Bikepacking on a Brompton - an easy-peasy London local trip

[@effyleven]

What an intrepid and positive person Susanna is. I do admire her.

[@susannathornton]

Hi there Effyleven! Thanks so much for watching! And for such a nice and kind comment x best wishes!

[@micksoden7064]

I love the immediacy of your filming and how we are brought along on the journey.lovely

[@susannathornton]

Thanks Micksoden! glad you enjoy the films! wow yeah, this one was a while ago now!

[@neilwalker8800]

Well done . Loved watching take care

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

You've inspired me to get out and about, Susanna. Thank you. 👍🙂🏕️🚴‍♂️

[@fujifatbike5793]

Lovely and very calming video to watch. It put a smile on my face. Thank you for sharing Susanna!

[@susannathornton]

Hello! Oh that is such a nice comment. Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the film x

[@george.stefanescu99]

Hello Susanna ! Greetings from Romania ! Today I discovered your channel and I'm so excited to see all videos . All the best and thanks for sharing all this videos with us ! 🙏

[@susannathornton]

Hi George! Greetings to you in Romania! Welcome and thank you for watching my channel! Hope you enjoy the videos!

[@ShantiTrish]

Thankyou Susanna, another lovely video and you didn’t have to catch the bus this time. Well done for cycling all the miles after a winter lockdown. I only do a 8-16 miles after a winter rest. Yes it’s easy to talk yourself out of a longer journey. Much love and best wishes for all your future cycling adventures. ☺️👌🌈

[@susannathornton]

Hi Trish! Thanks for watching! Yes, it is really easy to talk yourself out of setting off... I find the hardest thing is to actually open the front door. Once I have gone out of the door, and am outside I am fine. Best wishes to you too!

[@petergilbert72]

Very nice, and full of simple pleasures. Had to do a retake on your self-supporting bike at 7.45 as I didn’t remember you having a kickstand, and the bike wasn’t folded. I won’t spoil it for others who want to take a second look at that phenomenon 😃.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! Thanks for writing! aha yes I found a convenient sort of bump just the right height for my pedal. Self supporting, sort of!

[@jasonloke2219]

Cool ride. Cold, I mean. Surprisingly cold in London in late April. Yes, nice to get out and ride. Thanks for sharing!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Jason! Nice to hear from you! Hope all OK there with you in SG. Yeh it was chilly here. When I rang my cousin that morning, she said the children had been out in the garden trying to make snowballs. It was definitely good to have that down jacket with me. It felt great to pull that jacket on actually, and sit with a steaming cup of coffee. Thanks for watching!

[@sw8536]

Wonderful! A little bit of everything; river, camping, city, countryside, family --and so many nice people out and about! I love your relaxed two-wheel adventures 😊 Cheers from Oregon, USA.

[@susannathornton]

Hi SW! Yeh, you're right, it turned out a nice mix of all sorts of things on that ride. And it so nice to ride past playing fields, and hear whistles blowing and children doing sport, and ride past bookshops that actually had customers in them. Best wishes from here in London to you there in Oregon! Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanjones5282]

I do enjoy your videos, thank you .

[@susannathornton]

Hi Jonathan! Thanks for watching, and for the lovely comment!

[@ibikeunfolded]

Beautiful English countryside. Rocking the “P” bars👍😀

[@susannathornton]

Hi i bike unfolded! thanks for watching! Yeh it's surprising how much green there is in London and around. Happy cycling!

[@craiglouw4057]

Love your trips ... keep them coming 👍 always a joy to see them

[@susannathornton]

Hi Craig! thanks for the lovely comment! About to cycle to see my Dad actually, in Stockport. Kit everywhere and maps all over the place right now... So there'll be another film coming soon! Thanks for watching!

[@craiglouw4057]

@@susannathornton 👍 travel safe

[@helenevallee6ix]

Such a great video, Susanna! It's the perfect mix and timing of travelling views, stills, and commentary. The sound mix level of the music with the birdsong coming through is excellent, too. Thank you for another brilliant mini-holiday during my workday. You calm and lift the spirit and inspire. (I hear you on the "It always takes me longer to prepare than I expect" bit. LOL)

[@susannathornton]

Hi Helene! Thank you for watching, and for the lovely and thoughtful comment xx

[@Bokooda]

Oh man, you just make it look so easy... Plan a trip, pack your stuff and go... Stop for a coffee and watch the world go by, simple. It's so relaxing watching your videos, thanks for posting 😊

[@susannathornton]

Hi Bokooda! Thanks for such a lovely comment. Yeh a ride near home like that isn't difficult to put together. Hardest thing was making the sandwiches. I had to ring my cousin to ask how many minutes to boil the egg. I never boil eggs for some reason. Thanks for watching!

