Biggest little fan from GreaseBug Gear

A few months ago I found this awesome creative facebook page called "Greasebugs Gear" I quote the description off the website.

"GreaseBugs Gear provides quirky handmade gifts combining the use of recycled bicycle chains and various bicycle components, to produce unique and quirky gifts."

After seeing the photos of the little robots I had a crazy idea for a little gift for BBB.

I emailed the creative owner and she loved the idea I pitched and even came up with an extra thing I hadn't even thought of which just added to the bot.

May I present to you BumbleB's BIGGEST littlest fan............

He/she/it doesn't have a name yet, but how cute is this little chain robot eh?

It was a little tense to begin with

The finer details

The first meeting

The little bot approached carefully but there was a kinship between them both. I knew I had made the right decision, they where made for each other.

"Don't worry little bot, BBB is friendly, go on BBB won't sting you promise."

After a short while I could see them both getting more confident with each other.

Best place to be on a ride.

You don't want to be there when I'm riding you may get squashed.

Don't fall now little fan.

Balance is key

A beautiful friendship has begun

I can see these guys going on many adventures together in the future and its going to be non stop fun I can tell you now but WAIT!!!

"Houston we have a problem!"

What do I name this new addition eh? the little bot has to have a name before he/she/it can go on our adventures. So then folks suggestions please would be gratefully received.

If you want your own little gift made from recycled bicycle/motorbike parts take a look at

GreaseBugs Gear

Not limited to chain-bots but also jewellery, cuff-links, key-rings, just about anything.
Even if you don't see anything you like straight away you can email with ideas/suggestions/questions and I'm sure they will come up with something completely unique that would be the perfect gift for someone that is just a little bicycle mad.

The Brompton Urban Challenge #BUCLDN

After not finishing the MITIE London Revolution  on Saturday I was feeling pretty down hearted to honest. I felt pretty bad at not finishing at least Day 1 of the MITIE, even half of the first day I wouldn't have felt too badly.

But then this morning I received an email from a stranger.

A blog reader from Malaysia that I have never met or made contact with in any shape or form emailed me to say they really enjoyed reading my little buzzing blog and had recently purchased a Brompton because of it and the other great Brompton blogs out there & the adventures they have been on.
Now THIS is one of the main reason why I do my blog but also to make a record of everything I have done cause quiet frankly I don't even believe half the time and I do read though it from time to time myself :D
The full email is in the new Testimonials Page of my blog.

As always the best medicine is to get right back on the saddle.  I remembered that Brompton Bicycles where doing a Brompton Urban Challenge this year which takes place in London and is always ALOT of fun.

Orienteering skill and creativity, coupled with a knowledge of London's landmarks and history, will see the winning team take the prize!

This year's event will give Brompton riders another day of fun and adventure around the capital, with numerous challenges putting their ingenuity and inventiveness to the test. The Bromptoneers will set off from and touch down at Brompton Junction London, Brompton's concept store in the heart of Covent Garden, and will be chronicling their various quests throughout the day on our twitter and facebook feeds.

Here is BumbleB getting ready for the start. Riding around London getting photos for the challenges. Everyone getting into teams and planning what they are going to do and the routes to take. Me, Mark W & Tim E formed a team.

Getting ready to ride

Even in a crowd BBB stands out >:D

From what I remember one of our first challenges was to get a photo with someone in uniform & re enact a scene from a movie. Headed to the Savoy Hotel where we got a great shot with one people working there who also was a cyclist & re enacted a scene from the film "Notting Hill"

What a good sport, Thank You :)

Getting into the zone

Check point & more challenges & Phoenix Cycles

Yet another check point, On Your Bike

Our team was joined by the lovely Ruth N who came down all the way from Sheffield but with late running trains couldn't catch up to her team so joined ours :)

Yet another check point, On Your Bike

Another challenge near Tower Bridge, City Hall

Couldn't past up a #selfie moment

The Legend has been bad

In the world famous Brooks Store, B1866

Lots of challenges, far to many to remember them all as I was having WAY too much fun doing it. As always I got to see a few places in London I haven't seen before and will do again in the future.

Back to the start point near Brompton Junction London Store there was a last challenge for everyone to take part it.

