Brompton - In a suit/with a suit
Discussion
Some advice please cycling gurus,
Having cycled pretty much daily for 6yrs to the city/canary wharf from various south London rented properties, going from a throwaway mountain bike to a pashley to singlespeed(s) to a proper racing bike, I have now moved/moving from London to my own place in Hertfordshire and am going to be living just under 3 miles from the Station (Stevenage FWIW).
This being pistonheads I have thought about a station car, but that involves tax,insurance,petrol and of course car parking charges and running an old snotter. And I would rather if possible get a 2nd interesting classic car at some point in the future and do not want/need a 3 car set up.
A scooter seems to offer nothing more than a bicycle in terms of time, weather risk, theft risk, and again would only be used to commute to the station and back, would still need insuring, petrol etc etc.
Since Stevenage has a dedicated network of cycle paths makes sense to at least give it a go and the logical progression in cycling terms appears to be therefore to get a folding bike and take it with me on the train. Having had a cheap bike before I am loathed to get something disposable. So we wind up at the doorstep of Brompton.
One requirement of my pesky employers is that we have a strict suit/shirt/tie policy, and somewhat bizarrely no showers at work.
Having thought about it, I am reasonably sure I can get away with the 3 mile cycle to Stevenage, and the 2 ish miles from Kings Cross into the city, taking it fairly leisurely and not breaking into too much of a sweat.
I have thought about cycling in the suit itself, but not sure its the best thing for 5 miles on a bike, am sure I would wear the seat of my trousers out in a day, and the jacket would lead to possible sweating.
If I wore cycle kit I could join the gym opposite work purely for shower facilities, take all the associated additional clutter and then suffer the faff/cost that goes with it daily would retract from the freedom of the folder in the first place.
What routines do you guys have who commute with a Brompton? What would you do in my position? shower before hand, wear t-shirt and shorts and take suit in a bag? leave suit at work etc etc
Also - which Brompton would be best for someone 6ft2 with plenty of cycling experience. Looking at the single speed or at most the 2 speed with the flat bars and longer seat post.
Cheers
Having cycled pretty much daily for 6yrs to the city/canary wharf from various south London rented properties, going from a throwaway mountain bike to a pashley to singlespeed(s) to a proper racing bike, I have now moved/moving from London to my own place in Hertfordshire and am going to be living just under 3 miles from the Station (Stevenage FWIW).
This being pistonheads I have thought about a station car, but that involves tax,insurance,petrol and of course car parking charges and running an old snotter. And I would rather if possible get a 2nd interesting classic car at some point in the future and do not want/need a 3 car set up.
A scooter seems to offer nothing more than a bicycle in terms of time, weather risk, theft risk, and again would only be used to commute to the station and back, would still need insuring, petrol etc etc.
Since Stevenage has a dedicated network of cycle paths makes sense to at least give it a go and the logical progression in cycling terms appears to be therefore to get a folding bike and take it with me on the train. Having had a cheap bike before I am loathed to get something disposable. So we wind up at the doorstep of Brompton.
One requirement of my pesky employers is that we have a strict suit/shirt/tie policy, and somewhat bizarrely no showers at work.
Having thought about it, I am reasonably sure I can get away with the 3 mile cycle to Stevenage, and the 2 ish miles from Kings Cross into the city, taking it fairly leisurely and not breaking into too much of a sweat.
I have thought about cycling in the suit itself, but not sure its the best thing for 5 miles on a bike, am sure I would wear the seat of my trousers out in a day, and the jacket would lead to possible sweating.
If I wore cycle kit I could join the gym opposite work purely for shower facilities, take all the associated additional clutter and then suffer the faff/cost that goes with it daily would retract from the freedom of the folder in the first place.
What routines do you guys have who commute with a Brompton? What would you do in my position? shower before hand, wear t-shirt and shorts and take suit in a bag? leave suit at work etc etc
Also - which Brompton would be best for someone 6ft2 with plenty of cycling experience. Looking at the single speed or at most the 2 speed with the flat bars and longer seat post.
Cheers
I cycle on a brompton into the city via a train journey. I wear smart blue chinos and a blue blazer with smart shoes. Wear a high viz jacket over the top. I have the roll down chaps to keep my legs dry when I need them.
Shower before I cycle to work. Tend not to work up much of a sweat in the 3 or 4 miles each way.
Shower before I cycle to work. Tend not to work up much of a sweat in the 3 or 4 miles each way.