[@peterfarmer1592]

Here from Miriam Kennedy. Great to see you doing distances on your Brompton. Looking forward to watching more of your vlogs. X

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! Thanks for watching! more films coming soon! I am working on one now about riding along the coast from Donegal to Belfast, which I decided to do on the way back, cos I had some time. Took me longer than I expected haha

[@tonyfrewin4822]

That’s so handy getting on the train with a folding bike. I had a nightmare last year getting on a GWR train with my mountain bike after booking a place. Great video, thanks.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Tony! Thanks for the nice comment. Yes I know what you mean, it can be a big hassle getting a "normal" bike on the train. Wish they still had guard's vans actually, like in the old days when you could just bung the bike in the guard's van. Sometimes I would ride in there with my bike, sitting on the mail sacks and piles of things they would have in there. I suppose they can't allow that sort of thing any more. Yeh, it's handy with a Brompton. Noone can really stop you taking a folded up bike. Happy cycling anyway! Thanks for watching!

[@tonyfrewin4822]

@@susannathornton yes, I remember the old guard’s vans. They would have been brilliant for bikes. I remember a caged off area the size of a big shed. Thanks for your videos, just discovered them and I really am enjoying watching them.

[@self-propelledfun]

Hi Susanna, you’ve genuinely inspired me to Brompton bike pack wild camp last week!

[@susannathornton]

Hi SPF! Oh that sounds great. Where did you go??

[@self-propelledfun]

@@susannathornton Swansea to Kidwelly 100k round trip in the rain mostly on disused railway cycle paths. Hope to finish a short video soon to explain better. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

[@susannathornton]

Sounds great! Hope you didn't get too wet. Looking forward to the film!

[@ronstokes5787]

Thanks it was an easy-peasy lemon squizzy. Look behind as you pull off, safely first. Again thank you.

[@davidhale1568]

Excellent 👌, impressive travel library you got there! Have just replaced my 20 year old one person Lazer with the new two people one lots more room for an extra 4 ounces and the short pole makes it a lot more bike packable. I'll be christening it walking the Cambrian way next week. Looking forward to more of your adventures ☺️

[@susannathornton]

Hi David! Oh that sounds good re your new Laser. I think the newer (and bigger) ones have a lot of improvements vs my little old Laserlite, eg maybe your door zipper has a two way zipper right? I hadn't used that t ent for a while, and had forgotten some things about it, like how you can't open the door from the top. I like how you can open the door from the top in an Akto, and peek out, esp when it is raining. Happy walking next week! Sounds great. Thanks for watching!

[@TheShotenZenjin]

Very enjoyable to watch you doing what you enjoy! Very often, you can’t beat life’s simple pleasures.

[@susannathornton]

Hi the ShotenZenjin! Thanks for watching. And for the comment - you said it so nicely. Thanks for writing!

[@velorog]

Another lovely video Susanna, enjoying the slow life.. So laid back. Nice to see the weather gods smiling on you.

[@susannathornton]

Hi velorog! thanks for watching again! yeh life in the slow lane is good, haha. Hope you are well. Thanks for writing! Best wishes

[@harisuso]

Good routes on your brompton, I really like them. Greetings

[@susannathornton]

Hi Hari Suso! Thanks for your nice comment. Looks from your channel like you do very adventurous things there in Ceuta. Amazing. Thanks for watching!

[@billythecat1460]

Just bumped into Susanna on the outskirts of Grendon Northampton. It was lovely to meet you , good luck with your current adventure, and if you are ever in this vicinity again please let me know and we will lay on some hospitality and anything else you might need.

[@susannathornton]

Hello!! Thanks for writing! It was so nice to meet you both!! It was a lovely spot for lunch by the Nene there... And thank you for kind offers of help! See you next time and we can have coffee and cakes or something like that haha! I am now home in London again, tent and sleeping bag spread out here to air, kit everywhere, and looking forward to make a film about the ride... Take care and happy cycling! 😊🚲

[@billythecat1460]

@@susannathornton looking forward to seeing the film. coffee and cakes will be at the ready for you!! It was astonishing to see how compact you manage to pack everything with you. I feel inspired!!

