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Motorcycle Forum / Country Specific / UK Group / September 2008Paging FOAK; commute to Paddington route and parking
So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. This would mean a round trip of about 220miles; including almost 100 miles on the M4. I don't 'get' trains- at least not the ones in the UK, like them elsewhere but there's no f.cking way I'm paying £7,328 for an annual season ticket for the 'privillege' of standing on a train from London to Bath. I'm guessing my route is M4/A4/Holland Road(A3220)/ Holland Park Ave (A40) / Pembridge Road (A4206) and then find somewhere to park. So... I'm guessing that the trusty K series bikes would be fine; my only reservation is they're a bit wide for filtering. Failing this I guess the Pan's a possibility but I don't think it's any narrower. I'll need the full luggage on (probably). Anyone got a better route and... anyone know what parking's going to be like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...)  SignatureK75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, K100/ST2 Z500/Velorex chair for sale shortly... > anyone know what parking's going to be > like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...) There are a few bike parks bang next to the station. No idea how full they get, nor how early. SignatureBMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Yamaha XT600E Honda CB400F & SH50 GHPOTHUF#1 chateaudotmurrayatidnetdotcom Nothing is more dangerous than an ignoramus with a workshop manual, a 'can-do' attitude and a cheap set of tools >> anyone know what parking's going to be >> like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...) > > No idea how full they get, nor how early. Very full and very early. The ones on Eastbourne Terrace anyway. On Sep 27, 8:20 am, deadm...@burnt.org.uk wrote: > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...) > -- There's a Masterpark car park in Bell street, just north of the Marylebone flyover that if I remember right hasbike parking spaces, it may not be free, but it's under cover and more secure than on street parking. That's a hell of a daily commute 'though ! -- Speedgazebo > anyone know what parking's going to > be like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...) http://www.parkingforbikes.com/ might be of use, for the 'where' at least. SignatureKrusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250 > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > > This would mean a round trip of about 220miles; including almost 100 > miles on the M4. You f.cking mad! That's going to take 2 hours a day sewerly. > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > > This would mean a round trip of about 220miles; including almost 100 > miles on the M4. The M4 is nasty out of London in the evening rush hours, it could take you an hour to filter to junction 12. > > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The M4 is nasty out of London in the evening rush hours, it could take > you an hour to filter to junction 12. I think if I were doing that every day I'd use the bike from Bath to Reading then get the train from there. Probably a hell of a lot cheaper for a season ticket than from Bath, & only 30 minutes from Reading to Paddington with no parking hassles. SignatureKrusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250 >> So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The M4 is nasty out of London in the evening rush hours, it could take > you an hour to filter to junction 12. Yep, when I went out that way (twice earlier this year) it was about an hour from the City to get to the M25. SignatureMorini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10 The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html "Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > > This would mean a round trip of about 220miles; including almost 100 > miles on the M4. Ouch. And I think my 120 mile roundtrip is bad. If I were you I'd do the trip once during commuting hours before agreeing to take the job in London. You'll be pretty much losing *all* free time during the week that way. > I Don't 'get' trains- at least not the ones in the UK, like them > elsewhere but there's no f.cking way I'm paying £7,328 for an annual > season ticket for the 'privillege' of standing on a train from London to > Bath. Fair enough. You might have to keep it as a backup option though for when the weather gets really grotty. That's at least what I do. Going into London by car is not an option if you want to actually spend time in the office before you have to leave again. > I'm guessing my route is M4/A4/Holland Road(A3220)/ Holland Park Ave > (A40) / Pembridge Road (A4206) and then find somewhere to park. