If Brompton was a computer - it would be an Apple.

Without a doubt, Brompton - the bicycle and the people behind it  - are pure genius.  It's design and function are pushing envelopes and boundaries all over the place and with the worldwide following of fellow Bromptonites all over the world who am I to argue? 

The small wheeled but super powerful design and functionality is second to none. Not the lightest but definitely the neatest.  Folding it up like a pocket handkerchief and leaving it under a desk, on a train or in a shopping trolley it has become a working accessory.  

  

The new kid in town is Brompton Junction - a Brompton run shop, cafe and workshop on Long Acre in Covent Garden.  The shop itself is the kind of creation  which the late Steve Job would approve.  Brilliant design, great pics, permanent showing of the various worldwide Championships, excellent coffee and a bit of a cool place to be. 

   

The number of Bromptonites whizzing around London is so high that quite soon  there will be nearly see as many Brommies as there are buses. And we all know who will be having the most fun...!

With the passion of its followers being so high, Bromptonites are becoming a bit like groupies following a rock band.  Buying every album, knowing every fold time and now there are a whole series of Brompton World Championships in many, many countries.  A couple of years ago, I saw that particular years  video and was caught up by a Bromptonite saying "well any World Championship that automatically makes you a World Champion just for competing...."  What a result I thought!   

 

So BWC 2013 included me and I loved it! An absolute hoot. The attention to detail in working out the wardrobe took weeks! Goodness knows how many of us arrived at Goodwood looking like something out of The Great Gatsby. Definitely not about the winning but the taking part.  Pimms, picnics and portraits - an absolutely brilliant day that totally hid the fact - rather like Mrs  Tiggywinkle -  that underneath it all,  it was in theory nothing other than a bike ride.  Hilarious!

 

I bought my Brommie just over two years ago. A friend of mine said I could have any colour that I wanted as long as it was black!!  He was so right.  I am the accessory on the bike so I can wear whatever colours I like.  As a bicycle it's nothing like any other bike I have ridden - apart from the enormous amount of fun that cycling brings.

I had a big and unexpected disaster with mine in that putting cleats on it, then folding and unfolding it several times over five days I never quite managed a way of matching where the seat height should be and I therefore put quite a lot of stress on my knee which has taken quite a lot of money to repair and  although now much, much better it is still not fixed.  

But, after the good work of physiotherapy, I can't quite stop myself from riding my Brommie.  Every. Single. Day!!  I have just signed up for a Brompton London Club (which is basically a Brompton London Fan Club!) ride from Reading to Richmond in a couple of weeks.  I have, with some trepidation, put some new cleats (Speed Play) on it and am increasing my speed a weency bit. 

This week, my Brommie's  annual service was due so I booked mine in at  Fitzrovia Bicycles in New Cavendish Street who could do the full service apart from one pin thing that only Brompton can fit.  I booked the pin in with Brompton and headed off to Covent Garden.  What a place and despite my reticence with my knee issues I have been bowled over.  

The staff were fantastic. From the Marvellous Mechanic via The Awesome Assistant Manager right up to The Magnificent Manager they really were top top top! I asked the Assistant Manager what he thought the effect on bike shops in the area that sell Bromptons would be and he explained that as they don't offer the Cycle to Work Scheme customers do and will continue to buy their Brommies from their local bike shops.  The manager took my feedback on board about my knee and about the straps on the Ortlieb bag which are too short.  (The O bag) 

In booking in my Brommie, it seemed there had been a mix up on when I needed it back and rather than make me reschedule my whole diary and various appointments, he simply took a new Brompton from the shelf and gave it to me as a demonstration/loan model and let me ride into my life.  Before he did this, he took a pair of scissors to the stem and made a scratch on what the seat height should be so I didn't aggravate my knee.  I nearly fell over in amazement.  Outstanding.

He then arranged to have my Brompton delivered to Fitzrovia Bicycles for its service.  Well, if I had been on my bicycle I would have fallen over.  This is why Brompton is at the top of the market.  Top product matched by outstanding customer service.  When he then offered to have the demonstration bike collected from Fitzrovia Bicycles I put my foot down and said that he had already gone beyond the pale and that I would work that one out.  

I carried about my world and thoroughly enjoyed riding the new Brompton.  There was one thing though and I can hardly believe I am going to write this down but I found myself co-ordinating my wardrobe with my red Brompton.   Out went the pink Gore Jacket and in came the black Rapha and black and red Castelli jacket.  How ridiculous but how totally important it is to look uber cool (as humanly possible that is) on a Brommie.  

Many Brommie owners I know cycle big distances - London to John O'Groats, London to Paris, London to Geneva sort of thing without even thinking about it. I don't think I am going to cycle to Scotland on it but Reading to Richmond - here I come!!  Thank you Brompton.  Truly.  I am a complete convert. It's only a question of time until The Oxford Dictionary lists Brompton - the way of doing things brilliantly.  

Several weeks, new wheels, sunrises and sunsets.

Nothing has surprised me more than the power of pedalling.  My New Year's Resolution to cycle 10 miles a day has led to so much fun, fantastic vistas, great friends and stunning scenery. All on my very own doorstep.