[@steveretiredandcycling]

Another refreshing video. Thank you for taking us along your mini adventure Susanna! All the best, Steve

[@susannathornton]

Hi Steve! Thanks for writing! Happy cycling! All the best! 😎🚲

[@gacekszlak]

You are an inspiration! A wonderful video :-)

[@susannathornton]

Hi PG! Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the film! 🚲😎

[@LifeontwowheelsRocks]

Another inspiring video Susanna.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Life on two wheels! Thanks for the comment! Hope you guys enjoying those cute bikes of yours!

[@sunburn1013]

Bloomin’ fantastic. I am going to use my afternoon off to go on a long trip with my Brompton now. Thank you (I think!)

[@susannathornton]

Hi SunBurn! oh sounds good, hope you enjoy your afternoon off! Thanks for watching my film and for the lovely cmoment

[@ethecyclists8189]

HI Susanna another great video,hope you are well and safe it's good to see you back on the roads again lockdown still enforce her. Hopefully in the next week are so we will get back to normal and then I hope to hit the rolling hills here in Ireland.

[@susannathornton]

Hi there! Thanks for watching. Really hope you can get out on those hills soon, sounds so nice how you put it. Thanks for another lovely comment. 😁

[@straighttalkingguy7366]

Thank you sue for a lovely day out .It was nice to see all the people enjoying life again

[@susannathornton]

Hello Straight Talkkingguy! Thanks for watching! Yeh it was lovely to see people actually going into shops, and children doing sport, and those rowers, and people eating out like that... So nice

[@bernesepuppy]

Perfect inspiration - I’m going to get the Brompton out tomorrow, give it a service and take to the roads....

[@susannathornton]

Hi Paul! Thanks for watching! and the lovely comment. Happy cycling! 😁🚲

[@algernon9324]

Really enjoyed this vid. It really does show that whether it is in an Asian mountain range or the suburbs of London, cycling with a tent and some food to cook makes it feel like a real adventure.

[@susannathornton]

Aw, thanks for such a great comment Algernon. You put it so well

[@eisvogel8099]

Nice, a new adventure from you & your loyal Brompton! I hope you got yourself some better and warmer gloves...

[@susannathornton]

Hi Eis Vogel! Thank for watching! And for your nice comment!

[@1994cjay]

Always a joy too watch.

[@susannathornton]

Thankyou for watching, and for the lovely comment 😁

[@leftygoldblatt55]

Great piece Susanna, a joy to watch. Did you know Surrey has more trees than any county in England.. You're welcome to stop here if riding down Dorset way. Thank you.

[@susannathornton]

Hello! Oh I didn't know that about Surrey. About trees, I am trying to learn how to identify trees in winter at the moment, from the shape of them and from the bark etc. It is difficult and I am not doing very well with it so far. Oh that is very kind of you about Dorset, thank you! Glad you enjoyed the film!

[@DaveGoodman1959]

Lovely film inspiring me with your spirit of adventure. Kind regards. You passed by my Aunts house on the Thames at Shepperton. ❤👍⛺

[@susannathornton]

Hi Dave! Thanks for watching again! Oh I wish I had known! I could have said hello and cadged a cup of tea haha. Those houses and boathouses right on the Thames looked amazing. Thanks for writing and best wishes!

[@stephenmountain3126]

Hi Susan Thank you for your replie And thank you for all the very entertaining videos you put together they are so nice to watch and certainly beat tv nowadays Take care susan and let me know if your ever in blacpool I can show you a lovely ride along prom from Lytham to fleetwood with nice cafe at the end very scenic Cheers ago

[@susannathornton]

Aw thanks Stephen that is really nice of you, sounds great, esp the cafe at the end x hope you are getting OK with your bike

[@stephenmountain3126]

Hi Susan Yes getting on really well with bike and really enjoying it I went for a lovely steady little tootle today along the sea path Did about 20 miles it was a tonic stopped at the little cafe at the end and had a coffee It was just idilic just me my brompton and my thoughts then tootled home to a nice dolop of corn beef hash They are amazing little bikes Anyway hope your keeping well and looking after your self I swear susan that a little daily work out with light weights is so beneficial to helping people To build up strength and health again after a bad illness nothing silly and too heavy but just enough so you can feel a slight strain I remember sometime ago when I were in the RAF a surgeon saying that to me Anyway take care susan

[@susannathornton]

@@stephenmountain3126 aw sounds perfect

[@stephenmountain3126]

@@susannathornton Thank you Susan you are an inspiration to many people You have been blessed with your recovery from cancer quite simply becouse you deserve that blessing I Learnt very much from the RAF Funny thing is I didn't realise it at the time it's only when you get older and wiser that you really evaluate whats important .

