Cycle Wild Camp - London Oxford London - on a Brompton

[@peterweber4094]

Another enjoyable video. Your a real inspiration. Yes, breaking camp always takes much longer than one anticipates. Thank you.

[@keithdainton6043]

Another great video can't beat a bit of camping I like to combine it with a bit of fishing. after riding motorcycles for 51years I have hung up my helmet for a couple of reasons and got myself a ebike which I am loving for my local rides .

[@susannathornton]

Thanks for writing again! Sounds great about the ebike - happy cycling!😁🚲

[@lizziel4876]

I have just watched this for the second time, taking note of where you wildcamped, as I have now got all the gear and have got no excuse not to do it....just need to pluck up some courage!! Maybe this week!

[@draw1951]

I’ve been enjoying your videos since discovering them a couple of months ago. The fact that your excursions tie into the pandemic we’re facing (like here bringing as much of your own food to avoid crowds/shops) and yet bring us back to nature is so helpful. And know, I’m from the US so your travels are reaching across the pond. Many thanks.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Chris! Thanks for watching, and for the lovely comment. Yes it seemed that cycling and camping - which I love anyway - would be kind of the best way to travel during this pandemic. Actually, when they announced a lockdown here in Britain in spring, I dashed off before the shops shut and bought a load of puncture repair kits and as much fuel for my stove as I could carry. I think the hardware shop people wondered what I was going to do with all that methylated spirits! But I reckoned that, as long as I had those things, I could still pretty much still go anywhere, regulations permitting. Then I had to work out how to carry all my food, so started learning about dehydrating etc. That has been actually quite interesting in itself. It seems it is much bigger in the States than here. Anyway, hope you are alright there! Take care, and best wishes!

[@markmiller4449]

Parts of this video reminded me of sleeping in a tent in the garden when I was a child, and being woken by the dawn chorus. Beautiful.

[@susannathornton]

Aw thank you for the nice comment Mark 😊 Those sound like lovely memories

[@22patch22]

Just found your channel. Fascinated with these little Brompton bikes,they seem so versatile. Being able to fold it up and get a train somewhere and tour round and camp etc. particularly

[@susannathornton]

Hi Patch! yeh I agree, they are super handy, so sturdy, and open up so many options. Can even take buses etc. In my case sometimes I have not been super healthy eg the film I did Stoke to Stockport was my first time out with my tent after a big operation, so I wanted to know that I could easily bail out and call a taxi or whatever, if I needed. Anyway, there you go! Welcome! Happy cycling!

[@timtube1663]

This was really inspiring. Five years ago did London to Paris on an old 1970s Peugeot touring bike. Loved every minute of it! I now have a Brompton which I mostly use for commuting, but I'm looking into touring on it. You've proved it can be done! I like your luggage set up. Lovely video.

[@susannathornton]

Hi TimTube! Oh that sounds great, the trip you did. What a nice idea to ride a classic French bike back to France... Yes touring on a Brompton, even with camping and cooking gear, definitely doable. Thanks for watching! Happy cycling 🚲😎

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

I'm really enjoying your adventures, Susanna. Thank you. 👍🙂🚴‍♂️🏕️

[@TheCoopsvids]

Another great adventure thanks for taking us along 👍🏻🚴

[@curiouspenguin6887]

Enjoy your videos. Many of your meals look so tasty. Could you do a video with your recipes and cooking gear suggestions?

[@straighttalkingguy7366]

Lovely to see you out and about again, thank you because of your tour's l got to love the look of the Brompton so l bought one thanks again and please keep making the videos

[@susannathornton]

Hi straight talkingguy! Oh that's great! Happy cycling! Yeh I loved that trip to Oxford. Easy peasy distances, and gorgeous weather. It was after they lifted lockdown last year, and it felt so good to get out.

