<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I've read posts about bikes.. but I'm still not sure what kind of bike I should get. I'm transferring to UCSB next year...</p>
<p>I know many people have Beach Cruisers and I was thinking of getting one.. but there's no gears... and what if there are hills and stuff? I know the campus is pretty flat so I'll be alright with a cruiser... but what about isla vista? and downtown santa barbara? and the biking trails?</p>
<p>Any help is much appreciated!</p>
<p>Most people only use their bikes within Isla Vista and the campus (and ocassionaly to the Camino Real Marketplace). That area is all flat, and as you probably noticed, most people have beach cruisers and they do fine. Downtown Santa Barbara is 11 miles away and it’s a pretty grueling bike ride (although my friend has done it before, on a cruiser!). For downtown you’ll probably be taking the 24X bus instead:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.sbmtd.gov/Lines/Line_24x.htm]MTD[/url”>http://www.sbmtd.gov/Lines/Line_24x.htm]MTD[/url</a>]</p>
<p>When you get a bike try to avoid an expensive one that will attract attention (and thieves). Consider, too, that its going to be sitting outside in the rain.</p>
<p>Haha thanks rc251, didn’t know downtown was THAT far away. Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, I was thinking of getting a beach cruiser that’s like… $80? It’s baby blue, shouldn’t be too flashy right? But then again, can’t really predict if thieves will want to steal it… And about the rain… I have no idea what to do about that.</p>
<p>But getting a good bike lock should do it right?</p>
<p>Do thieves’ steal wheels? erk…</p>
<p>a lot of bikes get stolen! it’s such a depressing thought…</p>
<p>Thats horribly sad!</p>
<p>Just get a U-Lock and you should be fine. Lock it to a bike rack whenever possible, because if you lock it to itself someone can still roll it on one wheel. I bought a sweet looking red cruiser from K-Mart for $99 and never had any problems on it. I actually locked it to a random building on the first block of Pardall for an entire summer and came back and it was still there, heh. Just rusted and the tires were flat.</p>
<p>Ah, ic. I’m looking for a lock! why would I lock it to itself? yeah, i’ll lock it to a rack or something ALL the time! I don’t want my bike getting stolen! I’ll go check K-mart, thanks.</p>
<p>Get a u-lock then get a string lock to lock both wheels together…I think that would be good right?</p>
<p>When people are lazy, or when the bike racks are full, it’s easier to lock it to itself (usually meaning wrapping the lock around the rear wheel and middle frame). I’ve done that a bunch of times and didn’t have any problems, but I suggest locking it to something sturdy. Most people don’t use a secondary lock but you can if you want.</p>
<p>damn, whyyyy do people have to steal bikes! :(</p>
<p>Wouldn’t life be great if no one even needed a single lock? and we could all live in bicycle loving harmony and peace?</p>
<p>Hah, yeah, it sure would. I feel like most people are good. However, when their bike gets stolen, they get angry and decide to steal someone elses, and this starts a cycle… Also, while I never signed up for this, you might also consider registering your bike:</p>
<p>[UCSB</a> - CSO Bicycle Proram](<a href=“http://police.ucsb.edu/bikes.html]UCSB”>http://police.ucsb.edu/bikes.html)</p>
<p>“I feel like most people are good. However, when their bike gets stolen, they get angry and decide to steal someone elses, and this starts a cycle”</p>
<p>That reminds me of a story. A UCSB alumni that I know was talking to me about the bike theft at UCSB and he said that once his seat was stolen. We asked what he did about it…</p>
<p>“I just took someone else’s.”</p>
<p>Haha.</p>
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<p>^Trust me. He’s a character.</p>
<p>lol, sounds like it!</p>
<p>I seriously hope my bike never gets stolen!! my friend at UC Davis just got his stolen a week or two ago… and he was soooo ****ed! I wonder if he stole someone elses…</p>
<p>I’m just gonna buy a cheap, but usable bike off of craigslist. =)</p>
<p>Then, if it gets stolen, it won’t be that big of a deal. I’ll just go on craigslist and buy another cheap-o.</p>
<p>For whatever bike you get, make sure you know if your bike has quick-release levers on your bike seat and front wheels. If they do, try to at least replace the seat’s lever with an ordinary bolt and nut (and you can do pretty much the same for your front wheel) - if you can’t do that for your front wheel for whatever reason, just run a cable through it (connected to your lock), and you should be fine.</p>
<p>As for what kind of U-locks to get, I recommend OnGuard (the reviews on Amazon are pretty good too). I got a combo kit that came with a lock and cable for ~$35, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>For some reason, I’ve always wanted to see the kind of guy who steals bikes here. I think I may have seen someone riding a stolen bike, but he could have just been a shady non-student-looking guy riding a bike through Manzanita Village at 9 in the morning on a weekday…</p>
<p>i looked on craigslist! didn’t find anything cheap! And how cheap is cheap?</p>