Toys for Transport? 97
EvilCabbage asks: "Let's imagine I have a distance to travel to get to my office. Much of this is done on a train line, but there is a distance of around 10klm (aprox 6.2miles) from my home to this train station. A little too far to walk, but not quite far enough to justify use of my car every day. Fortunately, the Segway isn't on my shopping list. I'm wondering what parambulating devices are available to make this journey a little easier, without turning the key in my car. Bicycles are generally too large to carry on the train, and couldn't be left in my office all day. I've seen some scooters that fold to rather small sizes (perfect for lugging to the office and back), but are these things still for kids? What small urban transport devices are fellow Slashdot readers using (assuming we are still going outside)? What can you recommend and what won't cost me an arm and a leg to run?"
Folding bike? (Score:2)
Google [google.com] will get you started nicely.
Brompton! (Score:5, Informative)
You want a
[bromptonbicycle.co.uk]
Brompton Bicycle (Bromptonbicycle.co.uk).
Ride to station, fold it up, ride to work, stash it under your desk. Sorted.
Re:Brompton! (Score:2)
On the other hand, other correspondents have suggested roller blades, skateboards, and spring loaded shoes... They sound like hard work too... Harder work than a bicycle, where you can use the proper gear for climbing hills.
Those other self-powered devices don't seem as safe as a bicycle either... Particularly the spring loaded shoes. If you used them on a regular sidewalk, at speed, how long before you
You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:2)
Don't lug it to work, instead lock it at or near the train station. There's always a tree or post available. If security is going to be an issue, buy a used, (thus cheap, expendable), bike, and get out some paint and make it look really, REALLY ugly and undesirable. The
REAL bike cont. (Score:2)
Re:You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:2)
You want a toy, Not a REAL bike (Score:2)
Commuting by skateboard (Score:2, Interesting)
I sometimes ride a skateboard to work - a distance of 5 km, and flat all the way. It is more work than cycling, and similar to walking, but much faster. My 5 km trip takes about 22 minutes, and the roads I skate on are not particularly smooth.
If you are a coordinated/athletic person you should be able to learn "pumping", which is a skating technique that allows you to propel yourself without pushing with one foot. If the road is smooth it's even possible to propel yourself up slight hills, although thi
solution to bike theft - protective discoloration (Score:2)
The bike repaint technique I mentioned in parent^2 really does work, bec
protective discoloration 2 (Score:2)
A car theif has to chose between two targets: A Porsche and an art car. Which gets chosen? Always the Porsche.
Bike theives ARE NOT RATIONAL. They want money, but don't really know how to go about it. If a bike looks new, they think it has resale value. I don't think there's much money in bike parts, as the cost of labor to reassemble is >> cost of parts. Except on the very highest-end bikes, which if you've followed my advice yo
Re:You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:2)
I work near a station (Cambridge) with hundreds[1] of bikes locked up outside. Theft and vandalism does happen, but most days most bikes are OK.
Going up a couple of posts, a Brompton isn't a toy, and plenty of people do use them for those sort of distances.
[1] See for example
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/newsletters/32
"Bike racks at the station are a
Re:You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:2)
A Brompton is definitely not a toy. These things are pricey and solid. They have ingenious rear-wheel suspension. The riding position is comfortable. For a 10km commute, they're fine.
For city commuting a small-wheeled bike has a lot going for it: it's nippier and more manoeuverable. The wheels have less angular momentum, which means it's easier to stop and takes less energy to get moving again --
Brompton not a toy (Score:2)
I had imagined that the small wheels would lead to bumpy travel, but I didn't realize they had suspension.
Re:You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:2)
A rubber door stop between the seat stays and down tube.
They also have ingenious revolving 'wheels' and ingenious leather 'saddles'
Seriously, though, they are bloody good bikes. Always fancied the Moulton APB myself, though it is not a true folder and therefore not so useful for the train.
Re:You want a REAL bike, not a toy (Score:1)
A rubber door stop between the seat stays and down tube. They also have ingenious revolving 'wheels' and ingenious leather 'saddles'
Heh. What I meant, but didn't bother to make clear, was that it's pretty nifty the way the suspension comes for free as a consequence of the way the bike folds up. Well, that's what I always thought anyway.
Always fancied the Moulton APB myself, though it is not a true folder and therefore not so useful for the train.
