10-07-13, 06:20 PM
My commute through London I do on a bicycle (shorts and T shirt - I recently started wearing a helmet) or motorbike. Max speed limit is 40 if I go up Park Lane, or 30 if I go through Hyde Park which is a lot nicer. I regularly ride over 30mph on the push bike, especially when riding for fun rather than commuting. Travel time is pretty similar - the push bike can squeeze through smaller gaps. The moto can go a bit faster when clear. Both journey have about 35mins moving time and 10 mins sat at traffic lights.
In London it gets hot, and I commute not wearing full kit. I think it is safer than wearing full kit and sweating and getting stressed.
Things I wouldn't go without:
- Helmet (its law sadly)
- Sunglasses so I can ride with the visor up and get max air into the helmet
- Gloves, or leather palmed cycling mitts. The first thing you do when you crash is put your hand out - losing skin from your hands isn't nice.
- I often wear moto boots, but sometimes just my office shows. The moto boots are easier to change gear in.
- Otherwise normal office clothes if it is too hot for a jacket.
It is my call, a risk I take that I am happy with. As said before I cycle a lot and think it would be hypocritical to do that in lycra and gimp up for the same journey at a similar speed. I do ride slower when wearing less protective kit.
I don't think the argument about motos being heavy and therefore more dangerous is that solid. A leather trouser won't protect your leg from being crushed. You might get pinned by the bike so unable to roll and get gravel rash though. A motorbike has a greater tyre contact patch so is 'safer' than the tiny contact patch on the pushbike. If you crash on either bike then being hit by other road users is my biggest worry and there is no effective protection from that!
It is personal choice at the end of the day.
In London it gets hot, and I commute not wearing full kit. I think it is safer than wearing full kit and sweating and getting stressed.
Things I wouldn't go without:
- Helmet (its law sadly)
- Sunglasses so I can ride with the visor up and get max air into the helmet
- Gloves, or leather palmed cycling mitts. The first thing you do when you crash is put your hand out - losing skin from your hands isn't nice.
- I often wear moto boots, but sometimes just my office shows. The moto boots are easier to change gear in.
- Otherwise normal office clothes if it is too hot for a jacket.
It is my call, a risk I take that I am happy with. As said before I cycle a lot and think it would be hypocritical to do that in lycra and gimp up for the same journey at a similar speed. I do ride slower when wearing less protective kit.
I don't think the argument about motos being heavy and therefore more dangerous is that solid. A leather trouser won't protect your leg from being crushed. You might get pinned by the bike so unable to roll and get gravel rash though. A motorbike has a greater tyre contact patch so is 'safer' than the tiny contact patch on the pushbike. If you crash on either bike then being hit by other road users is my biggest worry and there is no effective protection from that!
It is personal choice at the end of the day.