Back on the bike

My sprained ankle is almost healed. I can cycle and I don’t feel sore compared to when I walk. My biggest problem is carrying the bike up and down stairs as I am still a little worried about keeping my balance. The sprained ankle has made be think about what kind of Brompton I would next buy. Already I know I don’t want to give up the Eazy Wheels. I also noticed that I can carry my Brompton for a longer distance than I thought even with a sore ankle. Our weird weather continues. Lots of bright sun but bitterly cold.

Buying a Brompton - Step 1 Go the website

As it has been five years since I brought my Brompton and I am thinking about getting another I thought I would do the research and see what is different. I went to the Brompton website. It has changed and it is better but it still takes a little work to find out about the Bikes and what you can get. The information is there but you have to look for it and know what you are looking at. There is a lot of jumping back and forth on web pages when you are looking for information. Not sure why Brompton has not sorted out having a page that allows you to compare the basic specs of all the models at once. Complicated but not impossible. I like the brochure. If you are new to the Brompton or just trying to get an update the brochure does list everything in one place. It doesn't give you information about the weight of the various parts. For that you have to go back to the main site. When I was first looking at the Brompton 6 years ago I downloaded the brochure from the website, printed it off and read it on my commute to work. What has improved on the website is finding a Brompton supplier and the site gives information as to whether the supplier is trained by Brompton. They didn’t have this information before, they had a list of suppliers but not the training which can make a difference if you are worried about this. I originally brought my Brompton from Compton Cycles and they still tick all the boxes in having a large range of ‘off the peg’ Bromptons which mine was and they can order for you as they have a good relationship with the Brompton factory, they are friendly and know about the bike. But the downside for me this time around is that they don’t yet offer an interest free credit scheme and I know that my Brompton will not be cheap. The other issue is that my usual travel routes are going into the central London and I thought it may be easier this time around getting a bike from one of the shops that I usually pass on my various routes. But for me the most important thing is having a good relationship with a bike shop. I know I have had a Brompton for a long time but I still don’t remember the logic of the names of the different models. I look at the handlebars and I ask myself why is the T shape bike called S, why is the U shape bike called M and why is the W shaped bike called P? I know that the H bike is a taller version of the M but it still looks like a U. I know it is related to what they do, but that is how they look to me. I think Brompton should give them proper names but I guess letters makes the bike more teckie sounding and must be good for the market. Tips: 1. Go to the website and play around. You will get lost but you will find interesting things about the bike and the Brompton community. 2. Look at the brochure. This brings everything together in an accessible way. 3. Find your nearest supplier on the website.

A million more women on bicycles

I got sent the link to this video yesterday. It is part of the British Cycling campaign working with Barclays to get a million more women in the UK making regular trips on bikes by 2020. I want this to happen but I wonder at times. Maybe it just feels extra hard at the moment because of our current never-ending winter weather. I have posted the video because it features Caz Catlin of the impressively stylish Cycle Chic website and blog London Cycle Chic. This woman had one of the first UK based bike blogs giving advice to women about cycling without the lycra. When it comes to having courage to get on the bike it was bloggers like Caz not sports women like Victoria Pendleton that tipped it for me. I have been looking at the Cycle Chic site and I am tempted to buy a helmet.

Ankle Boots - Dune

The weather is still so dull, and cold in London. No one can believe it that April starts this weekend and we are expecting more, yes more cold weather. There has been a rash of unexpected bargains in shoe departments and I have brought another pair, of ankle boots this time from Dune, although I am not sure if these are shoe boots. With this weather it will be boots, boots and more boots until the summer. I have not brought shoes from Dune before. Not one of the usual shoe shops that I visit. But they have now just gone into the top five. Although I will wait again until the sale before making another visit. These black suede boots have been waterproofed. They come with a thin rubber sole which give them a very good grip on the bike pedals and a bounce when I walk. The day after I took this photo last Thursday I sprained my ankle while coming down stairs. So I will be off the bikes for a couple weeks while I heal.

Ankle Boots - Gap

I have fallen in love with ankle boots. I especially love the boots that I can wear with a dress or with pants. The weather is still cold, very cold and I am tired of wearing long boots all the time. I was in GAP this week because I had a discount voucher and I saw this boots on sale for £40. Bargain. They are fine on the Brompton pedals but I will get a rubber sole put on for a better grip.

Happy Fifth Birthday

I can’t believe it. I have been cycling on my Brompton for five years! Here are my favourite posts from when I was just starting out. The one thing that has changed is the weather as when I got the Brompton in 2008 it was mostly a warm and dry early Spring.

The first day
The first time in the West End.
Feeling sore all over. 
Bike lessons.
First messenger bag. 
Shopping by bike.
Brompton basket.
Passing the cycling proficiency test.

The Brompton has held up very well.  There are now some small chips in the paint work on the forks but given the run of bad weather (snow, rain, road grit for frost) and the little attention I give the bike it not surprising.  Despite the small wheels it can take small potholes which again were unavoidable in London due to the endless road works we have had over the past five years.  I have only had to replace the old style foam seat which split after a year.  Not fit for purpose in my view and the new one is much much better.  And I got rid of the original dynamo lights which were temperamental and wore out the rear tyre.  I hear that the new lights are better but for me not really worth the extra cost.  Best of all in five years I have only had one flat tyre to deal with. 

It was a big expense at the time but truly worth it.

The shoes that got away

I have been looking at shoes in the sales and I would have brought both of these had they been in my size. The grey suede shoes were in Clarks and the black suede shoes were in New Look. Both were just one size too small and I am beyond buying shoes in the hope they will stretch. Ah well.