A Brompton tour - learning a lesson about hydration the hard way.

 

A couple of weeks ago I did a little tour on my Brompton. There was an event at Farnham Maltings in Surrey, called “Thread – A Festival of Textiles” which I wanted to go to. I do like to have a purpose in a bike tour, whether it's just a day trip or a few days away; it gives me a starting point for planning a trip, rather than just vaguely thinking - “Where shall I go?”.

Before I begin, I bought the Brompton G line pedals a few months ago, and am really pleased with them. I like the feel of them underfoot, and the removable one is easy to remove.

So on we go.... I cycled from home to Didcot station, about 14 miles, leaving home at 7.15 am, and got the train to Bramley, just north of Basingstoke, changing at Reading. I then cycled another 13 miles or so to where I was staying, at Newland's Farm Bed and Breakfast, south of Odiham. The weather started off fairly warm, then wet, and then quite hot. I didn't eat before I went – I have found that eating later works well for me. At some points along the way I ate what I had brought with me – some cheese, a boiled egg, and a clementine. My plan was to find a cafe en route and buy a meal, preferably a cooked breakfast, which always keeps me going for ages. Husband had put the route from Bramley station to my B and B onto my Garmin, but I had a back up of my usual OS maps, and a cue sheet.  I put this in a plastic mobile phone holder, bought from Home Bargains for £1.45, which I rigged up over the handlebars. 

I arrived at Bramley about 11.30. There was a cafe right by the station, but I didn't fancy it somehow, and anyway I really wanted to get on a bit further. By then it was raining – I donned my waterproof jacket, and sometimes I cycled, sometimes I sheltered. I couldn't see the route on the Garmin very well (mine is quite small) - the rain didn't help - and so I used my cue sheet. There was no rush. I took NCN Route 23 out of Bramley as far as Old Basing. There I was delighted to come upon what looked like a very nice cafe – The Street Bakeshop – and went in and ordered, only to be told, as I produced my £20 note, that they did not take cash. I refuse to patronize any establishment that won't take cash – I could have used a card but I think it's very important that we have the choice. A kind lady offered to pay for me with her phone, but I declined, as a principle was at stake. Instead I asked a man trimming a hedge if there was a shop nearby, and he directed me to the local Co-op – not quite what I was hoping for but at least I was able to buy food. I ate scotch eggs and a yogurt on a bench outside the shop.

I rested here - 

At Up Nately, near Odiham

A few miles further on, at Odiham, I began to feel a bit funny – or, to be precise, my heart was racing, and at times I felt slightly lightheaded. I have had this before, the first time probably decades ago. I do sometimes get lightheaded when standing up too quickly. I have since discovered that this has the grand name of orthostatic hypotension - when your blood pressure drops after standing up. It usually only happens after I have been crouching down for a few minutes, e.g. to look at something on a bottom shelf in a shop. Then the cure is to stand still and put my head down. More recently the racing heart has occurred when I've been out for long bike rides, and I have tried to work out why. I do not believe the cause is anything serious, just something connected with my activity at the time, the temperature, and with what I have eaten and drunk. Usually after a rest it has gone away, but even after resting in the very green and pleasant Odiham cemetary, or just walking, I didn't feel much better. I was fearing that I would have to call off this trip.

However, I only had about 2 miles to go to my accommodation – bed and breakfast at a farmhouse - and so after refilling my water bottle at the bar of a cricket club, I took the last bit of the journey very slowly and arrived safely, albeit later than intended, at about 5.45. Quite a long day, as I'd been up at 5. I thought that after a good night's rest, and a good breakfast the following morning, I'd feel a lot better.

