Orange Brompton Lockdown!

To start with thank you to all of you who have sent a message asking if I am okay and wishing that I keep safe. I am very grateful. An especially big thank you to those of you from Italy, Spain, New York and China as we are all experiencing tough times.

It is strange to think that us Brompton types have in many ways our own little sub-culture in which we share an unusual but common bond in the form of a small folding bicycle!

Like many of the countries and cities you might come from, the UK is in Lockdown. This means that you are not supposed to leave your home unless you are going to work, getting food or going out for one for of exercise - which includes cycling. 

I fall into the category of key worker so I have been going to and from work as normal. Thankfully my journey does not involve any form of public transport.  Those of you who have been reading my ramblings for a while may know how much I dislike using it at the best of times. It is one of the reasons I love my Brompton bicycles so much, as it means I can just cycle instead.

London is a very, very strange place at the moment. First thing in the morning it is quiet; more so than being up early on a Sunday before a bank holiday! 

I have never seen so many people walking their dogs, in gym-wear jogging or power walking and people on bicycles (lots on the pavement). Despite cyclists not supposed to be in groups of more than two, I have sadly seen riders in pelotons being totally selfish and ignoring this. If it continues I can see cycling being excluded as a form of exercise.

I plan to venture out on very local rides with limited millage as often as I can. I live in very quiet crescent that is 0.7 of a mile to circumnavigate. I definitely won't be going further afield. 

A loyal reader alerted me to one of my old blog posts How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse on a Brompton! that they liked.  I post the link here purely as a bit of light reading if you wish to. 

Wherever you are - and there isn't really any part of the world excluded from coronavirus at the moment - keep yourself and those close to you safe. If you can get out on your Brompton safely do so and if not you might have some time on you hands to give it a deep clean!

The 'C' word - London on an Orange Brompton

Early this morning I took my Flame Lacquer out for a very quick few miles in and around SW7. I have to say things were very different to normal. The coronavirus has taken hold of just about everywhere on planet Earth and wherever you are from dear reader, it is possibly in your thoughts. 

I was out and about quite early but normally I am joined in and around Hyde Park by joggers, dog walkers, fellow cyclists, pedestrians, tourists and everyone in-between. Today was eerily quiet - as if it were Christmas morning. As I cycled in Hyde Park I could not help but wish the proposed plans for it to be turned into a mobile morgue it never needed!

As you may know, by reading my previous blog posts over the years, I do not really like public transport, which is one of the reasons I love the Brompton so much. In some countries public transport has been banned or heavily restricted for the foreseeable and I would imagine that getting around by bicycle might increase. Brompton would certainly be my preferred mode of transport.

There is a tendency for us Brits to be rather blasé in the face of something like this. The notion of the stiff upper lip and the Noel Coward song 'Mad dongs and Englishmen' is still there. Events are chain on a daily basis and future plans for organised cycling adventures and events may/may not happen. 

Yesterday I gave my Zombie-Apocalypse friendly 'Surly Disc Trucker' a good clean in case I need it however cycling on one of my Brompton bicycles will certainly continue!

Wherever you are, stay safe!

No Orange Brompton Tweed Run for me in 2020

The Tweed Run is an annual cycling event held in London (takes parts in other places too) where participants dress in their finest tweed garments and saunter around London at a very sedate pace. It is a wonderful event! Today at 12:00 p.m. tickets went on sale but I won't be going this year.

As I type this - approaching 19:00 - tickets are still available. This is rather strange as in previous years they have sold out within a few hours. Perhaps it has something to do with the C word?

I decided late last year that I wouldn't be going this year. I have been on several of them over the years and enjoyed them greatly however, I have an Evans RideIt Sportive on the same day that I have not taken part in for a few years and just preferred it this year.

If you haven't experienced the Tweed Run and live in London or can get to it on the 2nd May I doubt if you'd be disappointed. Get a ticket while they are still available!

Hopefully I will be starting a ride it Windsor that is longer and at a quicker pace, providing that all important training element for bigger ride later in the year - assuming they go ahead!