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!