What went through my mind was that maybe I should still be taking magnesium, which I have taken on and off for a year or two, mainly for night cramps, but I know it can be of benefit to the heart as well. I am not a big fan of supplements but as most people are deficient in this mineral I reasoned that it would be a good idea to take it anyway. I also thought that I should have brought some sea salt with me to take whenever I drank water – something else that I do when I'm at home, or at least whenever I remember. I began to think about electrolytes, and how athletes are not supposed to drink just plain water, and considered that this might be at the route of the problem.. The day had turned out quite hot, and I had sweated. I also had not eaten very much, partly because I simply hadn't felt very hungry. I resolved that the next day I would buy either magnesium (though I wouldn't be able to buy my preferred make, as I get it online from Clive de Carle) and/or some sea salt.

In bed at 8.15.

MILES: 28

I didn't sleep well, but I never do the first night in a strange bed, and I was also disturbed by helicopters from RAF Odiham, doing night training until about 10 pm, seen through my open bedroom window. Husband would have loved them! I'd seen these odd yellow things all across two fields on the farm the day before and wondered what they were for. Now I know that they are lights to guide the helicopters in -

The next morning I was up at 5.45, went for a short exploratory walk, and then had a very nice cooked breakfast. I was the only one staying, and I had a very interesting chat with Mary, my host, who told me a little about her life on the farm since 1969, and the house, which dated from about 1550. Her late husband had been a very talented woodworker, and had made all the doors, with all the latches and bolts -  

My bedroom - with some history of the farm buildings in the photo on the wall

I was definitely feeling better than the previous day, but still not quite right. Nevertheless I enjoyed the ride into Farnham – about 10 miles, slightly more than it should have been but then I went a bit wrong (despite my cue sheet) which is usual for me! I enjoyed the festival; it's not often that I get to see such a lovely array of everything connected with sewing. There were some very talented people there, and some lovely fabric, but I knew I hadn't got room to carry much extra home so just treated myself to some linen thread.

It was busy and hot though, and after a couple of hours I'd had enough. I went into the town, knowing I must not leave without food for the ride home, sufficient water, and magnesium or salt. I went to the first likely shop I came to, which was Sainsbury's, and bought some BLT sandwiches, a clementine, and, as they didn't have any magnesium, some Maldon's sea salt – the one I normally buy as it happens. Then I went to a lovely quiet garden and sat on a bench, carefully cut open the bag of salt (good job I had scissors in my first aid kit) and sucked on several pinches, and drank water. I did wonder what others in the park might have though of me sitting there carefully pouring out white stuff into my hand and consuming it...

From where I sat I could see the tops of two churches, where I hoped there might be a tap to get water. As it happened one of them had a cafe, where they let me fill my bottle. Then off I went. I pushed up the hill out of Farnham, but after that I got up all the hills. I stopped soon and wolfed down my sandwiches and clementine, and then carried on. I felt a million times better!! I have since read up on all this and understand that taking in salt can indeed have a very quick positive effect. I have watched, in particular, videos by Dr David Brownstein, on the importance of salt in our diet – e.g. this one - but good salt, full of minerals, not table salt. He recommends, as do many others, Celtic sea salt, or Redmond's salt (only available in the US I think), as both are indeed full of minerals. I'm not sure about the Maldon's sea salt I've been buying, and intend to email them to ask what minerals are in it. I have, however, bought some Celtic sea salt, which I know is full of essential minerals, and am now using that when I drink water.

I decided to treat myself to an ice cream in the village of Crondall, where I had a nice chat to another cyclist who was doing the same thing. Interestingly, he had worked for BMW as a salesman, but had been diagnosed with some form of epilepsy, so was no longer allowed to drive. He now did gardening jobs, and travelled to them by bike (10 mile radius from home) and loved it!

On the way back I tucked myself away into some long grass and obeyed a call of nature. More on this subject later! I was pretty tired when I got back and after a shower was in bed at 7.15!

MILES: 20

No helicopters that night, but I woke in the night, and for some reason felt the inside of my right knee, and felt what seemed like a small scab. I couldn't think of any reason for a scab there, but then I thought -

“Uh oh.... could it be a tick?”

