Having two bikes - one for university, one for when at home?

[pedaling]

I have a mountain bike at the moment. Without panniers (soon to get them) but it has pretty good lights, mudguards, bell etc etc. It's reasonably kitted-out and seems to be better than a lot of bikes I see around (or at least it looks better) even though I don't wash it or anything. But I worry about it getting stolen, especially in cities with big student/ bike-cycling population.

I'm considering trying to get a second-hand/ free (freecycle) bike and making that good/ learning how to fix/ repair/ improve it for when I go to university next year. There's no way I'd go without a bike, and depending where I end up I might be in a more bike-friendly place (or not, perhaps.) I'd like a roadbike because I think one with basket/ more space might be a bit more ideal for uni? And also if it's older/ not quite so attractive then it's less likely to get stolen? (Despite my two locks, inc. one good abus one) and sensitivity to where I park it!

So what do you reckon? Worth it?

This probably seems very early but I have university interviews etc coming up so it's on my mind. Plus the earlier I start looking the more likely I am to get one (if off freecycle.) And I'm hoping to go and work abroad asap after my exams so it'd help to know I've got a roadbike sorted if that's what I decide.

Please move this if it isn't in the right forum...

 

[jay clock]

A 2nd hand MTB from the early 90s would be good. Often they had quite good kit, and no suspension which is a plus. Stick on some slick tyres, perhaps Hammerite and off you go.....

 

[gratts]

I have a road bike at uni and it's a lot fancier than 99% of bikes I see on campus, though I did see one guy on a pretty expensive Trek
Get a good lock, and get it insured. Mine's insured for about £2.50 a month.
I really don't worry any more..1) It's so busy the places I leave it that I doubt anyone will bother trying to bust the lock 2) If it's stolen I get more than I paid for the bike, so will be able to upgrade

 

[pedaling]

so you think it's worth getting another bike?

my bike is covered on our household insurance at the moment (we have checked )

true, you can upgrade etc, but the hassle of insurance companies would be annoying. But yeh, I would lie and say I had far more things on it than I did etc if I had mine stolen

and yeh, I was thinking maybe an old bike would be okay... I mean, if it's old and still works okay, then it's obviously durable.

 

[hackbike 666]

I fancy getting a third and perhaps fourth bike for the winter a fixie (for summer) and a mountain bike for when it snows and dodgy weather.

 

[pedaling]

So two isn't at all greedy?

 

[hackbike 666]

I have two it's always useful to have a spare.When my chain broke just over half a mile away on the way to work I couldn't fix it so I rushed home and fixed the other bike up and it got me there.It's the only ride I have done on it since I bought the spare but it's always useful to have a backup or two.

How many times did I get up early morning to find my tyre flat?

 

[pedaling]

I've had surprisingly few flat tyres or problems with my bike so I don't know how to change tyres very well or fix anything. Maybe I should go on a course for this. I always find books a bit useless for this sort of thing - best to see. Two does sound like a good idea actually. And then people friends who come and visit (when I'm at home) can use one and I can use the other. Sorted!

 

[hackbike 666]

Well basically as I haven't had a sick day for the last almost six years the last time I commuted to work by train.having a spare is a good idea as I have managed over all this time.Even after my collision in 2006.

Been having chain problems recently though.

 

[thomas]

I've got my mountain bike with me at uni, as I'd rather that was stolen than my road bike. It is covered on the insurance.

Having a second bike isn't too bad a plan. I had my quick release (for the seat) taken but other than that it's been okay, it's not in a locked compound.

Make sure to take anything easily removeable off...or lock it. I have a d lock and a cable lock to do the wheels. It would still be easy to nick, but without a seat and with 2 locks hopefully people are put off.

 

[hackbike 666]

I'd rather have no bikes stolen.The last bike I had stolen was in December 1990 hope I can keep the good run up.

 

[Amanda P]

When I was at uni, I did what you're proposing, pedaling.

I left my good bike hidden away at my house at uni and only used it at weekends when I wasn't going to take my eye off it.

I bought a horrible old ex-rental thing for £15 (rather less than insuring the good bike for the year would have cost). It had a 3-speed hub and steel everything. Puny dynamo lights. It was fine for the flat centre of Cardiff, and no-one nicked it.

One thing to consider is where you're going to live while at university. If you're in a house, hopefully there'll be somewhere reasonably secure to store a good bike (in your room if necessary). In halls, though, there may not be - and they're usually not too happy about students keeping bikes indoors in halls (if you're discreet, and nice to your cleaners, you may be able to do it anyway).

Many halls have a big lock-up bike shed to which all the students - and any bike thief with any nouse - have the key or combination. Many such sheds have been literally cleared out overnight, and my advice is don't use them - they're just too easy and too tempting for organised thieves. (Other students may also pinch your bike, or just be careless with it when getting theirs in or out past it).

Just lock your piece of junk to a street light or railing somewhere where there are people passing all the time, and be prepared to buy another one if it does disappear.

 

[pedaling]

don't know where I'm gonna be at uni yet. Gotta see how these interviews go then wait to hear back from a few more places... and of course have to get the grades too. Depending where I am there might be somewhere 'safe' to lock it.

Thanks for all the advice. Realised I need to consider how hilly or flat it's gonna be etc, and bike-shelter if available. If it's flat then just getting an old road bike should be okay.

What can I do about a seat that's quick-release other than taking it with me everywhere? (Which would be impractical.)

 

[wafflycat]

WafflycatMinor is at university. In his first year he kept two bikes at university (he was living in hall of residence). He took his basic undesirable H*lf*rds MTB and a basic road bike. Now he's in second year and living off campus, he uses his grotty MTB to cycle to & from campus. The key is security. As has been mentioned - they will most likely be some sort of secure bike parking. Contrary to Uncle Phil's advice, using one was great for Wafflycat Minor's bikes and he had no problem whatsoever as regards bike security. The one he used was a substantial bike store which had a keypad lock on the door. In the bike store were loads of sheffield stands concreted into the ground. WCMnr would lock his bikes to a sheffield stand using a minimum of two locks per bike (D-lock, plus chainlock) and then the door to the bike shed was locked. Access was by arrangement with campus security (you had to prove you attended university to be given the lock details, and if the lock ever had to be changed due to lax security, a substantial amount of money would have to be paid to replace it. Now either the users of this particular bike shed were particularly vigilant or terrified of being landed with a big bill or the folk on campus all remarkably law-abiding, I know not, but there was never any problem with bike security. Now he's in second year and living off campus, he just uses his cruddy MTB and makes sure it's locked to something immovable, again using at least two locks (preferrably three) and he's not had any problems... so far.

 

[Amanda P]

I guess the hall where I lived wasn't so good on bike security (actually, thinking back, they weren't so good at almost everything, but that's another story). And it was -erk! - twenty years ago now! Things have probably changed, hopefully for the better.

(Having said that, I deal with placement students now, and some have sad stories about campus/hall security generally. Bikes are regarded as a nuisance at some campuses (campi?), certainly not as something that needs looking after).

Clearly, it's variable, and Pedaling should perhaps wait to see what the living circumstances will be before deciding on a bike strategy. Some Uni campuses are so compact that a commuting/errand bike would not be necessary for someone living on them (thinking Norwich, York, Stirling).