How would you commute this? (involves London, and train)
Discussion
Here's a conundrum I could do with some experienced advice on;
I start a new job next week, which will involve being in the London office three times a week. I come into Victoria, and need to get over to Southwark or Borough - which means changing, and are on very busy lines. It's 2 miles from Victoria to the office.
I live about 3/4 of a mile from the station at my end.
I need to wear a suit to work - very expensive suits which I'm unkeen wearing on the train, nevermind the bike in the rain.
I have no assigned desk at the office - it's a pure hotdesk environment - so can't leave great swathes of equipment there overnight. I also have to haul my laptop around with me
So, what's the best way of handling it?
Leave a cheap fixie hacker in London at Victoria, or bother with the hassle of taking the bike on the train (there's no train changes to make en route)?
I start a new job next week, which will involve being in the London office three times a week. I come into Victoria, and need to get over to Southwark or Borough - which means changing, and are on very busy lines. It's 2 miles from Victoria to the office.
I live about 3/4 of a mile from the station at my end.
I need to wear a suit to work - very expensive suits which I'm unkeen wearing on the train, nevermind the bike in the rain.
I have no assigned desk at the office - it's a pure hotdesk environment - so can't leave great swathes of equipment there overnight. I also have to haul my laptop around with me
So, what's the best way of handling it?
Leave a cheap fixie hacker in London at Victoria, or bother with the hassle of taking the bike on the train (there's no train changes to make en route)?
I commute into Shenfield every day on the Norwich to London line and have found it surprisingly easy to take my bike on the train.
I have had several bikes stolen from various stations over the years so wasn't keen on leaving my bike anywhere except outside my work building.
The old intercity trains are very easy as they have a dedicated carriage for bikes. Even the smaller trains have plenty of room for bikes really. Even when quite busy.
I would advise heading for the furthest end of the train. Usually the back is best although it depends on the train as many have the first class carriage at one end.
Someone had a tandem on the train I was on this morning! It was quite crowded but the bike was no problem at all.
M
I have had several bikes stolen from various stations over the years so wasn't keen on leaving my bike anywhere except outside my work building.
The old intercity trains are very easy as they have a dedicated carriage for bikes. Even the smaller trains have plenty of room for bikes really. Even when quite busy.
I would advise heading for the furthest end of the train. Usually the back is best although it depends on the train as many have the first class carriage at one end.
Someone had a tandem on the train I was on this morning! It was quite crowded but the bike was no problem at all.
M
Victoria probably means Southern, which means no non-folding bikes into London in the morning, or out in the evening at the peak times.
Brompton plus one of the bags for the front would work (I do about 16 miles a day on one with a laptop and stuff), but it depends on how you feel about cycling in a suit. I have a travel suit which is much more resistant to crumpling for days when I need to be smarter, but most of the time I just ride in regular shoes, smart trousers, t-shirt and keep a smart shirt in my bag to change into when I get there.
To be honest though, given you can walk 2 miles in 30 mins I'd be inclined to walk. Or to see how the London cycle hire scheme works out - will be £45/year for membership but first 30 mins of each hire is free.
Brompton plus one of the bags for the front would work (I do about 16 miles a day on one with a laptop and stuff), but it depends on how you feel about cycling in a suit. I have a travel suit which is much more resistant to crumpling for days when I need to be smarter, but most of the time I just ride in regular shoes, smart trousers, t-shirt and keep a smart shirt in my bag to change into when I get there.
To be honest though, given you can walk 2 miles in 30 mins I'd be inclined to walk. Or to see how the London cycle hire scheme works out - will be £45/year for membership but first 30 mins of each hire is free.
ks - thanks for the steer chap. Folding bikes only into London between 7 and 10am.
I did this for years working as a consultant on client sites and in our main offices in London. I bought a folder, rode 1 mile to the station, then 2-3 miles from Waterloo at the London end. In cool, dry weather you can do it in smart casual clothes or a robust suit (Paul Smith's travel suit is brilliant, crease resistant but looks good) as long as you don't fall victim to red mist and chase other riders away from the lights! In warm or wet weather I used to just carry a spare shirt and leave a suit and shoes in the office; we had lockers for that purpose even though we're also 100% hotdesk. I've used various luggage options, from panniers to rucksacks, but a large Crumpler messenger bag was best for me for laptop and clothing bits.
The other advantage of a folder is that it's just a lovely gadget
Mine's a Birdy, rides almost as well as a proper bike, which lets you get some extra training miles in on the way home. Bromptons are justifiably popular, and give you some more commute-friendly luggage options.
Cheers,
Pete
The other advantage of a folder is that it's just a lovely gadget
Mine's a Birdy, rides almost as well as a proper bike, which lets you get some extra training miles in on the way home. Bromptons are justifiably popular, and give you some more commute-friendly luggage options.Cheers,
Pete
Walm - I hate the tube at the best of times, but rush hour is terrible for me.
Folding;
http://www.tuvie.com/switch-commuter-bike-with-abi...
http://ridethisbike.com/products/P-Cycles/IF-Mode-...
Folding;
http://www.tuvie.com/switch-commuter-bike-with-abi...
http://ridethisbike.com/products/P-Cycles/IF-Mode-...
Get a folder.
Strictly speaking I didn't need to buy my brompton (although it is useful for keeping clutter down in the hallway of the flat) - but they are a lovely bit of kit.
Mine was just over 800 quid, I'll end up paying just over half that on the C2W scheme. It's sitting in the hallway today - the fold is really simple, but quite something to behold. I'm a bit pissed off I didn't think of it myself.
As an aside I used to get the London Overground north London line to work - it was rammed at the best of times but it really used to yank my chain when someone would try and get on the train with a full size bike. On several occassions people nearly came to blows over it. Bromptons/folders are generally tolerated on commuter trains, even though some might grumble about them.
