Tuesday 6 September 2016

"It started with Brompton" Book

A week  ago I got a little package from overseas from Bella who asked me for a email interview and photos of me and the legend for a book "it started with brompton" she was writing for Korean Brompton users

Bella had asked me many moons ago and I quiet honestly forgot all about it. Bella said that she would send me a copy of the book when it was finished and here it is as well as other awesome stuff.

I have to say I was very touched and was a true honor to be asked to appear in print. It always surprises me when people ask for photographs or say that have heard of our adventures.

Package from Korea
Opened up the package and found a really good quality book "it started with brompton" with pop up cards with Bromptons & a leaf bookmark.


The quality of the print is the best I've ever seen.


These are photos my friends have taken while I have been at events in "full" Legendary mode as it where. I'm almost ready to order huge prints cause the difference from seeing them on screen to seeing in print is well LEGENDARY.


For any of my Korean readers I know there is quiet a few out there please take a look at Bella's websites and maybe even order the book.

To order the book: (Please note the book is in Korean but English version maybe coming soon)

Or 

Thursday 1 September 2016

More legendary? Damn straight

Back in July I found out that Brompton had released the Black Edition Brompton parts that you could buy. Thanks to my partner in crime My Orange Brompton for giving me the heads up.

I always had the plan to change out parts on Bumble B to be black as soon as I saw the Black Editions.

As always Brilliant Bikes came though for the legend as always.
  • Brompton BLACK crankset with 44T "spider" chainwheel
  • Brompton BLACK brake caliper - front - dual pivot
  • Brompton BLACK brake caliper - rear - dual pivot
  • Brompton BLACK brake lever set aluminium (pair)
  • Brompton BLACK headset 1 1/8", steel

I could have installed all this myself but I didn't have the proper time to spend doing it properly. Lucky my personal cycle engineer is near by and was happy to sort my boy out.


Within 5 mins of being in the shop my boy was on the bike stand and getting a worked on. I think they really love BBB and it shows in their work.

Original headset
I had to go back to work & leave my boy overnight but I knew he would be fine. I'd be lieing if I said I wasn't missing him badly. Hoping he wasn't missing me too much but we both knew it was for the best. 

Turned out he needed a little more work that planned. The bottom bracket was basically dead so needed replacing.


New black edition brake levers

Black edition Spider crank & matching 44T Chainring
My guy forgot my custom yellow chainring guard but I had an idea. Why not get black bolts as I needed slightly longer bolts for it to fit on the chain wheel anyways. Abit of digging & he found some. 

It's the little things that matter.

Bling Bling baby
Looking good there Bumble B but if I find some brake pad holders in yellow they will be changed out. ;)

Front Brake Caliper
Turned out the rear brake caliper was also pretty much worn out and dead so it was a good thing I was changing everything out.

Rear Brake Caliper
48hrs later my boy was ready. As always Mamchari Walthamstow did a AWESOME job on my boy.


His back and up to speed as always. I can guess that Bumble B is about 98% finished, just spokes, hubs & saddle rails to be done and the legend will be DONE ! 

til the next ride, bee safe
BBB

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Death of another rim

Over the last few months I have been getting the sense that BBB's rear wheel rim maybe wearing out. Under braking I would feel a "pulse" as it were. It's happened before so I know the signs well. 

Ever since I got the new black AeroHeat rims I have been looking after them much more than the double walled original Brompton rims. Even with all the care I have taken with them the rear rim visibly split. 

I basically came back from meeting up with the LBC gang that was having a ride down to the Olympic Velodrome at the Olympic Park. I wasn't on the ride itself but needed to see a few folks as I had some Brompton bits from "Ben's Box of Goodies" (once again thanks Ben)

On closer inspection I could see the rim had actually split on both sides of the braking surface as you can see with the photos below.

Splitting Aero Heat

Opposite side also splitting
It was an emergency so I went straight to my local bike shop ran by Noah who now had his own bike shop just down the road from me. Noah was the first person to ever service BBB so I knew I could trust him with my boy.


Noah changed the rim over to a spare original Brompton rim I had but told me that the AeroHeat Rim had some structural cracks. I didn't know about this and thought I had just worn it out but check this next photos out for the true horror. Another 2 huge cracks *shock horror*



HUGE crack #1 :(

These cracks where on the opposite side to each other on the INSIDE of the rim where the rim tape goes. I wouldn't normally remove the tape to look so I wouldn't have seen it myself with my normal checks.

I thought damn I've been riding with that for at least a couple of months as that is when I noticed the "pulse" under braking. As you can see it hasn't been knocked or hit anything as the rim looks in good shape and lots of metal on the braking surface.

When I got the AeroHeat rims on BBB the original double walled rims where relatively new so I saved them. I didn't think I would be changing the AeroHeat rims so soon.

