(Part 2) Best products from r/UCDavis

If you buy "cheap", chances are that you're either buying something that's built to be a temporary toy or buying stolen (thus increasing demand for stolen bikes). What you need to do is ask, "Where can I get the cheapest price for an unstolen bike that will last me four years?"

The ASUCD Bike Barn's Aggie Bike Buy option is an incredibly good deal that few bike shops can match. https://asucd-bikebuy.ucdavis.edu/product-category/bikes/ The guy who runs the shop (Robert) is ultra-sensitive about the cost of bikes but since he and his team has to fix the bikes, he's always looking for the best value. An 8-speed Biria ($475) will be enough bike for most riders. Coupled with their 4-year unlimited labor plan ($175), you will have a bike that will work well for 4 years. (Just make sure to put the plan to use! If something doesn't feel or sound right, take your bike in for a check-up!)

But you also have to keep that bike secure, so you NEED to purchase at LEAST one great lock and at LEAST an supplemental cable. My favorite setup is the Kryptonite Evo4 standard size U-lock and cable. https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-2079-Evolution-Bicycle-KryptoFlex/dp/B06XZT8KZ1/ It comes with an anti-theft guarantee of $1,500 (as long as you register the lock, use it correctly, and file a police report if the bike is stolen)!

That's probably more money than you want to spend, right? $475+$175+$60 = $710 (plus tax). But that will get you:

A non-stolen bike you want to ride, will be rideable for 4+ years, and that will likely not be stolen (if you actually use the lock correctly). If you purchase a "cheap bike" (Walmart, Target, Costco, Big5, etc.), you'd be lucky if it lasts the year. And if your bike doesn't work, then you've just wasted your money.

I know this sounds a bit boring but pick up an older edition of text books in each subject and skim through the intro. I was molecular and cellular but focused in genetics and this was my favorite book. I had the fourth edition but the third can be had new for $30. A small price to pay for figuring out your life IMO. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0815341822/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1376089271&sr=1-3

This one works pretty well for the back wheel and is really convenient.

http://www.amazon.com/X-Tra-Rear-Bicycle-Fender-wheels/dp/B000X61N2A/#

Might be worth investing in a bike rack... there are some pretty decent inexpensive ones out there including this one: https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Sports-Deluxe-2-Bike-Trunk/dp/B000ELUXFC

It's pretty expensive on Amazon. A 4 pack is $21.

I use plain printer paper + a three hole punch, and a few of these notebook/binder hybrids (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003O3F2R6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IMGfAbF89FQ0T). I usually print out slides too, so the notebook/binder allows me to organize and move notes around. This has been working fine for me, but I think I may invest in an iPad and pencil because I don’t like using so much paper. There’s just too much clutter with this much paper.

If you are in a 1BR or studio, only one ethernet port on the wall will be active. If you want to connect multiple things to ethernet, you'll need to split the line with a network switch.

Here's the one one I used: amazon

Here's a good book https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos-ebook/dp/B01FPGY5T0

Hi! The mattress pad I bought for living in the dorms was this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NEG15E
I think it was cheaper when I bought it a year ago, but considering you use this every night I wouldn't get a super cheap one - your back will thank you.


It's rather cosy and can take a lot of use (no tears yet, 1 year later!) Heck, even though I have a fairly new mattress and box spring now that I'm living in an apartment I am still using the pad on top of it all. You will want a twin XL size for the topper and sheets in the dorms, but you can continue to use both of them on a regular twin bed later on.

Since you don't need a super powerful one, I just went with this:

Tenda N301 N300 Wireless Wi-Fi Router, Easy Setup, Up to 300Mbps, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0167N0B70/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apap_qSi9DBnTwDYzT

Be sure and register the device at https://housing.ucdavis.edu/computer-support/wired-network-access

I really like this pump I bought last year to mount on my frame. Good balance of compactness and utility, it has a pressure gauge, and the presta/schrader adapter stays in the pump in either configuration so I don't have to worry about losing extra parts.

Everything the rest said PLUS if you have a nice bike/bike seat get a thin cable lock to run down to the rest of your lock setup, to make it harder than a few turns of a screw to take your seatpost. Thin cable found here (because I ain't good at that whole hyperlinking words thing): https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bicycle-Security-24-Inches/dp/B000RY61F2/ref=pd_sim_468_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=S97ZZX7WM6MHZFNP2VQ0

$100 is waaayyyy too much for a "decent" router. You can get reliable gigabit routers on Amazon for less than $60

Hey, just pitching in my experience.

I've used ear plugs long term, maybe a few months total when you add up the days, and no ear damage. My ear doctor also said it won't cause hearing loss. The most you will get is an ear ache in the morning. Also this brand is really good, would recommend. Available with or without a wire. Not too bad on price either. https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Visibility-Disposable-Earplugs-200-Pairs/dp/B0007XJOLG/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=ear+plugs&qid=1569277323&s=gateway&sr=8-7

If you don't need a specific windows programs on your laptop, you can get a refurbished 15" chrome book for as low as $160 or new for as low as $220. Only limitation is you can't use any windows programs or applications. You can use google docs/drive as word etc. My dad bought a new one and my uncle has a refurbished one of these and they work great. We haven't had a single problem with them.

Refurbished (this one brand new is about 300):
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Chromebook-CB5-571-C09S-Dual-Core-Refurbished/dp/B01E7Q08IQ?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

New:
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Chromebook-CB5-571-C4T3-15-6-Inch-16GB/dp/B00T03KR8I

Got chu

Splitters dont work! I found that out and we fixed it by buying a network switch instead and connecting it to the port, now we all have wired connection here!

We bought this switch https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Ethernet-Unmanaged-Protection-GS105NA/dp/B0000BVYT3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538244576&sr=8-3&keywords=netgear+prosafe&dpID=41trKxv8qKL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The 5 Lb. Book was my primary study resource for the GRE and it helped immensely.

>Is 1 U-lock and a cable enough

This can heavily depend on the brand. No lock/chain/cable will 100% protect your bike, the goal is to either make it too much work, too much time, (edit: too obvious in public,) or not worth the time. You should be asking yourself how much is your bike worth and how much are you willing to invest in protecting it, both money wise but also time wise (how long do you want to spend locking and unlocking your bike every time you park?)

Edit: This would be my general recommendation if you have a bike worth protecting but are still on a budget, here's a video of a locksmith breaking it down

Edit 2: For comparison this is a lock that would make thieves' mouths water, you could break it surrounded by a hundred people without even looking like youre stealing a bike