<p>In July I'm going to be buying a bike when I head back to school. I started doing some research and now I'm so confused as to what I want. I cant ask a bike shop until I go back to Austin because I don't have a car - hence the need for a bike. Also the most I can pay is like $300.</p>
<p>I already know that I don't want a road bike (i dont like the fact that you have to practically lay down on the bike) and I also don't want a flashy cruiser just asking to get stolen or a really rugged ugly mountain bike. Also I won't be riding on grass or dirt. There are hills on campus, really steep hills, I plan on avoiding them but anything can happen.</p>
<p>I've been riding my sister's bike around the neighborhood and it has coaster brakes but I don't know how practical they would be in heavy traffic situations (I go to UT Austin) in comparison to regular handlebar breaks. But I don't want to deal with gears and whatnot. And I am kinda paranoid about someone cutting the breaks. </p>
<p>Basically I am overwhelmed with the different types of brakes and I really just want the safest one because I don't really want to die...</p>
<p>So I'd love to see some opinions and experiences that you have had with diff kinds of bikes. Or what bikes you'd recommend, etc etc. Any help would be very appreciated.</p>
<p>i don’t think anyone will cut the brakes. I biked during my 4 years of HS and 4 years of college. </p>
<p>I think gears are really important and easy to use, you just flick the switch and they change. </p>
<p>I’d go with a hybrid bike. That way, you don’t have to lie down like with a road bike but it has skinnier tires than a mountain bike so you can go faster.</p>
<p>You are really going to want a multi-speed bike of some sort. It will make climbing hills substantially easier. Your $300 budget is limiting, so you may want to look into used bikes. You can check Craig’s List and I’m sure if you search around for a bit you can find some site that deals with used bike sales extensively. Also, bike shops may have used and/or previous model year bikes for sale.</p>
<p>Brakes should really not be that much of an issue. Pretty much all modern brakes will get the job done. Disc brakes are the best, depending on application, but may be priced a bit out of your price range. They’re also probably overkill for your use.</p>
<p>If you’re going to constantly worry about someone cutting the brakes, or stealing a wheel, or whatever you may want to just pass on the bike idea. Something could always happen.</p>
<p>Get a comfort or hybrid bike. These have comfy seats and a more upright handlebar position. You can get a decent one for about $300. That is definitely on the low end for a bike with good components, but it can be done. Some comfort bikes only have 7 speeds, and that might not be enough for hilly areas. On modern bikes, changing the gears is not so hard, I would not use that as a criteria for buying a bike. You don’t have to use them all, but its nice to have them when you need them. Also, don’t worry about brakes. Virtually every entry-level comfort/hybrid bike has pretty much the same side-pull brakes (the cable pulls the brakes closed from the side). </p>
<p>You should either buy the bike close to campus, or have the bike shipped to campus. Our son bought a Motobecane Elite Hybrid bike online at [Motobecane</a> Elite from bikesdirect.com](<a href=“404 Page - Bikesdirect Incredible Bicycle Deals Sitewide”>Motobecane Elite Hybrid Bikes from bikesdirect.com) for $300, including shipping. It took him a half-hour to assemble it, which amounted to putting on the handlebars, pedals, and front wheel. I think you could save some money going online. Bike purists are going to scoff at this suggestion, but Costco sells some nice hybrid bikes for slightly less than $300. </p>
<p>If you want to get your bike from home to campus (or vice-versa), it is not too hard to ship it. Go to a bike store and get a shipping box. They will give it to you or charge you a small amount (should be less than $10). You take off the pedals, handlebars and front wheel, stick it all in the box with some padding, and ship it via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. I found the last to be the cheapest, at around $40.</p>
<p>You should find out how prevalent bike theft is at your campus. I know at my undergrad school all my friends that biked had theirs stolen at least once.</p>
<p>After I posted that I did some serious hardcore research on different bikes and breaks and whatnot and I have decided that I’m getting a road bike. I had the wrong impression that you always ride on the lowest part of the drop handle bars (or the drops) but you can also ride with your hands resting on the hoods and tops so this completely changed my mind about them. </p>
<p>I don’t know what I was thinking about the breaks. I mean I’m not seriously paranoid about someone cutting them, it was just something I thought of at the moment. And the handle bar breaks are def safer and more practical in a city situation so I’m totally set on those.</p>
<p>I am not sure about how many gears yet. I like the simplicity of the single gears and there is really only one hill that I will be riding on frequently and it’s not that steep (riding down mostly).</p>
<p>My budget has gone up to around $500 - $700. It’s pretty hard to find a good bike for $300 bucks and I need it to last for at least three years with daily use. I’m short (5’2") so it’s hard for me to find a bike for my size on craigslist. They seem to have a lot of bikes for really tall people. In the fall I’ll be bringing it into my dorm/apartment thingy every night and I don’t plan on leaving it outside at night at all (would rather walk then have my bike stolen) so I feel slightly better about dishing out more bucks.</p>
<p>I considered hybrids but I don’t like the flat handle bars and riding in the same position for long periods of times strain my arms.</p>
<p>Also UT austin is right near downtown and there are thousands and thousands of students. I’m assuming that bike theft is high and I plan on locking my bike with a heavy duty U lock and a stolid metal chain lock (both Kryptonite, flat key, etc).</p>
<p>Oh and I am either buying my bike here at home (Houston) and driving it (my mom is renting a huge suv to put all my stuff in) or going to a shop in Austin but then I’d have limited time and if I don’t find something the day my mom is there with me it’d be more difficult for me to find on on my own money and transportation-wise.</p>
<p>i absolutely LOVE my road bike. I never owned one til college, but it rides extremely smooth. depending on the bike, it takes a little more skill with the sleeker frame and tires, but they can be so much fun to ride, especially when you learn to quickly bank corners well.</p>
<p>if you’re not buying a new one, see if you can get a bike with brake extenders (don’t know the real name). they are attached to the brake handles and let you brake, even if your hands are ‘up top’ on the bar.</p>
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