Brompton World Championships 2025

Next Saturday is the sporting event of the year for many people - the Brompton World Championships 2025. 

The tickets for race entry sold out pretty quickly but last week a few became available again. A shame that Brompton did not release them earlier as I know several of you out there - including yours truly - made other plans.

The event is at the same location as for 2024, Coal Drop Yards, not far from King's Cross. Its format of 5x laps of the 900 metre circuit remains the same but this year there will be timing chips (a great addition to a few people with perhaps a clipboard in hand furiously trying to take down race numbers). 

It really is a wonderful event and I think that this year - had I been taking part - I might have taken my G-Line. I would imagine that it would be brilliant on the ramp down. Alas, it is not to be.

Even if you are not racing, watching it all is great fun and last year many people did just that. For those of your taking part, enjoy and best of luck. 

If you want to read about my Brompton World Championships for 2024, you can do so by clicking HERE.

Until next time, stay safe out there people 

G-Shock and a Brompton

Many years ago I recall being on a shopping trip with my late mum where I saw a Casio G-Shock Square sitting in a little water tank with bubbles rising upwards. I gazed at it transfixed for a few minutes. I was to be given an updated version of one of these a few years later and I suppose my fixation with all things G-Shock began. For me (and I suspect a few of you out there) the G-Shock does seem to go hand in hand with owning a Brompton and cycling. More so than more expensive brands I could mention. 

In my early 20's I had a couple of watches that were eye-wateringly expensive. I am sure that you can guess the brand. One was a dive version and the other had a second hour hand for telling the time in other time zone. I sold them long ago when Mrs Orange and I moved to our second home. I don't miss them at all. Being mechanical watches they lost/gained a few seconds a day and every now and then required a service that was not inexpensive. Added to this, despite their rugged credentials, they had to be treated with care. I certainly wouldn't have cycle in one. That is where the G-Shock differs. 

I should say that I have only ever bought versions of the G-Shock Square with a five appearing in the thousands column. They are accurate and those that can receive a radio signal, allows the watch to set the time for you in the early hours of every morning. This results in a watch that is never, ever wrong. Most of mine are solar powered so batteries are not needed. I have a few 20+ year old watches that are still doing what they are supposed to do. They are water resistant to 200 metres and some crazy types have taken them down to much greater depths, with their watches being more than able to handle it. Finally, they are shock resistant and can handle just about anything. 

The new kid on the block is very much a nod to the 1983 model. In the photo below it is the one on the left - DW-5000R-1AER. This is quite wonderful and sold out in a matter of hours. It even comes from the Casio factory in Japan where the originals were made. I suspect you might think that the other two are the same. They aren't and perhaps only a G-Shock nerd could tell the difference. 

I recently bought a white version - GW-5000HD-7ER - and it too is rather special, also direct from the Casio factory in Japan. It is heavier than a normal G-Shock and underneath the white bezel it is all solid steel. It is in retina burning white and I love it. 

Naturally, I have a few in orange. I love the way that when on a night ride to the coast it somehow receives the radio signal from the atomic clock in the early hours of the morning, resetting the time.

I do see quite a few cyclists wearing G-Shocks, perhaps more so on those with mountain bikes. I was given an Apple Watch for a present a few years ago but it wasn't a G-Shock. As such I discreetly and gradually wore it less and less. My eldest Orangette wears one of my older G-Shock Squares and I am glad that she does. As for me, they really do complement the Brompton as that go anywhere watch. I have cycled through the night in constant rain and glad I had one of my trusty G-Shocks on my wrist!

Now I have written that, I wonder if there will ever be a Brompton/G-Shock collaboration and subsequent bicycle? What a terrible thought. I will just stick to the watches. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

Cleaning ones Brompton

There are some people out there with a Brompton bicycle that is used every day but rarely - if ever - being cleaned. I have not been someone who has ever fallen into that category. I take the view that a clean Brompton is a happy Brompton. There is to follow then perhaps a surprising revelation about another mode of transport where I take a different view but more on that later. 

One of my first purchases when I owned a Brompton for a few months was a Park Tool bike stand. With this I found the cleaning process a great deal easier. It also made things much quicker. 

The other thing I use is a chain cleaning device - again made by Park Tools. WIth a little bit of chain degreaser therein, you can have your chain looking a great deal better and performing well. 