So the Stats I have for this Rear AeroHeat Rim:
Brompton BWR 6sp hub & Velocity
Born:     May 7, 2015
Died:      Apr 16, 2016
Mileage: 3,047.7 miles

Quick message to Phoenix Cycles and looks like I can get it changed under warranty where I got the AeroHeat rims originally so BBB is there now getting another AeroHeat so his all matching again. The whole reason why I got both rims changed back then when only the rear rim had worn out was that he could be in line with his color scheme.

I currently have a loan Brompton which happens to be black and yellow so not to much of a shock for anyone seeing me without the legend who should be sorted over the next few days.

til the next ride, bee safe....

Monday 7 March 2016

Review: The "Bee" Travel Bag

Well many of you know how much the Legend & I love black and yellow.

An idea came to me one day when I saw people commenting that to travel on the EuroStar as you have to carry your Brompton in a travel bag of some kind due to the rules. Well I could easily get a IKEA bag which is the perfect size or an official Brompton Travel Bag but you know the legend, he always wants to be understated. *shakes head*

So I asked the very good and talented friend Valeria Lopes (Valeria's Bike Accessories) to see what we could come up with for the Legend.

What can I say Valeria came up with this....


Yeah your eyes are not playing tricks on you but yes a black and yellow striped travel bag for BBB.


As always the build quality is second to none and its made from the same tough wearing material with the other black and yellow items she has made for us. This also had a nice inner lining and very well stitched zip and handles.

Strong Zip goes 3/4 of the way round

Long handles for easy over the shoulder carrying

In we go
I wasn't sure on just looking if BBB would fit as he has clipless pedals and cow horn handle bars which make his profile a little wider than a normal Brompton but I didn't need to worry as BBB fit in just right and zipped up perfectly.

Snug as a bug




All packed & ready to go
The tough material made carrying BBB over my shoulder really easy. Even my clipless pedals or cow horn handlebars didn't poke me in the back and with the long shoulder straps made it probably the easiest and nicest way to  carry BBB.

The mark of quality & that personal touch.
I'm VERY pleased with how this came out and forever grateful to Valeria's Bike Accessories for turning an idea into reality.

So then folks if you're thinking of something for your Brompton that's a little special or an idea that's popped into your head but don't have skills to make it a reality I can't recommend Valeria's Bike Accessories enough to help you do just that.

Now I seriously can't wait to go travelling with the Legend to show of his custom travel bag. >:D


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

Sunday 21 February 2016

Shredding tyres

Yesterday was an interesting commute to work. 

Had to fight a major head wind which isn't new to me & the legend but about a mile from work the front wheel felt odd. I had a look and I saw I had a slow puncture happening. Just about managed to get to work before it was fully flat & unriddable. 

When I got home I had a good look at the tyre and I saw this. 







Yeah pretty bad. Pretty much shredded the front tyre with 6 deep cuts & looks like we've gone though sand paper to boot. I don't remember going over anything as shape but 9 times out of 10 you hardly ever see what causes punctures to begin with. 

So BBB is off the road till I get some new tyres delivered from Brillant Bikes, which have been ordered since last night. Give schewble Marathon's a go again as I've have had 4 bad Marathon +'s lately. 

til the next ride, bee safe

Wednesday 3 February 2016

Catching up with the Legend

Good morning my readers,
I know its been quite awhile since I've posted in this blog but as you can imagine real life takes priority at times.

The Legend and I have been riding so I'll condense a few blog posts into this one seems the best way to get everyone up to date with the happens.

First up is a short little ride with my cycling partner in crime Mr. Orange on the 5th Dec 2015. Nothing was really planned other than going on a short 20ish mile ride along the Thames towards the Thames Barrier and back. We've both done this ride a number of times and is an opportunity for the photographer part of us to come out and play.

Here are a few snaps I took on that Thames Barrier Ride....


Mr. O Master photographer & Brompton Rider
I must return here in summer time with my InfraRed camera to take a shot as I think this would look really good and different in the InfraRed part of the spectrum with this tree in the middle of the curved building.








Mr. O getting the best angles
Big thanks to my cycling partner in crime Mr. O for a nice relaxed ride, much appreciated.
Legend at the Thames Barrier




LBC Ride: New Year's Day 2016

Our next ride was on New Year's Day which was a nice little  ride that David Parkinson has done for the past few years. It was a very chilled out ride as everyone probably recovering from stuffing themselves in the holiday season.

Some new riders also managed to come which is always good to see as well as hardened vets.


LBC line up
A spin on "Jenny Hung Selfie" shot

This snowman looks well happy


Always happy with my LBC Clan

Well that's all the rides that I have been on of late, nothing really more than that. The holiday season is normally a little quiet as everyone has family stuff going on so its a little harder to get together for rides. I will post a 2015 review type thing in another post as this one is pretty long and scrolly.

I almost forgot a great close member of the LBC gave me a little present in the last ride.


They are awesome. I love them. Thank you Chris xxx

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



till the next ride, bee safe..... & (abit late) HAPPY NEW YEAR