The 5mile Cycling is Still Smiling but has moved!

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2012......As the group gathered in the darkness,

As the group gathered in the darkness, their numbers growing larger and larger as we neared midnight,  I couldn't help noticing the collection of rather smaller bicycles with even smaller wheels that were joining us.  

Such unusual geometry, each one a different colour, their owners were bizaarly smiling despite the fact that ahead of us were 50 miles to Southend, cycling through the night on their near Lillipudlianesque wheels. As I stared in awe at the eclectic collection and enthusiasm of their owners I couldn't help wondering whether these unusual looking machines would actually make it to the end of the ride..... 

Ha! How wrong can a girl be?!   50 hilarious miles later a lot had been learned. These very individual bicycles go like the wind - there may be an increase in cadence but my goodness they go! 

Since that ride, I too have become a very, very happy Brompton owner (is there any other kind?)  Their quirky design, the ability to tailor them to a configuration of your choice has allowed me to join the (absolutely genius) fold and taken part in many magical miles.

I may not be the strongest cyclist (by quite a long way) but on a road bike I have ridden to Scotland, Paris, up Ditchling Beacon and an Alp. And whilst I was busy spinning with my 21 gears, fellow Bromptonites were just reaching the summits as though they were a walk in the park!

This year so far I have cycled over 1000 Brommie (mainly flat) miles, attended a Brompton Book Launch, a Brompton Maintenance Course and ridden my Brommie to the top of Highgate Hill! 

 
And I have become a bit of a fan of Brompton Junction in Covent Garden.
 

As you walk in the door it's a bit like walking into a man's shirt shop. Pinks for example. Except the storage shelves are a bit bigger and there are rows and rows of Bromptons. Or is it more like a sweet shop? Or Apple perhaps (I've said that before!)  The large table that looks like a game of Pacman is actually where you can build your virtual Brompton.

Everything Brompton do is to the highest standard, their customer service is second to none, they apply the same level of thought to their Cafe as they do their bicycles - their treacle tart is delicious as indeed is their lemon and ginger carrot cake (although neither are necessarily made for sharing)!!

So for me, anything hosted by them is always worth signing up for and even if they aren't hosting anything I highly recommend a visit anyway! 

Back in January I found myself at a Brompton Book Launch. The book Brompton Bicycle 2nd Edition by David Henshaw is a fascinating insight into how the Brompton came about.  I knew nothing about the first edition or indeed the author so when a group of us arrived at the store, heading straight downstairs for huzzzahhhh, treacle tart and pots of tea - we didn't realise that  we had actually walked straight past the author! (So sorry!)

Half an hour or so of tea and chitchat later we all gathered on the ground floor where we enjoyed a presentation about the history of this marvellous machine that is now an international star in the world of transport, leisure and, quite frankly, fun.

Indeed, David Henshaw's talk was fascinating. As the author of A-B magazine which specialised in folding bikes, it is very clear that Brompton has become a worldwide and iconic bicycle not just because of its design but because of the passion and belief of its creator Andrew Ritchie.  Despite several knock backs, Andrew just persisted. If a door closed he would find another road, pushing boundaries until solutions were found.

This enthusiasm seems to resonate through Brompton owners around the globe who are as passionate about their Bromptons as Andrew which I am sure is why it is more of a world wide club than anything else - in any other organization it would be a customer base.

The Brompton World Championships 2013, folding competitions, The IG Nocturne, the amazing places we ride to we are all so enthusiastic about our Bromptons and having read the book and been at this presentation a little bit of the Brompton magic became clear. I won't spoil it by giving any more away but it is a real example of believing in your product, setting your standards high without dropping them and a bucket load of that basic ingredient - real hard graft. A very humbling and enlightening read.

Several bicycle rides later, I was back at Brompton Junction attending a maintenance course. It shames me to say it but when I first got my Brommie a couple of years ago I actually paid Action Bikes in Victoria to show me how to remove the back wheel. 

The way the built-in screwdriver thingy for the hub works is genius. Needless to say I have only had to remove the back wheel once since so had pretty much forgotten how to do it. To be shown again, with added tips as to how to do it Bromptonwise was extremely helpful. And I never knew about the end of the thingy having to be in the centre of the little carre, nor that you should do this in a high gear.  I also never knew that because of the fold, the back wheel actually sits closer to the chain side of the frame than the other. I made some notes...

