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.....

LBC: #WinterLights2020 @ Canary Wharf

This weekend I had some good time off work and there was a nice social ride with my London Brompton Club buddies so  me and the legend decided to join them for a much needed ride.

On this particular ride, organised by Jenny "Mile Monster" H & David "The Guide" P we would be heading from our classic meeting point The London Eye. 

My social rides haven't been as many as I would have hoped since the year began but I'm certainly trying to get into more of them and maybe a few of the bigger and longer rides in future as my fitness improves. For me atleast its a little harder to get my fitness level up during these dark and cold winter days but if you want something you got to work for it.

The weather was typically forecast to me COLD but if I remember rightly the last time we had a ride at this time of year it wasn't as COLD as that. Still I layered up with thermals and proper winter cycling gear and headed to The Eye.

Pink London Eye

Upon arriving at my stop I kinda got a little excited but also alittle scared, this is kinda normal for me if I haven't been on a ride for awhile but as soon as I got onto The Legend  his humming settle me right down. I was pretty much dead on time so I saw a whole group of Bromptons garther together close to the London Eye. There really must be a word for a gathering of Bromptons like that. If anyone has any ideas please comment below.

It was good to see old and new faces as always. it never surprises me how people from different backgrounds, nationalities and ages come together cause of this crazy little fold up bike.

Good to see my cycling partner in crime Mr.Orange looking very orange as always. So many new faces to and Jenny H even brought someone that had come from the far east to join us as they where in town and JUST got a brand new Brompton and this was its rider's first ride on it. Good way to break it in.

As always we made our way along the Thames River heading eastwards towards Canary Wharf and passing sights that I have been passed a number of times. London never gets old with the views of the city at this times of day, night or year.

Always love London at night when cycling near the rive, once you get past the tourist points it can be pretty quiet and the lights of the city really bring it alive.

As always we stopped for which is now a MUST do thing on a London Brompton Club  ride and thats a group photo for the facebook group header.

Photo by Jenny "Mile Monster" H

Arriving at Canary Wharf I could tell this was a pretty major event and was in full swing with people everywhere enjoying the event.

I managed to get a paper guide of the event as the Jenny H and David P both planned out which installations we would try to see given our group and the crowds around us. It would be tough as this was the last weekend it would be here so everyone was coming to have a look before it closed.

6: Sky on Earth

7: Time & Tide

8: Shish-K-A-Buoy 

4: Liquid Sound

4: Liquid Sound

19: Neon Tree 

16: Constellations

16: Constellations

21: Affinity

22: Pools of Light

22: Pools of Light

23: Squiggle 

23: Squiggle

2: Bit.Fall

3: The Clew

Well we managed to see alot but with us not actually cycling alot everyone was starting to feel the cold as it seemed the temperature dropped since we arrived at the event. Having gathered everyone together we motored back towards our meeting point of The London Eye.

We arrived at the London Eye pretty much dead on the time David H said we would finish and everyone started to say their goodbyes and make their way home.

Me and the legend headed down towards Waterloo Underground where it was warm and onwards back to "The HiVE"

Once again I'd like to thank the ride leaders, Jenny "Mile Monster" H & David "The Guide" P for organising, leading and keeping everyone safe. For everyone that attended it wouldn't be an awesome LBC Ride as always.

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