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Walsgrave.



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 24th 04, 10:47 AM
Robert D France
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Default Walsgrave.

Im starting a new job at Walsgrave hospital in Coventry soon, and am
weighing up my commuting options. I'll be travelling from south birmingham
and my shifts start pretty early (7.30). Needless to say the public
transport is pretty unintegrated. If i get the train to Cov, i have 2
minutes to make the bus connection on to walsgrave. If i get the bus in to
Cov i have to get up dead, dead early.
Anyway, ive been considering either getting a cheap old nag of a road bike
and leaving it locked up at the train or bus station in Cov overnight, or
getting a fold up and taking it on the train with me.

Any ideas?
Im 6'2" and have never ridden a brompton so i dont know wether it would suit
me.

Went to a LBS yesterday and the guy said if i left the bike overnight it'd
get battered by drunks. he did seem pretty jaded by society. im more
optimistic. he suggested getting a womans frame as its less risk???

On nice days, and when ive got a day off the following day, i will most
likely ride all the way home but not on the A45, theres some nice
countryside around meriden, berkswell etc. Im not considering riding all the
way to work in the morning, i'll be knackered and i get paranoid over
punctures and being late.

also any suggestions as to where to purchase? ive been on ebay and theres a
couple that cought my eye, but ive got no transport to collect anything too
far away.
anyone know any good car-boots in the bham area?
someone suggested Harborne cycle surgery. any good?

does anyone actually do the commute from Cov town to Walsgrave? whats it
like? havent done a test run yet so dont know the timing, but it took about
25 mins by a bus that goes all round the houses. any route tips?

thanks in advance.
rob.









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  #2  
Old January 24th 04, 07:41 PM
Tim Wilcock
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Default Walsgrave.

I am 6' 1" and have no problem riding a Brompton (other than usual
lack of fitness!)

Tim Wilcock
  #3  
Old January 24th 04, 11:57 PM
Tony Raven
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Default Walsgrave.

Robert D France wrote:
Im starting a new job at Walsgrave hospital in Coventry soon, and am
weighing up my commuting options. I'll be travelling from south birmingham
and my shifts start pretty early (7.30). Needless to say the public
transport is pretty unintegrated. If i get the train to Cov, i have 2
minutes to make the bus connection on to walsgrave. If i get the bus in to
Cov i have to get up dead, dead early.
Anyway, ive been considering either getting a cheap old nag of a road bike
and leaving it locked up at the train or bus station in Cov overnight, or
getting a fold up and taking it on the train with me.

Any ideas?
Im 6'2" and have never ridden a brompton so i dont know wether it would suit
me.


The B's the answer and if I can ride one OK at 6'6" you should have no
problems. Left locked overnight at Coventry its very likely that it will get
tampered with/damaged frequently and will become a real pain. Go for a
folder.

Tony


  #4  
Old January 25th 04, 01:03 PM
Pete Barrett
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Default Walsgrave.

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:47:18 -0000, "Robert D France"
wrote:

Im starting a new job at Walsgrave hospital in Coventry soon, and am
weighing up my commuting options. I'll be travelling from south birmingham
and my shifts start pretty early (7.30). Needless to say the public
transport is pretty unintegrated. If i get the train to Cov, i have 2
minutes to make the bus connection on to walsgrave. If i get the bus in to
Cov i have to get up dead, dead early.
Anyway, ive been considering either getting a cheap old nag of a road bike
and leaving it locked up at the train or bus station in Cov overnight, or
getting a fold up and taking it on the train with me.

Any ideas?
Im 6'2" and have never ridden a brompton so i dont know wether it would suit
me.

There are local trains to Coventry which you can take a (non-folding)
bike on in the special carriage with the fold-down seats, or in the
carriage doorways (there probably won't be many people on the train at
that time in the morning). Look for those operated by Central Trains.
If the train you're getting on is a Virgin one going to London
eventually, then you will have to get a folding cycle.

Went to a LBS yesterday and the guy said if i left the bike overnight it'd
get battered by drunks. he did seem pretty jaded by society. im more
optimistic. he suggested getting a womans frame as its less risk???


Less risk of being stolen (what self-respecting youth would be seen on
a woman's bike?). If drunks are drunk enough to beat up a bike, I
expect they'd be too drunk to notice (or care) what sort of frame it
had.

On nice days, and when ive got a day off the following day, i will most
likely ride all the way home but not on the A45, theres some nice
countryside around meriden, berkswell etc. Im not considering riding all the
way to work in the morning, i'll be knackered and i get paranoid over
punctures and being late.

also any suggestions as to where to purchase? ive been on ebay and theres a
couple that cought my eye, but ive got no transport to collect anything too
far away.
anyone know any good car-boots in the bham area?
someone suggested Harborne cycle surgery. any good?

I've heard so, but have no personal experience. Selly Oak Cycles on
the Bristol Road opposite Sainsbury's *is* good, and would be as near
or nearer than Harborne from most places in South Birmingham.



Pete Barrett
  #5  
Old January 25th 04, 06:26 PM
mikesbikes
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Posts: n/a
Default Walsgrave.


"Robert D France" wrote in message
...
Any ideas?
Im 6'2" and have never ridden a brompton so i dont know wether it would

suit
me.

I've just been overtaken on a 67 mile audax (105 km) by a Brompton with a
rider over 6 foot tall.. And he finished in under 5 hours, and he overtook
me going up a hill! So I guess for a commute they are ok.
Mike


  #6  
Old January 26th 04, 02:10 PM
Terry
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Posts: n/a
Default Walsgrave.


I've just been overtaken on a 67 mile audax (105 km) by a Brompton with a
rider over 6 foot tall.. And he finished in under 5 hours, and he overtook
me going up a hill! So I guess for a commute they are ok.
Mike


If the brompton seems expensive look at the raleigh phillips
(advertised by allens of barnsley eg) or other Dahon rebadged folders,
which are good value although I think people may say you get what you
pay for.
I have ridden 30miles in 2hrs on an old model 16in wheel dahon and
enjoyed it. the convenience and security (thus reliability)of a folder
often outweighs the fairly small difference in journey time.You always
get on the train and in my experince bus too without argument if you
have a bag.
If you were in a real hurry for many miles you might feel frustrated
by a cheap folder.
I found the back wheel mount on the brompton a bit scary, but the fit
was ok, if you like sitting upright, with a telescopic post. I am more
like 6ft 3.

TerryJ
  #7  
Old January 29th 04, 07:07 PM
pmailkeey
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Posts: n/a
Default Walsgrave.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:03:29 +0000, Pete Barrett
wrote:

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:47:18 -0000, "Robert D France"

also any suggestions as to where to purchase? ive been on ebay and theres a
couple that cought my eye, but ive got no transport to collect anything too
far away.
anyone know any good car-boots in the bham area?
someone suggested Harborne cycle surgery. any good?

I've heard so, but have no personal experience. Selly Oak Cycles on
the Bristol Road opposite Sainsbury's *is* good, and would be as near
or nearer than Harborne from most places in South Birmingham.


I wonder if the police have finished their enquiries into SOC ? !!
Other LBSs:
http://www.pushbikes.freeserve.co.uk.../bikeshops.htm
--
Comm again, Mike.
  #8  
Old February 24th 04, 09:16 PM
Terry
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Posts: n/a
Default Walsgrave.

any news on the walsgrave commute? What was the choice of bike and how is it going?

terryJ
 




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