I then clean the frame, wheels, tyres, chainring and sprockets. By the time I have done all that, I have probably covered just about the entire bike. Finally I make sure that it all dried off before applying oil to the chain. In the early days of owning a Brompton, as far as oiling the chain after washing and drying it was concerned, things were hit and miss. I even used GT45 and that alone. For the past few years I have used a specific chain oil (dry in summer and wet in winter) and made sure that I drop a little oil on each roller. (In the early days I applied far too much)!

Once all this is completed, behold...my clean Brompton. I like to keep all my Brompton bikes clean and tidy which is more than I can for my car. I rarely wash it and do not really care a great deal for my car or cars in general. I could afford a much fancier one but have never really seen the point. My Brompton bicycles are looked after to a much higher standard. Perhaps you can tell me what you do with your Brompton. Are you like me? Are you one of the people who rarely cleans it? 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

A few London bridges for a G-Line amble

One of the great things about living in London is that you can get on your bicycle and go on some rides that might have had the genesis as a crazy thought the night before. Having mentioned a few rides that have gone into extinction such as the 'Thames Bridges Ride' it put the idea into my head. With a couple of hours to spare, I headed out in search of all things bridges. 

Tower Bridge was built in 1894 which machinery to raise the central road span in 90 seconds. This now happens rarely but in the past it was much more frequent when London was a busy port. 

London Bridge built in 1973 replaced earlier bridges that were built since the 1st Century. The Romans built the first London bridge not too far away. 

Southwark Bridge was built in 1921 has the City and St Paul's Cathedral to the north and Southwark Cathedral to the south. 

Waterloo Bridge was built in 1942 is rather plain compared to the earlier bridge it replaced. That one had nine granite arches and pair of columns. 

Westminster Bridge opened in 1862. A favourite of many due to its stunning views. As such it very popular with recently/soon to be married tourists who can often be seen posing halfway across. 

Lambeth Bridge in its current guise was built in 1932. It replaces a previous bridge that was built in 1862. 

Vauxhall Bridge opened in 1906, is perhaps most famous for its views of the Secret Intelligence Building that is home to MI6. If you like James Bond pay the bridge and those views a visit but don't get too close.

Chelsea Bridge build in 1937 in the usual way for many London bridges, replaced on that was built in 1858. 

In all I cycled about 25 miles and as it took me more or less bang on two hours I was pleased. There are of course another seven bridges after this but with only two hours it will have to wait until another day. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

Memorable Duo Overnight London to Brighton

The London to Brighton overnighter is something I have completed several times with my friend Dr John but believe me, this particular adventure was to prove memorable in more ways than one! 

Straight away, things took an unexpected turn when cycling through Hyde Park travelling south, all of the gates were locked. There were several cyclists on hire bikes trying to lift their bicycles over the locked gates. Knowing that one gate might actually be open, I headed towards it to find it locked. A member of the Parks Security sitting in a car indicated where the open gate was and I travelled through. Despite this, another cyclist could be seen all but throwing their bicycle over the same gate moments later?!

Arriving at our meeting point I saw Dr John waiting. It was good to see him and soon we were off into the night. We turned right at The Old Vic and our adventure truly began. 

It was a mild night and quiet on the roads. There just didn’t seem to be too many people out an about. We knew that there would be rain at some point but as the weather forecasts in the days before our ride has changed frequently, we didn’t really care. 

At our left turn past Clapham and all the busy nightclubs packed with people both inside and out, things got much calmer. On this road we usually spot an urban fox or two going about their business. Soon we saw one and then at least three small fluffy cubs, playfully bounding around. 

As we cycled along we chewed the fat and caught up on all the things we had been up to. (I think that our last ride might have been last December). 

Sticking to our tried and tested route, we soon arrived at Farthing Downs and its cattle grid. This marked the point at which the urban landscape more or less gives way to a more rural aspect. We had a snack and just as we got ready to set off again, a few drops of rain started falling. This was to be followed by a great deal more!

The rain was quite light for a good few miles but very much a constant companion. We arrived Outwood Windmill and stopped to take some photos. Construction for this began in 1665 and it is said those working it could see the orange/red glow of the Great Fire of London in 1666. 

At this point - I think - Dr John started to complain about the rainwater in his eyes. 

Just before Turners Hill we stopped an inn that had a seating area outside. We parked our Brompton bikes and tucked into the snacks we had brought with us. 

We approached Turners Hill and perhaps because of the constant rain, it felt much longer than it usually did. In fact this was a feature of any incline. Dr John revealed that the probable cause of his sore eyes was the fact he has used moisturising body lotion after his bath and may have also applied some to his face. 

