An Evening Jaunt on the Brompton

Well the journey continues. I have used the Brompton for a couple of local shopping trips and this evening as the weather was being kind I took a very pleasant ride along the Truro River up as far as the Heron at Malpas. On the way back I stopped off in Tescos to pick up a few bits. I have now become accustomed to the looks I get wheeling the Bromie around Tesco's in trolley mode and I have to say I love the attention which it seems to attract. I think this evenings ride would have been around 6 miles. Not far I know but with other commitments I cannot get out until after 7pm most evenings and I am therefore a bit limited as to how far I can go, before it starts getting dark. Plus I am still  pretty unfit and will build up my mileage slowly. I think one advantage I do have, from being an experienced cyclist is that I know how best to regain my fitness and what riding suits me - I have been in this position so many times before. Each time after I build up my fitness I say that I will make sure I keep riding, but somehow it never seems to work out that way - so here I am again,  puffing and panting my way up hill once again struggling to recover a reasonable level of fitness. It seems so far removed to how I felt after finishing my JOGLE, in July 2011. By the end of that ride I genuinely felt as if I could just keep on riding indefinitely. It is a strange feeling when you know you can comfortably cycle over 100 miles in a day without feeling any ill effects. I know that regaining fitness,  for me anyway, is all about getting the miles in, but at 53 I need to build it up slowly. My initial target is to get so that I am capable of cycling 40 miles comfortably by June 23rd, which is when I hope to ride in the Cornwall Cycling Challenge.

On a different theme, I have to say that I am finding the Brompton T bag really useful as you can really fit quite a lot in without any problems. I know some people think the T bag is a bit large but I have to say I find it ideal. I know it was pricey but it seems well made and when it is not fully loaded you can adjust the strap which goes over the front of the roll top to tighten it up so that it doesn't flap around. I also find the bottle holder on the back of the bag really convenient as it.does hold a large bottle of squash to keep thirst at bay. A lot of Brompton riders proclaim the virtues of the front luggage system and I do agree with the general consensus. I think that it is probably the best luggage system I have ever come across. Initially it does seem a little strange as the front bag doesn't move with the handlebars as it is mounted directly onto a block mounted on the head tube of the main bike frame. Even when loaded it doesn't seem to affect the steering.

Here are a couple of photo's taken on this evenings ride:

Boats moored on the Truro River

View along the Truro River from The Heron at Malpas

The weekend weather forecast is looking promising so I am hoping to continue building up the mileage this coming weekend.

Keep those wheels spinning - Jogler52