[@TheRoadoiler]

I’ve enjoyed your Brompton bike packing video. You radiate the joy it is obvious you experience living your adventures. Thank you 👍🙏🏻🍷

[@susannathornton]

Hi Paul, aw what a lovely thing to say. Thanks for writing 😎🚲

[@chrisw6704]

Another very interesting ride Susanna. On your way out it was so noticeable that the built up area suddenly dropped away after you had crossed the motorway. I love the place you chose to camp by the side of the wheat field. Some really nice scenery in an area that is often overlooked. I drooled at the energy bars and also the evening meals. Thanks for sharing.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Adam! yeh it was great to get beyond the M25, and suddenly be in fields, and look back at all that traffic, and then just pedal away and leave it behind. You're right, it was lovely out there. Seems to me that there are lots of places that are lovely but kind of overlooked. About food, actually I got the homemade energy bar recipe, and most of the other ideas for food on that trip, from this website www.trail.recipes/ Loads of inspiring meals and snacks and ideas, and gorgeous photography. Anyway, thanks for writing!

[@cyndy_776]

Lovely scenery! Your dehydrated meals looked great, I’m impressed that you made all those.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Texas bike girl! Thanks for watching and the nice comment. Yeh, it was quite a lot of effort to prepare the dried food. Not difficult at all, but it did take quite long. But then once I was on the trip, it was brilliant to be able to just tip the dried food in a pan, pour water on and have a proper healthy meal all ready to eat within a few minutes. And pretty much no washing up, haha

[@normawingo5116]

Glad to see you looking so well, I love how you appreciate every sunrise. I’m soon to own a Brompton and so excited. Enjoy your peaceful videos so much.

[@susannathornton]

Oh that is very cool, hope you love your new bike Norma! Aw yeh, nice to look back on that ride. Feels like it was ages ago now! Yes, gorgeous sunrises!

[@anthonykelly5]

What goes through your mind when your sitting waiting for night fall. i cycle myself done a bit of touring (never much good at it to be honest) to old now to even try to tour but i still ride me bike ,bought electric front wheel to get me up the hills anyway enjoy your videos you certainly have touring down to a fine art.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Antony, aw well when I am wild camping waiting for nightfall I normally think oh how nice and eat my dinner and if it is still light I watch birds through binoculars and things like that. Really nice...

[@MrTpecky]

Great Susanna, really enjoyed watching your adventures during the winter nights of this lockdown. gives you a sense of being free. Thank you.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Tony! Oh what a lovely comment. Thank you for watching, and for writing. So glad you like the films. Really hope that we can all be OK and feel free again soon. Best wishes 🙂🚲🏕🌏

[@ToastandJam52]

Great video. Brought back memories. I did that trip in 1971. Took a different route and stayed in hostels along the way. If I am correct, we cycled from Oxford to Stratford.

[@susannathornton]

Aw nice! glad that film brought back some good memories of riding round those lanes, and beyond, in the 70s. I hadnt been on some of those roads since racing on them when I was young there in the 90s (evening tens that sort of thing). Those roads full of memories for me too. Thanks for writing!

[@jasonloke2219]

Yes, I am intrigued by your front bag as Well. Thanks for sharing the video. really enjoyed it.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Jason! thanks for watching! and for your nice comment. About the front bag, it's a standard Ortlieb rear pannier, a "roller classic" I think it is called. To use it on the Brompton, my husband designed and made a steel frame that clips onto the standard Brompton front luggage "block", and the Ortlieb pannier clips onto the steel frame. It works really well. So it is a sort of custom solution. I think if you know someone with a metalwork workshop, then might be able to do something similar. (Or perhaps there are also similar things available to buy? Not sure). The reason to use Ortlieb panniers is cos they are big, and really robust, and super waterproof, and well, we already had them so wanted to use them instead of buying more things. Anyway, thanks again for watching! and for writing. Best wishes

[@jasonloke2219]

@@susannathornton Thanks so much for your reply. One more question: how much weight you have ever put in this front bag. I understand the max is 10kg, same as that allowed on the rear rack. Actually, the front is quite good for carrying load. At least, give me a estimate of your max load, just being curious! Thanks

[@rachael8742]

How strange? I was born near Uxbridge, lived for 15 years not too far from Oxford. Both very much have been 'Home Territory' earlier in my life. I also had a summer house near Norrtälje, Sweden for several years (sadly post divorce no longer) but I have many happy memories from that time and of the country. I love your almost 'matter of fact' approach to these cycle trips. I wish I'd rediscovered cycling earlier and as a consequence ventured out more during the pandemic. Sadly it's only post pandemic that I first 'discovered' and bought an E-bike to help get me up the hills here in West Yorkshire and more recently bought a standard Brompton to recover further fitness with the aim of several day cycle tours in mind.

