About
43 year old IT Salesman from Brighton, England. A lifelong cyclist, former motorcyclist, and was once a lorry driver (a long time ago).
How long have you been cycle commuting?
I got a vague start in cycle commuting about five years ago. It started when I got a Brompton on the C2W scheme as I was driving into City of London twice a week for meeting as Southern trains were so terrible. I would park up and then use the Brompton to zip about.
Then three years ago I changed jobs with nearest office 4 miles away in Brighton, so started riding in to the office daily. Have since sold the car, due to lack of use and just rent something from Enterprise if needed. Much cheaper in the long run!
Your Commute
I commute daily from the western side of Hove to center of Brighton. Straight line is 3 miles, but the most agreeable route along the seafront is 4 miles.
I do this in all weathers, which down here is a pretty consistent 30mph westerly with accompanying sideways rain!
Brompton means the bike lives under the desk, so I couldn’t even tell you about the cycle parking under the office.
What is the best thing about Cycle Commuting?
It’s relaxing, invigorating, quicker and flexible.
I’ve also seen far more of my hometown than I otherwise would, and in the summer months I get to ride into the sunrise along the seafront, and home into the sunset. Marvelous.
The biggest benefit to me personally is those 25 minutes on the bike home removes all the stress of the working day.
Your bikes
2017 Brompton S6L, with all the trimmings. Sold all the road bikes as they were just gathering dust and rust – a Brompton is all the bike anyone needs in a city.
Any top tips?
- As a former lorry driver: Give lorries and buses space, and when you’re behind them, be in sight of their mirrors. Give them room to overtake when safe to do so – you easing off for a dozen yards to let him/her pass is safer for both of you.
- Get a decent set of gloves
- Don’t wear earphones FFS – spatial awareness is everything.
- Let it go – if someone is being a pain, just let them go be someone else’s accident.
- Assume you haven’t been seen (you learn this quick on motorbikes)
Anything Else?
You don’t need to dress in Lycra to commute by bike. There is a ton of really great cycle-centric casual and smart-casual gear out there, if your commute is reasonably short and you don’t want to carry a change of clothing. None of it is cheap, but I will thoroughly recommend the following gear if you don’t want to look like a cyclist;
- Resolute Bay – excellent cycling jeans and reflective jackets that don’t make you look like a traffic cone
- Vulpine – merino tees for the office
- Pedal Ed – do a great merino hoodie which is shaped like a long sleeved cycling jersey
- Galibier – the best gloves I’ve found
- Overade – if you’re space constrained, the Plixi is the best folding lid out there.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duncan__hamilton/
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