Affordable bicycle for on-campus/city use?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Hey guys, my daughter heads to Colorado State this fall for her first semester in college. She'll have her car, but we're also considering getting her a bike for on-campus use and for some city riding. She doesn't need a fancy trail riding bike, just something reliable, easy to use, and affordable that won't let her down. Any recommendations?

 

[Poser]

With tariffs hitting and virtually all non boutique/custom ($$$) bikes manufactured in Asia as well as the components, I'd go used.

A rigid (no suspension) mountain bike often makes a great commuter. You may even consider a single speed for the sake of simplicity and maintenance. The only downside there would be if she has significant hills on her commute, but the only maintenance on a single speed is oiling the chain every so often.

A Surly Karate Monkey is perfect for this, but that's a steel bike manufactured in the US so it comes in at $1700 new which may be out of your price point. Look around for a used one.

A step down would be a Salsa Rangefinder for $1000 new -could also look used.

Whatever you get, invest in a high quality lock.

 

[cornfedkiller]

I put a lottttt of miles on my Huffy when I was a kid, never knew I was missing anything!

 

[Backyard]

With tariffs hitting and virtually all non boutique/custom ($$$) bikes manufactured in Asia as well as the components, I'd go used.

A rigid (no suspension) mountain bike often makes a great commuter. You may even consider a single speed for the sake of simplicity and maintenance. The only downside there would be if she has significant hills on her commute, but the only maintenance on a single speed is oiling the chain every so often.

A Surly Karate Monkey is perfect for this, but that's a steel bike manufactured in the US so it comes in at $1700 new which may be out of your price point. Look around for a used one.

A step down would be a Salsa Rangefinder for $1000 new -could also look used.

Whatever you get, invest in a high quality lock.

Surley is made in Taiwan. Designed here tho.


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[MuleyFever]

What are the chances of it getting stolen? That would play into my decision.

 

[Marshfly]

What are the chances of it getting stolen? That would play into my decision.

This. Find a high quality old bike and replace enough components to make it great.

Back when I was in college I worked in a bike shop. Most of us had super high end stuff. For riding to school, we all took old road bikes that people had abandoned after the shop worked on them and built them into ultra reliable single speeds with cyclocross tires. They looked like they were worthless but mechanically were top of the heap.

Mine was a Fuji Sports 12 in this cool ass brown color.

 

[Phaseolus]

I'd look for a good used bike for college use. Often you can get a great used bike and it will be less likely to be stolen. I grew up in Fort Collins and went to school at CSU, there will be plenty of places to buy a great used bike in FoCo if you can't find one where you live.

 

[Lowedown]

Find a used bike of decent quality, spray paint the frame and try to make it look cheap. have a good lock for it, don't leave it out overnight

 

[doc holiday13]

Walmart. Unless she's racing, she doesn't need a fancy bike. My last bicycle was like $150 used. It did well till it was stolen

 

[intunegp]

Ft. Collins has a huge problem with bicycle theft so she'll need to make sure to keep it locked up at the very least and inside for the most security. I think the best thing to do would be send her to the Fort Collins Bike Co-Op with whatever budget you have for the bike. They'll help her find something that suits her needs and fits her well. She'll get something used but refurbished/freshly serviced and tuned, and won't break the bank.

 

[TaperPin]

CSU is one of those universities where everyone and their dog has a mountain bike, so even if it’s just for around campus just a standard inexpensive mountain bike with a really good U shape lock and secondary simple cable lock is normal. Worst case and all bike racks are full, the cable lets her at least attach to something immovable.

There is an advantage to getting a bike that’s from a bike shop and you can have adjusted or worked on if need be. Being out of town, maybe look at a local REI since there is a REI store just down College Ave from the university, but any mainstream bike that uses standard components will work. Basic REI bikes are $600ish new. Inflation has made everything seem expensive. Some weird Korean bike with proprietary parts that can’t be replaced or adjusted easily gets thumbs down.

The biker's guide to Colorado State - Admissions

Current student Austin explains the must-have gear, must-ride routes, and the best connections to community for bikers at CSU.

admissions.colostate.edu

The Spoke | Colorado State University

thespoke.colostate.edu

Don’t be surprised if by the end of her first semester she adds a general purpose full suspension mountain bike to the Christmas list. Many of my classmates, male and female, had a basic commuter bike and a second nicer full suspension model with clip in pedals even if the roughest trail is a flat boring two track dirt road. Colorado colleges and universities have the largest per capita mountain bike ownership in the country.

Go Rams!

 

[S.Clancy]

I bought a 400$ diamondback and put new tires and a new drivetrain in, prob totaled 550$. I ride it all summer on trails and hunt off it in the fall. You don't need something expensive to just get around.

 

[BBob]

If it's good enough to survive Unbound Gravel it'll be good enough to ride around campus

$200

Meet the $200 Walmart Beach Cruisers that Conquered Unbound Gravel 200

Rodeo Labs founder Stephen Fitzgerald and his friends test the limits of budget bikes at America’s toughest gravel race.

www.bicycling.com

 

[rafiki]

craigslist/fb marketplace. find a 90s era steel frame mtb for <$100. throw some new cables and tires on it and call it good. plus, the paint jobs on a lot of those bikes are awesome.

something like this: https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/d/denver-old-specialized-rockhopper-or-is/7839720925.html

 

[Cwsharer]

Schwinn Axum from Walmart!

 

[wytx]

Maybe just rent her one for the semester: https://bikerentals.colostate.edu/individual-bike-rentals/

 

[sodaksooner]

Pivot Switchblade..... I jest of course, but a used hybrid or commuter bike, or a cheap Trek, specialized, giant or the REI stuff that was mentioned. Look at the marketplace stuff for Fort Collins/front range. Im sure there are a ton of gently used entry level mountain bikes in the area. Have a local shop give it a once over as well. Make sure it is sized correctly....

 

[BuckRut]

Schwinn Axum from Walmart!

Some of the Schwinns at Walmart are actually nice bikes with disc brakes and the whole works. Assembly might be a little suspect so I would go through it and make sure everything is tight but all and all it's a good option.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Thank you for all the thoughtful responses. These cover the gammit for sure, and I had no idea all that bike informaiton existed on the admissions page right under our noses. Lots of options for sure, and I sincerely thank you for the recommendations. Thanks again!

 

[LostArra]

I would start with the assumption it will be stolen and set your budget accordingly.

One of my daughters had her bike stolen during the first two weeks of class at college. A guy she knew saw the bike and rider at a busy intersection about 2 months later. Her friend (big dude) just walked up and said he wanted the bike back. Bike recovered. End of story. I always liked that guy.

Youngest daughter goes to college with used bike. She spray paints the whole bike including tire sidewalls Flo green. Everyone on campus knew that was her bike. Never stolen.