Bianchi has a nice SS line. Reasonably priced and spec'd well.

Bianchi GUSS

Bianchi SAAS

Bianchi Pista

The pista looks beautiful. I don't know about locking it up at school though. I think that one would be a goner for sure. Stunning though.

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Pista's 'only' like $500 or so.
Don't get a cable lock or inexpensive u-bolt. Easily defeated. Check Kryptonite's New York locks. They're pretty unbustable. Thieves hit campuses pretty regularly because it's easy pickings.

Surly bikes are popular single speeds around here as well.

Anyone still in school who feels they need a $1,000 bike has got their priorities all wrong....A $200 bike is just as good, is far less likely to get stollen and if it is big deal...you buy another one.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

A little, at first.

Remember when you were a little kid, and you first learned how to "ride a bike"?

You were wobbly at first. Same here. You'll experience the same thing all over again

= Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

If that were the case, we'd all be driving Toyota Echos.

most of us are out of school and have the loans paid off......WE are in the situation to afford an obvious extravagance...

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Howdy Mike 552
I can't think of the brands but there have been several nice riding folding bikes.

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Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

Yeah, I know they're more popular in Europe. I just can't justify gaining portability and losing structural rigidity while adding weight. Although my sister in Sveisse has a folding bike and she seems quite happy with it. It's easy to store in her apartment.

I'm in school, but I have 2.5 jobs. My full-time job is working in commercial realty, my second is RF electronics, and I help my wife out with her skincare line. I never earned a degree. As a kid, I was always too busy paying the rent. I always said that once I had enough time and money on my hands, I would pursue a degree. My RF business developed a small but loyal customer following (mostly antenna installers that purchase my hand-made amplifiers and satellite accessories), and the commercialreal estate takes less than 10 hours a week. So I have plenty of time to go to school and work toward that BS I always wanted.

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By the way, anyone have any thoughts on Miyata bikes?

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OK..I thought you miht be a 19 something full time student....your situation does change the perspective a bit. Too many college students think they are deserving of champaign tastes when they are on generic beer budgets...and run their finances in the hole in the process.

But becasue of the theft issue with unattended bikes I do still firmly assert a $200 bike is a far better choice if its to be riden to school. For recreational rideing where its rarely unattended for long then a nicer bike makes sense.

I mean if you owned a Ferrari you wouldn't leave it parked on the street in the bad part of town for long periods unattended now would you?

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Maybe I'm just to damn old-- I remember the Bianchi of old, when they made only great road racing frames and had that familar Bianchi green paint. Don't get me wrong, these bikes look great. But Bianchi, like Raleigh, sold out a few years back to make lesser quality bikes to capture more of the market. I just hate to see an old art die out to make more sales. TREK did the same thing.

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

Bianchi's 'celeste' (turquoise) paint is still their signature color and shows up on their frames/ promotional literature, etc. Still make great road frames. Their MTB frames are well regarded.

Like most industries, there's been a huge consolidation amonst the larger bike companies. Trek now owns several other brands.

There's quite a few small-production brands out there turning out some great stuff. The machining, craftsmanship (and price!) is exceptional. Seven Cycles is one such brand.

The best road bike I've ever had and still have is my 1996 GT Mach Two. If you want speed and less straint on you... go with an aluminum frame. Light weight, durable and you can pick it up and go anywhere.

I bought a used Diamondback a while ago that I'm happy with.