I've had a few in recent years, so wasn't quite as horrified and panic stricken as I was when I discovered the first one in 2021. Guess where I probably picked it up... having that nature wee! Beware of long grass!! I couldn't see to remove it, so just left it as a job for Husband when I got home. I discovered I'd also got one in the same fleshy spot on the side of the other knee. What I want to know is – why are there so many ticks now? There are all sorts of rumours, but I'm not sure if they are true. However I do know that prior to 2021 I had never head of anyone getting ticks - I had only ever seen one on the sheepdog we used to have.

The third day was basically a slow and gentle ride back to Bramley station, taking a different route, via some lovely quiet lanes, and the village of Sherfield on Lodden, where there was a big fete.

I asked a couple if there was a cafe, and they directed me to one. We chatted quite a bit, and the husband was very interested in my Brompton. Bromptons are a bit like babies and dogs – they get you into conversation with complete strangers!

Getting on and off the trains was easy again. A couple with their small daughter stood in front of me at one point, speaking a language I didn't recognise at all, and after a while the husband asked me -

“Are you travelling alone? Don't you get lonely?”

“No – I love it!”

And it's true. As Josie Dew, my cycling hero has said in one of her books, when you cycle alone you can stop where you want, and when you want, and look at whatever you want. And I meet plenty of people to chat to, so I don't get lonely.

Husband is always telling me what the weather forecast is, and today he had warned me it would be windy. So far it had indeed been quite windy, but it wasn't unpleasant. Once back at Didcot, I decided to go back a different way to the way I'd come, which in hindsight wasn't a good idea... There are a couple of places in my neck of the woods where there are several villages all quite close together, and despite having lived here for more then 40 years, I can still get lost in either of them! I did this in the villages of East and West Hendred, near Wantage, and so my estimated time of arrival home got later and later as I tried to find my way out. In the end I found my way, on a footpath, where a kindly gent lifted my bike over a stile and a kissing gate. Actually, I know now that I could probably do this myself, as with the bag taken off the front of the bike, it's not that heavy.

Husband had also warned of rain, and it did start to drizzle. He had offered to come and pick me up at any point if I felt I couldn't make it home, and being pretty tired by then, and feeling the rain start, I hoped I wouldn't have to make a call of shame. However, I just kept encouraging myself that it wasn't far to go, and I made it home, all under my own steam, by 7 pm. 

Husband removed the two ticks – oh, and another on the back of my thigh. And another on a buttock!!! And the moral of that story is – don't have a wee in long grass!! Not ladies, anyway.... As I said, I couldn't see to remove any of these ticks myself, but I have read that if you don't have a tick remover with you, then a good idea is to cut a slit, or very narrow V shape into a credit card, slide it under the tick, and remove it that way.

MILES: 31

All in all, a good trip. I've gained confidence on the Brompton, and learnt a valuable lesson about the correct way to hydrate.

Some upgrades to Bob the Brompton

This photo was taken on NCN Route 45, at Chiseldon, south of Swindon. Husband had dropped me off near there, on his way to go paragliding, and I then cycled home, about 23 miles, visiting Go Outdoors on the eastern edge of Swindon on the way. It's actually quite fun negotiating Swindon, as it has an excellent network of cycle paths. I took the bike in the shop with me, pushing it round by the handlebars.

Upgrade Number 1 -

Litepro Easy Wheels: I had always felt that the bike wasn't all that easy to push when folded. I had the standard rollers, on the rear rack, that came with the bike, but then came across a lot of chatter about Brompton "Eazy" wheels, which have bearings in, and are slightly bigger than the rollers. As well as the genuine Brompton ones, there are of course various other cheaper options. Someone on Facebook had recommended the ones I bought. They cost £25.98 on Ebay. They make for a much better roll of the bike when folded. You can see them in a photo below.

Upgrade Number 2 -

Brooks B67 saddle: Although the Brompton saddle was surprisingly comfortable, it wasn't as comfortable as my two Brooks B67s. I have one on my new Stanforth, and the other is on my old Trek, which I really only use for shopping now. It seemed a bit of a waste not making more use of it, so I transferred it to the Brompton. It took me a while to work out the whole Brompton "pentaclip" thing, but once I'd done that I realized actually what a clever device it is. Once it's on the saddle it's really easy to put it on the bike and adjust it. 

