A Ride Amongst Champions! Inaugural London Brompton Club Ride

The most miles I have done on my Brommie in one day is 35. A pootle around Central London that ended up including Richmond Park and Surbiton. The thought of actively choosing to ride a Brommie over long distances never appealed as I have way too much fun on my road bike. But curiosity kept me interested. I know people who have cycled from London to Scotland, Paris and Geneva on theirs so when I found an opportunity to ride from Reading to Richmond with this special band of Bromptonites I couldn't resist.

A train from that secret station - the one that moves every time I try and find it (I blame Michael Bond) and at 9.30 I found myself outside Reading Station with fellow Bromptonites. We gathered by the smoking area (?) and soon there were 16 of us! 

There was a large police presence in preparation for Reading v QPR and as the heavens opened during our leaders pep talk I was sorely tempted to pop into a pub and stay there!! However we all climbed into our wet weather gear and headed out of the city. About five miles later there was a visitation. 

Conveniently in a tunnel so we could take shelter. My brand new Lyzene pump (with a gauge) was called into action and proved itself to be the best small pump I have ever come across (and I've tried a few!)

Out of the tunnel (a reminder of the LonJoG tunnel outside Pitlochry came to my head)  back into the rain and we headed along the towpath. The weather kept looking like it might dry up but never quite where we were.

The two new additions to my winter wardrobe were however coming into their own. Up until now - winter wise (hmmm that could be a title for my next blog!) - I have worn two merino base layers and a cycling jersey under my Gore-the-best-purchase-ever-made-in-the-jacket-department-Oxygen jacket. Today however I have progressed to cashmere on top of my Merino base layer. A cashmere scarf, socks and jumper were absolutely perfect.

Part of me thinks I am a Gore girl as my Gore Oxygen jacket and over trousers are faultless and work as both waterproof and windproof yet still breathe rather than make me sweat like a shower. Gore have also brought out two new windstopper jackets although I haven't had a chance to put them to the test yet. However after today, cashmere is definitely my winter warmer!  I digress...Back to the ride!

 

I think it did stop raining for a bit - just after another visitation. This time we were by an old fashioned wooden bustop which provided some shelter from the elements. As with most cyclists the priority was to keep the bikes  out of the rain - the owners stayed outside!! I headed to the back to see if I could help with the visitation. A fellow Bromptonite produced his Lyzene tyre levers which were awesome and definitely on my Father Christmas list!!

 

Soon we were on our way again. The route was lovely and the company magnificent. All the Bromptons were err, Bromptons but they were all different! And they had travelled from afar. Oxford, Buckinghamshire and London for this special ride. Such a kind group.  I was offered biscuits at the start which set the standard of generosity for the day. General chats about a zillion different things, Some Brompton banter (obviously!) and much laughter. One of my fave moments was discovering how many of us were World Champions having taken part in the 2013 Brompton World Championships - and relegating the two that hadn't to the back of the ride!! Hilarious!!

 

We cycled on fast roads and country lanes. Some of the puddles we rode through reminded me of my ride to Germany this time last year but at least this time the water levels were not higher than my pedals!  Those riding without cleats stuck their feet out like Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!! 

Charlie and I joined up as TECs (that's Tail End Charlie/Tail End Charlotte) which was great fun and I was allowed to be the one who called out All Up although there was no opportunity to do this because The Man at the Front cycled off before I could say it. Charlie and I had a right laugh as we realised that as this was not a Friday Night Ride to the Coast - it was a day ride and we were visible so the all up call was not required!  

 

We followed the Thames (although we were wetter)! The elevenses stop in Ascot turned to a pavement stop outside Costa who excelled themselves by offering us, non customers, Christmas Cake and biscuit samplers. I will be back!

 Reaching Windsor Great Park was sheer delight. What a lovely place in which to cycle. The rain had stopped and we rode through it six abreast. 

