Reply to: Cyclist Again

[OwlHoot]

I've been tempted to buy one of those for years.

The price oscillates up & down like a yo-yo.

And it's got mudguards, so you don't get that streak of wetness up yer back when it's raining.

crack

[mudskipper]

Here is a question for all you cyclepaths, what do you do when you want to cycle into work, but stay smart at the same time?

I stick my clothes in one pannier, laptop in the other, and look like I'm setting out on an expedition to the other side of the country.

[Old Hack]

Here is a question for all you cyclepaths, what do you do when you want to cycle into work, but stay smart at the same time?

Make sure the client site has a shower facility

[Mich the Tester]

Here is a question for all you cyclepaths, what do you do when you want to cycle into work, but stay smart at the same time?

Clientco has a changing room and shower. More and more firms in NL do.

[SimonMac]

Here is a question for all you cyclepaths, what do you do when you want to cycle into work, but stay smart at the same time?

[sasguru]

I still have my Brompton which I used to carry on the train to commute about the City - thus avoiding the tube.
Still ride it occasionally for exercise. Thing with a Brompton is, of the folding bikes, it's most like a real bike when unfolded i.e. sturdy, very comfy, still has 3 useful gears.
Plus overall the design hasn't been bettered - it's a thing of beauty.
NF if you need a replacemnt consider a second hand Brompton - they're so well built they last for years.

[Mich the Tester]

Why go folding, when you could just put a proper bike on the boot? In summer, I normally take a bike with me on contracts to go for evening rides, and leave it in the room of the hotel I am staying at.

whs

[Old Hack]

I have two mountain bikes: one I use to pop around the village, and is nice and cheap, in case someone from Cheddar comes over stealing bikes, and the other I use for proper riding, which is more Carlos Fandango. I also have a 2009 Trek 1.9, which I love, as it's nice and light and flies on the levels.

Why go folding, when you could just put a proper bike on the boot? In summer, I normally take a bike with me on contracts to go for evening rides, and leave it in the room of the hotel I am staying at.

[Mich the Tester]

- Road/race bike - Check
- Mountain bike - Check
- Touring/commuter bike - Check
- folding bike - No



Check (Well, a turbo trainer I attach the road bike to).



Doubles as the commuter. Technically not vintage, but it is 30 years old.

Yep, Racing bike to ride from hotel to clientco and back (about 25km round trip) and ride at weekends, take the wheels off and it fits in the car boot, a track bike for the occasional blast around Apeldoorn velodrome, touring bike to ride to the pub with Lady Tester and a BMX to piss around outside as if I'm still 16. Plus a tacx VR trainer to ride all the spring classics without leaving my living room.

Yesterday I was out on the racing bike, and doing my usual thing of tagging on to someone going fairly quickly I ended up blasting along with Jorrit Bergsma who's a professional speed skater and number 2 in the world over 10kms, swapping places to lead through the wind. Fook me, he is quick; I managed about 7kms along with him and then just couldn't quite manage it any more and turned off to one of my usual routes. Bloody good workout though, just not very clever of me to go straight to a wine tasting event afterwards. He was probably just having an easy morning on the bike!

[NickFitz]

Just took it out for a spin round the neighbourhood, and reached three conclusions:

1. It felt perfectly solid under my 14 stone weight, though with a 32" inside leg I need the saddle fully-extended for it to be comfortable to ride; anybody taller would probably be out of luck, unless they had very stumpy legs.
   
   
2. It's definitely geared for a fairly gentle cycle along rather than zooming about like a mad, or even a mildly eccentric, thing. Once I'd got used to it I worked up the gears to a moderate speed, at which point I discovered I was in the seventh and top gear, and would only go any faster by pedalling faster.
   
   
3. I am even more unfit than I thought and will not be cycling the 3 miles to ClientCo for at least a week or two while I build my once-sturdy leg muscles back up It'll have to be gentle rides to the pub and back until I start getting into shape again

[NickFitz]

You can claim back the VAT on the £2500 one.

Don't forget the Cycle to Work scheme: Expenses and benefits: bikes for employees

[mudskipper]

Again, what does one get for a £1000 or even £2500 folding bike that one doesn't for say a £400 one?

You can claim back the VAT on the £2500 one.

[SueEllen]

Again, what does one get for a £1000 or even £2500 folding bike that one doesn't for say a £400 one?

It nicked.


Bike thieves, unless they are drunk, don't bother with cheaper bikes.

[ctdctd]

Again, what does one get for a £1000 or even £2500 folding bike that one doesn't for say a £400 one?

A chauffeur?

[OwlHoot]

Again, what does one get for a £1000 or even £2500 folding bike that one doesn't for say a £400 one?