Victoria->Paddington 17 mins to make connection

[leemo]

Considering a new job which would invovle a bike-train-bike-train-bike commute! 17 mins between arrival of train at victoria and departue of train from paddington. If I allow 2 miins at each end to get on and off trains and fold and unfold the bike, that leaves 13 mins for the 2.6 mile journey from victoria to paddington. That works out at 12mph. [Currently I average 14-15mph on my commute into the City on my non-folder, but Im not going flat out which I could do for just 13mins].

So looks tight but feasible (in other words good exercise!). What do you reckon? Anyone have a similar kind of commute? What kind of folding bike would be best?

 

[Scruffmonster]

That would be hugely ambitious to clear Victoria Station inside 2 minutes of arrival.

Thats a cr4ppy route to rely on though. Lots of long red lights, though if you got caught at Hyde Park Corner on red you could go through the park. It's probably half a mile shorter.

As a one off, once a week, I could see the fun in it, but it's a helluva commitment to do it every day. Not the 13 minutes of cycling but the constant fighting your way through people in and out of stations as every minute would count... I'd go mad.

 

[TheJDog]

I used to do Victoria to Kilburn every day, but as Scruffmonster says, it's a crappy route, even going through the park. 13 minutes should be easily possible, but what is the likelihood that your train is on time, you'll be out in two minutes, in in two minutes, etc.. I think half the time you'd be missing your connection.

 

[caimg]

That's stressful - as pointed out, 2 mins to get off and out of Victoria plus the reds round there will seriously wind you up and make it manic!

 

[Red Light]

I wouldn't rely on it. The cycling is not the issue. Its the train arriving on time, the slowness of getting off the train, down the platform and through the barriers with everyone else etc. I would allow 5 mins at each end after which you have just 7 mins to do the journey which you won't make. You might on a very good day make it but its not a way to rely on every day. You can easily lose several minutes at Hyde Park Corner waiting for the lights to cross into Hyde Park for example.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Considering a new job which would invovle a bike-train-bike-train-bike commute! 17 mins between arrival of train at victoria and departue of train from paddington. If I allow 2 miins at each end to get on and off trains and fold and unfold the bike, that leaves 13 mins for the 2.6 mile journey from victoria to paddington. That works out at 12mph. [Currently I average 14-15mph on my commute into the City on my non-folder, but Im not going flat out which I could do for just 13mins].

So looks tight but feasible (in other words good exercise!). What do you reckon? Anyone have a similar kind of commute? What kind of folding bike would be best?

could you not bike train bike? how far without your 2nd train?

 

[Boris Bajic]

Those who point out the time issues with getting on/off the train, platform and station concourse are right on the money.

It's like flying with a 35-minute connection. You'd try it for fun, but you'd be mad to rely on it.

If time is an issue, it can be quicker to whip straight down onto Baywater Road and then either east along it or down to HPC through the park. Looks longer on a map, but can be quick, particularly if you are flexible about which shade of red the traffic signals are. But... even if you are a psycho traffic devil, you will lose all your time at the transfer points.

Take an earlier train or start a little later...

Also (and most importantly) you mention folding and unfolding your bicycle.

Either you are a circus strongman or you are proposing to make this journey on a folding bicycle, or both.

If the former, you have my respect and admiration. If the latter, please go and buy a proper bicycle. If both.... With the greatest respect, please go and buy a proper bicycle.

 

[leemo]

Yeah I dont think the bike-train-bike-train-bike is going to work well.

I'm trying to get from west dulwich to windsor! Found a reasonabile bike-train-bike way to do it using a 43 minute service from Clapham Junction to Windsor. The bike bits are 4.3miles and 1.7 miles. So I'm looking at a 75 minute commute all in which is a something of a ball ache, but it could be a excellent job. As my route is against the normal flow I wouldn't need a folder.

 

[gambatte]

Had to reread.
Thought it said "Victoria Pendleton, 17 mins to make a connection"!

 

[Red Light]

Also (and most importantly) you mention folding and unfolding your bicycle.

Either you are a circus strongman or you are proposing to make this journey on a folding bicycle, or both.

If the former, you have my respect and admiration. If the latter, please go and buy a proper bicycle. If both.... With the greatest respect, please go and buy a proper bicycle.

That is a load of b*****ks. Bromptons make up a very high proportion of the cycles in London. They are ideal for commuting in the city and the small wheels make manoeuvring through traffic a lot easier and quicker. A folding bike is an ideal bike for London therefore plus you can take it on the trains (and tube or taxi if necessary) at all times without problems and take it in with you at your destination avoiding the lottery of finding somewhere to lock your bike up and wondering whether it will be there/intact when you return.

 

[TheJDog]

and the small wheels make manoeuvring through traffic a lot easier and quicker.

Do you actually mean a terrifyingly slow nightmare of instability and uncertainty? I've had a Brompton, and apart from the take it with you aspect, it was ghastly.

 

[Red Light]

Do you actually mean a terrifyingly slow nightmare of instability and uncertainty? I've had a Brompton, and apart from the take it with you aspect, it was ghastly.

That is not an opinion shared by many as evidenced by the large percentage of Bromptons in London and their order backlogs at the factory (despite their high price)

 

[caimg]

That is not an opinion shared by many as evidenced by the large percentage of Bromptons in London and their order backlogs at the factory (despite their high price)

I think we can agree that a fair chunk of that is down to brand recognition as opposed to ride-quality. I reckon you'd find more new cyclists on Bromptons (especially commuters) than road bikes, ESPECIALLY because they're marketed towards commuters. If you're a newbie to cycling and want something that seems hassle-free, compact and trendy then the Brompton is an obvious choice if you have the dough. The high price of a product tells people they're the creme de la creme, and in folders that's probably true...but I've ridden a couple and find them way too twitchy. I feel much more comfortable manoeuvring a road or hybrid bike through traffic.

Sorry for the OT post!

 

[style over speed]

Yeah I dont think the bike-train-bike-train-bike is going to work well.

I'm trying to get from west dulwich to windsor! Found a reasonabile bike-train-bike way to do it using a 43 minute service from Clapham Junction to Windsor. The bike bits are 4.3miles and 1.7 miles. So I'm looking at a 75 minute commute all in which is a something of a ball ache, but it could be a excellent job. As my route is against the normal flow I wouldn't need a folder.

surely just cycling to Clapham Junction, preferably avoiding the south circular, is the way to do it… I do a pretty much much traffic free route from Brixton to CJ I use almost everyday… would work from East Dulwich if you'd happened to live there!

 

[Scruffmonster]

That is not an opinion shared by many as evidenced by the large percentage of Bromptons in London and their order backlogs at the factory (despite their high price)

To be fair, this is making an observation and twisting it to fit your view. The percentage of Bromptons in London is not large at all. There is an order backlog at the factory because they are not that popular and are not mass produced because of that fact. (To an extent)

Bromptons serve a purpose. They are bought because they fold and are useful. It's a well thought out design and an excellent method of transport for 'alternative' commutes. It was never designed to be an alternative for a full sized bike though, so observations about horrible wheels and such are valid.

Most people I know that have ridden a Brompton, disliked it.
Most people I know that use a Brompton use phrases like 'It's cool, I can take it on the tube'. Which is hardly commentary on how good a bike it is.