A pub lunch in Anglers Forehead which does quite the most spectacular food. What a chef they have in their kitchen. I did find their policy to add 50p to all orders paid by card - regardless of the amount or the card to be a bit greedy. £9.50 for a bowl of soup, bowl of chips, mineral water and a cup of tea was heading for London prices but my goodness it was delicious! They were very efficient and the outside area was perfect for visitation repairs!

I didn't dare stay inside for too long as I thought if I was too snug in the warm I would stay there for the afternoon.  A few of us stayed outside surrounded by Brommies - what's not to like?! With lunch over we were off! Out into a bit of drizzle, I put my sopping Gore gloves on at the recommendation of a fellow rider who suggested if I wiggled my fingers the gloves would warm up and dry up. Whoop! Whoop! They did! 

Along the Thames which was rather high, Hampton Court, Kingston and into Richmond. The sun had gone for the night and I realised what an urban ride my Brommie is - the lights were completely useless for seeing where I was going. I could be seen which is one thing but to not be able to see the road - potholes, glass and puddles is ridiculous. The rear hub and dynamo light system that I didn't chose when I bought my Brommie are about to be ordered. Hopefully suggestions and recommendations will be forthcoming - they will be very gratefully received. 

The other thing that tells me mine is an urban Brommie is the fact that I have never, ever seen it so caked in mud! Truly! 

As we headed to Richmond Station we said our goodbyes and thank yous. If they were missed - Aka Bob, David and David thank you. And to The London Brompton Club - thank you very much for making me feel so welcome and along with Charlie B for being such fine company.  If this is what it's like to do long rides on a Brommie - I am looking forward to the next one! Thank you everyone!

 57.18 miles in 4.24hrs with a top speed of 19.9 mph on the flat! Woohoooo!!!!!
 
The rest of my pics are here

Ghosts, Ghouls and hooded shadows

Cycling in Central London with a group of fellow cyclists last week had an unexpected twist. Whilst waiting in Torrington Square, out of the darkness a woman rushed towards us spouting in hysterical tones that we must follow her. We were to hurry quickly to a terrace further along the road. 

 As we reached the spot we found police scientists studying the scene of a crime. The woman was shouting at the police saying that a murder had taken place. Someone was missing and the detective had to take action, the woman was insisting.

 

However, things didn't quite go as she planned. Rather than take heed of the warnings, the woman was arrested and led away. As she left, she shouted instructions and threw a book at one of our group. We were ushered back to our bikes by the forensic scientists and we cycled to the end of the street. 

 Left and onwards, in and out of cycle paths, overtaken by commuters who knew nothing of our urgency, all the way to Argyle square. As we propped up our bicycle against a wall another woman ran towards us urgently ushering us towards what looked like was about to be a ritual killing. 

Hooded shadows waving sticks of fire were swarming around a young female who couldn't escape. They caught her and carried her above their heads towards her fate.  Apparently we could stop this if we chanted really, really loudly. We did. So loudly that people in the surrounding houses were leaning out of their windows to watch. The girl was eventually placed on the ground, still in one piece and the hooded shadows started moving towards us.

Towards us! We lept onto our bicycles and cycled out into the night. Right turns, left turns but definitely no uturns a few miles later we reached a pair of gates leading onto hallowed ground. A nun scurried up to us and begged us to follow her along the gravelled path. 

We ran with her. It was so dark and the sky was so clear. As we reached an old oak tree a man of the cloth greeted us with great enthusiasm. He expressed his immense gratitude to us for being there and then pleaded for our help. Suddenly it seemed that we were about to be attacked by strong forces of spirits. Could we all hold hands? he asked. Indeed we could - I was terrified. 

Surrounded by gravestones in a large grave yard I could see moving shapes and shadows slowly sweep towards us. The only option was to chant as loudly as we could. Louder and louder in the middle of a graveyard. The shadows seemed to slow down a little. We carried on chanting as we ran back to our bicycles and cycled away out into the night.

