POLL: College Bike Regs

02-14-2007, 12:38 PM

My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)
I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
ends up at a school with similar rules.
Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
bicycles at their alma mater?

Bill

__o | The American fascist would prefer not to use violence.
_`\(,_ | His method is to poison the channels of public information
(_)/ (_) | --Henry A. Wallace

02-14-2007, 12:55 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] writes:

> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)

If there's no room for them inside the dorms, such that they'd
get in the way during an evacuation, I could believe that.
Otherwise, it just sounds like a pretext that some administrator
would claim because he doesn't like bikes inside the dorms.

> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.
> Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
> bicycles at their alma mater?

We had no such rules at Michigan State. In fact there were bike
storage rooms inside the dorm that I lived in, where your bike
could be kept dry, warm, and safe from the elements.
--
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil."
--D. E. Knuth, "Structured Programming with go to Statements"

02-14-2007, 01:03 PM

> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)
> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.
> Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
> bicycles at their alma mater?
>
>
> Bill

They have a rool? Kool!

02-14-2007, 01:29 PM

Bill <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)

Reminds me of an upper-level manager I had a while back... He banned
bicycles from the office, claiming that the "petroleum products" (grease)
in the "metal cylinders" (hubs, bottom brackets) would be an explosive
hazard during a fire. Reasoning with him was futile; he basically didn't
like bikes but wouldn't just come out and say so.

> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.

The guys I knew in college who had nice bikes kept them in their rooms
(usually suspended from the ceiling). They also had beater bikes that they
rode to class. Even if there's room to store a nice bike in the dorm,
you'll be stuck locking it up outside once you get to class. For that, you
want something indestructible that won't attract a thief's attention.
--
Darin McGrew, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it
and put it back in your pocket." - Will Rogers

02-14-2007, 05:55 PM

Get a nice folding bicycle with bag. Dahon is the most popular among
the Chicago Folding Bicycle Society. Folds in 45 seconds, then bag it
and take it in. Hang in closet or beside your classroom seat.

On Feb 14, 3:38 pm, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)
> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.
> Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
> bicycles at their alma mater?
>
> Bill
>
> __o | The American fascist would prefer not to use violence.
> _`\(,_ | His method is to poison the channels of public information
> (_)/ (_) | --Henry A. Wallace

02-15-2007, 10:40 AM

"Mike A Schwab"> wrote > Get a nice folding bicycle with bag. Dahon is the
most popular among
> the Chicago Folding Bicycle Society. Folds in 45 seconds, then bag it
> and take it in. Hang in closet or beside your classroom seat.

This would work only if the son was immune to peer pressure--unlikely in an
18 year old male.
I bought a Bike Friday 2 years ago and am still getting stares and comments
when I ride it...and I am not on a college campus (nor do I care about
"fitting in" or "being cool").

02-15-2007, 12:25 PM

"Pat" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> "Mike A Schwab"> wrote > Get a nice folding bicycle with bag. Dahon is
> the most popular among
>> the Chicago Folding Bicycle Society. Folds in 45 seconds, then bag it
>> and take it in. Hang in closet or beside your classroom seat.
>
> This would work only if the son was immune to peer pressure--unlikely in
> an 18 year old male.
> I bought a Bike Friday 2 years ago and am still getting stares and
> comments when I ride it...and I am not on a college campus (nor do I care
> about "fitting in" or "being cool").
>
>
>

Gals dig a folder.

02-15-2007, 03:51 PM

>
> Gals dig a folder.

Assuming you are talking about bicycles.....tell us more.
>
>

02-15-2007, 04:09 PM

On Feb 14, 4:38 pm, D_Frumiou...@ndersnat.ch wrote:
> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)
> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.
> Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
> bicycles at their alma mater?

I managed to park my Bianchi outside for about 7 years without any
problems (This was at home though). A little weather is not going to
do much if any damage[1]. You probably were seeing cheap beater bikes
that students, who knew nothing about bikes, had bought at the Utah
equivalent of Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart or, else, picked up cheaply
second hand.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

1. Apply oil to chain at least once a year

02-15-2007, 06:15 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:eqvvh8$7jf$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> My son is shopping for a college to attend. Some years ago I visited
> my brother at Brigham Young University and was astounded to see dozens of
> bikes rusting at a rack in mid-winter because the school has a rool
> against taking them inside the dorms. (Supposedly it's a fire hazard.)
> I'm wondering if we should be thinking beater bike for my son in case he
> ends up at a school with similar rules.
> Anyone else care to comment on rules regarding the use and storage of
> bicycles at their alma mater?
>
A beater's not a bad idea, regardless. Here's my daughter's experience at a
small liberal arts college:

Freshman year, old junky Roadmaster: bike semi-stripped while parked
outside.
Sophomore year, used pink Specialized Crossroads bought for $40: Stolen off
locked porch (it was a screen porch)
Senior year: Old Schwinn Breeze, acquired for free out of friend's basement,
stolen out of dorm bike room.
Surviving: Schwinn Caliente, bright lime green, from the 1970's.

My other daughter took a new Giant Sedona to a different campus, and after 3
years she's still got it. The Sedona's a modest bike, but worth more than
all her older sister's models put together.

So, it's a risk. A beater lowers the cost of taking that risk.