A Sunday morning gentle roll out on the Brompton to kick start the day. It’s been a while since I last treated the mini-wheeler to a ride around the Estuary Wilds lanes. Logistics has meant that the Brompton is my current - and only - ride of choice. Scaffolding back at base has imprisoned the other bicycles, blocking off the back passage.
Hey hoe. I knew there was a reason as to why I held on to the Brompton, despite limited commuting opportunities these days. It’s such a pure, unrestricted ride. I may only have two gears, but I didn’t feel like I needed any more throughout the 25km loop. The Brompton rides beautifully.
I also enjoyed the freedom of riding a Brompton with no luggage. Over the past fifteen years or so, I have used the Brompton whilst balancing my back and forth lifestyle between S Ldn and the Estuary Wilds. Half my life has been transported during each journey, with front and rear bags carrying life’s essentials (MacBooks, cameras, cheapo Lidl BOOZE.) Not so today.
It was a little chilly shortly after 9am. I needed the three layers to get me around the route. There had also been some unexpected overnight rain. Not so much of a surprise was the succession of close pass dickheads. I clocked half a dozen. Sadly I didn’t have my camera mount on the Brompton to capture them.
I decided to focus on more pleasant aspects of the ride: the bluebells still going strong along the verges, the very dignified tourer rider who was laden down with four bags on his bicycle; the squirrel who chanced his luck and almost made an ill-advised bolt to dive through my Brompton spokes.
I’d forgotten how much the Brompton can be. Maybe I should keep it as the default bicycle of choice over the summer months?