Hi,
I brought a Brompton (SR6) in July, its fantastic! I cycle around London, from Euston or Heathrow to and from tour office in the City/hotel etc. Recently a colleague and I left a meeting in St Pauls, he jumped on the tube and I took the Brompton. I was in the hotel before he got off the tube (Westfield Stratford).
You can get hot in the summer in a suit, depending how hard you pedal, showers at our office help. I find it better to change in the office and keep a spare suit there.
I wish I had bought one years ago!
Good Luck!
I brought a Brompton (SR6) in July, its fantastic! I cycle around London, from Euston or Heathrow to and from tour office in the City/hotel etc. Recently a colleague and I left a meeting in St Pauls, he jumped on the tube and I took the Brompton. I was in the hotel before he got off the tube (Westfield Stratford).
You can get hot in the summer in a suit, depending how hard you pedal, showers at our office help. I find it better to change in the office and keep a spare suit there.
I wish I had bought one years ago!
Good Luck!
One of the great parts about the brompton is the front mounted bags, I have the C bag on the front of my S2 and can fit a laptop bag, shoes, towel and change of clothes in it comfortably. I travelled from Euston into the city with a high vis jacket on. After 5 minutes spent in the disabled bathroom cooling down I could put a shirt on and was fine. I also found that given the extra cost of taking the underground the bike paid for itself.
I can't help too much as I have a shower at work, but I think a 2 speed is sufficient for London.
My only question for you is can you, as a seasoned cyclist, really hold back on the bike? I've ridden back once with my suit on, but it was just too tempting to push on - and you don't feel hot when moving, but when you stop you start sweating.
It's currently my exercise time each day, and is saving money in the process, so I maximise it by trying to push and extend my route when I have time.
My only question for you is can you, as a seasoned cyclist, really hold back on the bike? I've ridden back once with my suit on, but it was just too tempting to push on - and you don't feel hot when moving, but when you stop you start sweating.
It's currently my exercise time each day, and is saving money in the process, so I maximise it by trying to push and extend my route when I have time.
Some very encouraging responses so far. Seems I am not alone in the dilemma.
I envisage getting a fairly clutter free bike, 2 speed and the basic weather protection, and getting something like this as you can put a whole suit, rolled up in it, with a bag for other bits and bobs. And am used to cycling with a backpack.
http://henty.cc/uk/shop/wingman-backpack/
I do take the point on board about 'pushing on' I tended to find that 3 miles of moderate cycling was about the limit, I used to live in elephant and castle and trundle into Farringdon with no fuss, but that was on a pashley roadster, taking it steady, and once up to speed they are a doddle to pedal smoothly.
Initially I thought I would absolutely require a shower but that was based on my old 7ish mile cycle on a fast bike in the drops and really caning it along with the other warriors. Shower utterly necessary.
I am sort of hoping I view it functionally as a means of 'transport' rather than exercise/transport rolled into one. The Brompton style of bike will also help, I suppose.
I envisage getting a fairly clutter free bike, 2 speed and the basic weather protection, and getting something like this as you can put a whole suit, rolled up in it, with a bag for other bits and bobs. And am used to cycling with a backpack.
http://henty.cc/uk/shop/wingman-backpack/
I do take the point on board about 'pushing on' I tended to find that 3 miles of moderate cycling was about the limit, I used to live in elephant and castle and trundle into Farringdon with no fuss, but that was on a pashley roadster, taking it steady, and once up to speed they are a doddle to pedal smoothly.
Initially I thought I would absolutely require a shower but that was based on my old 7ish mile cycle on a fast bike in the drops and really caning it along with the other warriors. Shower utterly necessary.
I am sort of hoping I view it functionally as a means of 'transport' rather than exercise/transport rolled into one. The Brompton style of bike will also help, I suppose.
Fourmotion said:
My only question for you is can you, as a seasoned cyclist, really hold back on the bike?
I find it frustrating. If I stop for a few beers on the way home after work even if I take it easy I'm still drenched in my own sweat for a good 15 to 20 minutes when I get to the pub. I also feel that by taking it as easy as I can I'm just another dawdler getting in the way of traffic and other cyclists and I'm not as in control of things as I am when I'm pushing on and able to take control of the lane.
It's fine if I'm just plodding through a park but I'm rarely lucky enough to be going somewhere where I can take a queit route all the way.
I suppose that that's where the real difference is with London compared to say Copenhagen. There, 90% are just peddaling to and fro. Here it's 10% doing that and the rest are all hammering it along the blue lanes.
Does anyone have experience of the single speed? I like the simplicity in theory and the fact its that little bit cheaper.
