tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869360103115192024-03-02T17:14:38.761+00:00My Orange BromptonMy Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.comBlogger1452125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-42068406412208732202024-03-02T17:13:00.004+00:002024-03-02T17:13:59.161+00:00Rain and your Brompton Rain! Recently it seems as if it has done nothing but rain and we haven't even reached April when April showers are a such a thing, it is a saying. I thought I would explore the sometimes touchy subject of rain and ones Brompton bicycle. Those clouds look ominous!February 2024 is now on record as being the wettest in 200 years. A long time! If you live in the UK you are pretty used to it. My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-15473320114820125842024-02-25T14:00:00.002+00:002024-02-25T14:00:30.674+00:00Brompton London amble Having an amble on ones Brompton is London is one of those simple pleasures that rarely disappoints. I could have headed off to a group ride where country lanes would have been a feature. I decide that I could not cope with that, preferring the urban. Yesterday I headed down from N6 and thankfully did not encounter any strange goings on while freewheeling down Swain'e Lane! The closer I got My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-58281630500162015942024-02-22T18:49:00.003+00:002024-02-22T18:49:38.476+00:00Dream build - Vol.1 The Millionth BromptonIf you are a Brompton fanboy/fangirl you will have almost certainly seen that Brompton made their 1,000,00th Brompton. To many, it looks a shade of red but to me I can see - well no guesses needed - a hint of orange. It does remind me of my first ever Brompton that was gifted to me when I went up to university. That particular Brompton was either made in 1989 or 1990 - to my shame I cannot My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-85128843241435746802024-02-19T21:37:00.000+00:002024-02-19T21:37:02.559+00:00What a carry on, on a Brompton!At the weekend, I headed out from NW8 and my first port of call was completely by accident as I came down from Regent's Park. As I headed towards Marylebone Road, there on the wall on the block of Farley Court was a rather lovely Blue Plaque. The recipient of this honour was none other than the late Kenneth Williams. Those of you of a certain age will of course remember the many 'carry On' My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-12563695862224297362024-02-11T11:53:00.002+00:002024-02-11T11:53:52.153+00:00Urban vs rural on an Orange BromptonFor those of you who have read my ramblings for a while, you will know that I am very much an urbanite. Although I do enjoy cycling outside of London, I will endeavour to explain my thoughts on the matter. On Saturday I had a very shortish 10x mile cycle in the countryside. The Chilterns to be exact. The large fields that seemed to go on and on with a huge variety of colours was stunning. My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-58575112905495637852024-02-09T16:57:00.001+00:002024-02-09T16:57:08.911+00:00Brompton 12 speed frenzy Since the new 12 Speed Brompton P-Line and T-Line dropped not that long ago, there has been a frenzy of activity. I will explain.Both the P and T Lines were introduced with no rear hub but a new rear triangle that could take the new 4x sprocket set up. The weight saving impressed many - especially the T - Line but only having 4x gears didn't cut the mustard for just as much. Brompton have now in My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-63510585748167848592024-02-03T16:30:00.001+00:002024-02-03T16:30:05.446+00:00Brompton Superlight Quick Release PedalsI have been using clipped in pedal on all of my Brompton bicycles for a few years now. Over the past few months I have been using my Brompton in situations where I do not really want to wear clipped in SPD shoes and would rather just wear, whatever I had on my feet at the time. There is another reason for this but that's for another time perhaps. Not wanting to go back to the standard Brompton My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-69467219371833697912024-01-22T19:33:00.001+00:002024-01-24T20:20:31.280+00:00Air horn instead of a bell!Some time ago I wrote a blog post in which I recalled someone using one of those bottles you could pump with air, attached to a horn that would emit a loud near-trumpet blast. A few days ago I saw something similar that left me somewhat speechless. On Victoria Embankment, almost starting from Westminster Bridge towards Blackfriars, I saw a gentleman on a very tatty looking mountain bike My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-91723745773182560132024-01-21T16:42:00.002+00:002024-01-21T16:42:23.824+00:00The