Student proofing a bicycle

[swansonj]

Our elder daughter starts university this Autumn (which university, we will find out on Thursday...) She will definitely take her bike with her, a Trek 5.3 aluminium-framed, straight-bar, reasonably lightweight hybrid, which she is completely sold on using as a functional means of transport (she very early on cottoned on to the idea that if she cycled to parties she (a) was not dependent on one of us for a lift home and (b) could still drink). On the other hand, while she's done the odd fifty miler with me, she's not really into recreational cycling and definitely not into speed, and she has absolutely no interest in mechanics or fettling for its own sake.

So what should I do to her bike to make it the easiest experience for her? Two things occur:

I could fit Marathon Plus tyres to minimise chances of punctures. Mind you, if she did then get a puncture, she'd probably struggle to get them off, so is that really such a good idea?

What's the best sort of lights going to be? I'm thinking that USB-charged battery lights avoid the need for separate chargers - any recommendations?

She's asking if I can fit an old-fashioned basket to the bars - that does seem to make some sense to me for ease of casual book and file carrying to and from lectures etc - any better ideas?

Or generally any ideas or tips I haven't thought of? I confess my own university days are thirty years ago...

 

[coffeejo]

Do some research and locate one or two decent LBSs so that if she does encounter any problems, she knows where to go.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I'd suggest cateye volt for lights (300 front, 50 rear (set is ~£50 nowadays, maybe a tad more but worth it), Mini USB charge so ok for plugging into the laptop all day or using pretty much any non apple phone charger long lasting battery life, the battery units are interchangeable so you could buy a spare and she keep it charged, they're very bright and can have dual fixed/flash going for best of both worlds visibility in a single unit (tho I'd have a set of knogs stashed away somewhere as emergency backup), robust, small cylinder package so easy to carry about unobtrusively and easy click on/off so no faffing about with rubber straps etc. downside of easy click on/off is if she doesn't then someone else will - Plan B, sort her a dynohub and permanently fixed lights.

baskets are a cracking idea until you're getting up to lever arch files, laptops and the like, then you're into backpack or pannier territory. Baskets are also less easy to be sure of keeping stuff dry - wife has a yellow rain cover for hers but the wicker and cloth lining aren't waterproof other than my spraying them to death with fabsil. I also find it annoying that wife basket is click fix and the mounting is about 1/3 down the basket body, makes it hard to put a bar mounted light on and it be seen and tough to see front wheel & road directly under it.
If she's intending on using the bike for student commuting, maybe a basket is not the best idea, but if its purely a social bike and its just a purse, bag or a few bits then look at decathlon and halfords, but as many are click fix maybe would need securing more solidly to deter the opportunist robber or practical joke nobber amongst her friends.

M+'s dunno if I've developed good thumbs recently but I've recently bought some that were a doddle to fit and have done some for a pal that were easy too - both 700c.

get a very good quality and solid looking lock, I'd also consider fitting a rear wheel ring lock

e.g. http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/...k/aid:194232?gclid=COi8hdCznMcCFVTKtAodsKUN5w

 

[ufkacbln]

To be quite honest ... don't bother!!!

Most University towns have a good market in second hand bikes, and if you stick with a reputable dealer then you will have no problems

She can pick up a decent "girlie bike" with basket for the short journeys around the campus and odd trip

Portsmouth Cycle Exchange is popular with our students

 

[MossCommuter]

Marathon M+ are a bugger when new, you're right but when they've been on the rim a while they're no harder than other tyres to get off

 

[ufkacbln]

For the wheel lock, consider the extension chain as well

Fits into the wheel lock, but also attaches the bike to street furniture

 

[summerdays]

I was going to say D-lock, I frequently lock my bike up in the university area and usually feel fairly confident that nearly every other bike is only locked with a cable lock.

We are also waiting for Thursday!

 

[jefmcg]

Exciting times.

Think of waterproofs, she's going to want to ride in the clothes she'll wear all day.

Now, I don't think any 18 would wear it, but a poncho/cape would probably be perfect for a student.

And proper protection from rain for her books and electronics. Plenty of backpacks/courier bags will do the job, but make sure you get a good one.

 

[glenn forger]

You could spend a fiver on a perfectly good set of lights and not worry too much about leaving them on the bike. Panniers would be better and larger than a basket.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Panniers are removable. A nice basket just makes the bicycle more attractive. It doesn't really serve that much of a useful purpose in this situation. Student bicycles are outside in all weathers, so as few things as possible that are on the bike and exposed to the weather, the better.
I'm a fan of bike locks like these, in the university setting:

with a nice, heavy chain. But please remember, a lock cannot prevent theft, but it can deal thieves a "think again " moment when attempting to steal a particular bicycle, and it can buy time.The more time, the more chance of discovery and apprehension. If thieves were ambitious, they wouldn't be thievin'. So if the bike even looks harder to steal, or is harder to steal, that'd be good. Thieves will take one look at a securely locked bike and say "Nah, I think I'll take any one of these other unsecured/less secured bikes sitting around here".

 

[Katherine]

Our daughter is at Birmingham and will be going back for her second year.
She found her bike invaluable.

Points:
She uses a waterproof backpack.
She wouldn't take a D lock because of the weight, so she has a thick cable lock with a padlock.
She locked it to the railings (always plenty of people about) on campus but left it in her room when she came home for holidays(several people had bikes stolen over Christmas when there was no one about).
We think her old BSO doesn't look desirable to thieves.
It has thick tryes which has been great for her to use on the canal paths all year round.
She never cleaned it or used the oil can we gave her.
The bike has more scratches than ever and a slightly buckled wheel which my husband will be trying to straighten before she goes back.
My husband had to fettle the gears, brakes and chain every time we collected her at the end of term.
She keeps a plastic bag tied round the seat post to cover the saddle to keep it dry.
Plus 1 for cheep lights.
She wears a normal rain coat and doesn't bother about wet trousers or shoes, most of her journeys to uni were reasonably short.
She started cycling for leisure and fitness making the use of the canal network and has come home fitter than she went.
Most of the parties were local so she walked with her friends and all clubbing was done in a group. We encouraged her to stick in a group when she went out at night.

She's away at the moment, but I'll ask her for any other advice when she gets back.

Fingers crossed for Thursday!!

 

[Katherine]

I was going to say D-lock, I frequently lock my bike up in the university area and usually feel fairly confident that nearly every other bike is only locked with a cable lock.

We are also waiting for Thursday!

Fingers crossed!!

 

[swansonj]

Fingers crossed!!

It's bleeping nerve-wracking, isn't it - I'm sure my wife and I are more nervous than she is.

Thanks for the advice. I had already made an assessment that there was a negligible chance of any oil can being used so I figure on copious oiling each time I see the bike and a new chain every so often.

 

[srw]

I suspect the answer will depend on which university she gets to and whether its a campus or town university, how far her accommodation is from lectures and tutorials and a host of other things.

FWIW, if I had a child I was ever going to send off to university I'd be looking for something that looks like a pile of junk but is well maintained (think one of @User's monstrosities), probably single-speed or hub-gear to minimise chain wear. I'd put M+ tyres on it because they don't puncture, but I'd also provide a track pump and promise a cash reward in return for evidence of regular use of the pump. I'd be tempted to add a dynamo and some old-fashioned lights converted into LED jobs.

 

[summerdays]

My eldest, already at uni, hasn't bothered with a bike but might if they stay on after the three years.

As for the nervous wait, I think all are nervous in this household as it's our most anxious child so exam results would be a biggie without the added "did I get in".