Brooks B67, with cut out (I did this)

Upgrade Number 3 -

Ergon GP3 grips: Earlier in the year I had decided to put some bar ends on the Brompton. I had realized that a lot of people put Ergon grips/bar ends on, but I had also seen these cheaper ones in a video, couldn't decide which would be best, and so sent off for both.  Not having used Ergon grips, and being slightly uncertain as to whether I'd like them or not, and also because they would need cutting to fit, I decided to go with the cheaper ones, but I kept the Ergons. The cheaper ones were fine, and it was better with them than without them. However, my Stanforth bike came with Ergon GP5 cork grips and I have found that I really like them, so decided to ask Husband to put the spare ones (GP3s) on the Brompton. I believe you can do it without cutting them - depends on whether you want to move your brakes/gear levers - but we did cut them.

In the photo you can see that the grips clear the floor (you could adjust them for greater clearance if you wanted) and you can also see the Litepro wheels -

Grips and Litepro wheels

So this ride home from Chiseldon was the first real test of the change of saddle and grips. As soon as I got on it I realized what a game changer both upgrades were! I loved having my favourite model of saddle on, and that extra area under my hands given by the Ergon grips somehow made me feel more stable. I can honestly say that I felt as if I were riding a more "normal" bike! 

The Litepro wheels were much better than the rollers, too, when pushing the bike round Go Outdoors. Actually that reminds me of something I learnt recently about the bike - part of the reason why I had had trouble pushing it when folded was that I had the seat post pushed right down so that it touched the floor, so I had to lift it slightly, by the saddle, when pushing it. I realized that if I raised the seat post just a little, it would then clear the ground, but still be in front of the stop disk, which it needs to be to stop the bike unfolding . I'm learning stuff about this bike all the time!

Upgrade Number 4 -

This is more of a hack than an upgrade really. On that same ride my Brompton Borough Roll Top bag would have been unnecessarily big, so I had taken a small rucksack. I have also got this excellent rear bag, with little drop down panniers (thank you, Elder Son!) but knowing I would be going into a shop I wanted a bag I could easily take on and off the bike and carry -

So my small rucksack went on the rear rack, strapped down carefully to avoid any of the straps getting caught up in the wheels. However, it was a pain in the neck having to take it on and off the bike whenever I wanted something out of it, especially my map (I like my proper paper maps), so having recently come across adapters for turning any bag into one that fits on the Brompton carrier block, I decided to try this. I bought a cheap rucksack (£13.99, half price, looked for something in charity shops first but couldn't find anything) and one of the adapters - this is a flattish one. It was £10.99. I have to admit it was a fiddle fixing it on! I had to first cut away material on the back and also padding, and insert a stiffener of plastic (saved from old panniers...) into an internal pocket. The cutting away of material was necessary as the bolts they supply with the adapter were not thick enough to go through all the layers of  material. If I were doing it again I would get some longer bolts. I was going to give up and leave out the stiffener (though you really do need it to stop the bag flopping everywhere) but Husband was determined that he would get the bolts through, and he did! 

Front pocket which fits my maps nicely

Adapter plate in position, cord is to loop over the handlebars to give extra stability

Velcro so I can fix the straps out of the way

Straps out of the way

Bag on bike 

I'm looking forward to trying out this bag on my next trip.

And just for interest (and partly for my swimming/blogging/cycling friend Brenda) here is a photo of the old diving platform at Coate Water, Swindon, where I stopped for coffee (read here about its history and restoration) It's no longer in use as the water isn't safe to swim in, they say. But they recently restored it at a cost of £100,000, since when it has got covered in bird muck again! What a waste of money!

I think I finally have the bike of my dreams...a Stanforth

[Apologies for the change in font size. I don't know why it's happened and can't seem to correct it.]