Brompton 12x speedA few weeks ago one of my dear readers pointed out that in an owners manual about adjusting gears for the P Line, it mentioned a 12 gear version. It seems that along with more than a few other rumours, the reality is here. I think that it was always on the cards. A version of the Brompton gear hub would fit quite nicely in a wheel along with the 4x sprockets and all the other bits needed to My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-14430652352542351452024-01-20T13:15:00.001+00:002024-01-20T13:15:23.450+00:00Planning for upcoming adventuresI don't know about you, but after Christmas and once January is well under way, thoughts usually turn to what adventure can I go on. The night rides to the coast schedule looks set to be out sooner rather than later and this year may feature no rides in March and October. This is a shame but it does provide an opportunity. Firing off a text to Dr John I asked him to pencil in a date for the My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-34788599110527053662024-01-03T17:24:00.001+00:002024-01-03T17:24:23.426+00:00Strange Brompton goings on up Swain's Lane!Highgate and the surrounding area is one that I know very well for as long as I can remember. In the last 12 months I have been much more intimately acquainted with all things N6. Swain's Lane is quite good for cyclists - especially Brompton riders - as it provides quite a challenge, with a testing gradient. Just behind me in the photo below are the East and West entrances to Highgate Cemetery - My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-30925795182105437972024-01-01T14:12:00.002+00:002024-01-01T14:12:44.463+00:00Welcome to 2024 on a Brompton people!2024 is here and I am hoping that as far as the cycling front is concerned things are a little better than 2023. Many of the rides I go on require a train back into London and sadly many of these adventures had to be cancelled due to strike action being taken. This has meant getting there would be fine but the return journey back...would be a nightmare and all but impossible. There were evenMy Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-15515200662996188982023-12-31T18:36:00.000+00:002023-12-31T18:36:18.241+00:00I'm back! My last ride of 2023Well, you may well be rather shocked at this post but I am back. I felt it only fitting to end the year with a few words about my last cycle ride of 2023. What a year it has been! Friday saw me join a few of the lovely Friday night ride to the coast peeps for a gentle ride around London with not particular theme or purpose. So, I saddled up and headed off to the start at Hyde Park Corner to My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-32770394174746976842023-08-09T17:03:00.003+01:002023-08-09T17:03:52.471+01:00I'm still here people!Hello to you dear reader. I have been quite humbled by the number of kind enquiries via Instagram and email asking; where I have been; when am I going to start writing blog posts again and whether I am okay. I am happy to report that I am perfectly okay. Normal service will be resumed shortly, so you will have to endure me and my ramblings when this happens.Until then, stay safe out there people!My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-81401187269233283422023-05-01T18:55:00.001+01:002023-05-01T18:55:58.457+01:00London gets ready for the coronationIf you live or work in central London, you cannot help but notice all the preparations for the coronation next Saturday. There has been bunting, large flags, seating going up at Horse Guards and outside Buckingham Palace and even two new arches in Carnaby Street. Shops have out up displays and Burlington Arcade has gone Chelsea Flower Show with national flowers of the countries of the UK.&My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-30416928523839739452023-04-30T12:45:00.001+01:002023-04-30T12:45:06.632+01:00Why I passed on the Tweed Run this yearThe Tweed Run returned to London yesterday. It is essentially a cycle ride through iconic parts of London with participants wearing as much tweed as they dare. Tickets usually sell out very quickly but this year I didn't even try. I'll explain. My first Tweed Run was over ten years ago and I have participated in several up until the 'C' word stopped all the fun. This year tickets cost £50 My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-25738231847963758802023-04-29T19:29:00.003+01:002023-04-29T19:29:36.105+01:00Brutal Brompton visitLast week I paid a visit to a friend at Barbican. Despite being there many times over the years, I always enjoy going there. I cycled there on my Brompton and parked it up, leaving it nice and secure and headed inside. Barbican is a mixture of residential