How long is too long?

[livpoksoc]

Considering getting a foldy. Not necessarily Brompton, for a new commute option.

I currently get the train to west london and the tube across. I can't take my normal bike on the train, so a foldy seems an option. Only thing is my route across town would be about 14 miles.

Is this too long? I usually ride 14mph on my roady, so the distance is normal to me on a normal sized bike. Not sure how much effort/comfort changes when using a folding bike. Looking at the bigger wheeled Decathlon ones too.

TIA.

 

[Schwinnsta]

Considering getting a foldy. Not necessarily Brompton, for a new commute option.

I currently get the train to west london and the tube across. I can't take my normal bike on the train, so a foldy seems an option. Only thing is my route across town would be about 14 miles.

Is this too long? I usually ride 14mph on my roady, so the distance is normal to me on a normal sized bike. Not sure how much effort/comfort changes when using a folding bike. Looking at the bigger wheeled Decathlon ones too.

TIA.

I live in an area of flat terrain and I estimated the difference in efficiency to be between 10 and 15 percent depending on whether a 20 or 16 inch folder. The perceived difference felt like more. I was only doing a 5 mile ride each way.

 

[EckyH]

Only thing is my route across town would be about 14 miles.
Is this too long?

In my experience: if you wear shoes with soft soles and the bike has small pedals then probably it is too far.

On the other hand: with dedicated bike shoes and clipless pedals my longest ride on the Brompton was 62km. The last long-ish ride was 29km with luggage on the front and in the bagpack. No problem at all.

E.

 

[livpoksoc]

In my experience: if you wear shoes with soft soles and the bike has small pedals then probably it is too far.

On the other hand: with dedicated bike shoes and clipless pedals my longest ride on the Brompton was 62km. The last long-ish ride was 29km with luggage on the front and in the bagpack. No problem at all.

E.

Thanks. I was going to discard the stock pedals and fit spd/flat one side as I have those on my MTB so have appropriate shoes too.

The only hill en route seems to be around shepherds bush/notting hill. Otherwise fairly flat.

 

[CaptainWheezy]

I'd say 14 miles is easily doable on a Brompton, especially if you swap out the tyres for something with a bit less rolling resistance like the continental contact urbans and use SPD's. I've done 70+mile rides in Mallorca's hills on mine with friends on road bikes and had no problems.

 

[Kell]

I've done 34 miles into London on mine in the summer. It was fine.

The biggest issue of getting across London is time v traffic.

I normally come into Marylebone and used to cycle to Knightsbridge - doing one or two laps of Hyde Park before getting there. This was a lovely ride with very few hold ups.

We then moved offices to Camden so I did a similar thing there only doing laps of the outer circle on Regent's Park.

We've just moved to the South Bank and my ave speed has dropped from 14-15mph overall to 10mph because of the traffic and lights on the route.

It's certainly doable, but I'd adjust the time you think it will take by a considerable amount. My journey this morning for example was done at an average speed of 11.9mph. Moving time was 19:37 but actual time of the journey was 28:50. That's a lot of time waiting at traffic lights - and that's only 4 miles.

 

[presta]

If it's too long do part of it on the tube, folders are allowed without any restrictions.

 

[livpoksoc]

If it's too long do part of it on the tube, folders are allowed without any restrictions.

Great shout.

 

[SteveO69]

I regularly do approx 10 miles each way, (SPD’s). 9.5 miles, train, 1 mile.

About 35-40 mins each way, without issue.

Occasionally ride all the way into work / home about 17 miles each way, when train tube issue.

 

[Norry1]

Wouldn't it be easier to get a Boris Bike ) or whatever they are called now).