Two folding bikes

I saw this bike folding bike on my train home on Thursday night.  It is a full size bike that folds in the middle and from the look of it this maybe just for storage or transport purposes.  I wonder if the owner is able to get on the tube or the DLR.

The sun is back - get out the sandals

On Monday we were freezing but suddenly we have heat wave in London. Yesterday afternoon I just gave myself up to enjoying riding around the back streets in the Elephant & Castle & Walworth area of Southwark while listening to Fleetwood Mac ‘The Chain’ on the ipod nano.

I am also back to just using my Bagaboo courier bag, but it is too hot to carry so I am strapped it to the back of the Brompton. I didn’t want to use the pannier because I end up carrying so much, but the Bagaboo is also a little big. I will get out my Ortlieb zip city bag this weekend which may be a good compromise.

I don’t have any clear evidence but I think the numbers of cyclists are up in London as I see so many people using the hire bikes. I suspect there will be a further increase in a few weeks when the Olympics begin and getting around will become more complicated.

Brompton celebrates London and the Jubilee

Caught sight of these Brompton bikes in East London. The expensive London bike is on display at Evan Cycles in Spittlefields. I thought the other bike was a special edition to celebrate the Olympics but I have checked the Brompton site and this bike was made to for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This bike is on display in the window at Cycle Surgery just around the corner from Evans Cycles. They are using the bike to promote the Olympics in particular the cycling team. The price recommended by Brompton is £1,200. A little cheaper than the London Bike


The details for the London Brompton can be found here.

The details for the Jubilee Brompton can be found here.

I think I prefer the Jubilee bike.

Hello to some cyclists

This cheeky advert by Southeastern trains has been running for a couple months and it first appeared without the photo of the folded Brompton. My guess is Southeastern have been turning away a lot of non folding bikes and they wanted to get the message out to cyclists who use their trains. The times you can take a non-folding bike on a Southeastern Train going into London are after 10am and not between 4 and 7pm. I have had the experience of turning up once with my Trek bike at 6.55pm only to be told that I could not go through the barrier for another five minutes. No problems with the Brompton provided it is at least partly folded. Two weeks ago I and another Brompton user got to the barrier at Charing Cross to get on the train and I was let through but the other cyclist was stopped because he hadn’t folded his bike. I think Southeastern are one of the more bike friendly train companies. Staff always say hello and assist when necesary. Greater Anglia trains which operate from Liverpool Street Station seem to barely tolerate bikes, even folding bikes. You can travel but they just may not let you through the barrier on time to get on the train in the first place.

I am getting ready for the travel across town during the Olympics but I am worried that there may be a total ban on bikes on trains for the games.

New shoes for Spring - Camper flats

Although it is still cold and damp I am getting ready for when the sun comes back. I have been wearing these Camper shoes (called Peu circuit ) almost all the time since I got them this week because they are so comfortable and look good in jeans or with a dress.

I haven’t tried them on either of the bikes yet as the weather still requires boots.

Camper have knocked Clarks off the top of my list of great shoe shops.

April showers are still here

I didn’t post at all during April because the heavy rain we had on most days just left me feeling low and I had a cold at the beginning of the month. I used my Brompton when I could. I dug up my extra large rain mac by Raleigh and just got pedalling. Still there were days when the rain was too much and too risky to cycle. The UK saw the wettest April on record. The rainy days are still around but it is a lot better. Upside is that London is looking very lush and green.

I saw plenty of Brompton owners on their bikes cycling in the rain.

My wonderful biker boots I got from Office two years ago kept my feet dry all through April but they will not make it for this coming winter so the hunt for a replacement will begin in the late Summer when the winter boots arrive in stores.

One of the obvious but still brilliant things about having a Brompton when it rains. You can fold it and go by public transport.

Spring has sprung

It has been warm enough to bare my ankles, so I got out my clogs and peddled off to evening class. These clogs just slip off the pedals of the Trek but are fine with the Brompton pedals.

The road works in the City just feels never ending. As soon as one stretch of road (ie Broadgate ) reopens another (ie Cannon Street) is dug up. I have kept the Brompton tires pumped up and so far no problems with all the grit I have had to ride over.

I saw these pumps in Marks & Spencer. I am gradually beginning to change my mind about ballet flats. I have them but not ‘mad keen’ on them. But occasionally I see nice ones. I tried on these blue suede ones with thick black tights and they worked for me. Didn’t buy them. Just thinking about them.