I thought
Unicycles! (Score:5, Funny)
Especially if you've got some rough terrain to traverse, unicycles [unicycling.com] seem to be your best bet. Small, lightweight and rugged.
Sure, your first day's commute to the train would take 8 hours, and end with you throwing your unicycle 8 feet up the road, dragging your bruised and bloody carcass up to it, giving it a swift kick, picking it up and throwing it again, but that's what learning how to ride a unicycle is all about.
Disclaimer: There is no way in hell I would ever try this.
Check out this!! (Score:1)
in regards to unicycling you gotta check out Kris Holms web site. He is the best cross country unicyclist and does stuff on his unicycle I would not even think of on my mountain bike. His videos are truly awesome.. and he makes the best unicycles around too.
Check it out!
http://dangeruni.unicyclist.com/ [unicyclist.com]Re:Check out this!! (Score:1)
Jesus Christ! That stuff looks seriously hard on the nuts! The guy is amazing, but I have no idea how he can do that and not be singing soprano.
OMFG!! (Score:2)
Having both ridden unicycles and mountainbiked, I would never have considered combining the two.
Re:Unicycles! (Score:1)
So yes, it's lightweight and compact and fun and all, and I realize that the ori
The obvious choice is: (Score:1)
Although you could get roller skates of some kind as well.
Re:The obvious choice is: (Score:2)
Re:The obvious choice is: (Score:1)
Forgot the tags
Bike (Score:1)
Re:Bike (Score:2)
Vandals will cut your spokes. Trust me on this one.
If not the spokes, it'll be your brake lines or a hole in your tires.
Vandals suck.
ugly bike (Score:2)
1) non-spoke wheels (mag wheels?)
2) replace air in tires with silicon, like dope smuglers do.
3) a coaster brake
4) put many stickers all over (like "hello kitty" and "Barbie" )
5) then lock your $25 bike with a $100 lock
Re:ugly bike (Score:2)
Re:Bike (Score:1)
perfect for short trips (Score:3, Funny)
I had the same issue. My solution was to buy a 1985 GMC Suburban. It's cheaper, and much better than a dinky little scooter.
Re:perfect for short trips (Score:2)
Re:perfect for short trips (Score:2)
Bah. I have a 3500 series 4WD, which is a lot beefier than a commercial hummer. Now if it's a military version, then it might be worth it.
My truck is useful not only on the roads, but can climb stairs, crawl over landscaping, and jump curbs. I can also park it anywhere, since most cars don't fit in compact spots, I simply take up two or three at a time.
If you live in a real urban nightmare, might I suggest a Mercedes Unimog [unimog.net]. (My next vehicle when I finally trash up my Suburban.)
Re:perfect for short trips (Score:2)
Hmmm... For your little 12 mile cummute you are using as much gas as I use for my 55 mile cumute (to some margin of error). My suggestion: forget the train, it obviously is encouraging wasteful thinking, get a Geo Metro (no longer made)/ VW TDI car, and drive the entire distance yourself. It won't save anything, but you will be more conscience of how much time you are wasting doing it.
Re:perfect for short trips (Score:1)
Re:perfect for short trips (Score:2)
Motorcycle (Score:2)
And if you really don't want to pay for gas or parking, a skateboard or unicycle is quality. They both allow you to go hands free for carrying stuff. Who cares if it's for kids or whatever, you'll be the coolest dude in the office.
Re:Motorcycle (Score:1)
For sufficiently small values of cool, of course.
Cheap bike and a good lock (Score:1)
Re:Cheap bike and a good lock (Score:1)
Also, how does one lock up a unicycle??
It's obvious. (Score:1)
Just aim for the ground and miss.
Re:It's obvious. (Score:1)
Re:It's obvious. (Score:1)
It's from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book, which is really hillarious. Of course, if I could fly to the train, I'd just fly the whole way to work. What a blast that'd be.
It's hip! It's happening! (Score:3, Funny)
San Francisco even has an annual Big Wheel race [nwfusion.com] in , and we all know that San Fran is trendy, e-hip and e-happening.
Or gay and campy.
But either way, it'll help you release your inner child.
Re:It's hip! It's happening! (Score:1)
Two words (Score:1, Offtopic)
Perambulating devices? (Score:2)
Easy enough... (Score:2)
Depending on the terrain, a 10 km distance twice a day is a moderate to longish distance to cover under your own power. It's a nontrivial bike ride and I certainly wouldn't want to do it on a Razor scooter or skateboard.