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the Pan's a possibility but I don't think it's any narrower. I'll need > the full luggage on (probably). I'd say the K is fine - I've been using both the 1150GS and the current 1150RT in London (but topbox only) without any issues. Yes, you sometimes can't squeeze through gaps the scooter boyz can get through but it's not that big of a problem. Keep in mind that you'll be servicing bikes like it's going out of fashion though - the RT has to go for a service pretty much every second month so with your mileage you'll probably be looking at a service a month. > Anyone got a better route and... anyone know what parking's going to be > like around Paddington around 9-9:30 ish? (and where...) If it's anything like the City, most parking bays will be full before 8am. SignatureMorini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10 The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html "Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar Timo Geusch <tnewsSPAMMENOT@unixconsult.co.uk> wrote in message <m2wsgxd6h8.fsf@unixconsult.co.uk>: >> So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >London. You'll be pretty much losing *all* free time during the week >that way. Well I plan to do the 'trial trip' but it's my current role that's relocating and given my current 'deal', the economic conditions and my personal position I kind of think I need to stay with my current crowd. Well, at least until they start offering me a reasonable inducement to go... hopefully around five and a bit years time. After 12 years with one job I guess I'm institutionalised but the 1/50th final salary pension and potential retirement at 50 (enhanced if I'm made redundant) makes it hard to say "no". Well, my current acceptable deal is three days a week in the office, maybe one day in Dusseldorf and one or two days at home. Arguing with my director over this. Shouting in reality. I'm pretty sure he'll acquiesce eventually. >I'd say the K is fine - I've been using both the 1150GS and the current >1150RT in London (but topbox only) without any issues. Yes, you [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >month so with your mileage you'll probably be looking at a service a >month. So I figure it's somewhere around 6-800 miles a week which suggests servicing it once every 7 weeks or so. Shouldn't be a problem, I can service a K in an hour or so. A little more to do the valves but I've given up checking those any more frequently than once every 20k. >If it's anything like the City, most parking bays will be full before >8am. f.ck. Maybe the hours become 8 to 4:30... SignatureK75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, K100/ST2 Z500/Velorex chair for sale shortly... > Timo Geusch <tnewsSPAMMENOT@unixconsult.co.uk> wrote in message > <m2wsgxd6h8.fsf@unixconsult.co.uk>: [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > final salary pension and potential retirement at 50 (enhanced if I'm > made redundant) makes it hard to say "no". Ah yes, I can see that. That said, once you add up how much of your cash is going in the tank and to the tyre shop, your perspective may change a little. > Well, my current acceptable deal is three days a week in the office, > maybe one day in Dusseldorf and one or two days at home. Arguing with my > director over this. Shouting in reality. I'm pretty sure he'll > acquiesce eventually. That wouldn't be too bad as long as they're playing along. A lot of companies are suddenly tightening up on the "working from home" bit, presumably because it has always made management uncomfortable but they couldn't do anything about it while people could walk out and get another job. >>I'd say the K is fine - I've been using both the 1150GS and the current >>1150RT in London (but topbox only) without any issues. Yes, you [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > service a K in an hour or so. A little more to do the valves but I've > given up checking those any more frequently than once every 20k. Fair enough, 600/700 miles a week is what I do at the moment and that is bearable. You've got backup bikes already so that shouldn't be an issue, either - I certainly wouldn't do such a commute without having at least two working bikes available at any time. >>If it's anything like the City, most parking bays will be full before >>8am. > > f.ck. > > Maybe the hours become 8 to 4:30... That'll make finding a parking bay a lot easier for sure, plus you'll probably just about manage to get out before the big rush. SignatureMorini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10 The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html "Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar >A lot of >companies are suddenly tightening up on the "working from home" bit, >presumably because it has always made management uncomfortable Do you have any evidence for this? My place is becoming more supportive of home working. SignatureChamp Two standard issue crutches To email me, neal at my domain should work. >>A lot of >>companies are suddenly tightening up on the "working from home" bit, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >My place is becoming more supportive of home working. as has ours due to the relocation of the company in Q1 next