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Commuting by bike
Hi all
As we are soon to move offices, i'm going to start commuting to work by bike and train, as I'm only an occasional cyclist I had a few questions. 1. I'm looking at folding cycles as they are the only ones allowed on the train in rush hour (i'm going in and out of paddington). I'll be doing 16 miles a day, I also want to use this bike offroad on the odd occasion at the weekend. I've seen favourable reviews of the Dahon Cadenza, is this a good bike for what I want? 2. Where can I find out about cycle routes in London? I need to get from Paddington to Green Park. 3. What else should I be thinking about, as I'm going from biking a few times a year to 3, 4 times a week? Thanks a lot Cheers Gavin |
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#2
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Commuting by bike
Gavin Watkinson a écrit :
3. What else should I be thinking about, as I'm going from biking a few times a year to 3, 4 times a week? The best tip from my experience of the past year is that you get some of those cycling undershorts, that you can wear under your normal clothes without having to look like an alien. These have greatly improved the comfort of my own commute, and I like the wicking properties so much that I even like to wear them when I'm not cycling. EFR Ile de France |
#3
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Commuting by bike
On 13 Jun 2006 06:23:43 -0700 someone who may be "Gavin Watkinson"
wrote this:- 2. Where can I find out about cycle routes in London? I need to get from Paddington to Green Park. I assume Transport for London still do cycle maps. Look on their web site. 3. What else should I be thinking about, as I'm going from biking a few times a year to 3, 4 times a week? Get some gloves. Wear a sensible hat. In the summer this should be designed to keep the sun off your head, in the winter ditto for rain. You only need to wear either when necessary. The sun can also burn your arms, legs and hands if not careful. Nearer the time find some suitable breathable water resistant clothing. Consider lighting that will work regularly and what tools you may need. For commuting the Brompton has yet to be beaten. Folding and unfolding is rapid and the luggage attaches and detaches in a couple of seconds, all of which is useful if rushing for a train. -- David Hansen, Edinburgh I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54 |
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Commuting by bike
"Gavin Watkinson" wrote
2. Where can I find out about cycle routes in London? The London Cycle Campaign is a good place to start http://www.lcc.org.uk/ Get yourself the relevant London Route Maps, either from their site or from a bike shop, they're free. TFL also does a cycling version of their route planner, fun to play with but probably not that great in practise http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use..._TRIP_REQUEST2 I need to get from Paddington to Green Park. Head south by the most direct route possible to Hyde Park, go round it clockwise making sure you stick to the paths that you are allowed to cycle and emerge at Hyde Park Corner. A lovely little hop that'll only take about 10 minutes. 3. What else should I be thinking about, as I'm going from biking a few times a year to 3, 4 times a week? On that route, at this time of year, with all the nubile bodies in the park, SEX. Oh, and get some seriously puncture resistant tyres for the mean streets of the city. |
#5
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Commuting by bike
Following on from Gavin Watkinson's message. . .
Hi all As we are soon to move offices, i'm going to start commuting to work by bike and train, as I'm only an occasional cyclist I had a few questions. Q: What are the options for parking a bike overnight at Paddington? (I understand in some parts of Europe this is normal.) (And of course parking your normal bike during the day at wherever you're commuting from.) You'll find cycling through London is the quickest form of transport. Personally, although I go there only once every couple of years or so and live 'in the country' otherwise I enjoy the err.. cut and thrust of urban cycling. But then I am assertive, check the gears, don't get stuck behind busses, and overtake on the outside of stationary traffic. NB NEVER through red lights or even over the white line. The point is: "you should be thinking about" what happens next. Better still: 'What will I be doing next' not 'Oh dear Oh dear OH DEAR'. In my limited experience, small wheel folders are more difficult to steer after a few pints - I suppose you get used to them after a while. If you do get nervous then a couple of hours with CTUK etc will give you confidence and VIM! And you must wear a helmet or your brains will be eaten by green worms every time you go over a manhole cover. NURSE! . . . No seriously, you will be the office loony for a while. "What! You cycle? On the roads! Are you mad? For TEN miles!!" Most of these numpties are amusingly put down by "On average how far do you walk each week?" You'll be _fit and bored_ each day in the office while the numpties will be grey and exhausted. Get out for a spin at lunchtime to the swimming baths over the river etc. and you'll soon acquire the status of super-fit-hero. -- PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded www.eminent.demon.co.uk - Lots for cyclists |