At certain points Dr John had to stop as his eyes were painful due to the incorrect application of moisturising body lotion on his face. I found out that it was of the avocado variety and made a mental note that should I ever apply moisturising body location, it must not be near my face!

On the wildlife front (in addition to foxes) we also saw a few badgers that darted across our paths. The highlight though was see twe female Red Deer running side by side on the country lane ahead of us and then almost magically disappearing through the hedgerow. 

At the junction in the photo below we would normally turn right and then cycle up the usual route to Ditchling Beacon. Both of us had had enough and knowing there was a much fabled calmer route avoiding considerable gradients, I used my Wahoo to find it. We turned left and then almost immediately right. What an

error of judgement!

Things started off rather well. It was a narrow road that looked as if cars wound stray onto. It was steep at times but nothing we couldn’t handle. This soon changed. The gradient became worse than anything on the usual route and the surface was so terrible we were forced to get off and push. While this happened the rain fell and Dr John could be seen further down the road with an expression on his face like Juliet Stevenson when she cries a lot in ‘Truly Madly Deeply.’ Just when I thought it could not get worse…it did. 

At the top of our new route the road gave way to open countryside. We had to walk along for about a mile before we arrived at the top of Ditchling Beacon - the bit we normally arrive at when cycling up the traditional route. I could have cycled along this quite happily. I mean, I had my G-Line with me after all. However, I kept this to myself as I didn’t want to leave Dr John. In fact I felt a little like James Garner when in ‘The Great Escape’ he helps the character Donald Pleasance plays! 

Eventually we made it to the open road with the rain started to subside a little. It was then straight to the station and on our respective trains - me central London and Dr John slightly further afield. 

On the train I felt wet because I was soaking. My gloves were heavy with the weight of water and I started to steam slightly as the water evaporated. I also had to fight staying awake. 

At Farringdon I got off and after cycling at a gentle pace, was soon  back home. After a shower, some food and a few hours sleep I felt fine. (After my shower, I did not apply moisturising body lotion). 

Dr John was okay after the ride too and as always, I thank him for his company. Our rides together are never dull, always memorable and I suspect it will not be too long before we do something like this all over again. 

Dr John 

So dear reader as always, until next time stay safe out there!

Wahoo are pretty amazing to say the least

Hello dear reader. I thought I would update you on the state of play in terms of my Wahoo Roam. Having contacted Wahoo's customer service I have to say it has been nothing short of incredible. I will explain. 

You might have read on my previous blog post CLICK HERE that my trusty Wahoo Roam pretty much gave up the ghost in terms of its battery keeping the charge. Contacting Wahoo, they asked me to perform a few tests so that the battery data could be verified. I didn't have the receipt as I could not find it at all but then it dawned on me that I may have actually bought it from Wahoo. Once all this had been sorted out, I confirmed my address and was informed that a replacement unit would be out to me within 5-7 working days. To my amazement and shock, the tracking information came through a few hours later and in a little over 24-hours the replacement was delivered. 

I had a Roam V1 and I was sent the V2 unit - possibly as the V1 is pretty much out of production. I do not know if this is a refurbished unit but I can say it does appear to be as new. 

Taking it out on a ride, the battery life is back to what I remember my original to be like and the V2 has some slight enhancements to the screen, its GPS prowess, the raised buttons and the fact it is now charged via USB C rather than Micro USB. 

I bought the Roam in 2019 and used it frequently in all weather conditions. It helped me to navigate to all sorts of destination and has been indispensable. Wahoo's customer service has been incredible and my loyalty to them is pretty much confirmed by this and previous interactions. I can see it helping me on all sorts of adventures.

Until next time, stay safe out there people. 

Wahoo Roam sadly dying

It is safe to say that I am a bit of a Wahoo fan. The Roam is the thirds of their navigation devices I have owned but sadly it looks as if it is coming to the end of its life. 

On the recent night ride to Southend, the battery drained to zero - something it has now done on two other occasions - where it normally lasts the entire night with ease. 

The Wahoo has allowed me to navigate of all sorts of rides and given me the confidence to do so, knowing that it is very reliable. I have tried other navigation devices from other well know manufacturers (you can guess who) but never got on with them in any way. I certainly didn't have any faith that I could navigate on an overnight ride to the coast. 

I sent an email to Wahoo asking whether anything could be done - perhaps a battery replacement - but I now suspect this is not possible. I do not have a receipt for it, despite searching for for it, which means it is quite possibly the end of the road for it. 

