The Perfect Bike For A College Student

I recently spent a few days in in northern Colorado delivering a very special bicycle to my youngest granddaughter, Stephanie, who graduated from high school that week.

She will soon be attending Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, where she’ll study nursing and also compete as a member of Mesa’s track and field team.

In high school, she competed in field events such as the discus and shot put and was also a
competitive swimmer, earning several trips to Colorado’s state high school championships.

Competing in fitness events has been a big part of her life, so part of the criteria for the perfect campus bike was that it needed to be something that would encourage her to continue fitness activities through college and after graduation.

You would think that selecting a bicycle for a college-bound student is easy — just grab whatever is on the shelf at the Walmart or Academy and be done with it.

It’s not that simple, however, if the intent is for the bike to serve both as a campus commuter vehicle and also as a ‘training partner’ that supports an active lifestyle.

When she mentioned that a bike for college would be the prefect graduation gift, I asked her how she intended to use the bike and what specific attributes were important. Her answers to those questions helped me zero in on what I hope will be the perfect bike.

Her first requirement was that the bike be easy to maneuver around on campus while carrying a loaded backpack. Not a problem — that meant that a bike with flat bars and a somewhat upright position would work better than a road bike with racer-style drop bars.

Requirement No. 2 was that the bike be something that could be ridden on dirt roads and easy trails while exploring the Western Colorado hills around Grand Junction. Again, not a problem — a sturdy frame, 29-inch mountain bike rims, a triple front chain ring and a wide range 12-32 rear cassette will provide the strength and gearing needed for occasional off-road excursions.

The next criterion was one that I added to the list hoping that she would possibly take part in a bike tour or give triathlon a try at some point in the future. Although in theory any bike can be used for a cycling tour or a beginner’s first multisport event, it helps to have something that will roll fast on pavement when needed.

This requirement suggested that while the tires needed to be wide and tough enough to use for casual off-road rides, they also needed to be a design that would roll fast with low resistance when inflated to a higher pressure. I decided that 35 mm-wide (1.4 inch) file tread tires would fit the bill, with sealant tubes inside to help prevent flats.

The last two requests were for the bike to have a simple shifting and braking system and to be one of three colors (green, purple or red). Color was addressed by selecting a Diamond Back Clarity frame painted a rich magenta color and then adding to the ‘style points’ with a white saddle and matching handlebar grips.

Shifting/braking issues were taken care of by selecting Shimano Altus push-pull shifters with integrated mountain bike levers that connect to tried-and-true linear pull brakes. These brakes provide good braking power and require less maintenance than disc brakes.

College life will be a new and exciting experience for Stephanie, and I’m hoping that her “very special bicycle” will become a close friend and adventure partner while she attends the university.

Remember — selecting the perfect bicycle for a college-bound student takes some serious thought.