Who uses a bike for work?

[MisterTommyH]

Especially those that are used to having a car - how do you find it?

I'm considering getting rid of the car to clear the finance and get something a bit better, but I'd have to be without one for a couple of months.

I've used it on the odd occasion but never when I've had to be anywhere other than the office (I wouldn't have to transport much except hard-hat and boots, and have a top box for that). Does it turn into a pain having to get into gear all the time? Does the weather put you off?

[MisterTommyH]

Especially those that are used to having a car - how do you find it?

I'm considering getting rid of the car to clear the finance and get something a bit better, but I'd have to be without one for a couple of months.

I've used it on the odd occasion but never when I've had to be anywhere other than the office (I wouldn't have to transport much except hard-hat and boots, and have a top box for that). Does it turn into a pain having to get into gear all the time? Does the weather put you off?

[MisterTommyH]

Mods - please delete this copy!

Commute to work on mine all year round. Only use the tram when the snow/ice gets silly.
I'm lucky as the bike saves me time in the rush hour (city centre) traffic.
I don't mind the x4 changes of clothes a day (leathers>uniform>leathers>normal clobber) but I can appreciate the trepidation.
Have a massive (x2 helmet capacity) top box as I often take a laptop, full change of clothes/uniform and wet gear. I found a 40l rucksack a bit bulky to carry everyday

I love riding it everyday but tbf it's only a 15min journey. My mates at work also commute, one rides 40mins everyday.

[MisterTommyH]

Cheers fruity. It's only 20 minutes to and from work, and I have a 46l box x panniers if needed - it's easy enough if I get up late to kit up and beat the traffic and arrive on time anyway.

I'm more concerned about the days when I might have to get to a site or a meeting or several times a day - potentially making it 8 changes a day(!)

+1

Commute all year but have the luxury of a locker and changing room at work. Changing is a pain but is made up by the enjoyment of riding...and whizzing past the traffic.

Use the bike daily, but its only 15 mins across town so no big deal really, dont gar far or fast enough for the rain to be a problem, being able to cut through traffic or past the cautious colins etc makes it all worth the cold or wet.

Do get fed up of al the gear, but then once im at work it stays put until I go home.

only used the car for about 2 weeks the whole of the past year, it made a nice change, but then I found out its got a cracked block today, so its bike time again from tuesday for me.

I am thinking of doing the same thing as well, used the bike the one morning as it was end of the month and skint with no petrol due to a bit of an over spend on something

I actually enjoyed it though, made me feel a bit more awake when I got to work than I would of done in the car.

Its as you say keep changing for getting there and back, especially if I went to the gym after work. I would be waiting until the icy weather was out of the way first though before I did it. Its bad enough in a car, let along 2 wheels.

depends where you are in the country, been only a few air frosts here in the south east, and very warm, only seen the roads gritte about 2 or 3 times this winter, and by chance was in the car 2 of those times.

As an aside, even the waves or nods you get from the very few bikers commuting this time of year, they seem to make more of an effort to look over and wave, probably thinking, oh look another fool

[Ian P]

use the bike every working day, in the spring come summer i love it. In the winter when its cold, icey, dark and raining i some times wish i was in the wifes car.
using to be a 2 car family but having the the SV saves me money on tax, insurance, a little on fuel and gets me to work alot quicker (is that a good thing?).