[@susannathornton]

Oh fancy that!! I just looked up Norrtälje, looks lovely. Nice that you have happy memories of there. Wonder where you are in west Yorkshire. My family comes from Bradford actually. We went there a lot when I was young. Happy memories me too! Anyway, great that you got rediscovered cycling! The world's your oyster now haha 🚲😎

[@Vacaverde787]

Hello! Dehydrating food is the best way to eat well while camping. I've seen people feed it into those formulated foods with incredible salt content. I'm glad you show it on your channel. Part of traveling must include being able to eat well. Susanna you are admirable. Yesterday I got on the bike after many years of not riding it and I felt really free but very exhausted. At 56 it gets a little harder to make up for something you left behind at 40😂😂😂. Thank you for showing all your subscribers that it is possible to eat well at camp. On the other hand, I wonder if at some point you have thought of writing a book of your routes? the truth is that it would be great to have clearer maps of your routes. As you know, I would very much like to visit your country and do one of those bicycle routes. Every time I see your videos I feel a great peace and I think that going on vacation there would be great and full of peace. Thank you for sharing your trips are fabulous and very beautiful! Carmen desde Puerto Rico.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Carmen! glad you liked this film too! yeh I am keen on making my own food, partly so I know what is in it, as you say. And for the taste. Dehydrating fruit has been so great, it tastes soooo good compared to commercially made dried fruit, plus they almost always add sugar, which I really don't want. About the routes and maps, my routes are nothing special really. Honestly. The roads I take are just roads. Other roads would be equally nice, easily better... I just look at maps and think oh that looks interesting, and then I just go and see... and cos I am interested in history, I stop and look at old things. And someone else might be interested in completely other things, I don't know, trees or agriculture or something, and they would plan other routes and stop and look at other things, woodlands or crops or whatever. I think finding something beautiful or interesting is coming from the person looking, if you know what I mean, and we are all different and see different things and that's a lovely thing. Haha! My thought for the day. Bla bla. Happy cycling and thanks so much for the lovely comment!

[@Vacaverde787]

@@susannathornton Trust me, I'm pretty clear on what you mean. I have lost a bit of my essence with my work. I already want to do other more interesting and simple things. like sitting down to watch the sunrise and sunset, things like that. Can you imagine, I live on an island 20 minutes from the Ocean, from my office you can see the sunset and the days go by and I don't realize what is happening... you can imagine how stressful my job is. I'm too old to rescue people, now I only think about rescuing myself and enjoying my surroundings more. Thank you for your videos they are full of peace and beautiful places!!!

[@kitchencarvings4621]

Your tent is just the right color and shade to really blend in with the green foliage.

[@FranLuckyflute]

So lovely to see someone dehydrating food and use on journey. I love the convenience storage and health benefits, as I have been doing it for years. Your adventures have been very relaxing to watch, and I am gradually making my way through them. Oh…I have been practicing and throughly enjoying my bike rides.

[@susannathornton]

Oh that is interesting that you're also making dehydrating food. From what I can gather, in the UK there are not so many people doing it actually, and it seems to be more a thing in the USA. It does take a bit of time doesn't it, but I really like it, sounds like for exactly the same reasons as you. Great that you are enjoying the bike rides too. Thanks for watching my channel and for writing! Best wishes!

[@FranLuckyflute]

Susanna Thornton …thank you for replying, yes in Cornwall. I don’t know of any one that uses a dehydrator, so… many missing-out then. Kale leaves are quick and you can grind them to a powder and add to a drink, with fruit. Sticking to flattish cycling areas till I get used to things - very enjoyable.

[@andrewmuirhead86]

Susanna can’t say how much l am enjoying your videos,what a brilliant idea dehydrating your meals ,never seen that done before,just a joy watching you cycling along on your Brompton one day soon l plan to own a Brompton,you must own two as l am sure l spotted a white Brompton.

