Does Anyone Cycle - Commuting?

londonTiger

Dave_C wrote: »

Nope, cycling is safe, especially if you have had bikeability training.
The perception in this country is that cycling is unsafe. Your post reinforces this perception.

Dave

lol @ bikability. what happened to common sense?

cyling is dangerous, http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/cycling/facts-figures.aspx

Tish_P

Simple numbers of accidents per year don't tell you know how safe an activity is. Otherwise, eating food (200 deaths per year from choking in the UK, plus 500 from food poisoning) would be more dangerous than chainsaw juggling (I can't find any cases of deaths from juggling chainsaws in the UK, but if you find 700 let me know).

Of course, I can't believe anyone would actually be so stupid as to need to be told this, so I assume you're just winding us up.

SpeedyMarcus

My Two-penneth
Hybrid: OK but once you venture into any forms of cycling other than commuting you'll want something better.
Road Bike: great in good weather, but snow or even slightly icey conditions will mean you'll want to find alternative means of travel.
MTB: A better choice for all conditions and you have the option of taking a off-road route sometimes if you fancy it - but a 10 mile road trip can be quite tiresome unless you fit slicker tyres. (or pump up your MTB tyres to a higher pressure to combat their higher rolling resistance )

mqandy

I went for a 'Cross' bike - basically a road bike with slightly fatter tyres and a more solid frame.

Is so much lighter and faster than a mountain bike, better in the wet and not so smooth West country roads than a true road bike, and generally better equipment (and more comfortable drop bars) than a hybrid.

Almost a perfect commuter...

I say almost: After seeing two colleagues bikes stolen from our office, I wish I'd just bought a vintage road bike off ebay - but you never know what you want until you get a bit into it!

custardy

SpeedyMarcus wrote: »

My Two-penneth
Hybrid: OK but once you venture into any forms of cycling other than commuting you'll want something better.
Road Bike: great in good weather, but snow or even slightly icey conditions will mean you'll want to find alternative means of travel.
MTB: A better choice for all conditions and you have the option of taking a off-road route sometimes if you fancy it - but a 10 mile road trip can be quite tiresome unless you fit slicker tyres. (or pump up your MTB tyres to a higher pressure to combat their higher rolling resistance )

define better?
my hybrid is my default choice for journeys

spiro

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

I'd love to ride my bike around London, but:

2. I need to arrive at work and/or client sites in a suit, looking smart. That's not compatible with riding a bike, let alone in the dreadful weather this country usually has.

Basically, unless you work in a print shop and can turn up in jeans and a t-shirt, or unless you do a 9-5 for some government agency that has a rolls-royce of a staff changing room, I can't see how it's really a viable option.

Thats one of the sales points they use for electric bikes. Use a high assist level on the way to work so you dont arrive sweaty and turn it off/down on the ride home. As to the weather, just need a set of waterproofs.

Marco_Panettone

londonTiger wrote: »

lol @ bikability. what happened to common sense?

cyling is dangerous, http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/cycling/facts-figures.aspx

Cycling is safer than walking:
http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/2437/cycling/death-rates-by-mode-of-transport/

ericonabike

Lucky you! I took early retirment last year and readlly miss my 22 mile round trip commute [direct route was 10 miles, summer route 32 miles!]. Hadn't realised what a base level of fitness it gave me.

To some extent it's not about the bike, more about you. I treated it as a training ride, rather than commute, and went at it full-on with cycling kit, changing at work. No showers, changed in toilet and used wet wipes [if you have a shower before you leave you don't smell, trust me]. One 'must-do' for me is to make the bike carry your gear though, rather than making yourself into a mule and carrying a rucksack. Whatever bike you choose, mudguards and rack and pannier will turn it into a commuter- just =make sure it has the mounting points.

My son has done about a year on a Kona Dr Dew - he loves the hydraulic discs, as do I! I used a road bike. But either way, my worst trip by bike was still better than anyone else's best journey in a car! Do it - you won't regret it.