Would you park a bike of £2000.00 at an open train station cycle park?

[Bicycle]

Gbola: "Then I would not buy an expensive bike then. I have never been a believer of buying something you can not use regularly. However, what about boardman hybrid comp? Is it reasonable to leave that at the train station?"

I think the consensus on a cheap hack is pretty much where the smart money is. Many, many people have a nice bicycle for doing nice things on and a hack for commuting.

South East London is not famed for its crime-free streets. Take a peek at the racks at any London station and you'll see row after row of tired hacks. The people who left them there probably have a nicey-nicey bicycle at home, too.

I use a 10-year-old, low-end Trek MTB for London commuting. If I leave a meeting and it isn't there, I can just hop in a cab.

You need to enjoy riding the hack, but as long as you look after it it will be nice to ride.

 

[TheDoctor]

I think we're saying that it's up to you. If the bike is insured, and you could stand to lose it, then go for it. I've seen about £2000 worth of bikes go inside 5 minutes, in a busy street, surrounded by people and CCTV. And yes, £700 of that total was mine.
Seriously, have a look at the cycle racks at your station, and see what sort of bikes are there. You don't want yours to be the nicest and most-worth-stealing.

 

[Gbola]

Or get a Brompton and take it on the train with you

What is a brompton? Is it a folding bike? If it is a folding bike, that sounds reasonable. The question then is why am I going to keep all the bikes, as my shed is already full of my children's and the other two bikes?

 

[Davidc]

I wrote my post (aka message) above having had the nasty experience of having 2 bikes vandalised at stations. I like the use a folder and ride into London from Woolwich suggestions - they eliminate the problem completely.

What is a brompton? Is it a folding bike?

Yes

 

[Gbola]

Which folding bike is reasonable for commuting and light to carry ?

 

[yello]

Ditto to the 'no, get a hack bike' responses. There is no lock that will stop a determined thief with time on their hands, let alone a lock that you can carry with you. Simply put, if you don't want to risk it then don't do it.

My wife had 2 bikes stolen from her place of work in Southwark (5 years ago btw). Sure, insurance replaced them no questions like-for-like both times...but we got a hack for her to commute on the 2nd time.

 

[ianrauk]

Which folding bike is reasonable for commuting and light to carry ?

This one..

 

[Norm]

Then I would not buy an expensive bike then.

No-one has suggested not using it, although, IMO, leaving it locked at a station every day would mean you wouldn't get to use it for long as it would be gone before the week is out.

According to the wife, I have a nice bike (or two ) and a hack for leaving at stations, town centres, outside the Job Centre etc.

Having a hack to ride during the week will also show you how lovely the £2k bike is at weekends, when it will feel like you have electrical assistance.

 

[Gbola]

Is it fast

I wrote my post (aka message) above having had the nasty experience of having 2 bikes vandalised at stations. I like the use a folder and ride into London from Woolwich suggestions - they eliminate the problem completely.



Yes

Is brompton fast and light?

 

[martint235]

My
My place of work is about 17miles (West London) from my home (South East London) and I think it would take too long for me to get to work considering traffics and the nature of my job. While the train station is about 4 mile from my house which would be give about 8 miles of cycling per day, that I consider reasonable.

I work in Westminster and commute in from Welling. It takes about 40 mins. It is entirely up to you but I seriously would not leave anything at Woolwich station.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Some people are hard work ain't they !

 

[Gbola]

Many thanks to you all for your helpful replies

 

[Dayvo]

I agree with the others: either get an old hack or a folder.

Just have a look at the bikes stolen in the 'Stolen' sction! If you've got a decent bike parked 'safely' in London, sooner or later it won't be there when you get back to it.

 

[Willo]

Know of too many folk who've had bikes bikes of a lesser value nicked outside the local station to say "yes". Fortunately, my local station (operated by SE Trains) has a covered, locked storage facility. I happily pay £40 a year for my own spot in there; always a risk that someone leaves the door open etc. but like minded people using it means I happily leave my saddle bag, lights, helmet etc. on my bike. But leaving a bike of that value in the open is sadly a no-go in my opinion.

 

[Breedon]

there's no way i would leave a 2k bike locked up for all to see