[@shizan]

I have just discovered your channel & absolutely love it. Please keep sharing your adventures.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Norizan! Thank you for the lovely comment!! Working on some more films now. Luckily I have a sort of backlog of stuff from trips that I did but did not make into videos (I am very slow at editing). So I am working on editing these until the restrictions lift! I'll put up a new film shortly. Best wishes!

[@neilwalton4474]

Hi Susanna, I stumbled upon your videos quite by accident, but I'm enjoying them very much. I'm an old guy living in Sweden, but one way or another I ended up having one child late in life. Tomorrow he will be 10 year's old. This summer I plan to make a bicycle trip from Kumla to Stuttgart. I want to try and video a lot of my trip, mainly to show my son that there's definitely an alternative way to travel, and just because Daddy's old that doesn't mean that he's finished.😅. Please can you tell me what's the best type of camera to use, or will a phone do the job ? I don't know if you will get this message, I'm not really into the whole KZbin thing, but if you do somehow come across my message, please let me know. I'm going to watch all of your videos over the next few weeks, and I thank you for your again for your lovely/inspirational/happy videos. Regards, Neil.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

Thank you for the link to the dehydrated food website!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Inge! It is a very inspiring website. Great photos of camping and camp cooking, as well as great tips and ideas and recipes www.trail.recipes/

[@gtex1963]

wonderful video, I love you’re spit of adventure.

[@susannathornton]

Hello! Thank you for watching! and for the nice comment 😎

[@markeastwood5273]

Thank you for your videos. I was really excited when you passed the sign for Handy Cross/Little Marlow/Flackwell Heath. I used to walk in that area 40 years ago when my Mum and Dad were up at the USAF base at Daws Hill. It brought back some very good memories.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Mark! glad you like the films. Aw, 40 years ago, that is a long time. You obviously remember it really well. I thought the countryside was lovely round there. Thanks for writing!

[@LJ-rz4zg]

So nice to see & hear the summer time thank you

[@susannathornton]

Hi again L J! Thank you for watching! Aw yes actually I also rewatched that film the other day, now that it is cold and dark, and was struck myself by the birdsong, and seeing the sunny warm days. Nice to look back! And look forward too to the coming year! Thank you for writing.

[@geoffbrompton822]

Just found your channel. Think it was recommended 'cause I'm into Bromptons,camping och Sverige. Great videos. Love the battered Trangia 😝

[@susannathornton]

Hi Geoff! Thanks for subscribing! Bromptons, camping and Sweden - seems be a fairly good fit 😁 About my stove, I am not sure how it got so battered. Never mind! Still going strong. Actually, my husband's nephew has given me a Trangia Mini. What a great present! Cute, and all so shiny! Looking forward to try it out. Thanks for writing! Susanna

[@robertsowerby433]

I am surprised you don’t get people coming to ask you to move on. Wonderful content, thank you

[@susannathornton]

Hi Robert! thanks for the lovely comment! I have never been moved on actually, not yet. Obviously for all sorts of reasons I try to camp in places where people don't go, and where people can't see me, so that noone finds me. And then I keep quiet - easy as I am alone - and I arrive late, generally try to get most of my bright coloured stuff under cover quickly, and my tent is low and green, and I am tidy and don't strew my stuff around whilst I am there, then the next morning leave early, and of course leave no trace. On the rare occasions when people have found me, they have been really nice actually. Like invited me for coffee and things like that. Thanks so much for watching my films!

[@stephenmountain3126]

I find your adventures really entertaining and a real inspiration to others excellent I have a brompton my self and totaly love it

[@susannathornton]

Hi Stephen! Oh thank you for the lovely comment. Glad you enjoy riding a Brompton too. Yeh such nicely made and fun and handy little bikes. I was out on mine today, just on a potter round town, but still nice. Happy cycling!

[@petergilbert72]

Tx Susana, loving the glorious bird song each morning, and the general relaxedness of your video! Coffee seems to be quite a thing!! Love the idea of travel with lightweight home made dehydrated food so will check out that recipe site. I had intended to travel last week from Shropshire to my sister’s outside Twickenham (part train and part cycle camping) and was going to go via Watlington and Marlow, so it was poignant seeing the Chilterns. (Alas the new lockdown put paid to that for now.)

