Leah, I probably can't add much to the discussion that hasn't already been mentioned aside from more personal anecdotes, but catching up on this thread has ignited some thoughts and reminiscing so will try my best to share my .02 cents without being redundant. Fortunately, you have more time to figure things out but that same time leads to more fretting and potential for circumstances to change but best of luck with this decision and to your son on his journey either way. Initially, I leaned to the 'get the lay of the land' perspective before being pressured to make a 'which bike decision' but I then realized this is also somewhat ironic in that depending on the school/campus just having a bike those first few weeks could in turn help your son get a better lay of he land!
I attended a small, suburban, public school - I had no need for transportation to get around campus as it was easily walkable no matter where your dorm or classes were. I didn't have a car on campus until halfway through my 2nd year. I didn't have a bike on campus until my 3rd year when I moved into an off-campus, but very local, private rental with friends and transported the bike from home to school in my own vehicle. I was a fairweather bike commuter that 3rd year but had a garage to store it and never kept it locked overnight (that I recall) but would leave it locked up for extended periods in a somewhat high traffic area. It was a 90's MTB that I bought new at around 14-15yrs old as my first proper bike shop bike. It was ridden heavily until I began driving. Then it collected dust, aside from occasional summer use, until I came back to school that 3rd year. I was fortunate to go unscathed that year with nothing more than a small cable lock for security and still have the frame in use today! It's a basic, rigid MTB Mongoose branded bike which had reliable Shimano 3x7 indexed components but by that point I think Mongoose had already devolved into a low end big box brand so wasn't likely drawing too much attention from even opportunistic thieves even though it predated the Mongoose sale/demise and is a decent Taiwan made chromoly frame with full Shimano components. Despite sitting for a few years it showed it's age from it's heavy initial use and remained almost entirely stock with little more maintenance than an occasional chain lube. I didn't have racks or carry spare tubes or a pump or anything and was really fortunate going flat-less and theft free that entire year (I'd eventually learn the hard way several years later to prepare and be self sufficient for flats and roadside mechanical failures!) 4th year I moved further away into another rental and the bike went back home. In hindsight, and based on my adult biking experience, the distance was certainly 'bike-commutable' but this rental lacked a garage so bike storage would have been relegated to a covered porch but in a more theft prone neighborhood so I just abandoned it for the year knowing I'd use it very little that year. I was a 5th year undergrad student after cutting back to part time for my 4th year and brought the bike back for my 5th and final year but not for commuting purposes. I moved even further from campus but we found a nice house adjacent to a rail trail system so the bike was purely for leisure rides along the trails that year and I again had a garage for overnight storage. My own early college experience was also based on the fact that I did not come from a bicycle-centric family. I rode everywhere in my teens but we as a family were nowhere near prepared to transport my bike to school that first or second year. You already have that part all figured out with a car rack, etc. Some dorms had racks out front but my sophomore dorm had basement bike storage - looking back I should have at least taken advantage of that opportunity with the basement bike rack. I could have ventured off campus more frequently and at my leisure without relying on hitching a ride or borrowing a friends car. Those fist two years were actually rather confining now that I reflect on it. There was no need for transportation to get around campus just a need for transportation to get away from campus. As a freshman I also lost my father unexpectedly a month into school and that set an unexpected trajectory into diving deep into my coursework but also into partying at the same time. I was already a night owl in highschool but further deepened this routine of staying up all night and sleeping all day. In hindsight, having a bicycle available may have provided more opportunities to explore other interests besides video games, partying, and my coursework and may have provided a little more motivation to get out and explore around town on weekends rather than choosing the more self destructive uses of my time. Maybe... though probably not... just knowing where I was at the time and not having the overall interest in cycling I do now... but maybe. I also tend to care for my belongings so would not have likely neglected a bike on campus knowing it was my only bike and only escape vehicle. Guess you could make this one long winded vote to stick some Huffy stickers on the Clem downtube! Brian Cole Lawrenceville On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 1:52:46 PM UTC-4 Davey Two Shoes wrote: > Send Grandpa's Clem! > > On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 6:29:17 PM UTC-4 Will wrote: > >> Oh yes.... it might help a bit if the bike didn't look so new. With a few >> duct tape patches that can be easily solved without hurting the frame. >> >> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 5:24:24 PM UTC-5 Will wrote: >> >>> When I was in college I had a Raleigh Competition and a Raleigh RRA >>> (French metric Raleigh bike). It was a small campus in Williamsburg, VA. I >>> had no problems with either bike. Yes, I locked them. Yes, I didn't leave >>> them out at night and so on, but my point is... with a good U lock and >>> maybe some wheel theft clamps, I think you'll be fine. No one is looking >>> for a classic steel bike these days. Now they want carbon and disc brakes. >>> And there are plenty of those bikes to steal. I'd give him the Clem. >>> >>> Will >>> >>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 4:05:31 PM UTC-5 mmille...