In my search for a bike that would take me on something akin to the sort of cycling adventures I had begun to read about in 2014 by authors such as Josie Dew, Anne Mustoe and others, two years later in 2016 I bought an Oxford Bike Works steel step-through tourer - which I did not keep, for reasons which you can read about here. Then, as a replacement, I bought a Koga aluminium mixte tourer here in 2017. I had come across Koga bikes through my blogging friend Brenda, who, along with her husband, rides Kogas. It wasn't that easy, at the time, to find any other step-through or mixte style tourers. So I compromised on the steel and bought a Koga. I changed the handlebars, the saddle, the pedals, and the seatpost (because some washers broke on the original and I couldn't get replacements) and although it took a while to get comfortable on it, I finally did, and had some good day and multi-day tours on it. 

However..... I always felt a sense of disappointment that I had never got that beautiful steel bicycle that I had hoped for, and when, a couple of years ago, I came across Stanforth Bikes, who sell custom steel tourers of various descriptions, I  was instantly smitten. I started following them on Facebook, thinking - 

"I know I'm being silly, but maybe, one day..."

Then earlier this year Husband took severance pay and slightly early retirement from his job, and when he mentioned he was thinking of getting a new paragliding wing, I of course leapt at my opportunity! I don't think we're the only couple where a bit of negotiation sometimes goes on in the form of - 

"Well if you're having a new such and such then can I have a new such and such ?" 

 Anyway, I cautiously mentioned that I'd been thinking about getting a new bike, and was pleased to find that he didn't dismiss my idea outright! In fact, surprisingly soon after that he agreed that we could go down to Hove, where Stanforth Bikes are, and get me measured up for one. And, even better, he was soon surprised with a new bike himself, in the form of a retirement present from Eldest Son! Youngest Son had brought it in his van, and when his 3 year old daughter said -

"Daddy's got a bike in his van" 

- we didn't take much notice, though we had wondered why he had come in his van and not his car. But there really was a bike in there, and not his either! It was a brand new one in a box. Husband was gobsmacked!! And our lovely children also bought him a new tool (a multi tool of some sort) and a voucher with which he bought himself a new Garmin.

I admit to then feeling not nearly so bad at the thought of getting a new bike myself!

So at the end of May we went down to Hove, and I was measured up for a custom built Skyelander by Simon Stanforth. I chose the colour and various other bits and pieces and Simon emailed me a day or two later with the geometry of the bike. I was quite surprised at the measurements - it seemed smaller than my other two bikes - and I emailed him with my thoughts, to which he replied in detail, putting my mind - more or less! - at rest. I have to admit I was still rather nervous - would this bike really fit me as well as I'd hoped? Would I like it better than my Koga? Was I being stupid buying this new bike at my age?! Anyway, I sat back and waited.

It was actually ready in about 10 weeks or so - less than the advertised lead time of 12 weeks. I was so excited about getting it, and pleased that Eldest Son, a keen cyclist, as is his wife, would get to see it when they came to visit later that month. But I was also very nervous, for the aforementioned reasons. We drove down to Hove again - and there it was, and there I test-rode it, and then we brought it home.

After bringing it home, we had one or two queries, and emailed Simon, who could not have been more helpful and generous in his replies.

And my verdict?

I have now ridden it several times, yesterday's ride being the longest, up to the Ridgeway, at about 27 miles, and I can honestly say that it is all I hoped it would be, including being very beautiful!! I was almost disappointed to reach home yesterday, wishing I could go further! It is much easier on hills - the gearing is the same as the Koga, so it must be the weight (it's lighter) and the geometry that make the difference. Eldest Son and Wife both had a go on it when they were here, and were very complimentary about it. I feel as if I've waited since 2016 for this bike, but it's been worth it! 

Here it is - 

And here it is, up on the Ridgeway (Harwell in the distance) -

And now I go in the garage and think -

"What a beautiful bicycle!!!"

(And by the way, Husband got his new wing...)