00, tube of good EP grease $8.00. possible grips and seat . $200.00 to $250.00. and it will last her all 4 years. Tell her to flirt with some mechanically inclined sap and he will do the work for free in hopes of a date.
Also any bike kitchen will help her out.
More important than the bike, A GOOD LOCK! Don't go cheap on that!
This is the minimum lock I would use for a $200.00 bike.

http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...-34-CS-55-10KS

http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secur...in-X-Plus-1060

fietsbob 

Still have to lock the bike up TO something... theres is a chain ending in a Pin, that goes in that socket , (above the red Lever)
to secure your bike to something Solid.


This Year I'm Seeing some of Trek's Bikes frames coming with the bosses to mount NL ring locks ,
since the factory they hire now makes the same frame for the market in Europe as it now ships to US Ports.
Though I expect the Lock may be fitted before Its shipped for the Euro Market .

Best mount is the other side of the seatstay , so Lockup chain socket is on the right side , since people mount their bikes from the left

& Key in the left side then.

jefnvk

Yeah, I should have mentioned in that comment that it is solely to keep your back wheel locked to the bike, or at minimum to force someone to pick it up and carry it instead of just riding it away. Looping a cable through the frame and both wheels necessitates quite a long long lock and quite a bit more time than cabling the front wheel and frame and flipping that lock switch. The chains they provided us to lock bikes with over there were stupid, fairly certain they were heavier duty than the chains grandpa had lying around for pulling stumps with tractors...

fietsbob 

The security chain is Hardened to Not be cut-able in 1 snip with Bolt cutters , Your Farm example does cut with bolt cutters
off the spool the chain is stocked on in the hardware store .

Square link vs Round is also part of thje difference ..

But Detroit ? your bike theft is rampant Just dont leave your bike Anywhere.

jefnvk

Yeah, I understand that on the chains. I also understand that no matter how heavy duty you make your lock, if someone wants it they'll get it with relatively little effort. I was told one story when in Amsterdam about bike thieves dressing up like the city workers whose job it was to remove illegally chained bikes and clearing out an entire street in the middle of the day with no one questioning them.

I'm mostly in Rochester Hills and Lake Orion when I'm biking, not downtown, theft isn't an overriding concern of mine. I'm moreso just keeping the honest folks honest. Yes, I understand that theft can happen anywhere, its just not a huge concern to me. I don't ride anything particularly valuable, and bikes worth far more than mine are frequently left similarly unsecured.

fietsbob 

This seems, as I said, a more appropriate mounting location WB Bicycle Gallery: Robert Clark's Koga Miyata WTR

It is a Bike made by a NL company..