Cycling to horses (and work)

[Cocorules]

I have been getting into cycling and thinking of buying an ebike through the cycle to work scheme.

Ideally I want a folding bike that can go off road, so I can cycle very uphill to horses (3 miles one way including just over half a mile off road). I would like it be foldable so I can put it in the car and cycle from the park and ride to work (and back) all on road and only slightly hilly.

Questions:

1. As a kid I would quite happily put my saddle on my handlebars and cycle to my pony, but that was pretty much entirely off road. I suspect I would get criticised pretty quickly now if I did that now. However, does anyone know if there is a safe and legal way to carry a horse's on a bike?

2. I want to cycle to work from the nearby park and ride. I would need to get changed at work and would need to carry a laptop too. Does anyone have any hints and tips on carting work dresses and jackets by bike and them not looking a crumpled mess when I get there. We have showers etc. at work.

 

[Barton Bounty]

A saddle bag and wear it like a rucksack, providing it opens wide enough . Roll your clothes, dont fold them, that should keep decent

 

[webble]

Saddle panniers for your bike or a good ruck sack would work. Role any clothes rather than folding them. I wfh so slightly different but I bike to the yard and bike each day before starting work, similar distance to you, about three miles, in winter I don't end up getting that warm I just get hat hair

 

[criso]

Could some clothes stay at work rather than go back and forth? If work jackets are only worn at work, then maybe they could stay there.

 

[ester]

First things first, do you have secure bike parking at work as a folding ebike is going to be a very big likely to get stolen risk.

I do the horse on the way to/back from work on the bike, it's about 30 miles round trip.

I tend to drive in at least once per week (ideally mondays really but weather dependent) when I take in a whole bunch of food, clean clothes etc. And take the dirty clothes home again. The biggest issue is often having somewhere to dry your cycling in clothes because putting on damp cold bike stuff back on at the end of the day is grim, and by this time of year, cold. But it also smells if you just whack it near a heater in a communal space. I do like to try and avoid cycling with a back pack particularly in summer but I will often cycle in with one and then leave it at work (I have a collection of decathlon 2.49 ones ) . I do have a top peak beam rack but it doesn't quite fit well on my roadie without making me sit a bit forwards than ideal (due to small frame size) so I don't tend to use it. Works ok on my hybrid though.

I also keep as much as I can at the yard. At a minimum a pair of boots as I'd not be managing much yard work in my clip cloppy cycling ones. I won't be doing it so much in winter as it's a bit far to get back to the horse in daylight for bringing in.

I wouldn't want to take either of my saddles on my bike, they're worth too much ? and there is too much poor driving round here, you need to be able to take evasive action quickly so you don't die.

 

[Lamehorses]

Folding bike that can go off road & survive any length of time sounds unlikely.
Go into a big dedicated cycle shop & chat to them, even if you can't buy from them on your cycle to work scheme. Never get bike advise from the likes of Halfrauds.
I had an existing mountain bike converted. The battery is mounted on a rear carrier & I can bungee my saddle onto that.
I then have a cycle carrier on the back of my car. Take clothes in on Monday in the car & cycle rest of the week.
Cycle panniers just clip onto the rack for easy daily use. Don't use a backpack, makes you unbalanced & they are likely to help you break your back on the event of a fall.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I've got two touring cycles which are set up to carry big loads, but I wouldn't want to carry a full size saddle on either of them. Maybe a cheapie synthetic, but nothing decent.

 

[Red-1]

I have a Cannondale electric hybrid and do a 14 mile round trip, mainly off road, to work. I did try a heavier type bike, but it felt less manageable on mud as it was so heavy. The Cannondale was the perfect compromise between lightweight and electric assistance, with a strong enough body and decent tyres for the off road portion. I am likely to upgrade the tyres to bigger and more knobbly ones when they are ready.

I don't think you are likely to find a foldable one substantial enough for off road use, not if you expect longevity. One of the reasons for changing my tyres is to give the bike itself an easier time.

One solution, the Swytch Kit is about to be released at half price. I waited ages for it as it was my preference. You can attach that to any bike you like. It is quite small too.

As for clothes, I have enormous panniers. I keep a complete spare set of clothes at work, everything, all weights. This is an emergency store of not my best work stuff. Then I carry daily what I expect to use that day. For example, at this time of year, I can wear my work top with a tabard over the top as I really don't get sweaty on a 7-mile trip at 8am! However, I would have shoes etc ready for work, then leave them there for the next day.

I would imagine a saddle would fit on the back rack. I wouldn't wear it on my back, too risky if you were to fall or be hit.

I always wear a helmet and my electric bike has lights.

 

[Palindrome]

Decathlon makes a saddle bag that you can wear like a backpack (look at the 3rd pic):
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/horse-riding-saddle-bag-grey/_/R-p-147488?mc=8552438&c=GREY

 

[ester]

Folding bike that can go off road & survive any length of time sounds unlikely.

They do exist, I know of them people have them for obstacle/cross country walking as easier to pack on a lorry than one that doesn't fold. They are very chunky and heavy though.