[@pootlingalong8928]

Love your little films! Thank you for sharing with us :)

[@susannathornton]

Hi Pootling along! Love your comments. Thanks for watching x

[@peterforde9513]

Love your “easy-peasy “ outings!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! thank you for watching my channel! and for the lovely comment 😁

[@sparkyvespa]

Thank you, I didn’t realise Fleet was that green it’s just always been a place I pass driving up to London on the M3. Very enjoyable thanks🚲

[@susannathornton]

Hi sparkvespa! yeh Fleet does seem nice. We did a really nice walk in the woods close to my cousin's place, tons of primroses, really nice.

[@chrisshelton3504]

I’m watching one of those Hilleberg Enans on EBay. It will probably go for more than I’m willing to spend at this time. Always enjoy all your trips, not just the easy peasy ones!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Chris, oh I really hope you get the Enan. They are the slightly lighter one aren't they. I have never actually seen one in the life in fact. Thanks so much for watching my films!

[@peterc599]

Looks like a really nice trip. I have not had access to my Brompton since the start of the first lock down and I miss it so much. Thank you for sharing.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! Thanks for watching! Hope you are reunited with your bike soon. Best wishes!

[@cyclingawaytrauma]

Great video sue ..nice to back out and travel further on the brompton again in the UK

[@susannathornton]

Hi there! Thanks for watching! And congrats on your own channel, really inspiring 🚲😎

[@colinwellman9480]

Thanks for sharing, I know and 8 or 9 minute video takes a long time to do, not just the stopping and setting up but the editing. Nice ride, I'd missed it but now I've set notification. Keep cycling and filming.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Colin! Yeh I am slow cyclist, even without stopping to film - and slow editor too... Never mind! Thanks for writing! It is very nice of people to write, and I do enjoy reading the comments. I'll post another film soon. I just got back from cycling four days London to Stockport, wild camping, to go and see my Dad. I went up the eastern side of the country this time, as far as Sheffield and then over the hills to Stockport. Quite a push up Winnats Pass. Haven't done that road for many years. I hope you'll like the film. Best wishes!

[@sittipornkantariyo4613]

I'm from Thailand, never been to England. like to see London view from your lovely vidio.

[@susannathornton]

Hi! Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the film!

[@AnnaUKSheepstar]

I love your videos. Such a lovely way to travel. You've inspired me to cycle further and try this :)

[@susannathornton]

Hi Sheepstar! thanks for watching. Yeh I really like doing journeys on my little bike. Takes time - certainly the way I cycle, overtaken by everybody - but such a nice way to travel. Thanks for writing!

[@BromptonTraveler]

Same start as my video... :) Beautiful, thanks for sharing!

[@ericthompson3729]

Going to look at my first Brompton tomorrow

[@susannathornton]

Sounds great, Eric. Thumbs up to you. How did it go?

[@bergolli1]

Lovely video, well done. I enjoyed watching this. Cheers from Germany.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Bergolli1! thanks for writing! Hope I can come to Germany again soon. I loved cycling in Germany last year. Glad you enjoyed the film!

[@ShantiTrish]

Great video Susanna and l enjoyed viewing your Fleet experience. ( l have relatives who live in Fleet, but l used to meet them in London, after their working London day, then l stayed overnight in London with my London relatives ). It’s good and sheer luxury camping in a relatives garden. ( l have camped in my Cumbrian relatives garden ). I also found it was a kindness not to stay in their spare room, as they were elderly relatives. It was fun staying in their apple orchard. In the Summer l didn’t get marshmallows, but l did get lovely apples, plums, or pears. Can taste the marshmallows from here, lovely. Glad you are well. Much love and best wishes to you and all your viewers. 🌈👌☺️

[@susannathornton]

Hi Trish! thanks for the wonderful comment. Sounds lovely staying in an apple orchard, and nice of you, making your trip low stress for your relatives. Thanks for watching!

