Basil and I have now ridden a thousand miles/1,609 km together since he arrived last October. Here he is, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, within a mile or ten of this rather thrilling moment in our mutual history:
Basil’s wheels have been on trails (dirt, gravel, and asphalt), on country roads, suburban streets, on highways in-state and out, on gritty Philadelphia streets, and all around Manhattan, including all five boroughs and across five New York bridges, and they’ve ridden through small towns in a host of Pennsylvania counties.
Basil has taken me far and near, and, in-between, brought the groceries home, attended farmer’s markets, run errands at the hardware store and hauled home basketfuls of all sorts of goods required in our home office and in my sewing room.
During his first thousand miles with me, Basil has traveled by train (both regional and Amtrak), in subways, in buses, on a ferry, in a tram over the East River, and in the trunk of my sub-compact car. (Also in the front seat of the car, until I worried about the effect of the air bag on him in case of a crash.)
We’ve ridden solo, and with the wonderful people we’ve met through the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, as well as on a Tweed Ride, and with Mr. Diarist. We’ve done several small cycling events, and one of the largest in the USA.
Our shortest ride was 2.91 miles/ 4.7 km; our longest was not quite 62 miles/99.7 km. Thirty-four of a total of 74 trips were 10 miles/16 km or fewer (meaning that they were primarily errand runs); 40 trips were longer than 10 miles/16 km. Twenty-one trips were 15 miles/24 km or more and 14 trips were over 30 miles/48 km each.
When I stepped out of NYCeWheels that first time next to Basil I wondered how I could ever be worthy of the marvelous steed that is a Brompton. How thing have changed: It’s been an exciting journey from the first moment to the excellent serendipity that marks our current excursions. I may still not be worthy, but life without Basil? I can’t imagine it!
14 replies on “The First Thousand Miles On My Brompton Bicycle”
Congrats on 1000. Hoping you have many millennial anniversaries in the future.
Is it too soon to think of a companion for Nigel?
No companion needed, at least not for me to ride, Harry, but Mr. Diarist is now speaking of in a proprietary fashion of “my Brompton” (meaning his), so there may well be a companion in Basil’s future. And thanks for the congrats!
Oops, sorry, Basil.
No worries, Harry; Basil noted with a approval that Nigel is an appropriately British monicker!
Well done! May the miles & blogs keep rolling!
Thanks, Ian!
The question may not be “Am I worthy of Basil?”.
Aww, Saul . . . I don’t stand a chance. But if my body worked as well as Basil does, there would be no stopping us!
I don’t know what’s more impressive, the distance or the variety of terrain you’ve covered (not to mention the fine inventions along the way!). You’ve had a most impressive 1000 mile journey that’s been interesting to follow — congratulations, and keep it going!
Thanks, Seattle Rider! Distance is easy . . . you just keep riding, and it just happens! Come to think of it, that’s how the terrain and all the rest of it happens, too. It’s having a super-versatile Brompton that makes all the difference!
Congrats!!!!!!! :D Nice color combi too!
Thanks, Kelvin!
Now that didn’t take long at all, did it? Well done, and congrats! Here’s to many thousand more.
Thanks, Will B! You’re right — those first thousand passed more quickly than I could have imagined, and we’re already well into the second round. (And more amd more mad about my B every day!)