I could power it via a portable juice pack but this is far from ideal. In addition I did this on the recent Southend run but it didn't really help that much as the battery just kept giving up. 

I will let you know how I get on and what I end up doing but I suspect its adventures have come to an end. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people. 

Overnight G-Line London to Southend overnight

Friday night in Saturday morning marked the second night ride to the coast of the season. This adventure was to the classic location Southend-on-Sea. After much deliberation, I decided to take my G-Line for its second nocturnal outing and on several levels I am glad that I did. 

The start point was the usual not a million miles away from the London Eye. As my cycle from north London was pretty plain sailing, I arrived with time to spare. Not wanting to just hang around, I took a few photos on Roupell Street. As it was really quite there and the surrounding area, it enhanced the almost travelling back in time aspect. 

At the start point lots of the regulars started appearing along with a few new faces. Geoff arrived in good time - again on big wheels - but this time there were two other Brompton riders. After our roll call and safety briefing by our ride leader and gentleman that is Greg, we were off into a rather mild night. 

Our pace was purposeful and I cannot be certain but the route seemed to be a little old school and very similar to days of Simon Legg (the original founder of these rides). I liked it. As always, we rode for a few miles and stopped to regroup at various points along the way. All sorts of bicycles were out in force and I think that all the main groups were accounted for. Some had the power of electric and there were times on some of the longer I longed for the joys of my Brompton Electric. 

After rough;y 25 miles in we reached sanctuary at Doddinghurst Scouts. There we found lots of sandwiches and some brilliant oaty biscuits that I could have quite happily eaten every last one of. Again, staying awake was an issue and conversation merely a series of mumbled words.  The welcome was warm and friendly and after about an hour we bid our farewells and headed out into the early, pre-dawn morning.  

As soon as I stepped outside I felt the cold. Fingerless gloves were replaced by those allowing for a full finger covering. A gillet was put over my jacket and a snood (can there be a more useful item of clothing) was put on. For the first few miles after we set off I felt cold but gradually started to feel okay again. 

We had some beautiful scenes ahead of us. The sky was clear, the sun started to rise and a chorus of birdsong guided our way forward. 

All the magical elements you try to explain to people when you tell them what you did at the weekend and why, played out before us. It was wonderful. 

I found my G-Line to be invaluable on the rougher road surfaces. Nothing really bothered it. It just silently glided over it. The G in G-Line is usually taken as meaning gravel, but I think a case could be argued for glide. Again, it confirmed why I bought this particular Brompton. 

Another thing about the G-Line is that I do seem to be able to ascend hills a little easier than on one of my 6x speed Brompton bikes with a 44T chainring. It just seems a little easier. 

We passed the infamous ford and a few participants cycled through it. I never have and always taken the little path that runs parallel to it. Believe me, I have seen this a great deal deeper and the water really can sit a great deal higher!

The next few miles we took in some lovely Essex countryside and as our ride leader didn't want us to arrive too early (the breakfast stop was scheduled for 08:00) photo opportunities were actively encouraged.

 

We stopped at Stock Windmill, always a great sight to see. Built in the early 1800s and a Grade II listed building, its sails no longer turn but it is a lovely building and always enhanced in the early sunrise lighting. Anyway, surely spotting a windmill on a ride is worth bonus points?!

At Hanningfield Reservoir, pretty much everyone stopped to take some photos and rightly so. Being almost 1000 acres in size it is just outside the top ten reservoirs in England. With that orange sky, stunning photos were almost guaranteed. 

Not far from this we were all taking photos again, this time at Battlebridge which spans the River Crouch. From there, we cycled with clear, blue skies and with the sun trying to make its presence felt. 

At the end of night rides I am the sort of person who likes to get home and rarely do I stay for breakfast. With local knowledge from Geoff, Leigh-on-Sea station was simply at the end of a road down a hill. Saying my goodbyes to Geoff I headed down said hill and arrived at the station. 

My train bound for Fenchurch Street was just pulling in as I stepped onto the platform and I boarded it. I was back in london by 08:45 and after about half an hour of gentle cycling, back home. 

At home, I had a bite to eat, a shower and retired to my bed for a few hours of blissful sleep with an entourage of Maine Coon cats to keep me company - despite the fact they had just slept all night. 

Many thanks to the ride organisers, Greg for leading and to Geoff for his company. As always, I look forward to the next nocturnal adventure, which I hope to be sooner rather than later. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!