Commuting bike choice - is a change a good thing??

[Time Waster]

About 4 years ago I bought a brompton ready for a change in commuting circumstances. I was moving further away but om a branch train line. So I was planning on train and bike, but I have seen cyclists turned away on the homewards direction due to the cycle areas being full of luggage (it is the train from Manchester airport). So I walked for awhile from the station to my place of work but after the move I treated myself to a Brompton. I needed it as the ticket checker tried to turn me away on my very first trip home with it.

Cue my purchase and use of the Brompton. It became habit to use it. Then I moved to a new yuob a year ago and used the brompton to travel weven further in the other way on the train. But that way there is no big issue with getting turned away with a rigid bike. A fair few do it and they all fit on. I then see them leave me behind on my Brompton. It is a slow bike afterall.

So should I ditch the Brompton and try my road bike? What do you guys think? Brommie or not too fancy road bike. The difference is road bike is 9.5kg the Brommie is nearer 15kg. I can also use a pannier on my road bike instead of the rucksack on the Brommie. I don't want to waste the Brompton but I am getting a bit annoyed with the slow feel to it and heavy too going down and up the stairs to the other platform or at the other end up and over the bridge. At least my road bike is lighter. Whilst the Brommie seat hooks icely on the shoulder for carrying the arm throug a rigid diamond frame is kind of better.

What would you do with a Brommie if you think it no longer needed for your trip?

Mind you very occasionally the homewards journey has had aboutt 6 bikes in a 2 or 4 bike area. A few could have been turned away if the ticket guy was strict about it.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I have several road bikes, a Dutch bike and a Brompton. Everything gets used on some kind of loose rotation. Sometimes the Dutch things sits for a week, sometimes it’s all I ride, similarly the other bikes come and go from the rotation.

The nice thing about bicycles is that they don’t rot badly or cost anything if they sit for a bit… keep it around, sooner or later it’ll be just what you feel like riding that day and then there’s nothing better.

 

[a.twiddler]

Well, you know your own circumstances better than anyone. Are you trying to get forumites to give you permission to go for n + 1? You must know that the answer to that would be "yes"!

I find my Brompton surprisingly nippy, but then I don't have a carbon road bike to compare it with. The drive is pretty direct with that short chain. People race them, they tour on them, it's more than just a commuter. I certainly wouldn't sell mine. Unlike my non folding bikes, it's the only one that I can guarantee to get on a train as luggage, if there's any hint that a standard bike might not be accommodated due to timing or a particular route's restrictions. It's very liberating in that respect. And of course a folding bike, even a modest one, is always a handy thing to have.

Would I want to ride it all the time? Maybe not, but it's an interesting contrast to my other bikes.