year. we're going to have 90% of the department working from home 2-3 days per week. SignatureAdie (replace spam with nickname to reply) New (not yet updated) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/index.html YZF-R1 : ZX9R-E1 : GPz 750 turbo keeper of the FAQ for my sins MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11 >>>A lot of >>>companies are suddenly tightening up on the "working from home" bit, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >we're going to have 90% of the department working from home 2-3 days >per week. And I work for a company that've been doing it for years. Most of our staff now work from home or as mobile workers for a fair percentage of time. It's been so widely deployed that many of our offices have more hot-desks than permanently allocated ones. >>>A lot of >>>companies are suddenly tightening up on the "working from home" bit, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >we're going to have 90% of the department working from home 2-3 days >per week. IME it depends on the local line manager. My present manager, not a UK national or UK based is concerned mainly with do I get done what I am supposed to plus anything else asked of me. My previous manager liked to see bums on seats in an office irrespective of the efficiency of doing so. SignatureIan "Bother!" said Pooh as he looked at his genealogy > > If it's anything like the City, most parking bays will be full before > > 8am. > > f.ck. > > Maybe the hours become 8 to 4:30... The suggestion of bike to Reading and train to Padd makes more sense and the train ticket shouldn't be too much more than the parking and fuel costs. I wonder what the cost of a first class season Padd-Reading is? SignatureSimon "sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message <xn0fvpn12kzv1000@news.individual.net>: >> > If it's anything like the City, most parking bays will be full before >> > 8am. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >I wonder what the cost of a first class season Padd-Reading is? Well... standard class it's 3328, first class it's 6444. In both cases. Ouch. But, to compare let's assume Reading-Paddington's an extra 40 miles each way so that's 80 miles x 3 days a week x 44 weeks a year, about 10k miles. So that's two front tyres and three rears, two services and about 364 gallons of petrol. Hmm... 300+100+1,500. Call it two grand. I'm still struggling to see how it makes financial sense. Maybe after a few sh.t journeys my attitude might change. SignatureK75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, K100/ST2 Z500/Velorex chair for sale shortly... > "sweller" <sweller@mztech.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message > <xn0fvpn12kzv1000@news.individual.net>: [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > I'm still struggling to see how it makes financial sense. Maybe > after a few sh.t journeys my attitude might change. It may not make financial sense, but the time[1] & stress saved would make it worthwhile imo. Give both a go & see what works for you I guess. [1] At least 1.5 hours a day I'd guess. SignatureKrusty www.MuddyStuff.co.uk Off-Road Classifieds '02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250 > I'm still struggling to see how it makes financial sense. Maybe after a > few sh.t journeys my attitude might change. A few bad journeys by train may also persuade you the opposite way. When I was commuting into Waterloo East from Strood the cancellation of a train during rush hour followed by the next one being a short train was a common experience; it wasn't fun. If it makes you feel any better I'm having the same thoughts but 'time' is added into my mix (there's a 'Which Commuter' thread up there somewhere). I live not too far from Dover and Dover to London is around 2 hours at the moment (roll on the end of 2009). If that's what I end up doing I'd prefer to commute by public transport, despite the cancellations, but I can do the 150 mile daily commute much quicker and more cheaply by bike although I haven't factored in parking costs. I'm looking at the 'bike part of the journey then get a train' option as I think that was a good suggestion. I commuted into London by bike for several years 20 years ago (when I was much younger and fitter) and, as experience showed and Bear reminded me of recently, accidents have to be factored into the mix as they happen. One other down side was that I was so sick of being on the bike for so many boring miles a day that I didn't want to go anywhere near one at the weekends despite having different bikes for commuting and pleasure. SignatureKevin '08 1400GTR, '07 K8 Hayabusa,'03 1150GS,'02 Dyna Super Glide,'93 ZZR11, '90 FJ12 http://www.last.fm/group/ukrm > I live not too far from Dover and Dover to London is around 2 hours at the > moment (roll on the end of 2009). If that's what I end up doing I'd prefer [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > journey then get a train' option as I think that was a good > suggestion. Depending on whereabouts