I'm amazed at the amount of discouragement of use of the Clem as a college commuting bike.
I've worked at universities a good chunk of my life and commuted with high(er) end bikes and never had any issues. I like riding nice bikes - which is why I own them. I've parked in high foot traffic zones (in front of libraries, security, etc.) or bring my bike inside ( absolute in downtown Vancouver) when possible or parking my bike is in eyesight (outside my old office at a bike rack in UVIC). Just the standard back wheel lock with cable around the front wheel. Nothing fancy. (no QR seat) Never ever ever leave them parked over night. I always avoid dark or hidden area's, especially near residence halls or maintenance buildings. Granted - some universities and colleges are more sketchy than others. I've found eventually other cyclists with nice or similar bikes will start parking around you. It's a little heartwarming. My biggest issue is the occasional bike jammer - which leads to fender misalignment or dents. Scratches etc. It's the life of a bike. I am of the opinion have a wonderful bike to have a wonderful ride everyday not to hide in the garage. On the counterpoint - if one is going to be riding to the bars or parties or potential overnight parking...this is where the shenanigans will happen. It could be good having a "bar hopper" single speed or something of the sort if biking is desired in these situations. On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 1:50:41 PM UTC-7 Ian A wrote: > Have you considered a Brompton for a college bike? The folding nature of > it means it can always be safely inside with your son. > > IanA Alberta Canada > On Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 8:54:39 PM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! > wrote: > >> It nearly kills me to say it, but my older son will be heading to college >> in a year. Freshman aren’t to bring cars to campus, so that leaves buses, >> bikes, and your own two feet for transportation. My boys have grown up >> riding Clem Hs; this son rides a 52 cm cast-off from my husband (who >> doesn’t ride, sigh). >> >> My 6’3” Dad had a blue 59 cm Clem on order when he died suddenly in 2020, >> and his blue Clem has sat, boxed, waiting for my boy to grow into it. I >> lugged the gargantuan box up from the basement last week to see how if the >> bike would fit. “Now that I’ve obtained optimal height,” my son is fond of >> saying… >> >> Anyway, he’s 6’1” now (likely still growing) and I need him to decide if >> he wants to stick with his old Clem H (that he was fond of) or settle into >> this Clem L. Because whichever bike he chooses is getting new wheels, dyno >> and fenders and going to college with him. At first he was opposed to the >> idea of a new Clem; he liked his old Clem, thought it looked cool. But >> after the - as he calls it - Big Bike was assembled, he really began to >> like it. “It looks elegant,” he said. It really does, all long and lithe, >> in blue and silver. He put his saddle and bags on the bike and we test rode >> it tonight. He said, “I am really liking the Big Bike. I like that my knees >> don’t have anything to hit (geez, were his knees hitting his bars?!) and it >> looks elegant. It feels more at home now that I have my old saddle on it.” >> >> I have mixed feelings about sending him to college with this bike, >> because it’s so nice. I also doubt he’ll be able to get it on a bus bike >> rack - and I have no idea how often he will want to do that. His bike life >> is totally unknown at this point. All I know is that I’m getting him dyno >> because the kid has never remembered to charge a light in his LIFE and I >> will not sleep at night without it.The 52 takes 650b wheels and the 59 >> takes 700c, so I don’t want to buy the wheels until I know which bike he >> really wants. But as of now, he wants his new bike. >> >> I know people will say we should just get a beater. I know why that would >> be advisable, but I also hate to think of a Clem languishing when it could >> be serving a noble purpose. I’d love for him and his Clem to journey >> through undergrad together. >> >> I am wondering…has anyone gone to college or sent their kid to college >> with a Clem? What do you have to say about it? Photos in the next post… >> Leah >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/76774e94-ab69-4dfb-903e-08c40b0f6af9n%40googlegroups.com.