Basically you had to wheel your Brompton in trolley mode around a short obstacle course. I wasn't going to do it at first but with everyone else I thought why not and had a go. I didn't do to well and knocked over a cone as well as go the wrong way around a table but I didn't care as we was having loads of fun.

Even after it was all over quiet a number of us where sitting about talking about our adventures and finding out where people had come from. Some had come from as far as the USA and Asia all with one thing in common, their love for our little folding buddies.

I want to thank EVERYONE involved in the Brompton Urban Challenge and also my fellow Bromptoneers for making is a great sunny fun day.

Cast your votes for my Team #3 BUCLDN Voting Page
The competition will be closed at noon Thursday 22nd May (GMT)

peace
BBB

OUR MITIE London Revolution

The MITIE London Revolution 2014 (185mile loop around London in 2 days) was going to be the biggest and longest  ride we have ever attempted.

In the past I have said we should do more more rides. I always regretted when a few yrs ago we had the chance to do the London Nocturne but didn't. I still attended and cheered on OrangeBrompton in the folding bike race though. Ever since then I made a promised to myself to enter as many cycling events that I came across in my travels.

To say I was abit nervous about doing the MITIE London Revolution 2014 was an understatement. The longest ride I have ever done before was 64miles. So this was going to be something huge, no not huge, LEGENDARY even.

The starting point wasn't to far away at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. I did a couple of recce rides to the center to make sure I knew where I was going. I decided to meet up with Jenny H & Gus U at Tottenham Hale station at the last minute.

This would be the first time I would be riding with a big load on BBB EVER as I had packed for the 2 days of the MITIE London Revolution 2014  so with a packed rucksack with sleeping bag  hanging off the back and my hydration pack hanging off BBB's handle bars we set off.

After getting to the start area I was surprised what a transformation the Lea Valley Athletics Center had gone though. Less than 24hrs before it was just an empty car park, now there was 2000 cyclists  including 5 Bromptons all gearing up to do 100 miles to Ascot Racecourse. A powerful sight indeed.

BBB Just hanging....

As always at these events people where commenting on the legend, some had even read my little ramblings on my blog. After dropping off my overnight rucksack & putting on my hydration pack I was as ready as I'll ever be.
I have to say I felt petty good about it, yes 100 is big distance but I was confident I could at the very least do that.

Bromptons waiting....

Then the call for the next batch of riders was in line.

Jenny the Mile Monster & Geoff sharing a giggle

I don't think Jenny & Geoff really knew what they where in for....neither did I.

David P & Mr. O: Game face time

I was pretty nervous but knew that once we was on the road those nervous would disappear as I wouldn't have time to think about it and just pedal. With the beeps of cycling computers being started, clicking of clip in pedals & the shouts of "Good Luck!" "See you at Ascot" we was off like a herd of metal buffalo.
As we exited the Lea Valley site you could feel the buzz in the air of all the riders hopes and dreams of crossing the finish line at Ascot, just over 100 miles away. It was abit of a sight for the locals as many where pointing and cheering us on. In the streets of London I found that the Brompton was a very nimble compared to the "Big" bikes which I did take alot of satisfaction in showing as always.

I have to say many times I heard from cyclists I was passing or the ones passing me, "Doing this on a Brompton? Your brave" I had to call out as they pasted me there was 5 more up ahead of me which they would have to pass as well.

This was MY cycling event and I was doing it MY way. In the past I have tried to keep up with the speedier LBC members but I unfortunately not up to their levels, YET. Me and Jenny H where doing the 2 days of the event so knew we had to conserve our energy.

The first 30 miles where not too bad I have to say, mostly getting out of London and onto the open country roads. I got to the first pitstop of the MITIE where there was lots of other rides taking on food, drink and refilling  on all manner of powders and jells.

Pitstop #1

After leaving the pitstop there was something I was dreading when I first entered the MITIE, the hills.
I stupidly thought that in hills it would probably be a few biggish hills in-between flat kind of sections. I never really looked closely to the route profile, which of the course was my biggest mistake. On the decent of the hills from what I could see there was always a main road at the bottom so all that speed you had to stop at the bottom and then had to start from 0mph up another ascent.

It was nothing but rolling hills one after the other with one HUGE hill for about 10 miles. I've never been good with hill but was trying my best. Up until this point my Garmin Edge 800 was telling me my average speed was about 12mph which I thought was pretty good but then when I hit the hills I was slowly but surely seeing my average speed going lower and lower. From 12mph, 11.5mph, 11mph..... it continued.

