1.2 mile journey to work -thinking of getting a Brompton?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Is it worth it.

Will have a train journey of an hour followed by a 1.2mile walk which I've been told takes about 30 mins. Slightly uphill there and obv then a bit downhill on the way back.

I'm guessing a 30 min walk would be a bit less than 10 mins on a bike? Never been on one before but I'm in Birmingham next weekend and see there's a stockist bike shop so thinking of going to have a look.

Is a Brompton worth it over cheaper bikes. I don't want something which is fiddly to fold or heavy to cycle. At the end of the day I need to reduce my commute as much as possible. 2hrs 20mins an Day sounds better than 3hours a day!

I’ve got a Brompton and I love it. I cycle up to 15 miles a day on it.

I got the 6 gear one as opposed to the three gear and I’m glad I did as there’s a few hills on my commute.

It’s not light or fast like my racing bike, but does what it’s designed to.

I find it heavy so can’t carry it far folded up, so I wheel it until I am ready to get on the train then fold it. It’s easy to fold and unfold once you know how.

Most other cyclists on my train have Bromptons but a couple have other makes and they don’t fold as neatly as the Brompton.

I have the Brompton bag that mounts on the front of my bike and it’s fully waterproof and big enough for my laptop and work clothes.

If you get a Brompton it’s worth upgrading to the ‘marathon’ tyres to avoid punctures.

They also retain value well in case you did ever want to sell it.

15 miles a day is good going! Can see why you need a six gear one. I'm thinking of the 3 gear one rather than the single gear. It's only a little hill, barely noticeable when walking but I bet on a bike it will be more obvious.

I need one which folds well. So think Brompton is the way to go. Will also have two flights of stairs at the city station to carry it up/down.

Just checked on google maps. It's actually 1.5 miles, 30 min walk or 7 min cycle.

Dh has a Brompton and really like it. He says get the mudguards , and dynamo lights so ypy can use in different conditions and the rear rack because apparently it makes it easier to wheel when it's folded up. Hth.

Thanks, useful to know about the rack making it easy to wheel.

They're so expensive, even the second hand ones are only a bit cheaper!

Does your work offer cycle to work scheme?
You make a big saving and spread the cost.
I used to spend £5 a day on tube so the saving on tube is paying for my Brompton basically

Might be worth checking out if the train station you're going to has a Brompton dock/Brompton hire scheme. It'd be a good way of testing it out

Brompton bike hire

Yes. There's a cycle to work scheme. Will have to ask if they enforce the end purchase thing and if so how much would that be.

No hire scheme near me but am in birmingham next week and see they have one so will try and take one for a spin.

I'm looking at getting one for a similar journey.

I'd hoped to try and pick up one secondhand but they're still expensive, so probably going to try and get one on a buy now pay later interest free deal and spread the cost.

I can’t comment on the Brompton specifically but cycling is such a better way to travel than walking. Do it!

I originally thought second hand but to save maybe £300 have decided its not worth it. A second hand one will probably be in need of a decent service and maybe some small parts replacement. Plus going new i can have it specced for free, so firm suspension, lower gearing, crazy colour scheme.

I was thinking of getting one but saw they are 400 quid even secondhand. So I got a scooty. I am the only person above the age of 12 using one but it's halved the time and it was 26 quid on eBay.

I can't even find s decent second hand one for £400, seem to be around £600_£700.

A friend did say get a £20 scooter.

I'm going to have a sensible job, can't turn up on a scooter!

I love my brompton. So easy and quick to fold up, while also being a nice ride. I used to use it for a similar commute. I loved that I could take it on the bus in a taxi if I needed to.

My husband has one and loves it, as people above said they fold much better than other brands and hold their value. He has a three speed with dynamo lights and a bag that clips on the front. Go for it!

I have a sensible job. Don't give a monkey's

Just a thought, but couldn't you just get a cheap second hand bike? You could leave it at the station and only use it for the journey between work and the station. Then you wouldn't have the hassle of taking it on the train.

Did think about that Ted but even with a good lock I'm not sure it would last long. Bike crime is rife apparently, but I guess if it was a really cheap and nasty bike maybe it wouldn't be a target? Would the bike not be taken away by the council if it was there for say a week if I had a week's holiday?

Been and test ridden a 3 speed Brompton today, took it up a slight hill which I would say is similar to the slight hill on the commute and it was a lot harder than my usual bike! But doable, plus if I order a new one direct from Brompton I can have the gears lowered by 12% for free which would help. Would that mean it was 12% easier?

The six gear one is only £65 more. It's just all the issues of the BWR with the six speed which I've read about which put me off. I read a comment on here from someone saying their six speed Brompton hates wet weather so they use a 3 speed one all winter.

Dh likes his 6 speed one! He has sent this link if it's of interest:-
www.free cycle.com/about

I would get a Brompton definitely. I acquired mine second-hand for about £700 (it has a front bag clip, dynamo lights and a rack) as a sort of novelty, but it's absolutely ideal for the sort of trip where you have to go 2 miles at the other end of a train ride to somewhere. I've done more than 6,000 miles on mine. I've stripped it down once and replaced the rear wheel (but I'm going to rebuild the old hub and swap them over periodically), replaced the headset, replaced the chain-ring, chain and sprocket and will replace the bottom bracket soon. The folding pedals probably won't take too much abuse, mine failed after about 3,000 miles. Compared to other folding bikes Brompton have a great spares operation and dealer network so you'll definitely be able to keep the bike going. I remember seeing one at the start of a 200 mile audax (I was on a conventional bike) thinking the bloke was a bit of a pillock, but that was the last I saw of him as he disappeared in the distance.

Did you get a Brompton Viva?

I am thinking of getting one for a similar journey, only because of the cycle to work scheme tbh.

I want a rack and butterfly bars and am looking at this one.

I am not sure I can justify the extra expense for a dynamo hub as I have one on my other bikes so will just use lights we already have here.

Main reason for thinking about a Brompton is that I can wear work clothes without changing and I can keep it in my office. I don’t have secure bike parking and I am not sure how long one of my nice bikes would last parked in town (seeing as the badges have been pulled off both our cars recently while I have been parked at work).

I have a folding Tern Link - much cheaper than a Brompton and although my Brompton riding BIL is very snobby about the assertion I honestly think it's much better value for money. Yes the fold takes about 10 seconds more and it is slightly heavier to lift but I wouldn't pay the extra £600 for those marginal benefits.