<p>This might sound like a stupid question but I wanted to know if it would be better to buy a bicycle before moving into Davis or just buying one when I get there?</p>
<p>I’m getting one when I get there so I don’t have to worry about transporting it, but if you don’t mind it’s always up to you.</p>
<p>Thanks! oh and we would buy them from the campus right?</p>
<p>Do not buy them from campus! The Bike Barn is terribly overpriced. There are numerous bike shops in downtown Davis where you can buy a bike for a cheaper price than the Bike Barn.</p>
<p>So If I buy one before moving in, would I have to have it registered the day I move in? And I don’t know much about bicycles so could you recommend a certain kind? Also, what kind of a lock should I buy that is reliable? Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>You don’t have to register it the day you move in, you can register it any time with TAPS (they’re located near the ARC). I bought my bike during winter quarter (didn’t need a bike for fall quarter since all my classes were in buildings within a 5 minute walk from each other) and I didn’t register my bike until the 2nd week of classes. Get a U-lock. Thieves can easily cut through cable and chain locks. Any kind of bike will do, but a lot of people will hate you if you buy a cruiser with ridiculously large and wide handlebars because they take up space and it’s near impossible to properly lock a bike up to a rack if its next to a cruiser with ridiculously large handlebars. If you want to get to classes faster, get a bike with skinny wheels, since bulkier wheels (like the ones on cruisers) tend to slow you down, and also, when you live in an apartment next year and that apartment ends up being far from campus, you’ll be glad for the speed in helping you get to classes faster.</p>
<p>Get a used bike that isn’t a target for thieves. A new or expensive bike will be much more likely to get stolen. My son’s was actually taken from an apartment carport where it was locked securely with a U-lock. (It was an older bike of mine that I had given him because I no longer ride it, although it was originally expensive. Big mistake.)
He replaced it with a $40 beater from Craigslist, and it’s just fine.</p>
<p>Thank you sopranokitty and moonchild!! Sorry for all these questions but I have another question. For orientation me and my friend really want to be in the same room so is that possible? I heard it’s really random, can that be changed?</p>
<p>The shortest and easiest answer is single-speed road bike for the least amount of maintenance and the most amount of riding. </p>
<p>Again, don’t buy ANYTHING from campus unless you’re desperate or have coupons. Amazon.com sells almost everything (except bikes, but that’s a different story) for lower prices. </p>
<p>For the last two years I’ve been riding a pretty-expensive mountain bike but with vigilance I haven’t had anything stolen. Keep it indoors. Registration is mostly a deterrent; they totally botched up the registration (wrong gender and serial number) so it’s just a show job. Whatever you buy, be extra sure to lock it up carefully; lock anything that has a quick release lever to the frame or to the bike rack. The school has done a good job upgrading to the “lower-case q” racks. </p>
<p>I use a U-Lock + cable. It takes an extra 10-20 seconds but it means that the wheels are locked to the frame and the rack.</p>
<p>Thank you Kingofthering!</p>
<p>My D just graduated from Davis. Four years and 3 bikes later. Though the first one lasted 2 1/2 years before being stolen out of the sorority parking lot…locked to “itself” so don’t do that. The second one stolen…unlocked …duh!! The 3rd one , her bride of Frankenstein bike made up of many parts from various broken bikes, still lives on.</p>
<p>Thus…buy a really good U lock…AND USE IT!!!</p>
<p>^would you recommend a specific brand of a U lock or just whatever seems good enough? and thank you for your suggestion!</p>
<p>The lock I am looking at getting my D is the Combo U-lock. One less key to carry.</p>
<p>[Buy.com</a> - Kryptonite KryptoLok Combination Bike U-Lock - 110415](<a href=“Rakuten: Online & In-Store Cash Back | Shop 3,500 Stores!”>Rakuten: Online & In-Store Cash Back | Shop 3,500 Stores!)</p>
<p>Along with a Kryptonite KryptoFlex 1004 Looped Bicycle Cable - 4 ft for the Seat if it has a quick release. Longer 7’ cables are also available.</p>
<p>[Buy.com</a> - Kryptonite KryptoFlex 1004 Looped Bicycle Cable - 4 ft - 210818](<a href=“Rakuten: Online & In-Store Cash Back | Shop 3,500 Stores!”>Rakuten: Online & In-Store Cash Back | Shop 3,500 Stores!)</p>
<p>All good advice above. I would add that there is a lot of information online about how to properly lock your bike. Here is one example:</p>
<p>[Bike</a> Revolution - How to lock your bike so it doesn’t get stolen - YouTube](<a href=“Bike Revolution - How to lock your bike so it doesn't get stolen - YouTube”>Bike Revolution - How to lock your bike so it doesn't get stolen - YouTube)</p>
<p>Don’t bother with combo locks. I think a flat-key Kryptonite is your best bet. </p>
<p>I’ve been doing something similar to the video above with a few changes (can’t fit the U around without some jiggling and the cable goes through the shackle instead) but it’s kept my rather expensive bike from being somebody else’s.</p>
<p>I also use that cable and it won’t fit in between the rails and the saddle. Use it for your wheels instead.</p>
<p>Thank you so much guys :)</p>