We rode past cafés, restaurants, people going home - did they not realise what was happening? On and on we went. Eventually we reached our destination which in fact turned out to be the beginning! This was where it had started. The forensic team were still working but they had a new member of their team. How could this be? What was happening? What on earth was going on?

 

And that is where it ends. An absolutely brilliant evening on two wheels hosted by none other than Camden Council - bringing bicycling to the borough through a Halloween night ride. What a great way to explore Camden and a great way to spend time on a bike.

 
Thank you  Camden - that was Genius.

Two days later I found myself in Kensington's Holland Walk just as the Parks Police were locking the park gates. Standing all alone under dimly lit street lamps it was more than a little bit eerie. 

I saw two very slow cyclists go by - must be recumbents as they were so low but a bit worrying as they were cycling all over the place. As they reached me I could see their silhouettes - they weren't bicycles at all!! They were two black Labradors with red bicycle lights on their collars!

 A few minutes later I was joined by some real cyclists and not long after we were a group of 30 - all watching our host welcome us and lead us into the Park (keys were provided!) 

 

Our guests were very well dressed as we were attending a wedding and there was also a fantastic collection of bicycles! An introduction to the evening accompanied by delicious cup cakes from http://www.storminacupcake.com/ set the theme of the evening.  

At the bottom of the steps to Holland Park we learned that a certain Lord Oberwain had massive matrimonial disharmony and our assistance was required in setting things straight.  This meant cycling all over Kensington to track down people from his past who could apparently redeem his status.  

Down a very steep hill, up to Ladbroke Grove we rode, with Lord Oberwain pedaling with us as fast as he could. Along all sorts of back streets, over bridges, all the way to Little Wormwood Scrubs where we stood under a large tree to hear whether things were working out a bit better for him. 

Some of my fellow cyclists hadn't ridden a bike for about 25 years and couldn't believe how much fun it was - riding a bike, attending a wedding, exploring the borough at night and seeing it from such a very different viewpoint. Brilliant! Then we were off again!

 

Cycling across Little wormwood scrubs was a real treat. The distant hue of street lighting, the open skies and the darkness of it all. As I was at the very back of the group being the Tail End Charlotte,  I could see nothing but a glow of flashing red lights. It was an incredible sight and I realised the last time I had seen this was on a Friday Night Ride to the Coast!   

The eeriness from earlier in the week returned, it was so still even the shadows had shadows.  It was all so mysterious that if I hadn't been given a route map for my TEC role, I would have had absolutely no idea where I was, even when we left the park as we weaved our way along a lovely collection of roads

 

 Away from the main hubbub of normal London life we dropped down to a Canal and rode for a few miles along the towpath.  In the dark.  The reflection of our bicycles on the water's surface, the silence, the residents of the barges settling in for a quiet night.. It was absolutely magical.

Being at the back,  I couldn't quite keep up with the host to hear the developments of the Ballard of Lord Oberwain http://www.bikeminded.org/2013/10/fancy-a-19th-century-halloween-ride/ so I could only hope that Lord Oberwain's wedding renactment was working to his advantage.  Luckily a fellow guest who was from Totalwomenscycling.com followed the plot perfectly and wrote about it which hopefully fills in the rather large gaps I have left.  (Totalwomenscycling does exactly what it says on the tin and is so full of information that it is now bookmarked!)

As made our way to All Saints Church in Notting Hill, Lord Oberwain and his bride were wed.  A glorious wedding that caught the eye of passers by who joined in to witness the matrimonial proceedings.  The reception was held at Pedlars on Talbot Road from where celebrations were heard for miles around.  The caterers excelled themselves!  What a Party!

A brilliant Halloween in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea hosted by their cycling arm, Bikeminded, who not only know how to host a wedding (assisted by the fantastic artistes of exquisite folly) http://www.exquisitefolly.co.uk/ but they really know how to make riding a bicycle an absolute party on two wheels. 

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.