Boris Bikes in London for Work Commute

[LonginesPrime]

I'm considering using a Santander bike for my morning commute.

I love the idea off getting one of those lovely traditional bicycles with a big basket at the front so I can pretend to be a time travelling hipster like my neighbours so I thought hiring a bike first to try it out might be sensible before splashing out on anything fancy.

But I'm scared. Sooo scared. Mainly of the traffic and of being run off the road by a bus or a lorry. I guess I need to read the highway code from the cyclist's perspective, as I haven't cycled for years.

Does anyone have any tips or reassurance please?

I'm told the Santander bikes are quite heavy and thus slower than a commuter bike. But I hope others can speak from experience!

Oh bloody hell please go on a bikeability course before you wobble off into the traffic of central London. Most councils run them for free, and some will even give you a trial run on your commute showing you the best cycle routes. I cycle into London every day - you really need to know what you are doing. Forget the basket for now and concentrate on getting some proper training.
Personally if you are doing more than a couple of miles I wouldn't use the Santander bikes, they are heavy and clunky and a bit crap. Fine for the odd journey but not great for a regular commute.

Ahh, bikeability! That's clearly what I need, thanks - I shall have a google!

I had visions of my having to surreptitiously listen alongside a Year 6 cycling proficiency course...

I've used them and they're fine if you're in a flat area. Yes, they are heavy and have limited gearing but they're not all that bad. (Hell in my heavy training days I passed a fair few MAMILs on a Boris Bike).

Check that you have decent availability at the area you plan to pick one up and have a plan B (either another bike area or alternative transport). Also locations you can park them up by your office - some get super-busy and others don't.

If you're doing it regularly, you probably want to carry a helmet. I've been up e.g. Tower Hill on a Boris Bike without but I'm an experienced cyclist, was touristing (I don't live in London but have worked there often) and I would not want to make a regular thing without a helmet.

Isn't there an App to check where the stations are and how many bikes are there?

I wouldn't commute regularly on them, it can be hard to find a parking rack at the other end. Try the Cycle to Work scheme. The basket idea is very practical in fact.

What's a MAMIL?

Learn your signals ! Make sure you know your route well and please , please , please wear a helmet and make it a bright one. Bern make some very good helmets with a peak and they come in funky colours.

Be visible , a reflective cover for your rucksack is cheap and safe. I'd also suggest cycling a short route before you go off on your commute , it'll give you an idea of issues you may face like having to signal left/right several times before a motorist may pay attention to you and let you out! This is a common one for me.

I've never used a Boris bike , I bought a cheap MTB and used that for my mile and half journey to work.

Good luck , be safe and happy cycling!

A MAMIL is a middle-aged man in lycra They have expensive bikes and all the gear.

My dh rides one as a commute every day and says they are fine if not a bit heavy. He can't use his own bike as he uses it to get from mainline station to work and cannot take his bike on the train. Look at your route and see if there is a less traffic filled version through parks, canals side streets eye. If you use the bikes a lot there is a annual pass for 90 pounds a year.

What a mental image!

Well, perhaps imagination isn't needed, I think I cohabit with one - of the subspecies 'runner' (expensive trainers are a lot less dosh than a bike!)