I hadn't see anyone for awhile but kept on looking for the well marked out course. Not long after my average speed hit about 9.5mph while walking up another short sharp hill the sweeper car came along side me. I tried to ignore them to carry on but I knew deep down I wouldn't be able to continue on.
The MITIE folks where really good and supportive in saying I did pretty good to get this far but it would be best not to try and push any further as the course just got worst with the rolling hills. I was supplied with water and sweet snacks while waiting for the sweeper mini van to turn up to pick me up. I managed to get BBB folded and into the back of the van where there must have been about another 6 tormented souls.

Even though we hadn't finished the course the energy level of the people in the van lifted me a little as by that time I was just about ready to cry. Talking to the other cyclists in the van also reassured me that we hadn't failed what we was trying to do. Some had pulled out due to injury, mechanical problems or like me just plain knackered. Everyone had a little story to tell in why they wanted to do this ride and stories of their training and what they would do different for next time. This in turn helped me focus on what was the most important part of the whole day for me. Attempting to do something I have never done before, to push yourself beyond your limits because sometimes you may even surprise yourself.

While in the van we passed my LBC gang who where quiet far ahead of me, maybe 10miles or so. As I passed in the sweeper van I waved to cheered them on as I could see in their faces that this was a very tough ride.

I got to the next pitstop and had some sandwiches and jelly babies etc to get my energy levels up  because I had a choice to make. Either to try and ride the last 30miles to Ascot Racecourse or carry on in the sweeper van to Ascot Racecourse.

I decided that even after refuelling I would probably flake out in a short distance and that would have been even worse for me. I managed to see the other LBC members gave them my support before the sweeper van came along to take me and a few other cyclists all the way to Ascot Racecourse.

As I paid for the full event my plan was to stay over night and then see how I felt in the morning but I knew that with the 2nd day being even more BIG hills that I wouldn't be able to  do it even though it was 85 miles.  So in the morning I would make my way back to the HiVE.

My little tent

AMAZING food

After a good shower, change of clothes and some amazing food in the Ascot Racecourse I decided that when the others arrived I would make my way back to London with them so atleast I wouldn't be alone on the long trip home. I changed into my now famous Bumble Bee cycling top which again proved to be a crowd pleaser. As I walked around Ascot a few people commented on how great the Bumble B top was and even asked to take photos. I was invited to sit with Bob H and his friends while I ate my delicious dinner. As BBB had been put in a separate van and wouldn't be at Ascot Racecourse for awhile. I decided to wait near the finish line to see David P, Mr. O, Ann M & Jenny (Mile Monster) M & Geof S rolled on up. After a little rest and food BBB still hadn't arrived and was getting a little worried but then I spotted the van and knew BBB was there. I ran over and saw BBB all wrapped up in bubble wrap as well as all the other bicycles. With the big bikes being so big BBB was this tiny little bubble wrap bundle of legend. I had missed BBB. I grabbed BBB and made my way back to the tent to gather my rucksack & sleeping bag. As I was walking to my tent some MITIE photographers asked if they minded if they took some shots of me walking between tents.

Having grabbed my belongings we left leaving Jenny H who even had a tough ride was going to stay for the night and see how she felt in the morning before deciding whether to do the 85 miles on day 2.

Good luck Jenny H

I am proud to have done MY 41 miles of the MITIE London Revolution 2014 NOONE can NEVER take that away from me.

Better to have made the attempt and fail than to never have made the attempt and keep wondering if you could or couldn't do a thing.

There will be more rides in the future.

Some I will do well in,

Some I will not do so well in.

I have made the attempt at doing something that I wouldn't have even thought of doing last year. I am getting stronger on each and every ride.

I'm not the same person that I was before I got this freaky little fold up bike.
The people that we have met.
The 1000's of miles we have ridden.
The hours of tinkering we have done
The memories we have made good and bad.

I wouldn't change any of it & I thank each and everyone of you personally for your support and encouragement along this journey and I hope we get to ride together real soon.

My Ride Data: OUR MMITIE London Revolution 2014

see you on the next ride, peace
BBB

p.s I have just heard that Jenny H had COMPLETED the MITIE London Revolution 2014 on her Brompton.
*kudos* Jenny *kudos*