There is a bewildering array of options!
The somewhat obvious option of leaving suits/shoes at work in a locker here has arisen. Meaning in theory I could just bring the daily essentials in with me, and then possibly go for one of these type shirt things in a front type carry bag as mentioned above.
http://www.patrona.com/the-shuttle-series/shirt-sh...
That would also reduce the possibility of getting a hot back carrying the bag.
Anything else I should consider?
There is a bewildering array of options!
The somewhat obvious option of leaving suits/shoes at work in a locker here has arisen. Meaning in theory I could just bring the daily essentials in with me, and then possibly go for one of these type shirt things in a front type carry bag as mentioned above.
http://www.patrona.com/the-shuttle-series/shirt-sh...
That would also reduce the possibility of getting a hot back carrying the bag.
Anything else I should consider?
Keeping a stock of kit at the office works best IME.
I get my shirts laundered, the place near me at home is actually quite good value. The side benefit of this is they come on hangers in shirt-sized plastic bags. I take three in at a time and simply roll them up round the hangers and carefully load them into my rucksack, I’ve only got a 30 minute trip in though but after a bit of a shake they’re crease free.
Also on the odd day I have to take the tube I'll bring as much stuff in as I've got available.
I've got one of those shirt shuttle things as well but I don't really bother with it for the commute.
I get my shirts laundered, the place near me at home is actually quite good value. The side benefit of this is they come on hangers in shirt-sized plastic bags. I take three in at a time and simply roll them up round the hangers and carefully load them into my rucksack, I’ve only got a 30 minute trip in though but after a bit of a shake they’re crease free.
Also on the odd day I have to take the tube I'll bring as much stuff in as I've got available.
I've got one of those shirt shuttle things as well but I don't really bother with it for the commute.
Will be to the south east of Stevenage, and looking at the map hitting a straight line through the middle along the aptly named six hills way, so I guess some gears are in order. I could go from Knebworth which is a nicer cycle across country, but a touch further and not as frequent service.
I think I just have to commit to it and see how it goes. The worst thing that happens is I get fed up with it after 6 months and jack it in, unlikely because at that time it will be next year, the sun will be back out and the routine will be in place. So persevere for a bit and I am sorted then!
Thanks all, I think sometimes one just needs a little point in the right direction! Time to go shopping then..
I think I just have to commit to it and see how it goes. The worst thing that happens is I get fed up with it after 6 months and jack it in, unlikely because at that time it will be next year, the sun will be back out and the routine will be in place. So persevere for a bit and I am sorted then!
Thanks all, I think sometimes one just needs a little point in the right direction! Time to go shopping then..
When I worked in the City I joined the nearest gym, rode to work, put the bike in the (semi)secure racks, walked over to the gym and had a shower+got changed - I took everything with me in my bag, fresh shirt, underwear, towel etc as you could not get a permanent locker.
Now I work in W1 and I use the H2 gym in Soho - it's in what appears to be an old underground carpark, swipe card entry, I've had the same large locker for getting on for a year now, nice hot showers and the staff are all nice people.
I suppose that the issue in the City itself is property prices, but if an H2 opens up nearby that'd be perfect for you.
Now I work in W1 and I use the H2 gym in Soho - it's in what appears to be an old underground carpark, swipe card entry, I've had the same large locker for getting on for a year now, nice hot showers and the staff are all nice people.
I suppose that the issue in the City itself is property prices, but if an H2 opens up nearby that'd be perfect for you.
Combination of a couple of changes really, I used to have showers at my current office, but they are operated by a different firm, they got refurbished and then our access was taken away.
When I was at my previous place, we had full gym and various facilities on site, across all offices so obviously used those and they actively promoted cycling, was a doddle as I just took a bag packed up and was done with it, and used the gym as well, but didn't have such a strict dress code.
What irks me is that to have a shower I have to join a FF (opposite work), I vowed never again after a terrible stint as a member in clapham.
I now have a family and a toddler,circumstances are different, and I want to be as efficient as possible on the commute. IYSWIM.
When I was at my previous place, we had full gym and various facilities on site, across all offices so obviously used those and they actively promoted cycling, was a doddle as I just took a bag packed up and was done with it, and used the gym as well, but didn't have such a strict dress code.
What irks me is that to have a shower I have to join a FF (opposite work), I vowed never again after a terrible stint as a member in clapham.
I now have a family and a toddler,circumstances are different, and I want to be as efficient as possible on the commute. IYSWIM.
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