I'll chime in with yet another recommendation (would be my choice if I were 
going to be shipping a kid of to a campus in the near future):  a Surly 
1x1. They're single speed frames, rather on the heavy side made from 4130 
chro-moly tubing, powder coated for durability, and can be set up with a 
single-speed cog and chainring of your choice.  I currently own one and use 
it as my all around utility bike for running short haul errands, etc.  I'm 
using a Bulletproof BMX crankset, 38-tooth Rocket chainring, and a Shimano 
17-tooth SS freewheel for a 59" gear (perfect for riding around campus).  
You can equip this bike with front and rear disc brakes, though I would not 
recommend it for campus use where it can get beat around on an overloaded 
bike rack and the discs bent. Instead I'd set it up with linear-pull F&R 
brakes. It comes with a threadless fork/steering tube, though, so you'd 
need the right length/angle threadless stem and the right bars to fit it 
(I'd recommend the VeloOrange Granola-Moose bar for easy mounting of the 
bar with a headlight.  You could pick any hub, rim, and tire combination 
you prefer.  Mine has Surly's semi-sealed cartridge hubs with 28mm rims and 
60mm Schwalbe Big Apple balloon tires - again, a perfect combo for campus 
riding.
A web search shows that there are several LBS's around the GR, MI area who 
are Surly dealers so you'd be within reasonable reach of one.  Anyway, 
that's my 2¢.

PS: I have a 16T White Industries SS freewheel FS if that would work

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 6:47:48 AM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> Wow, this thread has generated a lot of response, and I’ve enjoyed reading 
> every post. It’s such a shame we have to go to extremes to avoid bike theft 
> - carrying heavy u-locks, being so choosy about parking and locking, 
> replacing parts, making the bike ugly, choosing to ride an undesirable bike 
> so we can preserve our desirable bike…
>
> Then there’s the other variable - how careful is the kid going to be with 
> the bike? Well, bikes are not precious to him. He likes his bike, sees 
> beauty and usefulness in it, but please do not bore him with too many 
> details about it. I don’t think he will worry about it like I would; and 
> that may lead to carelessness that gets his bike stolen. But also, he has 
> the Mr. Magoo-like quality of walking through life blissfully unaware of 
> the evil that lurks around every corner and arriving unscathed at his 
> destination. 
>
> The campus in question does not have a lot of bike pirates roaming about, 
> although yes, I know they exist everywhere. But they are not prolific on 
> this particular campus. I’m still undecided about what bike to send, but 
> any bike that goes with him will get skewers that are locked and nuts that 
> prevent the theft of stem, saddle and seat post. Hexlox makes all these 
> products, if anyone is wondering. We’ll have good u-locks, too. 
>
> And thanks to Jim for the mention of coverage under homeowners’ insurance. 
> I’ll be looking into that for sure. 
> Leah
>
> On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 7:04:07 PM UTC-4 nlerner wrote:
>
>> Similar to Mackenzy, I’ve been bike commuting to college campuses for 
>> many decades, the last 30 of which have been in the Boston area. I’ve never 
>> had a bike stolen likely because (1) I use a decent lock and (2) never park 
>> it outside overnight. I have colleagues who would never leave their bikes 
>> outside at all and schlep them up to their offices, navigating too small 
>> elevators and lots of doorways, but I’ve never seen the need. Sure, bikes 
>> get stolen around here all the time, but I’m convinced those are the ones 
>> easiest to steal, e.g., unlocked on a porch or in a backyard or part of a 
>> larger home break in.
>>
>> Now that doesn’t mean I necessarily endorse bringing the Clem to college 
>> as it will likely get thoroughly trashed from daily wear and tear (bike 
>> racks are not bike-friendly spaces). But I’m also always looking for an 
>> excuse to build up a commuter for colleagues.
>>
>> Neal Lerner
>> Brookline MA
>>
>> On Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 5:07:52 PM UTC-4 Mackenzy Albright wrote:
>>
>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>

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