 

 

 
 Trips in all four directions at all sorts of different hours of the day have allowed me to see sunrises and sunsets that have taken my breath away.  Cycling through Kensington Palace Gardens at 6am is a wonder in itself.  (Actually being up at 6am is a bit of a wonder!)

Cycling in London gives the city such a different dimension. Like a river of flowing moments that catch the eye  - people going about their lives, some laughing some stressing,  in their hustling and bustling. The pieces of architecture, the skylines, the ability to slow down and do some real window-shopping-without-stopping  - all  completely missed on foot or in a car.  

 

And the power of pedalling is nothing in comparison to the power of n+1.   No matter how many bikes  you  have there always seems to be a desire for another one.

 To stop this from being an issue, some months ago I started looking at finding a bike for life. A bike that could be adapted for all the various possibilities -  from fixed gear to Rohloff; from  a chain to a carbon belt drive; a light but sturdy frame that would last forever.   As I started looking into the various options - carbon, titanium, steel,  I couldn't stop thinking about the Fridays rider who after a night ride from York to Hull two years ago let me - someone he had never met before - ride his brand new bicycle.  A Woodrup Chimera.

Not only was it amazing that he would let a complete stranger ride his bicycle but it was also an amazing bicycle.  I had never heard of Woodrup.  I now know they are based in Leeds and were started in the 70s by a  husband and wife team who loved cycling. They loved cycling so much (without quoting Victor Kiam) that they set up the company!   

 

Woodrup is a bike shop that sells a range of bicycles some ready-made but also bespoke and it is now run by their son.   Their bike builder, Kevin Sayles, has been there for 35 years.  A great cycling history that really appealed to me.  

I know that frame fabric is down to choice.  Some love steel, some loathe it.  For others Titanium is the thing.  I don't care who rides what, as long as the bicycles are safe (ie in good condition).    If they are on a bike they will be having fun.

 

  

Living in London and buying a bicycle made in Leeds seemed rather impractical but a year later, in New Cavendish Street I found that Fitzrovia Bicycles are Woodrup stockists - the only dealer in London.  

It was too good to be true!  With helpful advice from several friends I chose a frame and placed the order.  Then, for the sake of a cheap day return I spent a day in Leeds being measured for my bike by the very man that is building it.

  

  

Decisions in terms of a new bicycle happen in waves.  Once the frame has been chosen, along with the wheel size, options for mudguards, water bottles and  disc brakes then things go quiet for a while.   The next round of questions included paint colour.  That was tricky!  Eventually both Fitzrovia Bicycles and I realised that the only person with a real idea of what the bike would look like was the bike builder.  Given that he has been doing this for so long we left the decision with him!  

The next step were the wheels.  A bike for life with handmade wheels.  Another run around for different quotes and eventually I settled with Fitzrovia Bicycles - they have been building wheels for at least eight years which means that although they havent been building them for 30 years they have been building them for long enough to know how to do it well.  This also means that nearly all the bike comes from them them.  (I have bought the saddle from Velorution in Great Portland Street -  a Brooks Cambium ).

It has all been a massive learning curve.  Listening to the experts - that's not a new thing for me - but understanding components.  I have chosen a Royce hub for the back wheel. I have learned that they only make a noise if they need greasing.  The thought of riding a bicycle in the middle of nowhere on a bicycle that makes more noise than a scooter did not appeal so keeping the hub greased means it will stay silent.  The front wheel is having the Son de luxe dynamo hub that I have on my road bike. Fit and Forget sums it up perfectly.  The light is going to be the Edelux II which is really pretty (and bright).  

 But how things can change! Since placing the order - I fell into an (n+1) +1  as a bicycle with a single speed, fixed wheel  (flip flop) hub owned by a friend  came my way.  Apparently it had been in a shed for too long and it needed a new home. I managed to increase the price to a cap from LMNH and wayhayyy - job done - the bike is mine!

On the inaugural ride home I rode straight round to Fitztrovia Bikes to add lights, locks and dare I say luggage.  (Sorry about the luggage but I'm wanting to carry shopping and stuff on it)! It's a lovely bike!  Three days later and although I needed to be measured as the handlebars needed raising - I was and am loving the challenge of the single speed.

In preparation for riding it fixed, I find myself studying traffic light timings to see if I can keep my pedalling in a controlled, co-ordinated-with-green-lights kind of thing.  (On the other hand I might be wearing out the brake pads a little!)

  

Since then I have been all over London on it!  To Herne Hill several times, up to Archway (although not higher than that - Swaines Lane will have to wait) and I certainly don't intend to ride around Richmond Park on it any day soon. I have no idea what the gearing is, all I can say is that when haring along the Embankment I find that I have a rather high cadence! But I understand that it's great for the knees and the heart rate - and the person who gave it to me is a serious, serious cyclist so the gearing is going to be perfect for London.

 

If I was brand new to cycling, particularly in London, I am not sure it would be a good bicycle to start on.  It can be hard work, pulling away at the lights, finding instant acceleration when needed.  For me at the moment tho - I am absolutely loving it!  

So my next round of decisions for the Woodrup are the gears, cranks and pedals. Not forgetting the handlebars.  Flat or drops?  I think I will wait to see the finished version until I decide.  But I dont think that's going to be too long away...... 

  

And my running total for 2013 is 4,850 cycled miles.  Wowser!!