[@chrisshelton3504]

Susanna, Looking at your tent, because of the ends I thought that was an Enan, but realize it’s a look alike. The Enan I was watching on EBay is actually an older one that I’ll probably let go. Most of this year I will be getting over an unfortunate eye injury, but I’ll be living vicariously through others such as yourself! Next year I’ll be doing what you’re doing! Keep feeding us with your cool content?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Chris! Oh yeh my old tent is a my Laserlite, I think. The names of the Terra Nova Lasers seem to have shifted over the years and I have got slightly confused but I think it is a Laserlite. Sorry to hear about your injury. Hope you can find a perfect tent this year whilst you recover, so that then you're all set for next year. About more films, I'm surrounded by maps and stuff at the mo, finishing the planning for another trip, lucky me. So, a new film coming soon! Take care meanwhile! Thanks for watching!

[@regiseven8278]

so coooooooool !

[@geoffbrompton822]

Tack. Dina filmer blir bättre och bättre

[@adrianstrand1120]

A nice channel to follow 👍🏻

[@susannathornton]

Hi Adrian! Thanks for watching, and for the follow too. More films coming. Actually I have a backlog of trips that I filmed but didn't make into videos yet, so I am working on those at the same time as doing new trips. I just got back from cycling on my Brompton from London to Stockport actually over the Bank Hol, to go see my Dad. Wild camped it all the way. So nice. Chilly! But so nice. I'll put up the film soon x

[@paulseoighemcgee5772]

Great cheerful content : )

[@susannathornton]

Hi Paul! Great cheerful comment! thanks for watching! 😁

[@edwardhirst6027]

The quality of your content has greatly improved. I really liked it.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Edward! Thanks for the feedback! Best regards!

[@kc3718]

just got back from camping int Peak District, this is the perfect repose.

[@susannathornton]

Hi kc! thanks for watching! and for writing. Sounds gorgeous, camping in the Peak District

[@neilwalker8800]

Hope your well

[@relarras]

New bag!!!!!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Reli! Oh, not sure which bag you mean! I was using the same pair of Ortliebs as I normally use... But it was definitely a different tent, an older one actually. I hadn't used it for so long I had to check online how to set it up. Hope your trip plans coming along OK. I am planning the next one now here, maps everywhere. Nice! Anyway, thanks for writing, and for watching!

[@relarras]

@@susannathornton hey. Yes love watching your videos. I have been gearing up. Still waiting for a few items. Planning to do some overnight hikes in Wales soon - I haven’t camped since I was a child! And defo bike packing too. I am keen to upgrade to a brompton as well but availability is not great and they don’t do the build your own bike thing right now. I am not keen on getting something off the shelf that doesn’t tick all my boxes. So need to wait it out until I can get the exact specs I want🇬🇧

[@handsonbrompton7875]

👍

[@FranLuckyflute]

Thank you so much for another vid adventure ride, no matter how small they are great to watch. Also what make are your travel bags?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Classic Routes! Yes this was a little local ride but still nice. And camping just in my cousin's garden - but it was fun, so nice to be out again after all the covid restrictions. My bags are Ortlieb panniers, roll top. Hope that helps. In my "gear" film you can see more about the bags etc. You have prob already seen it, but it is here in case not kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3yvpGqXgJZrfbs

[@FranLuckyflute]

Susanna Thornton …thank you so much for the formation, yes I did watch vid but was interrupted and forgot I had not watched it all. Bless you for link.

[@bytesabre]

Heh you were riding near where Brilliant Bikes is. My commute takes me through there sometimes when the M25 is jammed so I must stop in there sometime

[@susannathornton]

Ah I didn't realise about that! I love their videos, so straightforward and easy to follow

[@Muddy283]

