Having hijacked other threads I thought it best to start my own. I have lot of questions, which you experienced foldites (all makes) may be able to answer and help me buy the commuter I am looking for.
My journey: ride 5 miles to mainline station (allows Oyster card) and terminates at Paddington. I work at customer sites, within west end,city and docklands. The return journey is back from Paddington. So an average daily commute of 20 ish miles. I currently do the whole thing once a week on my sirrus and total mileage is 40-45 miles if I don't go into Docklands. I find that sort of mileage unsustainable on a daily basis, what with having to work as well.
My equipment : rucksack or bag containing laptop,charger,few tools, bike clothing,bike spares,lights.
My need: a folder but not something I can cart about once with a customer. Some are dark data centres with a lone security guard,some banks ,others can be busy offices. I WON,T be taking the bike into any customer premises, so locked up outside. Most visits are between 1-2 hours. D-Lock + cable will be used.
1st October : tried a Tern link P9 at Evans Brentford. Nice bike,but could have done with the handlebars being slightly higher as I'm 5-11". Bike was stable and no flex. Really flew along with 20" wheels. Would love to try a brompton out as this bike will most probably be purchased/leased via C2W scheme.
16 October : a nice Dahon has taken my eye on eBay, but doesn't have a rear rack.
Do I need a rear rack or should I go for a luggage truss and buy a bag to go with it?
18th October : Popped into Evans Shoreditch earlier,hoping to try out a brompton. No one helped me :mad.
I picked up a folded tern and a folded brom, not much in it , and both are pretty heavy as a dead weight on the end of my arm. Will wheel the bike along in a semi folded state much of the time.
The brompton width is slightly thinner than the tern,but storage isn't my main concern (just that fgw trains allow folding bikes)
The tern looks like it will be easier to roll along in the folded position,no experience of this as yet
I left dissapointed and will not give them my business. Evans Brentford were far better when we recently bought my wife's bike, will go back and get a brompon test ride there and ultimately give them my business if I do buy new.
Another question - front luggage truss on the tern is plain ugly compared to the brom, is there any way of mounting a brom luggage.
Lastly price - a new brompton (M3L) with c bag is £1000. A med spec Tern is £500 ish. Keeping my eye on eBay, but I see residuals on bromptons are fantastic ( worth considering if/when I have no need for a folder)
So that's where I am right now - please give me your thoughts and experiences with similar commuting. Pretty confused with all the choices,but sure I want one when I am sat here in my car (London bridge) and I could of been cycling along the south side of father Thames !
My journey: ride 5 miles to mainline station (allows Oyster card) and terminates at Paddington. I work at customer sites, within west end,city and docklands. The return journey is back from Paddington. So an average daily commute of 20 ish miles. I currently do the whole thing once a week on my sirrus and total mileage is 40-45 miles if I don't go into Docklands. I find that sort of mileage unsustainable on a daily basis, what with having to work as well.
My equipment : rucksack or bag containing laptop,charger,few tools, bike clothing,bike spares,lights.
My need: a folder but not something I can cart about once with a customer. Some are dark data centres with a lone security guard,some banks ,others can be busy offices. I WON,T be taking the bike into any customer premises, so locked up outside. Most visits are between 1-2 hours. D-Lock + cable will be used.
1st October : tried a Tern link P9 at Evans Brentford. Nice bike,but could have done with the handlebars being slightly higher as I'm 5-11". Bike was stable and no flex. Really flew along with 20" wheels. Would love to try a brompton out as this bike will most probably be purchased/leased via C2W scheme.
16 October : a nice Dahon has taken my eye on eBay, but doesn't have a rear rack.
Do I need a rear rack or should I go for a luggage truss and buy a bag to go with it?
18th October : Popped into Evans Shoreditch earlier,hoping to try out a brompton. No one helped me :mad.
I picked up a folded tern and a folded brom, not much in it , and both are pretty heavy as a dead weight on the end of my arm. Will wheel the bike along in a semi folded state much of the time.
The brompton width is slightly thinner than the tern,but storage isn't my main concern (just that fgw trains allow folding bikes)
The tern looks like it will be easier to roll along in the folded position,no experience of this as yet
I left dissapointed and will not give them my business. Evans Brentford were far better when we recently bought my wife's bike, will go back and get a brompon test ride there and ultimately give them my business if I do buy new.
Another question - front luggage truss on the tern is plain ugly compared to the brom, is there any way of mounting a brom luggage.
Lastly price - a new brompton (M3L) with c bag is £1000. A med spec Tern is £500 ish. Keeping my eye on eBay, but I see residuals on bromptons are fantastic ( worth considering if/when I have no need for a folder)
So that's where I am right now - please give me your thoughts and experiences with similar commuting. Pretty confused with all the choices,but sure I want one when I am sat here in my car (London bridge) and I could of been cycling along the south side of father Thames !
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) too large to get it onto Eurostar.