• ·        Untwist the tensioner 
• ·        Unscrew the indicator chain and it comes out
• ·        Use a spanner to undo the nut and the washer
• ·        Loosen both the nuts but don't undo them
• ·        Loosen the anti rotation washer
• ·        Remove wheel and repair!
• ·        (I always use a cloth/rag to check tyre for sharp bits, never my hand)
• ·        The anti rotation washer has to go in a special way and helpfully has  the word Top written on it (engage brain the5milecyclist if you have turned your bike upside down - d'oh!!)
• ·        The claws go inwards into holes on the dropouts
• ·        Don't fully inflate tyre until it's back on the Brommie!
• ·        Put the name of the tyre over the valve hole
• ·        Tighten up both nuts 

In fact, I have a list of other things I didn't know:

• ·        Pull the chain (literally) to see whether it has stretched (much better than a chain gauge)
• ·        Don't over tighten the seat post
• ·        If the hinges become stiff, spray them with WD40
• ·        Keep your Brompton clean!
• ·        Use Multipurpose cleaner for the seat post, not grease or lube
• ·        Clean your wheels
• ·        Inspect wear on brake pads, clean with multi spray

If you use your Brompton daily, oil the chain every fortnight and if it's wet weather, every week. To do this, lightly lube the chain turning the pedals and wipe the excess away with a rag. The target is the chain rollers, not the little plates on the outside which will attract dirt.

Keep your Brompton clean!

(NB Please note that there may be errors in my notes - for advice on maintaining your Brommie please contact your local bike shop or indeed Brompton!!)

Needless to say, since the maintenance class I have been remiss in looking after my Brommie! The hinge had become so stiff that it reached the stage I couldn't fold it, the brakes were being inefficient and there was a Treacle Tart deficit in my diet! 

Being just after Valentine's Day, there was also a Love your Brommie weekend so after a 10 mile ride around a very windy London I looped over London Bridge and headed for Covent Garden.  I was extremely sorry to hear from a policewoman at a closed High Holborn that the gale force winds the night before had destroyed some balustrade on a building which had tragically landed, literally, on a parked car killing the driver and seriously injuring the passengers. A real reminder of the fragility of life and how lucky we all are to be here. My thoughts are with the loved ones so affected by this loss of life.

I headed on to Covent Garden and noticed two Bromptonites in very hi-viz yellow jackets and bag covers, taking photographs of London life. They later arrived at the Junction for tea - apparently heading for Amsterdam in a couple of weeks.

Nev - one of the fab Brompton Mechanics - took charge of my Brommie, sorted out the hinge, replaced a brake pad or two and fitted the new brake levers. What a difference they make! They don't wobble and wiggle like the other ones and they have Brompton logos on the inside of the levers. Another fine example of the level of detail in the House of Brompton.

Whilst Bromptonites continue to push their pedals around the world, Brompton continues to push the envelope in what it does.  

Whatever it does next - I much look forward to it and in the meantime I'll just keep riding my Brommie  (and if I happen to find myself feeling hungry or thirsty in Covent Garden I know where I will stop)! 

Thank you Brompton and fellow Brommie owners - what a hoot this is!  The rest of the pics are here

 

A Pootle Around London

The Cycle Chat Sunday London Ride is another perfect example of combining cycling, chatting, (who knew?!) pootling around London with a destination of some sort but nothing in particular. London, that's all.  I owe these rides or rather the people that do them an enormous debt of gratitude - if their approach had been any different I would not be doing the kind of cycling I'm doing these days.

When I first took up cycling, not that long ago, they were a great introduction to group riding that also allowed me to do gentle increases in mileages. Five miles, ten miles fifteen, my speed increased as did the distances - and I was having so much fun I never noticed!

Because of their relaxed attitude there is no speed issue. Their individual ride to the start has been at their preferred pace and the bit from Hyde Park Corner is social cycling in its truest form.  I am now in the lucky position that I know my capabilities so I can sign up to group rides providing I know what the rolling average is going to be - if it's faster or slower than my preferred speed I choose another one that I can work with.

A 9.30 am start that is at last in daylight I decided to join them but on my road bike that I have not ridden for a couple of weeks. Two weeks - no time at all for things to fall into disrepair so I bundled out the door at 9.05 (far too late) and managed to get there before they had left. The mud from yesterday's Brommie ride had clearly soaked into my shoes and was doing some kind of Dr Who mysterious despatch thing contaminating my cleats on a different bike which wouldn't let me clip in at all. I was so distracted by this I didn't really notice my tyres......

On arrival at Hyde Park Corner I met RB58 and Topcat1 - both really strong cyclists. After the initial hello and a chat the conversation moved to my tyre pressure. Squishy. Without any hesitation RB58 pumped up my tyres to how they should be. And that absolutely sums up the care and consideration for others that they show. Thank you so much for that RB58 - I can't believe I didn't check them before I left.

A few minutes later, the cavalry passed by -  they do this every Sunday.  This time tho there was talk! The mounted police escort at the back called out "that's a really good pump you've got there - the best I've found"! Hahaha! Cool!! Topcat1 went on to tell me that apparently when the cavalry go by they all give our bikes a really good look!!

The air went in my tyres, the mud came out of my cleats, RB58 headed home - he'd only stopped to say hello and Topcat1 and I decided that as it was quite windy we wouldn't head for hills at Ally Pally but we'd head east to the new(ish) Look Mum No Hands in Hackney.

