More rides cancelled

Yesterday two of the Evans Cycles,  'Ride It' events I had signed up for before Christmas were cancelled quite rightly as a result of the uncertainty over COVID-19.

The rides were the Windsor  Sportive - on the same day as the Tweed Run - and the Hatfield Sportive which was to take place on 14th June. I wasn't going to the Tweed Run this year but it does make me wonder when, with four weeks to go, it will be cancelled?  Even Wimbledon which was due to take place between 29th June and 12th July has been cancelled - the first time since World War II.

I do wonder when the decision will be made for events like the Dunwich Dynamo - where many participants have paid for a coach ticket already - and the Ride 100? I know that no-one can look into the future and see what will happen but it does seem that there is a great amount of dithering going on. Just get on with it.

As far as I am concerned these events I have named shouldn't go ahead. Make the decision, cancel and refund. I doubt very much whether the world will have seem the back of the dreaded 'C' word by then. As far as the UK is concerned, the emergency services and our poor NHS will need time to lick their wounds and recover. There is always next year...hopefully.

Orange Brompton daily exercise allowance

Like many of you out there I have been trying to get my daily dose of exercise. For my daily exercise allowance I have followed the advice and kept local to where I live.

My route involves me doing circuits of the crescent that starts outside my front door and is roughly 0.7 of a mile to complete. I normally cycle until I have reached five miles - which takes 20 roughly minutes - and then call it a day. I keep my ride to under 30 minutes for more the sake of convenience than anything else.

My route is quiet at the best of times but even more so now, with only people walking, walking their dogs, joggers and an occasional cyclists to be seen. Each circuit has a small hill of about 200 metres in length which adds a little something to proceedings.

I have tried to alternate which of my Brompton bicycles I take with me and as yet have not taken either of my two big-wheeled bicycles out at all. (I probably will if and when it rains as who want to get their beloved Brompton wet unnecessarily)!

Many weeks ago my friend Dr John and I had arranged to go on another duo nocturnal adventure - probably London to Brighton - which would have been tonight going in to tomorrow morning. Sadly this is of course not going to happen and I suspect it will be several weeks before it will. As I cycled round thoughts did turn to this ride and little snippets of it replayed in my head.

One elderly couple has been out walking circuits as I have been cycling. We have said hello as we have passed each other. Yesterday they shouted out questions they had about my Brompton as I passed them on my circuits. After this happened a couple of times I stopped and keeping safe distance I answered questions about the Brompton and cycling in general. They said that they have a pretty good exercise bike at home and they both use it to complete virtual challenges. They have both used their exercise bike to complete some quite amazing distances to keep fit. They told me about the almost 300 mile Grand Canyon challenge, 90 mile Hadrian's Wall and the one they are working on now is the virtual Lands End to John O'Groats! 

When I was out today they showed me one of the medals (they had one each) that you get for completing the challenges. I have to say that it was a Bobby Dazzler and Mr T would have been quite pleased to have had it round his neck back in the 1980's!! Perhaps tomorrow I should take my three Brompton World Championships medals for competing the 'Brompton Triple!'

Whatever you are doing to cope with the lockdown, wherever you live, keep safe and stay positive. Hopefully we will all get through this and to the other side. For me at the moment the thing I am looking forward to most is being able to smell the sea air after a night ride from central London. 

A great cause from Brompton - Wheels for heroes

I think anyone reading this blog knows already that I think Brompton bicycles are wonderful. Over the past few years my experience of Brompton - the company - would probably have a similar description.

Brompton HQ have set up a crowdfunded for a quite brilliant cause. Two weeks ago Brompton Bike Hire approached a London hospital and NHS London to provide Brompton bikes for their front-line staff so that they could avoid crowded buses and trains.

This has now gone national, with Brompton donating up to £100,000 for manufacturing costs. The crowdfunder has been set up to extend this. It is a great idea and I will be donating.

I have posted a link to the crowdfunder below where you can find out more about it. It really is a great idea and well worth a look.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/wheelsforheroes