noglider 

I've locked up high end bikes in NYC and Boston, though usually not for long. I have used a cheapo cable to lock the front wheel to the frame. Of course, I use a U lock to lock the frame and rear wheel to something fixed. I have never had a wheel stolen. Therefore, it seems a good compromise between security and convenience to use a cheapo lock for just one wheel. It's easy for a thief to cut the cable and reap the reward of a wheel, but it seems that they just don't do that, for whatever reason.

yankeefan

You're likely going to need some high quality locks (read: over $100) to keep that baby safe throughout the day. My advice is to ride it to school and track stand during lectures to reduce the chances of it being stolen (what's the probability of a bike getting stolen WHILE the rider still clipped in?). The money you'll save (instead of buying a heavy duty lock and/or a cheap beater) can be used to purchase overpriced textbooks that were written by your professor.

erig007

You could make a thiefproof system but it would cost something like 600$ and wouldn't be hassle free.
It takes about 15min and 2 disks to cut through my security chain using powertools.
Adding to that extra security features and video surveillance using a cheap cellphone or wireless camera (baby video monitor) placed in front of your bike that should allow you to check your bike every 15-20 min.

MathBunny

True... n+1 formula shall be used! I might use my mountain bike!

MathBunny

I think I'm going to go the safe route and ride my mountain bike to school... it's old but I guess it'll work.
Addicted to the 18lbs of my specialized.

I wonder how many people will think I'm weird going to school with a cycling kit though. THANKS!

MathBunny

It is so easy to steal some components such as the seat. True... I wish I could bolt it on or something.

CliffordK

Most road bikes have bolt on seat posts... or at least they used to.

It was only the MTBs which for some reason everyone decided they needed a QR on the seat.

Just replace the QR with a bolt, hopefully one made for your bike.

Darth Lefty 

There's a reason Schwinn called it a Collegiate

yankeefan

All of them. Bring a pants to pull over your bib shorts when you're walking around off the bike.

JohnJ80

Let me give you some real world advice about bikes around universities. I have two kids in a major urban university who both have bikes that are their main form of transportation. Bike theft is epidemic on this campus. One kid is a senior and the other is a junior so that is a combine time of 7 years of parking bikes around universities. For most of that time their bikes have been locked outside on bike racks. We've never had a problem and I don't anticipate that we will either.

The VAST majority of bikes around schools are locked poorly. Usually it's just a U lock to post around the top tube. These don't last long or at least the parts don't. That's good news for you - it's a target rich environment for bike thieves so with a little discouragement, they will be persuaded to look at other bikes.

The Bike:
My kids are cyclists and they like to ride good bikes. It's their primary form of transportation. They have circa 1985 racing bikes that are excellent to ride, are high quality but are not that desirable as a theft option. I would not ride a current state of the art road bike. It's a likely target and it is no where near as durable as the road bikes we're using.

The Locks:
One or two U locks, using the second best (orange) Kryptonite lock. We buy all the locks for our family keyed alike straight from Krytonite. Just call customer server to get them set up that way. When they lock it outside for the night, there is a lock from downtime to front tire and a lock through the frame and rear tire to the rack Sheldon Brown style. When they leave to go to class or wherever, they leave one lock locked to the bike rack and take the other.

They also have pit locks on their wheel skewers, fork and seat post.

Neither bike has been touched although bikes immediately alongside have been stolen or had parts taken. These bikes are typically not as nice as theirs.

Yes, it's a lot of money on locks. But these are nice bikes and the cost in time and money (much of it mine) is worth it. All the stuff is reusable or can be sold when we're done with it. The real issue is the hassle factor not the cost of the bike. My kids are both in challenging majors and I don't want them worrying about their bikes, or chasing around trying to replace them when they should be doing school stuff. Additionally, it's going to fall on me to help them, and I don't want to spend any time on that either. The incremental difference from good locks to great locks is not much at all and a great value.

J.

CliffordK

You never mentioned how long your commute was.
People will laugh at you if you put on your full cycling garb (with a dozen sponsor's names on it).
Ride 6 blocks.
Then wear your spandex to class.