@gmail.com >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I've been thinking about this situation a lot. (And thinking back about >>>> 20 years to my time in college.) I was from a small town, and went to a >>>> large public school. I learned a lot, and a lot of learning is through >>>> mistakes. I did lots of dumb stuff, and minus the time I went flying over >>>> the handlebars and got an ambulance ride, I was lucky to escape without >>>> life-altering implications. My grandpa died when I was in college, and I >>>> still treasure a few small items I have from him. Ultimately, things are >>>> things, but some things mean more than others. It will be up to your >>>> family >>>> to decide the best route. I'm not sure it's been mentioned before, but any >>>> thought to taking an entirely different bike first semester/first year >>>> with >>>> the plan to revisit taking the Clem second semester/sophomore year? >>>> >>>> Good luck with your decision. >>>> Matt in STL >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 2:56:34 PM UTC-5 Doug H. wrote: >>>> >>>>> Great story Mackenzy! I think many of us started on BMX bikes. I was >>>>> an 80s kid and the group of guys in my neighborhood all had BMX bikes. In >>>>> college I rode a Trek mountain bike (low end) but also had a car so the >>>>> bike was primarily for exercise. I tried single speed a few years ago and >>>>> really enjoy the simplicity of it even with the limitations. >>>>> Doug >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 3:31:13 PM UTC-4 Mackenzy Albright >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Admittedly, I had almost the exact opposite issue as a college >>>>>> student. I grew up without cyclists in my family, and think it's so rad >>>>>> that there are parents like Leah to give a good starting point of living >>>>>> a >>>>>> happily car free college life. >>>>>> >>>>>> I was messy messy messy in my hyperfocus niche interests (bikes). As >>>>>> an adolescent I got into bmx bikes. I had a very high end BMX I kept in >>>>>> my >>>>>> dorm room under my bunk for the first two years. I worked at a skatepark >>>>>> and rode with many professional friends. Eventually, a visiting friend >>>>>> "from the city" brought his IRO fixed gear. I was absolutely smitten. He >>>>>> taught me about fixed gear conversions - so I went to one on one bike >>>>>> studios in Minneapolis and Gene helped me pick out a beat Schwinn Letour >>>>>> in >>>>>> my size and parts I needed to convert it to fixed. >>>>>> >>>>>> Within the next few months - I befriended a local bike shop worker >>>>>> who talked me into buying a 54cm Surly steam roller frame (I am 6' 2" >>>>>> mind >>>>>> you) for nearly wholesale as it'd been sitting for ever a year. My IRO >>>>>> friend came back and took me down the biggest hill in town (sanfrancisco >>>>>> style) on that brakeless steamroller. Literally probably the stupidest >>>>>> day >>>>>> of my life. We continued on a 40+K ride in the country side to a >>>>>> waterfall >>>>>> and it blew my mind. My friend with the IRO was also into racing on a >>>>>> geared bike - and informed me on the magic of "geared bikes" >>>>>> >>>>>> I sold the steamroller and dropped all my savings on a Long haul >>>>>> Trucker. Except - except they all fit weird and I didn't like the >>>>>> loooong >>>>>> top tube after a short period. So I traded it for Cross check. I >>>>>> despised >>>>>> the cross check frame even more - but somebody offered to trade a geared >>>>>> Karate Monkey for my Cross check. I rode the Karate Monkey for a while, >>>>>> but >>>>>> fell back in love with single speeds, so converted it to single speed >>>>>> and >>>>>> rode that a long time. To my detriment "Ride the Divide" came out. Mark >>>>>> Remier's first Generation Salsa Fargo was on display - dirt and all at >>>>>> the >>>>>> premier. Within the week I rode to Angry Catfish and picked up a Fargo >>>>>> in >>>>>> my size. I loved that bike. That concluded my undergrad....I wont even >>>>>> start on my bikes during my "Grad school years" >>>>>> >>>>>> I was quite..."promiscuous" in my bike building because "college" is >>>>>> for experimenting right? (I never drank or did drugs - most of my bike >>>>>> dealings were trade/second hand based being in QBP land) There was just >>>>>> so >>>>>> much to learn and try out - I couldn't get enough. There were >>>>>> definitely >>>>>> other bikes and builds in there I am forgetting like a shogun touring >>>>>> bike >>>>>> etc. and lots of BMX bikes. That was just my undergrad...20 years later. >>>>>> Oof - not going to think too hard about it. But the enthusiasm hasn't >>>>>> stopped. >>>>>> >>>>>> I think it's super cool to have an option for such a versatile bike >>>>>> from the get go and supportive parents for a *much* better starting >>>>>> point. >>>>>> I absolutely believe that Leah's kid is in good hands. Who knows what'll >>>>>> happen, but he's got a great bike to work with and obviously a lot of >>>>>> love >>>>>> and support which is super great. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 11:46:56 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> This is going great you guys. I think it was clear after many days >>>>>>> and many posts that the question is "what bike?", not does the kid even >>>>>>> want one. It'd be super if we could stick with that. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 11:38:13 AM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sorry, I have to agree with both Johns; the question seemed to be >>>>>>>> serious and without condescension. The triple question marks indicate >>>>>>>> reserve in asking the question and not exasperation or putdown; >>>>>>>> "Perhaps >>>>>>>> you might consider ...?" >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 12:02 PM Doug H. <dhansf...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> John, >>>>>>>>> I took the question exactly as Leah interpreted it. The triple >>>>>>>>> question mark at the end of the question was pretty emphatic. Take a >>>>>>>>> breath? Really man? >>>>>>>>> Doug >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 1:57:37 PM UTC-4 John Phillips >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Leah, please take a breath and count to 10. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> John's question wasn't rude, and was a fair question in that the >>>>>>>>>> *strength >>>>>>>>>> of his desire *for a bike at college *could* correlate to the >>>>>>>>>> amount of attention he would give to keeping the bike secure. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> You did ask for people's opinions, so please just ignore those >>>>>>>>>> you don't like. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> John >>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 2:22:12 AM UTC-7 Bicycle Belle >>>>>>>>>> Ding Ding! wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> John, >>>>>>>>>>> Text makes it hard to tell sometimes, so I suppose I’ll ask. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 1. Is your question asked because you have the perfect bike >>>>>>>>>>> waiting for him that you would like to gift him? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 2. Is your question being asked because you are genuinely >>>>>>>>>>> confused about the topic of the conversation? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> 3. Or is your question posed so as to look down on me, as if I >>>>>>>>>>> was imposing my choices on my son? >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/36a94d2c-cfc0-4517-9b4b-26d24f94cfedn%40googlegroups.com.
