blakcloud

Just out of curiosity, how many of you actually commute daily on your folders?

I may someday have to commute using my Brompton as I embark on a career change and it would be nice to hear any first hand experiences of commuting by folder.

Anything you would like to share?

eric_454

Well, I just bought one, an old Fuji Redlof Mountain Bike. If I like it, I will probably make it my town bike. Too soon to tell, yet.

My work commute is only four miles.

wildpanda86

I commute daily with a brompton...

5 miles to the train station + 1/2 a mile to the office... Then the reverse on the way back... All on city streets

i hit 37mph on the downhill and then avg 15 to 19 mph on the flats... The ride home has 2-3 miles of uphill.

be ready for the crowd of onlookers when you fold up for the train and starbucks

ubringliten

I also commute on a Brompton but my trip is 2.5 miles one way which allows me to wear regular clothes. Oh and it is mostly flat.

keyven

I commute about 5 miles on a Brompton to the office in the early morning when cars are at a minimum and usually hitch a ride back home.

bhkyte

I just use folding bikes. Off road, commuting, and multimode.
Just like them, and often things can pop up that having a folder works well for. Ie change of plan, going to shops without a lock,

cplager

2 miles to and from the train station. (Unless my wife insists on picking me up, then it's just to the station ).

prathmann

My most recent commute before retiring was about 7 miles each way and I used my Bike Friday. Not because of its folding ability but just because it happened to have a rack attached.

energyandair

Before retirement, I commuted on a Birdy for 4 years. About 6.6km each way or a little longer depending on route.

fietsbob

I use my Brompton a lot, but Im mostly retired too . moved closer in in the last year..

Still Pedaling

You've made mention of going to a bar a few times over the past. Hmmm, just wondering - do you go anywhere else on the bike by any chance.

Still Pedaling

Phew, you tired me out just reading your post.

fietsbob

around town .. take the Pannier hauler for grocery gathering.

So, is utility cycling with a folding bike every day or 2 commuting even if you no longer have a job?


I'm not married, never did, live alone. I relocated here 17 years ago after moving my few things into storage
and living on my touring bike in Ireland and Scotland for most of that year.. my 50th..

Now I stay in 1 place since the Veterans Hospital in Portland is helping in dealing with my Glaucoma .
I really dont want to go blind so I stay where They ship my Medicine, I go to clinic several times a year, . but no overseas.


What are you doing on November 11th?




I like watching the Seahawks games with people . They won in OT yesterday but at the last moment Denver tied in regular time .

In a capitalist country you have to pay to be anywhere rent admission tickets etc. I rent a chair with $2 pints .

sorry never had a high powered career that I had to commute on the lousy US public transportation system.

invisiblehand

For a little more than two years, I've used the STRIDA for a multimode commute.

Personally, I'd start off with a minimalist strategy and commute lean and mean for a while slowly figuring out what you need.

cbike

Not sure what you're really asking. I normally use a regular bike for commuting. It's much cheaper and the larger wheels take pot holes and curbs better. I also don't have to worry to much about it when I lock it up outside of my work place. I use my Bromption primarily for bike touring when I already go to other places by plane for work. Occasionally I do take it to work, when I get a ride or something that causes me not to bike both ways.

I agree with invisiblehand to keep it simple and use what you have. Since you already have a Bromton there is no reason not to use it for commuting. Just be sure to take it inside and place it next to your desk or whatever you have. I wouldn't leave it outside, even locked.

1nterceptor

I've been using my folder a lot lately.
From commuting, long weekend rides,
charity century rides, etc.:

NYC office parking by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

blakcloud

Thanks for all the responses. There is lots of talk about all kinds of folders here, but hardly any mentions that they use theirs for commuting and that was my interest. It was nice to hear that people actually commute on folders. I asked a similar question on the Rivendell board. Lots of talk about using the bike for long rides etc, but not many were talking about the practical aspects such as commuting.

Cbike, I don't actually want to commute on my Brompton, I have my Rivendell for that. I worked in a large forensic psychiatric hospital that has dedicated bike parking for staff. It is fenced in, you needed a key card to get in and out and it is covered from the elements and it has video surveillance. It was a commuter's dream but I have since left that job. As I move into the next phase of my career, it will mean a change of environment that may not be as commuter friendly as the hospital was.

Depending on where I work will determine the bike I use for commuting. If it has secure bike parking, the Rivendell, if not the Brompton. If I can't commute to my next place of employment, I won't take the job, unless the salary is just too good to pass up. Commuting has been a part of my life and I don't want it to stop, I like it too much.

Thanks again for everyone who responded to tell me about their folders and commutes.

1nterceptor

I use my folding bike on my 16.5 mile(26.5 km.) one way commute.
I use it when it's hot, raining or cold. At work, I usually park it inside
the locker room. Sometimes when I'm rushing late in the morning; I
might take my bike on the bus or train to save time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeZ...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

14 Fahrenheit = minus 10 Celsius by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

jimboach

I commute to work every weekday on my Dahon vector p8 in all of new jerseys weather via train then a 3 mile ride. This winter past was especially brutal but I made it when everyone else in cars where snowed in. By the way, I don't own a car yet I do heavy auto collision body work for a living so at first I got plenty of remarks. Now, most everybody admires my choice and one guy is moving closer and is going to do the same. I like to lead by example. Plus, even on bad weather days, boy is my commute fun!

Honestly, I love my job, I love my commute, and I've never been happier. Car ownership is overrated and I've owned plenty of cars the past.

Still Pedaling

And you probably have never been healthier, and not to mention richer so to speak. I admire those who can make lifestyle changes like that. I don't know of anything, other than a home, that can vacuum money out of a wallet as fast as an automobile. As a society we have grown up around it and accept ownership of one as a way of life. For me, its almost an impossibility to shed the car. Forget using public transportation. It's as useless as a screen door on a submarine. My wife thought of using a bus to go to work. It would require taking two which is not a big deal. The problem is due to scheduling. She would either get to work 1/2 hour early or 1/2 late. She doesn't mind getting to work early, but in order to take that route it means arising at 4:00 am, and that just ain't gonna happen. Driving by car takes no more than 15 minutes. By bus - about 1 1/2 hours from the time you get on the first bus. By the time the bus arrives at the transfer point, the second bus has already left which means waiting about 1/2hr to get the next bus. Like I said, useless as a screen door on a submarine. The scheduling is pathetic, and since people are not going to get rid of the car, the transit system will not improve. Riding to work is an option, but the weather can be an issue for a good part of the year. The summer hear is brutal. Who wants to arrive at work soaked with sweat, and in the monsoon season forget it. The winds can blow you across the street and the flooding will wash you away. So the car stays. Believe me, I have thought about getting rid of the wallet vacuum cleaner, but unless I move it stays.

bike.gang.uk

I would like to do that, too bad I work from home. But I do take my kid to school on my brompton if weather permits. 2km round trip.

nz6666

7 miles each way every day. 2 minutes to a train station, then train to another station, then 7 miles to office.

BassNotBass

I commute and run errands daily on either my Brompton or my Bike Friday except for the few occasions I WFH or the roads are too icy.