Brompton Social Ride 2025

As always I look forward to the BWC every year as sometimes its the only chance I get to meet and greet many of my Brompton family new and old from all over the world. I wasn't so sure I would be able to make it due to my current health issues but it gave me a goal to aim for if I was feeling up to it.

Me and the boys where running a little late due to it being the hottest day of the year (tomorrow Race day supposed to be even hotter 31C) Having got the Legend fully serviced for over a week. My mechanic was pretty busy as when the sun comes out, everyone digs out there bikes out of the sheds and noticed a few things need fixing. But I wasn’t worried as I knew my boy was in good hands.

Jumping on the Victoria line was fun as I could see already there were problems due to the insane temperatures already causing delays etc. Pulled up at the meeting point alittle late but msgd the infamous Chris who with Brompton organised this social ride. Luckily there we’re to far down at Buckingham Palace. I noticed there were a few more late arrivals so guided them to the place thought Hyde Park Corner and straight down the Mall. I’m an old hand with traffic normally in a double decker Boris Bus and had almost forgotten I was guiding people. I was “threading” thought traffic pretty wildly cause i just wanted to see my kin. :)

Finally with my kin folk :D so many new faces and i have to admit the only face I recognised was Chris 

Nice little ride and as always a huge thank you to everyone for going and especially to Brompton Staff, ride leader Chris and the markers of the ride. Hopefully everyone had a good nights sleep and ready for tomorrows awesomely great racing near Kings Cross, London.

Me and the legend are looking forward to meeting you all, especially as its my boy’s birthday. 16yrs old and still going strong :D

till the next ride, bee safe.....

Review: Garmin Edge 540

So after destroying my Wahoo Elmnt with my little tumble I thought it was time for an upgrade. I didn’t need anything to extreme as I’m not using all of the functions that high end cycling computers offered that I’ve had in the past.  After alittle research I was looking at getting the Beeline cycling computer but it was out of stock on Amazon for a good while. I did have a BeeLine a couple of years ago and thought about it again but in the end I went back to Garmin. So present for myself  (also The legends 15th birthday to day) was to get the  Garmin Edge 540

My first proper ride with it will be to the registration for the Brompton World Championships this coming weekend. Has a lot of features that i have to mess about with to get it just right but I’m enjoying it.

Edit: After the Brompton World Championships 2024 I have decided to return the Garmin Edge 540 & get the updated Wahoo Roam v2 (have to wait as AmazonUK don't have it in stock at time of writing Reason is cause it keeps crashing and freezing no matter what I do and to do navigation is a nightmare. 

it may take awhile cause amazon are out of stock unless I order from USA and pay taxes. Hell no I'll wait and just use my strava on my iPhone.

till the next ride, bee safe.....

LBC: BWC 2024 Sunday Picnic ride to Greenwich Park

So on the last day of a totally awesome weekend of none stop Bromptoning the last event on the London Brompton Clubs event calendar would be a nice leisurely ride though London to one of the best views of London, Greenwich Park. 

I had completely forgotten my cool down routine for when I got home from the BWC 2024 last night so at about 02:00 am this morning I was up doing the "Cramp Dance". Basically when ever I really push myself cycling I get sudden cramps early the next morning. Well I had to have a cold stream of water hitting my cramping legs as I read many yrs ago that the shock of ice cold water resets the nerves that cause muscle cramps. Don't know if there is any truth to it or not but it works for me everytime ever since i started cycling and got cramps.

This time I thought I’d give “n+1” her first LBC event to introduce her to everyone. 

First time on train

We arrived at the meeting point @ London Bridge about 20mins late. Sundays are the worst days to travel esp if its sunny. Train companies do a lot of major works on Sundays as this is probably as quiet its ever going to be on our under funded transport system. We wasn't the only one there late. A couple with Bromptons, so I went over to and asked if their where late for the ride too.

Me and +1 knew the destination of the ride as at Greenwich Park so tried setting the Garmin 540 to navigate us there but this was a pain with freezing and crashing pretty much all the time. Got google maps out on my iPhone and within 2 secs had a route to Greenwich. Even though i had turn by turn directions coming though my hands free ear piece cause I didn't have a visual like a map to also follow I was always going into my pocket to dig out my iPhone so I could see the map etc. Having a mount would have been handy but I never will have my iPhone mounted as that's what cycle computers are for :P

*note to self never organize a ride unless I know the route inside and out and sideways*

I figured with a large group of Bromptons ride leader Jenny would try to keep the route simple and on cycle lanes. 

