Folding bike & trains

[CopperCyclist]

He lives in Basingstoke. Its a bit of a hack on a daily basis from Basingstoke to Canary Wharf

Ah yes, so I see now having googled it, a sixty mile trip!

 

[Tim Hall]

I guess so....and no asset in return

More, surely. Isn't the minimum ride £2.00 now? And he'll need two of them, one in the morning, one in the evening. Although I suppose that's the "turn up and ride" fare. It may well be cheaper if you get an annual wossname. I'll have to google it, but dinner is ready.

 

[Saluki]

Ah yes, so I see now having googled it, a sixty mile trip!

Mind you, think how fit he would be after a few weeks of 120 miles a day

 

[Davidc]

If the journey time on the hire bike is over 30 minutes then it starts to clock up the ££££s, so in this case perhaps buy a secondhand folder which can be sold when the ride/ not ride decision is taken.

 

[wilkotom]

[QUOTE 2661023, member: 45"]It used to be a pound a day if you have a key. Maybe it's gone up to two, but it's still very cheap.[/quote]

£2 a day whether or not you have a key, or £90 per year. If you think you'll be using the Boris bikes once a week on average it makes sense to do the latter. I go for the daily option as I only use it very occasionally for cross-town trips.

 

[Davidc]

[QUOTE 2661023, member: 45"]It used to be a pound a day if you have a key. Maybe it's gone up to two, but it's still very cheap.[/quote]
I find it a very cheap way of getting around London, but I only have to do it about once a month, and usually have time to stop, wait ten minutes then start again to avoid time related charges.

 

[livpoksoc]

Are you sure?

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/cyclesontrains2010map.pdf

Well basingstoke isn't on that map but it's the line into Woking so it's only where 'space permits'...which is never

 

[Bromptonaut]

FWIW I've commuted from Northampton to London since 1990 though, based around Lincoln's Inn, I'm a lot closer to terminal station than you. Walking predictable but best part of 30mins. Bus, including possible wait, anything from 20 to 50 mins

Best purchase I've ever made was a Brompton. No waiting for tube or bus and no changes. Journey time 17-19 minutes with utter predictability.

Waterloo to Canary Wharf is going to be longer but given tube is going to need at least one change (as well as costing £1k extra on season) I'd go for the bike option.

 

[The Jogger]

Ok an easy inexpensive way of doing it is, get a bike that you can lock up at Waterloo each day, you don't have the problem of bringing it on the train and you don't have the expense of a boris bike. Many people do this, either lock on one of the platform bike racks or use the racks just outside the station by the boris bikes.

 

[livpoksoc]

Ok an easy inexpensive way of doing it is, get a bike that you can lock up at Waterloo each day, you don't have the problem of bringing it on the train and you don't have the expense of a boris bike. Many people do this, either lock on one of the platform bike racks or use the racks just outside the station by the boris bikes.

This isn't a bad idea, I do have 2 bikes so could always do it that way. Only problem is getting the bike into London to start off with and the inherent risk of it being locked overnight so I assume I'll have to get a decent lock.

Or is this plan mean getting a cheap bike but bigger wheels than a brompton, to reduce the time on the bike each day?

 

[livpoksoc]

FWIW I've commuted from Northampton to London since 1990 though, based around Lincoln's Inn, I'm a lot closer to terminal station than you. Walking predictable but best part of 30mins. Bus, including possible wait, anything from 20 to 50 mins

Best purchase I've ever made was a Brompton. No waiting for tube or bus and no changes. Journey time 17-19 minutes with utter predictability.

Waterloo to Canary Wharf is going to be longer but given tube is going to need at least one change (as well as costing £1k extra on season) I'd go for the bike option.

Yeah, I'm hung up on the £700 for travelcard. It offers good value vs oyster but still a lot & in effect cancels out any pay rise I would get from the move.

I'll trial the route this weekend as I'm going to the excel so can muck around on a boris in the am to trial it before going over to excel.

 

[The Jogger]

This isn't a bad idea, I do have 2 bikes so could always do it that way. Only problem is getting the bike into London to start off with and the inherent risk of it being locked overnight so I assume I'll have to get a decent lock.

Or is this plan mean getting a cheap bike but bigger wheels than a brompton, to reduce the time on the bike each day?

Thanks...they predict 52 mins. Might use this saturday to beat that prediction

This answers your own question. Also many people leave a bike there, I would except quite often I get off at Clapham and on at Waterloo........

 

[The Jogger]

I used to cycle 7 miles to Chichester then a 1hr 35min train journey to London and then usually a 30min ride in London 2.5 hours each way. If there is a will there is a way.

 

[livpoksoc]

This answers your own question. Also many people leave a bike there, I would except quite often I get off at Clapham and on at Waterloo........

Fair point. I'll have a look on gumtree to see if there's any second hand roadies going that if they do get pinched, I won't mind, but will be smoother than little wheels on a foldy

 

[Beebo]

Waterloo to CW isnt a nice bike ride, and would be terrible on a Boris Bike. You also have the issue of finding one at Waterloo and then finding a docking station at the other end. It isnt feasible and will cost you loads as you would never make it in under 30minutes on a Boris Bike.
If you want to cycle then take a fold up, or leave a BSO at Waterloo overnight.
Another consideration is what to wear, would you cycle in a suit. or travel in cycle clothing, as that ride will take you at least 30mins if not more, as it is stop start traffic right through the city.