I agree with Mackenzie’s point about swoopy top tube bikes not being taken seriously by most folks - regardless of whether or not they are “bike folks”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if my Gus is “an old vintage bike”. Haha. Then I try to explain to them what it actually is and their eyes just gloss over.
Y’all are making me miss my old 1st generation Surly 1x1. I used it for most of my bike polo “career”, which spanned from 2007 - 2012. It traveled all over the Midwest with me and my fellow club mates. Man, that was probably the sweetest, most dialed-in bike I’ve ever owned. I had it set up with Motolites and a Paul dual-pull lever on the left side (so I could swing a mallet with my right). Stopped on a dime, and accelerated like a rocket. I had my friend Alex Meade (of Discord stem fame) who lived near me at the time, make me a custom straight blade fork for super-tight, twitchy turning… that bike absolutely slayed!
I’m happy to say it’s still roaming my city as a daily commuter; I ended up selling the f/f/hs to a friend of mine. I still see it occasionally and have pangs of regret! The 1x1 isn’t made any more, and they hold their value really well as they seem to be coming somewhat collectible. The replacement is the Lowside, I think it’s about $890 for the frame set. Not really a value play anymore.
Eric On Friday, August 11, 2023, George Schick < [email protected]> wrote: 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.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/204d0567-e0d1-4d7d-b3a3-77c90da3e9c9n%40googlegroups.com.
--
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 [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAHFNW5A1nnfZWFDOkgHsWLP1oWTW7Ek9BRGHBK9eCzxjBjcDVw%40mail.gmail.com.
--
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 [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/8846C252-C91E-4DAD-8995-EA4AF90C201A%40gmail.com.
|
