<p>Curious to hear from folks (either parents or students) who have first hand knowledge of having a bike at college. </p>
<p>In our situation, our son attends a college in an urban area, that has the same bike theft ratio as most urban large school.
<a href="1">b</a> What type of locks have you (or your child) used? (ex: U-Lock, Kryptonite lock, cable locks, etc.)</p>
<p>(2) What locks worked and what did NOT work?</p>
<p>(3) How did you lock up your bike? (U-lock frame to post, remove front-tire and U-Lock to post with frame, or other methods?)</p>
<p>(4) Did you find that "Quick-Release" parts were taken frequently - even if the bike frame was securely fastened with a U-Lock (ex: quick-release seat, quick-release front tire, etc.).</p>
<p>(5) Combination -v- Key Locks (and why)?</p>
<p>(6) Any other recommendations? Suggestions? Anything you would do differently? **</p>
<p>We are planning to buy a low-budget, less than $100, Target or Walmart type bike (just in case it is stolen). </p>
<p>After three-years of uneventful bike ownership at college, my daughter had her seat and seat-post stolen...and replaced with a nice gel seat but on a post that was too small for her bike's frame. I have to wonder why. So now, other than a cable lock, I would suggest replacing a quick-release seat-adjustment clamp with one that uses a hex wrench. Not foolproof but it will slow someone down, or cause them to take someone else's seat instead. Cost should only be a couple of bucks.</p>
<p>We've also had good luck with cheap bikes from Toys R Us, as long as you assemble them yourself to make sure they're actually bolted together correctly.</p>
<p>I am a student at an urban campus (Los Angeles) and I found the best method is to have a really cheap bike with a very expensive lock..lol...honestly.</p>
<p>Have your son/daughter call the transportation/safety office and see if they have a bike auction at the beginning of the year. A lot of my friends bought nice bikes there for 20 bucks or so that included a bike permit (if it is needed at your campus). The ones most often stolen at our campus were those retro no speed beach cruiser types as they were also the most popular. Plus with limited racks and the u-locks most students ended up just locking the back tire while the bike was left free standing due to not being able to get it in a rack. People could then just come over and pick up the bike and walk away (although that looks pretty suspicious...lol)...</p>
<p>Also, for a long time I had a u-lock that worked really well but was also a hassle once and a while if you were late. Our school has limited racks and with the u-lock our dps (dept of public safety) told us to back your bike in the rack and make sure you get the lock around the back tire and the frame. Usually the front tire was left alone due to time (plus during the day it was really busy/ crowded with people so it was harder to steal)...plus it is always better to have the front tire stolen then for the crooks to take the entire back tire and frame and leave you with the front tire...also watch out if you just lock it to itself as some dps departments will take it and then charge you to get it back...I think </p>
<p>The only time I felt uneasy about my bike was when it was at my off-campus apartment overnight. It was then that I locked in inside our courtyard. If you don't have an inside area I would suggest bringing it inside if it is really expensive...if it is just a target/auction/walmart bike (like mine) I used a u lock for the back tire and frame and then a kryptonite chain lock to wrap the front tire.</p>
<p>D made the mistake of thinking her campus was safe for her bike. She locked the front wheel to the bike rack in front of her dorm. All she had left was the front wheel (easily removable) and the lock. Bikes on campus are frequently stolen- it's a quick-resale item for a thief.</p>
<p>My daughter left her bike somewhere on campus after graduation. She figured she got 3 1/2 good years out of it and we got it from Target for under $100. Never did buy a lock.....</p>
<p>Yes, a decent cheap used bike is the way to go. A little ugly is better. Keep the good bike locked in the dorm or apt and only take it on rides when you can have it under eye at all times.</p>
<p>The NY Times had a review of bike locks recently and said that "most lock manufacturers recalled units with tubular key mechanisms when their pick-ability made news in 2004." The locks they specifically recommended were:
Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-Lock
Kryptonite New York Chain with Evolution Series 4-Disc Lock
Onguard 5012 Bulldog DT
Onguard Brute STD 5001</p>
<p>I went to UC Davis - which is Biketown, USA, with literally more bikes than people. Naturally, bike thefts were common too. I made it through four years on a mid-range 10 speed with a mid-range lock and chain by deliberately junking up the appearance of the bike. I installed clunky fenders. I had ratty-looking tape hanging in tatters from the handle bars. The bike rode well but looked totally unsexy. Seemed to work. I knew other kids who lost a bike every year.</p>
<p>My son's bike was promptly stolen during his frosh year. He found it parked up the street from his dorm, locked to another bike rack. He was so torked...he took a lock and chain, went over there and locked it AGAIN to the bike rack. Whoever did it never did move it or break the chain (at least upon his leaving last spring...) They were probably so freaked out about it, knowing that the bike was hot, that they just let the thing be.</p>
<p>My advice- get the bike registered. If my son had registered the bike, he could have gone to the authorities, chopped the chain off, and taken the bike back. As it was, he had no "proof" the bike was his.</p>
<p>Check with your son's school for their recommendations for locks. At UW-Madison they advised getting a cheap bike, good lock and warned about theft at the summer orientation.</p>
<p>I had an old "clunker" stolen at college in a major metro. area (long long ago). I filed a claim. About 6 months later the police dept. called to tell me they had my bike. When I went to pick it up, they laughed, and wondered why I even bothered!!! So even the old clunkers are stolen...or maybe just borrowed for a short time until something better comes along ;-)</p>
<p>At cycleforums.com I read detailed comments about bike locks. But I gather the best advice for a college bike is to have a beater at school and avoid cable locks in favor of the clamp or bar styles. If your luxo-model bike costs more than a computer, keep it at home with the parents.</p>
<p>I don't know what part of the country your child's bike is going to be (and maybe it doesn't matter because everyone is suggesting you buy a cheap bike), but my boy brought his to Ithaca, NY and used it often, but also left it chained up and idle for long periods of times (why, only a student can explain). Springtime comes and gears and chainrusted and bike needs expensive tune up. He paid for it and hopefully learned something, but I write to emphasize that if the bike is in Ithaca type of weather and treated the way this generation treats expensive things (i.e., expendable) - watch out for rusting, which I guess is an argument for a cheap bike, but . . .</p>