So on Saturday I decided to go to Juniper Green farmers' market on the Brompton. I thought it might be interesting to record my thoughts on this, as I regularly cycle the same road on my road bike. I also have some not totally connected thoughts and questions on the subject of hills.
So, here is my garmin trace for Saturday morning's Brompton ride. I was in full "utility cycling" gear, including a skirt (appropriatly sized skirts are great for cycling as they don't have to be clipped out of the way), the only cycle-specific thing I was wearing was my Garmin (which I hadly ever use on my Bormpton). For comparison, here are traces for Friday's "long commute" to work and home again.
On the Brompton the outward leg took me 18:46 and the return leg 13:21. On the road bike I estimate it took me 17:30 to get to the same point and 12 minutes to get home. I run my Garmin on autostop when cycling so traffic light time doesn't get counted.
The two rides are not totally comparable, of course, as traffic condidions are different. I felt there was more traffic going up the hill, but less going home. I had expected to feel more hassled by traffic on the Brompton, as it looks (and is) slower. Actually, I felt there was very little difference. The more upright sitting position on the B makes it easier to look over my shoulder (I haven't got very good vision in my right eye so need to get my head quite a long way round). The one place I did end up in the "door zone" I think I didn't get far enough out at the right moment.
In a way, being on the B felt less pressured; on the road bike I think I feel that I must go fast! And coming down Lanark Road (which requires a strong primary because of parked cars and terrible road surfaces) didn't seem any worse (though this was where I felt that the lack of traffic made a difference).
I suppose the other thing is that I don't loose either my "engine" or my obstreperousness in traffic when I change bike!
On the subject of hills:
My top descent speed on the Brompton is showing at just under 40 km/h, with another stretch at over 30. On the road bike I got over 40km/h (and I'm sure I can go faster than that). So, imagine you were going to put cycle paths in on the Lanark Road. Proper wide cycle paths with plently of space away from parked cars etc. Would you put one in on the downhill? Would the Dutch? What do they do with downhills? Even on the Brompton I'm pushing 20mph. Would one have to sit hard on the brakes all the way down? or would there be enough space to go safely at speed? Or would the speed merchants go in the car lane? (That road is currently 40, but I assume that my fantasy cycle lanes would also include a reduction to 30.)
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