Introductions - New from London UK

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Scott1
06-24-10, 10:07 AM
Hi all

I'm a fairly new rider from London - bought a Specialized Secteur Sport a few months ago for my daily commute to work - total distance is 20 miles each way, I'm only going halfway and catching a train the rest of the way...hope to get to the full 40 mile daily ride eventually but I suspect it'll take a while.

While i've only been riding (other than recreationally) for a few months, I think I'm fully hooked and am looking forward to a sunny and dry summer so I can build up the miles.

Scott

10 Wheels
06-24-10, 10:10 AM
Welcome Scoot to Bike Forums.
That is an ambitious commute.
Scott1
06-24-10, 01:05 PM
Thanks :)

I know it's a bit ambitious - my wife and most of my friends think I'm a bit of an idiot for even considering it...on the other hand I'm doing 40 - 60 miles a week now and the only issue I'm having is staying awake in the evening past 10pm :)

AndrewP
06-25-10, 08:55 AM
Nice bike. My daughter in London recently got a Specialized Rockhopper through the tax saving commuter scheme, but she doesnt us it for commuting because she is afraid to leave it locked at the station. How do you get over your fear of theft?
Scott1
06-25-10, 09:42 AM
Andrew - I don't leave it at the station :) I travel from East London to way out past the western edge - I have to ride from my flat to Waterloo station, but from Waterloo out I'm allowed to take the bike on the train as it's against the rush. THere's a bike lock area right in front of reception at work, so they're mostly watched all day (although one did get stolen earlier this week in the middle of the afternoon). My trip home is the same - as I'm heading back into Central London against the afternoon rush, I can take my bike back on the train to Waterloo and then ride the rest of the way.

There are always loads of bikes at the bigger stations. I've heard/read that if you use two different types of locks (I use a big D-lock to lock the front tyre to the frame and the frame to the bike rack, and then a cable lock to lock the back tyre to the frame) it's a lot safer - apparently different tools are required to defeat each type of lock, and most thieves don't carry both. Plus, two locks makes the bike less appealing than all the others with just one lock on.