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! Thanks for watching and for writing. Sounds like a nice idea for a ride. I went through a slice of Shropshire when I rode from London to Stockport to see my Dad, in August I think it was. I was just blown away by how lovely it is. Anyway, hope you get to do that ride down through the Chilterns soon. Best wishes!

[@acey850]

Aww this video is so sweet and homey for some reason. In the future, I hope to have the courage to do something like this by myself.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Ace R! Thanks for watching! and for the lovely comment. I hope you can get out on your own nice comfortable and cosy trip with a cute tent and a flask of coffee soon! Best wishes! 😎☕🍥🚲

[@vicentm981]

Veo en sus videos que la Brompton cambia de color, o es que ha tenido varias Brompton diferentes. Por otra parte, sus videos son muy inspiradores. Gracias por el esfuerzo de hacerlos.

[@susannathornton]

Hello! thank you for writing! ah yes I had a lime green Brompton, but it unfortunately was stolen last year when I was on chemotherapy after my cancer came back, so upset, everything was going wrong😭😤🥹 but I am very lucky that I could get a new Brompton, the pink one. I love it! thank you for watching!

[@rupertbirkin969]

I also did London - Oxford - London on Brompton in August. It is so hard to find a place for wild camping in England. Everywhere are fences or hedges. With a fully loaded bike it is quite difficult to find a quiet place especially at the end of day when you feel a pressure of dusk. I love it any way, but it is good to mention it.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Rupert! oh nice that you also did a similar ride. I loved that Oxford trip, taking it nice and slowly, taking two days each way. About finding a spot to camp wild, yes I always worry that I won't find a place before it goes dark. Actually, I end up always doing shorter days if know I will be camping wild. If I know I am going to a proper site, and am sure it is open etc, I can arrive pretty much whenever. BUT if I know I am wild camping, I definitely don't want to be looking for a spot and pitching in the dark! I see videos of people who do that, and to me it looks horrendously stressful. I tend to leave a massive time buffer for looking for a wild camping spot, and so I end up riding shorter distances on those days actually, and stopping quite early, as soon as I find somewhere half decent. Anyway, there you go. It is such a relief and so nice to find a good little spot isn't it, and settle down and make everything nice, and cook a bit of dinner. I love it too.

[@anthonykelly5]

just realized i cycled near enough to oxford watlington for the benson rally i used to be part of the fellclub .. i live in ireland btw.lol

[@uravaavoom2972]

Hi Susanna, very nice.. And really good.. Motivation... Great video keep it up

[@susannathornton]

Hi uravaavoom! thank you for watching, and for writing! will upload more content soon. Best wishes

[@Richard.357]

Awesome thanks.

[@DaveGoodman1959]

Thanks for sharing an enjoyable watch. Good editing. Made me want to do a bike tour as I haven't done one for years. Nice wild camp too. All the best.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Dave! Thank you for the nice comment! Hope you can get out on a bike tour again soon.

[@CaffeineJogger]

so, so good!!

[@annaleonie2731]

There are no captions! That's a dealbreaker for me. I look forward to watching your next adventure.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Anna! Thanks for writing. Oh I should put captions on then. I never quite know how useful they are. Good to know!

[@erichung8087]

Still u need essential vitamins which dried food can’t provide, take care and have safe fun ride!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Eric! yeh it is important to have good nutrition - actually that is partly why I do make my own food these days, cos it feels like it is more healthy than buying packets of things. Actually when I was young I was pretty careless when I was on cycle tours and would just eat mars bars and biscuits and whatnot. These days I am much more careful. Homemade dehydrated fruit is super nice actually. I was surprised how well the fruit keeps its flavour. So nice to stop and sit somewhere mid-morning and munch a mix of dried strawberries, pears, bananas, peaches, apples etc. I wonder how much of the vitamins etc is lost through the drying process. I should look it up. Thanks for writing!

