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 >>>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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