properties and next to the Barbican Arts Centre and former Museum of London - now closed and will eventually move down the road to My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-85174089951280958852023-04-22T11:33:00.001+01:002023-04-22T11:33:28.097+01:00New bottom bracket for the Orange Special EditionA few weeks ago I noticed a little play in the cranks when cleaning my beloved Orange Special Edition. This was a sure sign that the bottom bracket needed replacing. This Brompton is the oldest in the fleet and has covered many miles and been on lots of adventures. With the sort of rides I go on, it pays to have a Brompton that is in excellent condition all the time. Having all the tools needed My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-6251366607095318402023-04-12T15:42:00.001+01:002023-04-12T15:42:01.786+01:00The Cobblemonster 2023 on an Orange BromptonLast Sunday was the Cobblemonster. I have been taking part in this event for many years. It used to be called, The London Classic but it's pretty much the same thing. The Cobblemonster is a bike ride around London inspired by the Paris-Roubaix. This means that the Cobblemonster has cobbles and a few lung busting hills. Up bright and after punching in the directions to the start point at My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-42045431091461152032023-04-10T16:52:00.003+01:002023-04-12T15:24:31.275+01:00Overnight London to Felpham...nearly!Thursday was quite a busy day. I had been out with the family visiting a few places but I had been very organised and had the choice of either of my two Orange Brompton bicycles, both clean and raring to go. This ride to Felpham, not far from Bognor Regis was to be the first night ride of the season as the previous ride to Southend - which would have been the first - was cancelled due to poor My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-39688420247849174972023-04-05T19:20:00.002+01:002023-04-05T19:21:39.709+01:00Amble on an Orange BromptonThe other day I went on a little amble with nowhere in particular in mind at all. I decided to test out the Velo 2 that the lovely peeps at Beeline had sent out to me to test, so I decided to be give it a try. (Much more on the Velo 2 at a later stage once I have really given it the once over, so keep coming back to read about that at some point). I started off at Finchley Road just on the My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-45265203220186011702023-04-02T13:46:00.001+01:002023-04-02T13:46:26.286+01:00London Film and TV locations on a Brompton What seems like ages now, on Sunday 5th March, I joined a select band of cyclist who normally go on Friday night rides to the coast but occasionally have rather good themed rides on a Sunday. This ride was film and television locations in London. The meeting point is usually Hyde Park Corner but as the first location was near Borough Market - which gets rather busy - we met outside London Bridge.My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-64499986613742857842023-03-04T11:33:00.003+00:002023-03-04T11:34:36.886+00:00The Brompton Factory PenTucked away in the several items of Brompton accessories you will find, 'The Brompton Factory Pen.' I was given one of these as a way of a thank you for my friend who has a thing for the Brompton CHPT3. (You might have read a recent blog post about this and the release of version #4. He managed to get one quite easily to join all the other versions he has, without the need for me going to buy oneMy Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-79146472068837077182023-02-14T14:13:00.003+00:002023-02-14T14:13:46.052+00:00Brompton CHPT3 version 4Brompton might have sent you a notification to sign up for information about the forthcoming CHPT3 Version 4. Yes it will be out sooner rather than later. The CHPT3 has been a huge hit and is pretty much guaranteed to not only fly off the shelf - but probably won't even make it to a shelf in the first place. Those of a certain age might remember when bands released singles and a few, made it all My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386936010311519.post-62188409302159482922023-02-08T20:36:00.001+00:002023-02-08T20:36:22.958+00:00Look Mum No Hands closes its doors The rather sad news was released earlier today that possibly the best cycling cafe in London has shut its doors. Located in Old Street - an incredibly convenient place - it served as the meeting point for many cycling adventures. These have included the Dunwich Dynamo, The Cobble Monster and many other Brompton rides. It was also the eatery where my partner in crime, Bumblebee and I My Orange Bromptonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11527237035726801401noreply@blogger.com1