Fleet??? That's where my family lives too! When I'm over in Blighty I tend to share my time between my circle of friends in the East End of London and my family (sister, nephew, niece and their families) in Fleet. Of course, Richmond Park and the Thames Path are musts for any cycle trip from London to Fleet. And now I know there's a decent cycle path on the North Embankment of the Thames, that too! I'd be *_really_* interested in finding out more about the route you took, Susanna, most notably the London to Kingston and Walton to Fleet sections (though the bit from where you came off the Embankment and weaved through the London streets would be interesting too). I did try this same trip once going the other way, but it was winter time and I made the big mistake of taking the Basingstoke Canal right from Fleet, followed by the River Wey then the Thames: hence towpaths and sometimes rather less than towpaths all the way to Kingston or Hampton Court Palace or thereabouts. Of course, being winter it was hopelessly muddy (particularly bad news for a Brompton!). Added to which at one point along the route (after Richmond Park I think, as I seem to recall I rejoined the Thames again there), the Thames path was flooded 🥴. Before reaching the flooded bit, well before Richmond Park in fact, I managed to get my drive train, mudguards and everything completely caked up with mud. So badly so that the wheels completely jammed up!! Had to take apart the whole drive train and remove the wheels to do a thorough clean en route followed by a deep clean the morning after I arrived at destination. Your route looks rather wiser and anyway it was already spring and the paths look nice and dry. Also, what for you is _"an easy-peasy London local trip"_ was for me a major trek!! Mind you, the Basingstoke Canal does twist and turn some, adding somewhat unnecessarily to the mileage, and the mud slowing my Brompton to an almost complete halt and the need to take everything apart twice (I think!) to get rid of all of that mud, didn't exactly help either. But it does kinda show the difference between someone who gives no second thought to cycling home from work ... from Hong Kong to London (easy-peasy, I suppose, for you 🤣), and a geriatric rookie like myself 😳.

[@Muddy283]

I seem to remember I was also pretty heavily loaded on that trip (all my baggage, Xmas presents & all) 😰.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Muddy283! Oh I think I did pretty much exactly that route you describe, but in the other direction. Poor you in the mud etc! Sounds like a valiant effort. My go at it was ages ago, must be over ten years ago. I was trying to do the whole ride from London to Fleet, or most of it anyway, along the river and canal etc. I camped at Chertsey that time, at a big campsite where I thought it would be nice to camp looking at the river but of course all the big caravans and people paying much more money were there and I was in a corner somewhere in my cheapie little tent haha. I didn't mind too much though. It was my first trip after cancer and I was super slow and had no hair and did the ride in between radiotherapy sessions. I broke my own rules and didn't tell anyone as I knew they would all be made at me haha. It was just so nice to be out. I remember that the bit from Chertsey onward was a lot harder and longer than I expected, and I got a puncture too and ended up having to rush which is never nice and got kind of hot and bothered was late for lunch.

[@Muddy283]

@@susannathornton Not quite as valiant as your Hong Kong to London effort 🤣. Sounds about right regarding post-Chertsey. Apart from having to deal with that wretched mud, things seemed to get a lot easier once I got on the Thames path. Indeed, I seem to remember I dealt with the mud immediately I reached the Thames. Anyway, still interested if you get round, among your many, many other jobs, to giving us an idea of your Walton to Fleet route. That is only of course if it's not too much hassle. Or maybe it's just a matter of picking any old minor roads going in the general direction of Fleet??

[@MrDrp1983]

Hey @Susanna Thornton I've only just stumbled on your channel because I'm looking at getting a Brompton. I've been binge watching them. Just wanted to say your channel is such a lovely escape and the rides youve taken us on have been awesome and inspiring. Thank you.

[@susannathornton]

Hi MrDrp! Thanks for the lovely comment! Glad you enjoy the channel. Riding a bike is just a nice thing to do, any bike really. Happy cycling!

[@ascot1049]

Ace .

[@susannathornton]

Hi Ascot 104! thanks for watching! 😎

[@julieannwhitehouse8148]

How did I miss this video of yours :-) another lovely one. thank you ps what is the brand of your flask, I always lookout for it in your trips.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Julie Ann! Thank for the comment! Glad you enjoyed the film! It was lovely to go see my cousin and her family like that by bike, and then camp in their garden. We were talking about it the other day actually. About my flask it is made by NeverLost, a Swedish brand www.neverlostgear.com/neverlost-thermos-0,50l (the webpage is for a the 0.5 litre but mine is the 0.35 litre littlest one)

[@alexmorgan3435]

A++++.

