More followers for @orangebrompton

This blog post is a little bit an an appeal to try and get me a few more followers for my Instagram account @orangebrompton

There are a few reasons that might not seem as obvious. On a very selfish level I would naturally like some more followers. The primary reason however is that it would allow me to interact more easily with you good people out there.

At the moment the way many of you contact me is via the email that I have posted on the 'contact me' part of the blog. I am shamefully terrible at logging into this account and often leave it several days/weeks before doing so. I already have quite a few email accounts on my iPhone for work etc.., and don't really want any more on there.

Via Instagram I could respond more quickly to personal messages or comments left on various photos I have posted.

So, if you are willing and able I would be very grateful if you could consider doing this. If you do, please say hello!

Stay safe out there people!!

The Brompton Borough Waterproof Bag Small in Navy

Brompton have been steadily bringing out some rather good new bags that work with their front carrier block - in my opinion the most convenient solution to carrying bags on any bicycle let alone a Brompton. I own two Mini-O bags and these are brilliant in their own way however they are trounced by the new bag in town, the Borough Waterproof Bag Small in Navy.

Like the Mini-O this new bag is waterproof and has a roll-top similar to other waterproof bags you might have seen. My older O-bag did let the water in a little at the incorporated carrier block bracket, my newer one didn't. This new Borough Small is I can report - I was caught in a torrential downpour last week - as advertised completely waterproof. I do mean completely and include the small front zipped pocket.

The Borough Small is 30cm (W) x 28cm (H) and 11cm (D) and weighs about the same as the Mini O. A really useful feature is the two-way strap which allows you to use the bag off bike as either a shoulder back or backpack. Both ways are comfortable and adds a little versatility to proceedings. In addition to the two-way strap the bag has a central handle to use as well.

The Borough Small has a 9 x litre capacity with a front zipped pocket that happily accepts my iPhone 11, keys, wallet, energy bar, Oyster card... and more besides. Its main compartment easily holds an iPad and 13 inch laptop. At a push as long it wasn't raining it could accommodate a 15 inch laptop with just one side of the of the fastenings engaged.

The roll-top is easy to operate and and the small aluminium hooks are quick to engage and together with the wedding are heavy duty and will last years and years of heavy use. 

A finishing touch is an air release valve on the front which allows you to empty the bag of excess air and make the package smaller. When I was carrying a big camera in it, I actually created a pocket of air in the bag deliberately to afford some cushioning which worked really well.

The Borough Small has rapidly become my favourite small bag and I would imagine the larger version of this would be as good for its intended purpose of carrying larger loads in a bag that is waterproof.  For me it is superior to the Mini-O.

I know the bag isn't in orange or even go with anything black but I do like the blue a great deal. The Borough Small is such a good bag I don't care! You can carry small loads or much larger ones with the reassurance that the contents therein are kept bone-dry. I am struggling to find any negatives apart from the £85 price which may put some off. Definitely worth a close look if you have a Brompton and want a smaller bag up front!

Stay safe out there people!!

Pop-up cycle lanes on the Euston Road for the Brompton user

The Euston Road is not really somewhere I would choose to cycle on - although many do - as it is just too busy and altogether an unpleasant experience. In fact walking along it isn't that better. Work has alert begun on a pop-up cycle lane that should make things a great deal better!

The eastbound cycle lane will open quite soon in just over a weeks time, with the westbound lane taking longer as there are quite a few bus stops to be moved.

This will almost certainly prove to be hailed as a great thing from cyclists but motorists will probably be less keen to say the least. I think that the Euston Road might actually be the outer limits of the congestion charge zone and reducing the number of lanes of traffic won't be popular.

I can't say I am going to head down to the Euston Road anytime soon but for cyclists who commute in that way it will be a godsend!

Stay safe out there people!!