Anyone commute with a folding bike/train journey?

Miss_Moneysaver

Hello,

I am thinking of buying a folding bike to use on the train for going to and from work. My job was moved to a city 25 miles away last year and the traffic is a killer both ways (apart from during the school hols when it goes quiet). I used to work in my hometown so this has hit me hard (I get very stressed in traffic, especially when I have children to collect from school/childminders). Although I live 10 mins away from the station (so would take the car there) the train journey is only 15 minutes and about 5-10 mins away from where I work at the other end. Someone I work with lives near the station and gets the train, then walks the bit at the other end (it takes her a lot less time than me - she is a young girl with no kids though).

We are planning on moving in 3 years time to be closer to the main train station. DH works for the railway so it would benefit him too and we could probably get rid of a car (currently run 2 and it costs us a fortune). The main reason though is because our eldest child starts secondary school next month (Catholic school across town but also not too far from the main train station). Our youngest has 4 years left at primary (where we live now). We plan on moving when she is in year 5 (we will leave her at the same primary and continue to use the same childminder who lives across the road). We have started 'looking' at houses situated, within walking distance, between the main train station and the secondary school.

Ultimately, this will:

(a) allow us to clear the mortgage (25 year endowment matures in 2017, 3 years extra mortgage payments by then with overpayment each month and a bit of savings thrown in - the plan anyway)!
(b) save 2 lots of school bus fares (both kids could walk to school)
(3) allow us to get rid of one car
(4) get to work easier without sitting in traffic 3 hours a day
(5) get free travel to work as I get a staff spouse pass (I hardly use this at the moment and I should)!

So, after a mammoth post, does anyone else use a folding bike for work involving a train journey? What bike do you have and is it any good? I only work 3 days a week.

boliston

I have got 2 brompton bikes and have used them for commuting about 3 years now and I'm sure they have paid for themselves in saved petrol money since selling my car. I've owned other bikes before, racers, mountain bikes etc but would never go back to anything but a brompton now. I've taken them on trains a few times but not for actual commuting, just visting places really. The reason I originally got a brompton was having my bike stolen at work so I wanted something I could take inside and park under my desk easily. I sold my other bike and got a second brompton as it's my only form of transport and they both fit in a small broom cupboard in my hallway at home.

Hedgehog99

Bromptons are by far the best for taking on trains. They stand up on their own when folded and they are good to ride. I used to use mine for train journeys after the train company put on so many last-minute engineering works buses that I couldn't reckon on taking my normal bike. They retain their second-hand value well too.

Richard53

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

(Bromptons) They retain their second-hand value well too.

You're not kidding. I was vaguely thinking about getting a folder and was looking at second-hand ones on eBay last night. Very very strong prices for a used bike in good nick. You could almost justify one as an investment.

armyknife

I've used various Dahon sized/configured folders for a fair few journeys, train or coach and not had any issues.

These are all 20 inch wheel bikes and seem to conform to all of the train companies' requirements to be carried as luggage. Though remember a bike bag for the more plush trains/expresses and Euro-tunnel.

Been recently looking at taking one on French or Spanish trains and there seems a good deal of sensible requirement matching going on between the various national rail networks, the regulations seem very similiar to those in the UK.

Miss_Moneysaver

Hi,


Thanks for the replies. I will take a look at Brompton bikes. A friend of mine used to commute to another city and she used to leave a MTB at one station and another at the station near work. Good idea but are the station staff ok with this?

Mids_Costcutter

Why wouldn't staff be OK with this? My only concern might be if the destination station is well managed and you leave the bike parked for a few weeks e.g. while on holiday, they might presume that it has been abandoned and remove. Unlikely that this would happen after just two weeks though.

coffeehound

Can I revive this thread. Are there any updates on which folding bicycle is best to buy, please? Still Brompton? Are they okay for taking on buses as well as trains? Ta.

Hedgehog99

Some Train Operating Companies are very picky about which bikes they'll allow on board at peak times. When I got my Brompton, they were the folders that all TOCs would accept - don't get anything with a folded size bigger than a Brompton.

Transport companies can get a bit funny about bikes - they'll let enormous pushchairs and suitcases on, but they can't get their heads round a folding bike and the fact it takes less space than either of the former.

Check the small print of the bus and train company you want to travel with before you invest.

elverson

Bromptons are the best in class. If you're on a tight budget you could try Decathlon's 'Hoptown' one.

elverson

Miss_Moneysaver wrote: »

Hi,


Thanks for the replies. I will take a look at Brompton bikes. A friend of mine used to commute to another city and she used to leave a MTB at one station and another at the station near work. Good idea but are the station staff ok with this?

This is quite a common setup - just check the racks in case there's a sign saying "maximum stay 24 hours" or similar, as train companies do sometimes remove bikes which they consider abandoned.

If you're going to do this you will need a good D-lock (usual rule of thumb is spend 10% of the bike value on a lock).