Category: My Brompton

This is the bridge I mentioned in my post about riding along the Erie Canal.  It’s a small version of the one being built in Perinton, New York.

One end has been constructed with plenty of room for a bicyclist to turn, but I’ve been wary of the other end.

This turn looks spacious in my photo, but it has seemed very tight to me, though it should be just fine for a motorized wheelchair.  After some practice, I am now negotiating it without difficulty — though I still think it’s a bit tight for cyclists.  Perhaps that’s why these bridges, though they are installed on multi-use trails, are called “pedestrian” bridges.

I’ve gone from being comfortable on Basil to being confident.  We’re moving rapidly into that exalted state where cyclist and rider move as one, and navigating this turn effectively is a symptom of that change.

. . . is so easy:

And he isn’t even folded all the way!

Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station hosted a small model train display for the holidays.

I took a bunch of photos, and, naturally, rather enjoyed watching the models race around the track.

Like Philadelphia, this village has a freight train running right through town:

Ersatz night shot, thanks to wonky flash:

It was difficult to get good angles for the photos, though, or even to view the display, because I had to reach up to hang over the edge of the construction.   The tracks and village were at my shoulder height.

See how tall the supporting structure is, next to Basil? And the height of the (taller than I am) adult in the background?  What this means, of course, is that no child could possibly see the trains.  The poor kids who happened by where jumping up on their toes, trying to get a glimpse.

What a strange choice for a toy train display.  Why make it impossible for kids to see?

In Philadelphia:

I took three different pictures here, at roughly the same time. It was fascinating to see how each differed from each other, and how all differed from my memory. I liked this image the best.

. . . at 30th Street Station, Philadelphia.

Cute, no? What do you mean by pointing out that you can hardly see Basil?  OK, here he is:

That’s arguably a more festive shot, but it does lack the drama of the huge tree in 30th Street’s cavernous hall.

There’s a grinning nutcracker hanging just above Basil.  I thought he was made of the increasingly popular “faux-mâché” (that is, plastic meant to look like papier-mâché), but I think he may be the real thing.   Not from France, though, but China, from whence most material things spring.  (Not Bromptons, of course.)

My camera’s settings went a bit wonky, resulting in this shot:

Perhaps it’s just Basil, doing his bit for the holiday lighting.

Honestly, who wouldn’t welcome a Brompton beneath the holiday tree?  If you’re stuck for a last-minute gift, you could do worse!

Late afternoon:

Sometimes there’s almost a “Hallmark” moment.  (Not the silver kind — the cheesy-greeting-card kind.)

On the other hand, there are also the “cheesecake” moments:

I particularly like these!

Bromptons don’t  have kickstands; Basil has a rear rack, instead, which supports him in a semi-recumbent position:

It was an especially quiet day at the train station, although 30th Street is rarely as crowded as Penn Station or Grand Central in New York.

My helmet (a Nutcase Watermelon) is hanging from Basil’s handlebars, along with a pair of winter lobster-claw gloves.  They look a bit carbuncular here.

Not long ago, a commenter asked about Basil’s apparently “spotless” state.  I responded by noting that Basil and I have ridden in little rain, so far, and, thus, had been minimally exposed to mud. Our most serious rain this fall came with a hurricane, and neither Basil nor I were out in it.

That’s part of the answer.  Also relevant is that I don’t commute on Basil, so I can pick and choose (within reason) when to ride.  But there are a couple of things I do regularly that make a real difference to Basil’s appearance. Here are my weapons of choice:

an orange microfiber cleaning cloth, and a soft toothbrush. I found the orange cloths in the automotive section of some store; they’re orange so that no one will mistake them for ordinary dusting cloths, and leave Basil stranded.

After any particularly messy ride, I run the cloth gently over Basil’s wheels.  If the cloth meets with any resistance, I dampen it slightly, but otherwise, a soft dusting generally removes the newly-accumulated road grime.  I don’t do this every time I ride, but on as as-needed basis, which works out to be fairly frequently.  It only takes a few minutes, and getting the grime off up front is a lot easier than trying to remove it months later.

I regularly wipe the sides of Basil’s wheels, too, since I’ve read that this is kinder to both rims and brake pads. This, too, takes just moments.

The cloth also gets put to work on any visible grime on Basil’s frame and components.  Every three or four rides, there seems to be plenty, even if the weather’s been good. Again, this takes only moments.

Any time I’ve ridden in an “iffy” area, I brush Basil’s tires once we’re home — that’s what the toothbrush is for.  Again, it just takes a few minutes, but ensures that debris doesn’t stick around.

I tend to scuff Basil’s top bar; that gets addressed with the microfiber cloth, slightly dampened, wiping gently.

So the answer to Ian’s question is multi-faceted.  Basil still looks band-box new because:

1. We haven’t been out in serious weather yet
2. A few minutes work every now and then keeps grime from building up
3. I’m still infused with the enthusiasm of a maniacal new Brompton rider — and, last but not least
4. Everything looks newer and shinier in a photograph!

Yes, Ian, I fear that item 4 may be the real answer to your question.  The camera may not lie, but it might obscure.

Regardless, though, I do give Basil the little attentions he deserves; it’s not much time or effort for maximum gain.  I figured that I’d better get in the habit immediately, since it was unlikely I’d develop it later.

Basil will eventually look scruffy; it’s the nature of things, and Basil is meant to be a vigorous companion, after all, not a beautiful trophy to put on a wall.  But I like respecting his fit and finish along the way; it’s a good tack to take.

Amtrak, on the way to Harrisburg, PA:

Basil. standing by:

Trains and bicycles. Gotta love “alternative” transportation.