Suffolk Bikes

The Most Bike Friendly Campus in Indonesia?

Photo by Graham Ward

My First Suffolk Bike- Layla Abdulbaki

The gap between “I want a bike” and “I bought a bike” is deep and far.  Taking into account things like price, safety, accessories, lights, helmet, locks- it can become very daunting very quickly.

In this light we are  introducing a new segment called My First Suffolk Bike.  We want to share with you stories and the ups and downs- of a Suffolk Student buying their first new bike

Layla Abdulbaki.  Nishiki Single Speed Conversion. Bikes Not Bombs. $500

How did you find out about Bikes Not Bombs?

I googled it- typed in the key words bikes in Boston and it was one of the first three options that came up. They had really good online ratings and decent prices so I decided to go there.

What was your general first impression?

I liked it because they had their own little private corner and street. They had all these bikes lined up outside that they were allowing people to just take and bike around to see if they liked them. So I thought that was really cool.

What stuck out about your bike, how did you choose it?

I loved the frame- the body of it and the color marroon The upright handlebars were appealing. When I saw the handlebars thats when I knew it was my love.

You test rode it around?

They said take your time, take the bike, see if it fits you and we can show you small adjustments for comfort. They were teaching me how I should me sitting on a bike which is nice for people who dont have a background. Teaching me things like leg extension and fit. They simply described lots of things about fit that I did not previously know.

How did you go from a bike shopper to a bike purchaser?

I’m pretty impulsive I have to say but I really needed a bike and I don’t necessarily commute everyday but it makes me feel happy like I’m five years old again. Test riding it- seeing how comfortable it could be- I just decided to go for it.

What did they tell you when you purchased it?

After I purchased it they told me to come back within a month so they can double check everything for me for free to see if they wires had stretched or if the chain was loose to make sure that everything was in order.

They suggested different grips bells and locks. Pointed me towards what kind of lock would work well in the city. Every question that came into my head they answered for me which was really nice.

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Then they just told me how to bike home- there is a bike path that goes right off of the store that takes you almost all the way back to campus. It was a really easy and safe ride back into the city. It was like nothing- what was a $30 cab ride out there turned into a thirty minute ride back.

September Group Meeting

Join us at a group meeting intended to organize and famliarize everyone with Suffolk Bikes.  We want to share our ideas with you and we want you to share your ideas with us.  We’ve had a lot of fun spreading the word around campus and at the Temple St. Fair so we are expecting a great turnout.

The meeting is in the Sawyer Conference Room behind the Lounge.  Go to Sawyer- push through the people smoking butts- take the stairs to the Lounge (don’t worry about grabbing a bagel, we’ll have food there)- go to the back of the lounge right by the foosball tables and flat screens (try not to get distracted) and get bikey!

MassBike Workshop Was A Hit!

Shane was hilarious. We packed the room. Mad bars. Evan and Julie won helmets. Graham and I walked down memory lane to the event two years ago that started Suffolk Bikes.  Overall- great event!

Suffolk University Scraper Bike

In honor of the new school year, our new website, a great year for the bicycle community, and (hopefully) to inspire the inner Scraper in some more; we bring you the

Suffolk University themed Scraper Bike.

Almost everyone who has spent time in today’s modern bicycle community is familiar with the phenomena of Scraper Bikes.  If not, do yourself the pleasure and familiarize yourself  here and now.

The idea came together when a friend of mine (Joe) asked “Do you wanna paint your bike?” It took a while for me to realize that I didn’t want to paint my commuter- but it was that beach cruiser I scooped up last summer off of craigslist that was dying for a few fresh coats.

Joe has been powder coating bikes for the new extension of Geekhouse Bikes- Sugar Coat.  The full service powdercoat process was a breeze.  We went for the best; a blue and yellow sparkle coat frame with flat colors on the stem, handlebars, and fork.  Blue and Yellow; Suffolk Pride.

This bike is just plain beautiful.  There’s no denying the glamour of going to school on Beacon Hill, perhaps the only thing better.. is riding this sparkling gem to class.

Whether it’s scrapin’ through downtown Oakland- or just cruising through the last few days of Summer on Beacon Hill.  The Scraper Bike movement is one that encourages sustainable groups of peers and lifestyle choices that say yes to health and a cleaner planet.  We are both focused on bringing bikes and the pleasure that comes with them into as many lives as possible.

We are thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to collaborate with SugarCoat.  For more information on their services contact them at this link.

Now if you’ll excuse me- I’m movin’ on my scraper bike, cruising on my scraper bike.

My scraper bike go hard don’t need no car- I’m scrapin’ on my scraper bike.

Suffolk Bikes at Health and Wellness Fair

Suffolk Bikes will share a table with MassBike at the Suffolk Health Fair on September 29th in the Donahue Cafeteria.

Asked to provide an activity; we will be providing a hands-on tutorial on fixing a flat.  We will have several demonstration wheels, tubes, tires, and pumps.

Learn about Suffolk Bikes and our plan to make Suffolk the Most Bike Friendly Campus in Boston and learn about local area non-profit MassBike; and how they have been serving cyclists in Massachusetts for 30 years.

suffolkbikes.org

SuffolkBikes.bostonbiker.org is now accessible via suffolkbikes.org and suffolkbikes.com for ease of use. Tell all your friends.

Map

With the help of Office of University Communications; we bring you our new Map of Suffolk University On-Campus Bike Parking.  Very exciting stuff.  While Boston was recently ranked very high on a Safer Cities survey; securing your belongings is and always will be a must in any urban setting.

This map will also be available on suffolk.edu/bikes. If you’re lost you can look and you will find the map– time after time.  Save a PDF to your phone for keeps and show it to all of your friends.  They will probably think you are VERY cool.

First Suffolk Bikes Event of 2009-2010 Year

Don’t forget to RSVP! SuffolkBikes@yahoo.com  We’ll be posting this flier around school this week.

Hub On Wheels

More details coming soon!