Forum menu
a new job is currently precluding cycling to work (3hrs each way would be excessive) so looking at options, one would be the train. Ride ~10miles to the station then 3 miles at the other end, options would be:
1) stash SS at the station to ride to and from work, with decent bike used for the longer ride from home. Bike theft if the worry at the forefront of my mind here
2) get a brompton and do the commuter thing properly
Any tips on what to look for in a Brompton and which model works best, commute would have some hills in it.
cheers
Matthew
I think all bromptons do more-or-less the same thing don't they? Fold up quickly and fairly compactly. The variations come in ride position, gears or not gears, and luggage capabilities. My bro has an M-type I think. He loves it and has a brompton bag that clips easily and neatly onto the headtube. Careful on the pedals though. He had a foor slip off the folding one recently and broke his collarbone as a consequence. Need some sort of folding SPD pedal I reckon...
I have the S6L and had dynamo and mudguards fitted for my commute. Once you get over the twitchy handling initially they do ride quite nicley. Someone I know has ridden a brompton and a dahon and he thinks that for the price the cheaper dahon rides better than the brompton and you get more for your money but it doesn't fold down as small as the brompton. Look here for a good selection of folding bikes - and you can get an idea on price of a brompton with your spec - not cheap!
http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/index.html
i couldnt be bothered with the folding and unfolding myself (if it were me, ive never done it) so i would have a tired looking, understated beater at the work end, and a nicer bike at the home end.
that in bromptons cost a fortune?
at a lot of stations there is secure bike storage, under cameras and such flood lit. (derby has it at least)
a monster lock that can be left tied to a rack so you dont have to carry it?
thanks for the thoughts, 2 big locks would certainly be cheaper than a new bike, although its not such an exciting purchase.
I think a bit of experimentation on the train first before committing to any purchase
i couldnt be bothered with the folding and unfolding myself
it really is less than 10 seconds Olly.
Yardley - I keep a SS at Paddington. Nothing much to look at - ratbike stylee - but rides well. Not going to get nicked, but a good bike all the same.
I walk at the other end, but if it was longer Id consider a second bike for that end.
I do own a brompton but a permanent bike at a station still seems better to me.