#6
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Commuting by bike
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 06:23:43 -0700, Gavin Watkinson wrote:
2. Where can I find out about cycle routes in London? I need to get from Paddington to Green Park. Free cycle maps from: http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=37 |
#7
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Commuting by bike
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 06:23:43 -0700, Gavin Watkinson wrote:
Hi all As we are soon to move offices, i'm going to start commuting to work by bike and train, as I'm only an occasional cyclist I had a few questions. You could save a bit of money - leave an old hack bike at Paddington, chained to the racks. Paddington to Green Park is not that far. If the bike gets nicked then its not the end of the world, and just plan to buy another. Many hack bikes for price of Dahon. |
#8
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Commuting by bike
in message .com, Gavin
Watkinson ') wrote: Hi all As we are soon to move offices, i'm going to start commuting to work by bike and train, as I'm only an occasional cyclist I had a few questions. 1. I'm looking at folding cycles as they are the only ones allowed on the train in rush hour (i'm going in and out of paddington). I'll be doing 16 miles a day, I also want to use this bike offroad on the odd occasion at the weekend. I've seen favourable reviews of the Dahon Cadenza, is this a good bike for what I want? You probably don't want to do 16 miles a day on a Brompton... unless some regular bromptoneer wants to disagree with me? A bike I would look at is the Birdy http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/html/birdy.shtml Relatively expensive but widely regarded as a decent bike to ride. I don't know much about Dahons, but people here do. 3. What else should I be thinking about, as I'm going from biking a few times a year to 3, 4 times a week? Comfort. If you don't get comfortable you won't do it. Get a saddle which fits you - shops which sell Specialized (the brand) saddles have a magic device for measuring your arse, which is useful. Firmer saddles, while initially feeling uncomfortable, tend to be much more comfortable in the long term /provided/ they fit. Also get yourself track mitts (fingerless gloves). Not only do they help with vibration transmitted through the bars but they also protect your hands from gravel rash if you should fall off. Finally, padded cycling shorts may look dreadfully keen but they are very comfortable. They can be worn under more ordinary clothing, instead of underpants. Also, at 16 miles per day, remember to drink enough - that is far enough for dehydration to start to be an issue. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ A message from our sponsor: This site is now in free fall |
#9
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Commuting by bike
John Hearns wrote: On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 06:23:43 -0700, Gavin Watkinson wrote: Hi all As we are soon to move offices, i'm going to start commuting to work by bike and train, as I'm only an occasional cyclist I had a few questions. You could save a bit of money - leave an old hack bike at Paddington, chained to the racks. Paddington to Green Park is not that far. If the bike gets nicked then its not the end of the world, and just plan to buy another. Many hack bikes for price of Dahon. The paddington to green park bit is kinda off secondary to getting from my house to the train station. It would be nice to do, as it means I can leave my bike at the office rather than at a train station. Plus any money I spend on a new bike is offset by the money I save from travelling on the tube everyday. Plus I've been thinking of getting a new bike for awhile. Thanks to everyone for the answers. I've got gloves already, thought about lights, hadnt thought about a hat or special clothing. And what is 'wicking properties'? |
#10
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Commuting by bike
Gavin Watkinson wrote:
1. I'm looking at folding cycles as they are the only ones allowed on the train in rush hour (i'm going in and out of paddington). I'll be doing 16 miles a day, I also want to use this bike offroad on the odd occasion at the weekend. I've seen favourable reviews of the Dahon Cadenza, is this a good bike for what I want? Check with your station/train company first: some people have reported that some officials interpret "folding bikes only" as "fairly compact small wheel folding bikes only". Unless you are also going by train to wherever you plan to offroad, you might be better off with a different folder and a non-folding offroad bike. (Though buying a decent folder and a decent offroad bike for the price of the Cadenza could be tricky.) The usual reaction is "train commuting - you want a Brompton", but 16 miles of riding is enough that compactness on the train and neatness of fold might not be the overriding factor it usually is. People do ride longer distances on Bromptons though. |
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