Welcome to a New Year at Stony Brook. As you unpack your belongings and begin to settle in some of you may start thinking about getting a bicycle or skateboard to make traveling from your dorm or apartment a little easier. I’ve even witnessed a unicycle and rollerblades being used on campus. Any of these options are great for someone living on campus but I’m a commuter and rent a place 5 miles away. So how do I commute? My cat is better at using a skateboard than me so scratch that idea. Then what about a unicycle or rollerblades? Not for 5 miles. I ride my bicycle. That’s right. I bike 10 miles total back and forth from campus every weekday. That may not sound like much but it is tough when you’re lugging 10 lbs of textbooks, organized notes and lunch (I pack my own ^__~ ) Okay. It’s actually not that bad. If my wimpy petite girly self can do that I’m sure any of you can. Plus think of what you’re doing for the earth by not buying a car! People will think what you are doing is so great! Well... maybe, maybe not, but at least I will think you’re cool! 

Before you venture out into the dangerous world of bicycles I’d like to share some knowledge I’ve garnered from my experiences. This guide is intended for those new to buying a good bicycle.

How to get a bicycle the cheap and Asian way

First, consider your options. If you are a real penny pincher or you just like a really, really good deal, skip these first options and go right to last one.

 WalMart and Other “Big Box” Stores

Do NOT buy a bike from WalMart, K-mart, Target or any other Big Box company. Even though they may carry a few brand names such as Schwinn, these bikes are made of very cheap materials. If you buy one of these bikes please know that it will likely break or fall apart on you in a few months if not sooner. The people who put these bikes together are most likely underpaid workers who were not thinking of your well being when they incorrectly installed your new brakes. They most likely have little to no knowledge about putting a bicycle together so it's much safer to get a bike elsewhere. Cons: Bicycles come only in "one size fits all" frame sizes but we all know that one size never fits all. I initailly wanted to buy a bike from Target but all the adult bikes were too tall for me (I'm only 5'1''). Also, every bad thing you could ever imagine like realizing you have an exam in one hour that you didn’t study for, getting only a B+ in a class, and even worse!

Sporting Goods Stores

The next best option is a Sporting Goods store. These stores typically also offer tune-ups and repairs which is a good sign that the people putting these bikes together actually know something about bicycles. The bikes are more expensive than WalMart but why invest your or your parents’ hard earned money on something that simply will not last. Some cons are: limited selection, inability to test ride bicycles, tendency to carry mostly mountain bikes.

Local Bike Store (aka the LBS)

This is by far probably your safest but also most expensive choice. Local bike stores specialize in everything bicycles. They have a better selection, offer a variety of accessories, and you can bet that they know how to fix a bicycle. Not all local bike stores are the same though. The closest one to campus, named “Campus Bicycles”, carries mostly high end bicycles. It’s a pretty small shop but it’s good if you want to pick up some supplies to maintain your bike. Check it out if you like but you’ll probably be quickly turned off by the high price tags.

“Bike Discounters”, located on Lake Ave in St. James, is farther but the selection and prices are better. The store can be accessed by taking the train from Stony Brook to St James and then it’s a less than a half mile stroll down the street. I personally got my own bicycle from Bike Discounters though at a different location which is now closed. To save even more money consider asking for last years model. It’s not as new but you’ll get a good discount. That’s what I did!

Also, remember to haggle. These are privately run stores so the owners are willing to make a deal.

When buying a bike please make sure you take a moment to sit on it. This is an investment so it should be comfortable and you should like how it looks and feels. Make sure you get a bicycle that fits you. Bikes come in different sizes so make sure you get one that is not too tall or short for you. Buying a bicycle is a lot of work but just imagine… soon you will be the envy of your friends as you whizz past them on your shiny new bicycle. Cons of an LBS: can be expensive.

Online

You can also buy bikes online through bike companies, eBay, Craigslist, etc., but I would only do this if you know what you're doing. If you know what type of bicycle you want, what frame size fits you and know that the bike you're buying is a quality bike go for it. Cons: you can't test ride the bike, shipping can be expensive.

The Graduate and Undergraduate Bicycle Clubs

Okay, so here’s the cheapest option yet but it is not for the meek. Located all the way in the back of Club Alley in the Union basement lurks a place that is full of grease, chains, tires and … bicycles! Here, due to the efforts of the Graduate and newly established Undergraduate Free Wheel clubs you can get a bicycle for free! Well, it’s not exactly free. You have to pay in blood and sweat but we’ll get to that later. The bike clubs receive abandoned bicycles from campus and also receive donated bicycles. You can come in during a meeting time and apply for a bicycle. At the start of the semester there is usually a waiting list. If bicycles are available they’ll show you what they have and you can take your pick.

These bikes are probably in some form of disrepair but don’t be scared. Once you’ve chosen your bike you get to tag it. It’s almost yours… can you feel it? Next you fix it up. The club is formed by people who know how to fix bicycles and they’ll help you along the way. The club is also equipped with most of the tools and supplies you’ll need to fix your bike. You probably won’t be able to completely fix your bike the first time you go to the club but don’t worry. Your bike will still be there when you return the next week. Once it’s tagged it’s yours as long as you keep showing up to work on it every week. When your bike has been deemed safe to be ridden you get to take it back home to your dorm or apartment. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to buy a decent bike lock to protect your bicycle. You wouldn’t want anyone to steal something you’ve slaved over. After all the work perhaps you’d like to stroll over the AA E-Zine office (Room 71), which is conveniently located in the Union basement as well, for a cup of tea and you can tell me all about your lovely new bicycle. Con: waiting list. Pro: "vintage" bicyles which are unique so no one else on campus will have the same classy ride as you.  

To learn more about the Freewheel club please visit this link!

http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/frwheel/

I hoped you’ve enjoyed this informative guide. This guide is not exhaustive though, there is so much more information I have yet to cover but we’ll save that for another issue or two.


Ngoc Vu is the current Editor-in-Chief of AAJ : Asian American Journal.