Re: (Score:1)
Inline skates (Score:1)
Rollerblades (Score:5, Informative)
...except (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:powerskip (Score:2)
Re:powerskip (Score:2)
Folding bikes (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Folding bikes (Score:2)
Why does searching eBay for "folding bike" make me think of "candle truck"? (There are no candle trucks on eBay.)
Re:Folding bikes (Score:2)
As with most things, there is a minimum level of acceptable quality. Buying a $70 folding bike from eBay is probably below that level.
Would you buy and drive a Yugo, just because it was cheap?
Detachable In-Line skates (Score:1)
You skate to the train station, take a few seconds to detach
Electric Scooter (Score:2)
Re:Electric Scooter (Score:1)
If you are seriously going 10KM, you want a serious scooter. Check Zapworld and some others.
I am 220 lbs, and rode my zap scooter 3 miles to train, folded it, carried it on train, then rode 2 miles to the office.. Charged all day, then rode it back.
I tried several lesser scooters prior.. they didn't have the range or power.
my $.02
convertible roller skate sneakers (Score:2)
If it were me, I would do, in the following order:
1. A cheap bike
2. A folding bike
3. expensive roller blades designed for distance
4. Jog (1.5 hours of this every day and you'll live to be 100 if you take care of your joints)
5. vespa (or something like it but more dependable)
I would not recommend a foldable scooter or a skateboard. I've done these distances on each of these. After a while, they
Re:convertible roller skate sneakers (Score:1)
a single speed, fixed gear bike (Score:2)
The theory is, if there's nothing valuable on the bike, nobody will bother stealing it. Use a front brake til you get your skills together.
It might be tricky to learn how at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be forever hooked, and won't be happy until you build fifteen pounds of funk [usrnull.com].
Re:a single speed, fixed gear bike (Score:2)
Another advantage oft cited for the fixed is that the average lowlife thief has no idea how to ride them.
Mainly, though, they're lots of fun once you get used to them. Except the part about riding in traffic without brakes - I don't get that. Must be lacking a death wish.
Re:a single speed, fixed gear bike (Score:2)
Re:a single speed, fixed gear bike (Score:1)
Back in the day... (Score:2, Funny)
Wait a minute...
Get a Hummer (Score:1)
Get a real Hummer [hummerbikes.com]!
Public Transit (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Public Transit (Score:3, Insightful)
Sounds like this guy just wants an excuse to use one of those Razor scooters.
Hey man, you wanna play? Go for it. But I'd recommend choosing a more standard route. Either take the bus
jetson car (Score:2)
What, you don't have one of those?
one word: use your... (Score:1)
Bike (Score:1)
Once in awhile you'll return to find your bike stolen or vandalised. With your increased fitness from regular cycling the walk home will not be a challenge. In the morning buy the second cheapest bike in the shop.....
Another option might be to move.
source for rilly rilly cheap bikes (Score:1)
plus, you'll learn how to lube a chai
6 miles? (Score:2)
I'm guessing you live in a suburban sprawl environment. Otherwise, I would expect that there would be a nearby feeder bus service to the train station that you could take.
I'm also assuming that there's adequate transportation from the work-side train station to the office, and that you jus
smart (Score:1)
Re:smart (Score:2)
Re:smart (Score:1)
no more parking problems = many hours saved looking for space (that has a price)
low running costs
comfortable seats (I regularly drive to clients 400 Km in a day)
I only own a Smart and when we go somewhere as a familly we rent a larger car. Believe me when I say that the Smart is worth every cent (Euro)
All bikes weigh 40 lbs... (Score:3, Funny)
A 20 lb bike needs a 20 lb lock
A 30 lb bike needs a 10 lb lock
A 40 lb bike needs no lock at all.
Scooters are neat ... (Score:1)
Road Tax is about 18 pounds-sterling, it's got a four stroke petrol engine that does c. 80mpg. The back-box and underseat storage provides a good deal of space for shopping. Top speed about 65mph. Parks almost anywhere. You need to do a CBT to ride a 125 (with L plates) but can ride a 50cc with only a full car license.
All in all I reckon it's quite a nice way to get to work.
Longboard! (Score:1)
For some fine examples of these beautiful beasts, check this [sector9.com] out!
They look slick, are easily stored, and make those scooters look like the toys they are
(Disclaimer: I own a skateboard shop, and have recently fallen in love with longboarding myself)
What you need is ..... (Score:1)