As me and +1 went along on our way I was getting more of a sense of how n+1 was going to ride, her personality I guess you could call it. Making mental notes of "adjustments" I may have to do at a future date.

Finally my plan to catch up to the group bared fruit as I saw a positive "SWARM" of Bromptons invading a Waitrose not far from Greenwich Park. 

100 Bromptons

This lovely lady came up to me and said she had a little present for me. A lovely little home made Bumble Bee

This is what the Brompton Community is all about. I can't stress to you reader how much I love this and touches me deeply. Thank you so much. So technically this is N+1 first "upgrade"  

The pride I felt as I joined with +100 fellow Brompton riders heading to Greenwich Park was AMAZING. So many people from so many different parts of the world coming together cause of this funny little folding bike. Greenwich park was full of people wanting to enjoy the glorious warm Sunday in the park and yes we got a few watching and enjoying the unoffical Brompton Parade  that had suddenly formed

To get to the best part of Greenwich you have to go up a decent ascent to the Old Observatory at the top of the hill. The first test of N+1 with standard 6 speed gearing. I'm so used to BumbleB's reduced gearing i was a little worried. But I felt good going up and never once felt I couldn't.  

Up at the top was ofcourse a photoshoot with ALL the bromptons and riders together for a HUGE group shot. The Biggest I've been in for many years

After eating some of the snacks we bought in the Waitrose just before I went around taking snap shots of the little groups that had formed all around us just enjoying the cool breeze and slight overcast but bright weather.

Being with this huge group of Brompton Owners like many others check out what modifications they have done to their B to make them more their own. Not just the look but also how their Brompton functions for their personal needs. Got a couple of ideas brewing in my brain. Maybe 1 last final upgrades for BumbleB and a some for N+1

Safety first

Brompton Mafia

Big thanks to Brompton Bicycles folks, London Brompton Club admin & members & ofcourse the followers and fans of  "The Legend" for making it a really special day for everyone.

till the next ride, bee safe.....

Brompton World Championships 2024, the return...

After a 5 year absence & a global pandemic the Brompton World Championships are back and better than ever.

The location this year was at Coal Drops Arms around the back of Kings Cross Station, London. This year the Brompton World Championships was a part The London Cycling Festival (VIA Criterium) a whole weekend of races as well as stalls for cycling, coffee and beers. 

The day before there was LBC: BWC Friday Social Ride to Spitalfields Market

Finally we have arrived

I had got a message from my partner in crime Mr.Orange and we arranged to meet up at our old meeting point and head to the venue in style. People in central London hadn't seen this kind of thing for a long time, full on legendary bromptons in all their glory.

The festival wasn't officially open just yet or registration so I was about to look around and check the track. Had been warned by a few other riders 1 or 2 corner had to be careful of as there had been racing the day before and there was a huge crash. Also there was abit of a incline and decent in the course which I had to have a really close look at. 

Me and Mr.Orange decided to head further afield in search of some fuel (food) and a good old catch up as we hadn't ridden together for quiet a few years :(

Breakfast fit for a Legend

We returned and got registered and my start time was in the afternoon. There was going to be a number of heats, I counted about 15 maybe all together and rough estimate of 500 riders. Yeah you read that right.

So as the morning went on more and more Brompton racers came up to register and ofcourse me and Mr.Orange drew a lot of attention and where happy to pose for photos with our fellow Brompton legends & fans.

Then is was on with the races. So much creative talent on show as people donned on their unique style and taste when it comes to being a 100% Brompton cyclist

So many different characters, styles and takes on what a Brompton ride should be wearing while enjoying the most versatile & best folding bike on the planet.

In time it was time for The Legend to take to the track.

2 very good friends from 'Up North'

Huge thanks for Samantha for taking a few shots with my camera. Very much apricated it.😘

 

Go go go...

Mr.Orange getting the inside line

and then my race was over. For me is nothing to do with what my lap times are or what position I got but the taking part and seeing everyone enjoying themselves. My aging camera started to have issues so didn't get much else after this. 

I am very disappointed though that there where NO medals for those that took part. That was always one of my favourite things about taking part in the BWC. 

Well thats it for this years BWC2024 is done and dusted. I'm planning on taking part in more rides in future as well as more blog postings.

Big thanks to Brompton Bicycles Ltd, London Brompton Club admin & members & ofcourse the followers and fans of  "The Legend" for making it a really special day for everyone.

till the next ride, bee safe.....