in London you go, you won't incur parking costs but might have to be there at stupid o'clock. > I commuted into London by bike for several years 20 years ago (when I was > much younger and fitter) and, as experience showed and Bear reminded me of > recently, accidents have to be factored into the mix as they happen. One > other down side was that I was so sick of being on the bike for so many > boring miles a day that I didn't want to go anywhere near one at the > weekends despite having different bikes for commuting and pleasure. That's a very good point - I do still enjoy biking but I don't get my bikes out that often. Not to mention that the fairly crappy weather this summer didn't exactly provided additional motivation. SignatureMorini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10 The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html "Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar >I commuted into London by bike for several years 20 years ago (when I was >much younger and fitter) and, as experience showed and Bear reminded me of >recently, accidents have to be factored into the mix as they happen. One >other down side was that I was so sick of being on the bike for so many >boring miles a day that I didn't want to go anywhere near one at the >weekends despite having different bikes for commuting and pleasure. It's the boredom and the waste of time which would put me off it. At least on the train you can read a book or post to usenet. SignatureCB500 (blue + flies) > So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > season ticket for the 'privillege' of standing on a train from London to > Bath. Could you change to more flexible hours ? If you could start at 10ish and leave at 6ish you should miss the worst packed trains, but check the timetable. This should also give you cheaper fares. OTOH 7328 a year is 610/month which should rent you a cheap crashpad somewhere within tube distance of work then you only need to commute weekly. crn@NOSPAM.netunix.com wrote in message <48de51ff$0$518$bed64819@news.gradwell.net>: >> So... currently considering whether I take a role in Paddington. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Could you change to more flexible hours ? Yes. But I don't want to start late and finish later. Much of my work involves dealing with people on 'the mainland' who are already an hour ahead of us. Starting at 10 would mean 11 their time; doesn't really work. >If you could start at 10ish and leave at 6ish you should miss the worst >packed trains, but check the timetable. This should also give you >cheaper fares. Well to get cheaper trains I'd have to leave after 9AM which means getting into the office at about 11:00 which is way too late. >OTOH 7328 a year is 610/month which should rent you a cheap crashpad somewhere >within tube distance of work then you only need to commute weekly. f.ck that. London's not somewhere I'd do on a budget. Anyway, I *like* living in the west country. In any case there's no way I'm doing five days a week in London, 3 days max. SignatureK75RT, K1100LT, ZXR750H1, 5TA, K100/ST2 Z500/Velorex chair for sale shortly... >Yes. But I don't want to start late and finish later. Much of my work >involves dealing with people on 'the mainland' who are already an hour >ahead of us. Starting at 10 would mean 11 their time; doesn't really >work. You should try supporting production testing in China: seven hours difference in summer and eight in winter. Having said that, I was getting emails at around five PM the other day. Signature-Pip > f.ck that. London's not somewhere I'd do on a budget. Anyway, I > *like* living in the west country. In any case there's no way I'm > doing five days a week in London, 3 days max. Seems to me that a B&B 2 or 3 nights a week is your best bet by far, if you can negotiate it down that way. You recall I lived in Oxford when I was with BT. A couple of days each week in London. It's a bitch of a commute in rush hour, even by bike as filtering is so limited and the chances of an "off" are pretty high. But in the current climate you wouldn't want to let that job go. SignatureHog '03 ST4S '96 Bastard12 '89 R100RS '81 XS650 '78 RD400 >Could you change to more flexible hours ? >If you could start at 10ish and leave at 6ish you should miss the worst >packed trains, but check the timetable. This should also give you >cheaper fares. I'm not sure that's strictly true - a while back when I did Cambridge-London for a while I managed to get a deal where I could do 1030-1830 and the trouble is that although you save by buying an off-peak ticket it's about the same saving you'd make by buying a season ticket. The trains are somewhat less crowded in the mornings after 9am - but rather than sharing the train with other commuters you get to share it with noisy tourists or crumblies going up to town for the day who want to talk to you. And you get back so late you basically miss the entire evening. SignatureCB500 (blue + flies) |
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