You can certainly wear street clothes on a bike, especially for short trips.

MathBunny

There really isn't much to steal at that point
nice! Maybe I'll invest some money to ride at uni too...

MathBunny

It is roughly 10km so not long at all. With my mountain bike it takes like 22 - 30 minutes so it's not horrible.
Yes... I once had a dream I showed up to class wearing my cycling clothes but I got kicked out due to "inappropriate wear"

I brought my cycling kit to school for Halloween... and let's just say it was showing how I really only weigh 120lbs I was literally a stick..
Thanks for all the help. I guess I'll try to convince my parents once it becomes 15ºc!

auldgeunquers

Mountain bikes can make great commuters - especially the old-school no-suspension ones. Road tires, fenders and a rack on the back make for a lively and very useful bike. Drop bars if you like 'em better.

Road tires REALLY make a difference.

cydewaze

I have a friend who has a second pair of wheels with slick tires that he uses on his mountain bike for city riding. It makes it a bit less of a drag than riding on knobbies on pavement. Might be an option for you.

JohnJ80

Like I said, it works and you get to ride a nice bike.

J.

Dan515

I have a Kona Jake the Snake with Ultegra 6500 and a carbon fork, drop bars. Rode it on campus and locked it up with a Kryptonite Mini-Ulock and Kryptonite cable for most of my undergrad. I've had a classmate's bike right next to mine stolen which spooked me a bit, but I've never even had my locks tampered with.

I think JohnJ80 is on point when he says that most bikes that are targets aren't locked up well.

It may sound harsh, but see if you can park your bike next to someone who hasn't locked theirs up well (or at all, as the case sometimes is). Better yours than theirs..?

Also, look into bike lockers on campus. My campus had a few secure bike locker cages or bins that you could have monthly access to for a certain fee.

StorkDM

I commute to class at Wisconsin (so another very large university) on an older mountain bike and use a quality chainlock from kryptonite. I am forced to leave my bike locked up overnight as well. I have replaced all my qr components with standard bolt on skewers and a bolt on seat post clamp. After looking at the bikes to the left and right of mine at the bike racks, I highly doubt someone would mess with my bike. People ride much more expensive bikes to class and lock em up with walmart cable locks.

My personal favorite is an old GT mountain bike missing it's handle bars. Its frame is locked with a u lock but I think it's been there all winter and made itself an easy target.

caloso

Definitely invest in a good lock. You'll be able to use it forever. I am using the same Kryptonite that kept my bike safe for 4 years on the Berkeley campus from '85 to '89.

fietsbob

Losing A WallyWorld bike will be less of a bother , but walking home may be, so lock it up too..

Calder Benson

I would get a beater to ride to and from school. IMO its a matter of when and not if the bike is stolen.

I rocked a chrome bmx in college. Did me just fine. Yes it was stolen, but I got 3/4's of the way through school before it happened. Didn't replace it, I just walked to classes after that since I lived half a mile from campus.

Calder Benson

True but how much nicer will that 18lb er feel after you've put some time on the clunker. Probably not the right perspective to have though.

Caribou

I wouldn't be able to concentrate in class with $1300 sitting outside. Get a 90s MTB and put road slicks on it like others have said. I have an old HardRock with the Specialized logos covered up with black tape to match the frame, and I use a chain lock and a U-lock. Now I'm worried someone will steal my nice saddle.

CliffordK

That's about 6 miles. Not too bad, but I think I'd get tired of riding a MTB or beater that far every day.

I guess I realized long ago that much of my riding would be commuting and errands, and I just didn't want to leave my Colnago at home so I could ride a bike that I disliked. Heck, it might still be pristine today if I hadn't been riding it, but I bought it because I wanted to ride it, not hang it up.

However, there are a lot of good bikes in the $200 to $300 range if you keep your eyes open. It certainly would be worth considering doing your +1 as a dedicated commuter, also outfitted for year-round/winter riding and light loads.

CrankyOne

Better to not enjoy it on your commute than have it stolen and not enjoy it at all. Millions of people routinely ride 40 lb 3-speed bikes 10-30 miles each way on a daily basis. It's not difficult. 6 miles won't be a problem.