[@berenicek9467]

Hi Susanna ,thank you for another enjoyable video. Do you ride your bike daily for fitness? You seem very fit.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Berenice! Thanks for watching! About fitness, I don't cycle every day at the moment, but I do ride a bike several times every week, just because I use a bike as my normal means of transport round town, to go see friends or go shopping and do things. And I do do some sort of exercise every day, but not much! eg a 20 min run or 10 mins circuit training (burpees and sit ups and things, just at home). So I am not fit at all compared to people who ride bikes for sport and competition. But, for touring, all the little bits I do mean I can easily enjoy a 50-mile ride when I feel like it. Hope that helps! Thanks for writing!

[@julieannwhitehouse8148]

Hi Susanna, I am re-watching all your brompton videos, I love them all, but how many brompton bikes do you have as you start with a P bar bike then a lime green S bar and your latest is the coral coloured bike. Doyou have all 3?🙂

[@susannathornton]

Hello! thanks for watching! ah well first of all I had a black Brompton that I bought second hand, an old 5 speed, 20 odd years old. That was my first folding bike. I got it mainly to try and make life easier when I had to travel by bike and train from London to Manchester a lot when my Mum was poorly. I discovered Bromptons were actually really nifty, decent bikes. So I bought a new one, the lime green P bar, and I discovered I could tour on it. I used the lime green Brompton for years. Brilliant. BUT it was stolen when I was on chemo. Grr. I was super upset. Then I bought the pink one.

[@winsongan8940]

Greetings from us in Penang, Malaysia. Yr Brompton is same colour and P bar as mine. Hope we could ride with you in London after Covid is over... Have you been vaccinated ? Best regards.

[@PBayee34]

Just stumbled across your channel a couple of days ago, loving your videos. Was it your choice to camp in the garden or did your cousin not have room for you in the house ?

[@susannathornton]

Hi James! Thanks for watching! oh it was mainly cos of covid regulations. At the time, we were only allowed to meet outside. It was not allowed to go inside other people's houses. Anyway it was good fun camping

[@PBayee34]

@@susannathornton I'd love to own a Brompton one day, just ordered a folding bike from Aldi which has very good reviews which will hopefully arrive this week, my first venture into folding bikes !

[@ODOB]

Your commentary is very clear, did you use a separate mic/audio recorder, or you just record direct on your PC? Good job.

[@susannathornton]

Hi there! Thanks for watching! The commentary in this film was recorded using a Zoom H2n audio recorder, which my husband used to use for his channel but isn't using at the moment so I am using it. The quality is better isn't it. Before, I would use my Gopro to record commentary. The microphone on the Gopro Hero Black 7 was the best microphone I had.

[@sharkmentality9717]

Are you able to ride up hills in a stand up riding position?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Shark M! Good question. The answer is "sort of". On a normal "road" bike I really like riding out of the saddle, for the variation in riding position, and to use my weight and arms to help get up the hills. On a Brompton, I find that riding out of the saddle is not as easy as on a normal road bike. But I can do it by holding the bottom bit of the P bars, and I find it really useful to be able to do that, so that I can kind of "rush" over smaller climbs still in middle gear (mine is a three speed) without having to go down into my granny gear, and to crank up long steep hills in bottom gear, mixing up riding in the saddle and out. It is not brilliantly comfortable, and I can't really use your arm muscles like I would if climbing out of the saddle on a normal road bike, with my hands on the hoods. But it sort of works...

[@ste7193]

So you going next, huh?

[@jumaathassan7329]

Hi susan i have following your journey but is good to you to wear a helmet i am very worried about your safety on road.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Jumaat! Thanks for watching! About helmets and risk, when I raced, I wore helmets a lot - in the UK helmets were then (and still are now) mandatory for road racing, track and cyclocross, all of which I did, back in the day. And I wore a helmet most of the super-long cycle tour I did back in 2006 from Hong Kong to London. But for the kind of touring I am doing here, slow, choosing the quietest roads, and with very easy off road sections, I prefer to ride without. And a helmet is a relatively big and awkward thing to carry around on a tour and store - eg in your tent when you're not wearing it - and these days, I am really minimalist, paring down my gear, and a helmet is one of the things I don't take. Crossing roads as a pedestrian is a risk too. In the UK, sadly many pedestrians are killed each year by cars. So maybe I should wear a helmet when I am walking or running, but I don't. Anyway! there you go, a few thoughts! Thank you for watching, and thank you for writing too!

[@daveadriffield7296]

Oh why, oh why do vloggers go ahead, leave a camera, retreed their steps, go back and then backtrack to pick up their camera then have to go over the ground again just for effect? This is getting very old.