I also had a Compass folder, which was a good bike until somehow I managed to bugger the handlebars up (although it wasn't really my fault). This is generally accepted to be the best (cheapest) folding bike, as it was originally made by Dahon. It's got no bells or whistles but its a good solid ride.
Credit where its due to the company that sold it to me, theyre sending me another (which will now be going on ebay).
Strictly speaking I didn't need to buy my brompton (although it is useful for keeping clutter down in the hallway of the flat) - but they are a lovely bit of kit.
Mine was just over 800 quid, I'll end up paying just over half that on the C2W scheme. It's sitting in the hallway today - the fold is really simple, but quite something to behold. I'm a bit pissed off I didn't think of it myself.
As an aside I used to get the London Overground north London line to work - it was rammed at the best of times but it really used to yank my chain when someone would try and get on the train with a full size bike. On several occassions people nearly came to blows over it. Bromptons/folders are generally tolerated on commuter trains, even though some might grumble about them.
I also had a Compass folder, which was a good bike until somehow I managed to bugger the handlebars up (although it wasn't really my fault). This is generally accepted to be the best (cheapest) folding bike, as it was originally made by Dahon. It's got no bells or whistles but its a good solid ride.
Credit where its due to the company that sold it to me, theyre sending me another (which will now be going on ebay).
Southern's Bike Policy said:
What do we mean by folding cycle?
A folding cycle is one that has small wheels and folds in more than one place to become a compact item (roughly the size of a briefcase) that can be carried. These should be folded prior to entering the station and carried on to the train
What type of folding cycle will we accept?
While we intended folding cycles to be ones that can be folded more than once to be roughly the size of a briefcase, we do realise that some passengers have purchased larger cycles with a single folding point. Provided that these are folded prior to entering the station and that they can easily be carried onto the train, we are prepared to accept such cycles at present
For the money of a Brompton, coupled with the size issues of being 6'4", I'm going to exercise my right to pay more attention to the second paragraph and look at importing an iF Mode.A folding cycle is one that has small wheels and folds in more than one place to become a compact item (roughly the size of a briefcase) that can be carried. These should be folded prior to entering the station and carried on to the train
What type of folding cycle will we accept?
While we intended folding cycles to be ones that can be folded more than once to be roughly the size of a briefcase, we do realise that some passengers have purchased larger cycles with a single folding point. Provided that these are folded prior to entering the station and that they can easily be carried onto the train, we are prepared to accept such cycles at present
Somewhere between £1500 and £1700 + shipping and VAT, depending on where I import it from.
Edited by Dunk76 on Friday 16th July 13:16
Bromptons work especially well on Southern (although I do the opposite - away from London in the morning, back in the evening) as they'll fit in the space between the back-to-back seats. Fit fine in the shelf-type luggage racks too.
Bigger folders seem a bit pointless for train travel - with something like that linked one you'll be stood by the doors holding the thing for your entire journey. And it's not like the journeys either end are long enough to justify the (presumably) better ride of bigger wheels - not that the Brompton is that bad.
I agree the fold is genius - plus it's really nice to be able to choose a British-designed AND British-made product. They do a longer seatpost (pretty sure it's FOC to swap at purchase time) and I see quite a few very tall people on them.
Bigger folders seem a bit pointless for train travel - with something like that linked one you'll be stood by the doors holding the thing for your entire journey. And it's not like the journeys either end are long enough to justify the (presumably) better ride of bigger wheels - not that the Brompton is that bad.
I agree the fold is genius - plus it's really nice to be able to choose a British-designed AND British-made product. They do a longer seatpost (pretty sure it's FOC to swap at purchase time) and I see quite a few very tall people on them.
Edited by sjg on Friday 16th July 13:21
With a bit of luck it'll fit in the luggage cavity between the seats - it's not especially large folded 100cm being the most I need to accommodate; which is suitcase length. Depth and width are small, which will help.
I'll have to lump it with the tube to start with, to figure out the difficulty of such an operation on typical travelling times.
I'll have to lump it with the tube to start with, to figure out the difficulty of such an operation on typical travelling times.
Dunk76 said:
With a bit of luck it'll fit in the luggage cavity between the seats - it's not especially large folded 100cm being the most I need to accommodate; which is suitcase length. Depth and width are small, which will help.
I'll have to lump it with the tube to start with, to figure out the difficulty of such an operation on typical travelling times.
Should be fine as long as the one you get has the folding pedal. I used to live in Denmark Villas in Hove next to the station, iirc when ever I had to go to London from there the trains were not mad busy so you should be ok with a folder. Not sure I could be doing with that commute everyday myself but I guess it's not too bad overall, especially if you dont need to use the tube..I'll have to lump it with the tube to start with, to figure out the difficulty of such an operation on typical travelling times.
I don't mind standing for the journey - the filthy and uncomfortable seats on Southern Trains aren't the nicest of places to be, especially when stuck next to the smelly proles.
I'm also happy to lean against the doors if it means I don't have to suffer the tube network. Reckon the 2 mile pedal to the office would be quicker on the bike anyway.
ETA: looks like the Speccy Secteur will have to wait a few months
I'm also happy to lean against the doors if it means I don't have to suffer the tube network. Reckon the 2 mile pedal to the office would be quicker on the bike anyway.
ETA: looks like the Speccy Secteur will have to wait a few months
Edited by Dunk76 on Friday 16th July 13:46
Catch the bus from Victoria to Southwark. The Tube journey from Victoria over to [effectively] London Bridge is a ball ache needing at least one change. C10 goes around the houses and past Borough Tube Station and the 148 goes a bit more directly and to the South end of Blackfriars Road.
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