Multi-mode=maximum cycling time
Give up the entire day’s riding just because I need to run an errand in the morning? Noooooo! The solution: drop a folding bike into the the boot of the car. Let’s hear it for multi-mode transit!
On a fairly regular basis I’m required to make a delivery on my way to work. It’s what you might call a bulky delivery that requires me to make a bit of a detour from my route. While I’ve done it a few times by bike, it’s simply faster and less hassle to do it in a car. So I’ve found myself completing the delivery then driving to the nearest station and crowding onto one of Connex’s finest.
Of late this has become a regular feature of my week, cutting off two otherwise perfectly good cycling days for the sake of a morning errand. That is, of course, totally unacceptable!
Of course it occurred to me to pack the bike on the car and ride after the delivery is complete. However the regular commuting bike and the car available to me don’t play well together, at least not without significant dismantling of the treadly.
The solution struck me just recently: SuperGran has a spare folding bike gathering dust in the back of her shed. Why not drop that in the boot and whip it out to ride on delivery days?
So I’ve got the ol’ Dahon Boardwalk on loan and after a bit of repair to get it back in working order, I tried it on the delivery run last week. I must say, I don’t quite cut the same dash as the Dahon Girls. And for the record it didn’t make me look much like this either:
Quite frankly, I lack both the photogenics and the Zen-like calm. In fact, I suspect I look rather ludicrous perched up above those small wheels. Nevertheless, I had a roaring good time. Even having only six gears to play with—probably about the number of gears I normally use anyway—I found myself hurtling along at a pretty reasonable clip.
OK, so maybe it’s not the most comfortable or speedy ride, but compared to not riding at all it’s a no-brainer. Maybe I’ll make it a permanent arrangement, but if I do I think I’ll add some clipless pedals. And a bottle holder. And some lights, maybe? And it’ll need an odometer. Hmm, maybe a handlebar basket might be the go…
Oh yes, accessorise dahling!
Update 6 November
Yep, much better with clipless pedals.
But I should’ve said I’ve got 5-and-a-half gears to play with—that chain is so short it rattles and clanks when you get it down to the smallest gear at the back (hardly worth the effort). And because of that chain angle it does tend to throw the chain when in the highest and lowest gears. If ever there were an argument for hub gears, the folding bike is it (and naturally, all of the manufacturers offer hub gear options).
More on related topics
- An endless supply of fools
- Fun above the fold
- Sneering at the supermarket bike
- Gift ideas for the commuting cyclist
- Who needs a glockenspiel?
- Posted by Treadly and Me at 09:48 am
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- Tags: bicycle, Commute, cycling, dahon, folding bicycle, multi-mode
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We need to establish a Brompton Appreciation Society (or similar brand) in Melbourne, then focus the promotional marketing upon a particular corporate subset. Bingo! We’ll have social acceptance and official legislation regarding multi-mode transport in no time at all. Ok it’s just another half-arsed theory ..
I ride so much there’s no way I could sit like that – too much quad :)
Still I luv my folder…
Regardless of half-arsedness, those Bromptons are nice machines. And the Birdy bikes look pretty good too.
There’s a bike in that photo?
:p
Easy, tiger!
There’s always one, isn’t there? :-)
Hey good on you! Folding bikes are actually pretty cool. I found one at a second hand shop a couple of weeks ago and it’s a beauty! It handled the 10-15 km ride to work without a worry. The best thing is my wife will actually ride this one! It’s very comfortable and the upright riding position suits her style of riding.
I like folding bikes.
Yeah, it’s really growing on me as well—I just wish it wouldn’t keep throwing the chain (but I’m learning not to thrash it so much and that helps).