Wind? Did I mention the wind? We were doing 22mph without pedalling!! Down Pall Mall, along the Strand, into the City and out the other side, past Cambridge Heath (mis-located we felt) and into the Hackney cafe.

Unlike the Old Street cafe, this one seemed to be lacking in cyclists! Uber cool peeps but not necessarily with bicycles. A pot of tea later we headed back out to do a lap or two of Regents Park so that we could say hello to the giraffes. We past a couple pushing their bicycles, it seems that the rear hub was broken so we stopped whilst Topcat1 gave them some advice and pointed them in the direction of a good bike shop.

Cycling round Regents Park, a new venue was suggested - The Rapha Cafe. Topcat1 is probably the best-dressed cyclist I know so going to the cafe with him was a disaster! Another pot of tea and a little bit of shopping.... Oooops!! Note to self "never go there again"!!

We cycled south, said our goodbyes and I popped into Hyde Park as I was having so much fun riding my bicycle! By the time I reached home my total for the day was 35.5 miles. Is that 35. Smiles I wonder....? Yes, I think it is!!

Thank you Topcat1 and RB58 - great to see you.  I took some pics

From Windsor with Love(ly) Brompton Peeps

The brightness of the street lighting confirmed yet again that the Brompton London Club rides generated too much excitement. Like a child on Christmas Day I woke at 5.30am - a whole two hours earlier than needed. 

 

Today's ride started at Cafe Rouge in Windsor.  A fast train from Paddington to Slough provided plenty of time to get lost cycling to Windsor several times which of course just becomes a bike ride. Social media was being a great identifier of potential timings - peeps were coming in from all over the place and those nearby were going to be late. Faffing, perhaps? (No names mentioned...!) Amazingly one of our number had travelled a particularly long way. New York-New York! A cab from Heathrow and there he was with his  NYCe Wheels Brommie.  Time zone issues never raised their head. Chapeau sir, chapeau!

As a group of 15 (I'm making that up I didn't count) we wheeled out of Windsor down to the river and out to Windsor Great Park. As ever we caused a bit of a stir and much pointing from passerbys.  As well as Our Man From New York, we also had a guest (for one ride only) on an oversized wheeled bike. I was stunned to hear that it wasn't single speed - it was fixed! Not a route I'd even consider single speed, never mind fixed!

Cycling and chatting, general catching up and discussing a whole spectrum of things whilst our feet and our ride leaders led us through Windsor Great Park past several lakes.  There were many people out enjoying the weather - cyclists, pedestrians and quite a few dogs weaving their way through, but all relaxed.  It was very special - the standard of these rides never falters nor ceases to amaze me.  There were some puddles - some of which were up up to the pedals! 

There was also quite a lot of mud. My cleats were so full of mud that I couldn't actually clip in. "Have you got any water" I was asked. "Yes" I replied, ready to offer it to him. "Excellent - if you pour it over your cleats you can wash away the mud". D'oh - how silly of me, why didn't I think of that? It worked a treat!

As we were nearing our lunchtime stop my Brommie started bouncing about and made a funny noise. Completely in denial I carried on another ten metres. Oh rats!  A visitation. The back tyre was pancake flat. However, even before I could dig out my tyre levers A Man Called Michael had removed the back wheel and was replacing the tube. I just stood in awe at the speed in which this happened. 

Everyone else chatted, helping when they could and there was not a hint of irritation - it was just fantastic the way everyone stood around in such a fabulously relaxed fashion. Within a ridiculously short space of time I was back on my bike and we were on our way to lunch. The speed was increased, a hill appeared but soon we were at the top of it. Into Egham and up a hill to a pub that serves the most fantastic food.

An hour or so later we left and headed along a not-so-lovely glass covered and shared pedestrian-cycle pavement. Not a great deal of fun but luckily we were soon back in the Park. Photo opportunities abound, we carried on all the way to a path that I'm not sure The Rambler's Association would approve of. 

A couple of small trees were across it - the first we could walk around, the second was where our galant leader individually helped us lean our Brommies at a more horizontal angle to allow us to crawl through. Onwards, upwards and downwards - at some point I went through a puddle that was actually a bog. It was like cycling through sand, gripping my wheels, sucking them lower and lower making me slower and slower- thankfully I escaped just in time.

 

Back through Windsor, coffee in Cafe Nero then a ride back to Slough. The cycle infrastructure is a curious thing - the only way to activate the traffic lights is by being a bus so after 10 minutes (I suspect less) we transferred ourselves to pedestrian mode instead. Sensor issues me thinks. 

 

A bit further on there was a classic call of "the station is next right" immediately followed by "not that right, this right" and we reached the station for a train home. 36 miles for the day with a top speed of 24.7 miles. Our Man from New York stayed awake and ahead of most if not all of us - with half the amount of gears I have - and no cleats. Pretty impressive I say.

Thank you peeps - that was one lovely day!  I took some pics here