[@ODOB]

Another sterling job. Loved it. Videography is much better than your Kodak V610 :)

[@helenevallee6ix]

Gorgeous video. The simplicity and reality answer a lot of questions about the practical aspects of Brompton touring/wild camping. The scenes of you just sitting and enjoying the quiet and beauty of the countryside, listening to the birds and insects are so restorative. Thanks for that. It's so needed at this juncture. I'm in Canada, so I get a kick out of seeing all of the same "local" place names as you cycle along or show the map--Scarborough, Uxbridge, and more--which are all within reach of a weekend cycling trip on this side of the pond, too. :D What kind of coffee do you take with you, and what is your process/kit for prepping it enroute?

[@susannathornton]

Aw Helene thank you so much for your lovely comment. It is so nice when people say such nice things. Hope you can get out and ride a bit round your locality there, with your own Uxbridge. Hope for better times for everyone soon. About the coffee! (important!) Well I take the strongest and nicest blend of ground coffee I can buy, measured out so I have exactly enough for the number of days. Then when I am out, I brew the coffee using a plastic cone and just ordinary coffee filter papers. The cone was once part of a poor old broken "drip" coffee maker, which my husband ransacked for parts. It was my husband who had the idea of making coffee this way on the road. I boil exactly the amount of water I need (by filling the flask with cold water and pouring it into the pan), which means I can just let the whole lot run through, if you know what I mean. The coffee drips straight into my thermos. If I brew one flask of coffee in the morning, then I can drink some for breakfast, and then have the rest in the afternoon, with a bun, sitting somewhere nice. Which is of course a lovely thing to do. Anyway, thanks again for writing! Best wishes!

[@helenevallee6ix]

@@susannathornton your coffee kit/process is brilliant in its simplicity. (I expected no less, really!) Kudos for reusing something already in your possession.

[@maytam3088]

no hill to climb between oxford and london, I suppose ?? I should have done that when I was a student there.... well, never too late with cycling , even if I can only pedal in granny gear. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@susannathornton]

Hi May! well there are the Chilterns, but you are such a strong cyclist you prob wouldn't notice them haha 🚲😊🎵 ⬅this is you singing as you ride over hills which is how I always think of you xx

[@maytam3088]

@@susannathornton Well, I definitely could not sing when I rode the Chuan Zang Nan Xian from Cheng Du to Lasa in 2010, then on Chuan Zang Bei Xian from Cheng Du through De Ge to Lasa in 2012. I am sure from these pinyin, you can figure out the topography which I rode through on these two trips. Hope to share with you the photos in person one day.... My dream ride is KKH ......

[@carolleenkelmann4751]

Love that banana shot! Looking at those close quarter shots of the London Busses, Q. Do I really want to do this? Like the idea of dehydrating your own food. Thanks for link.

[@susannathornton]

Haha yeh on that ride I decided I was going to film the food, from all different angles... 🥣🍌🥕🍪🥪🥘About dehydrating, I found this website www.trail.recipes/ really inspiring. Great recipe ideas and tips and knowhow - and gorgeous photos.

[@psocretes8183]

You are so intrepid. I was able to pick up my own Brompton second hand yesterday 9th Nov, yay. Do you dry your own supplies and make your own energy bars? I find that seeds nuts and grains are really nutritious. I like really fresh bread and worked out a recipe to make unleavened bread with honey (in the style of a pitta bread. You can cut in half diagonally and then slice each half to stuff with a filling of your choice, scrummy. I'm too clumsy to carry ready made bread as it gets squashed. I roast my own pumpkin seeds and add salt and herbs for flavoring. Simple to do and highly nutritious. I'm sure if you had any tips on the types of food you prepare and take that would be very interesting. Oooops. I have just clicked on the 'more' button and seen that you have a link to such a site. Hahahaha. I noticed you carry a vacuum flask. I sometimes prep and heat food and put in the vacuum to slow cook for later. You can even slow cook rice, hard boiled eggs, potatoes in that way too not just whole meals like stews.

[@susannathornton]

Hi psocrates! Oh that is great you got your Brompton. About the seeds and nuts etc yes I found that the energy bars I made (using the ideas on that Trail website) were great - really good in the afternoons when I was flagging. About bread, yeh I also always squash bread and it falls to bits. I tried muffins recently, which did hold together better, but your fresh unleavened bread sounds brilliant. Interesting about using the a thermos flask to slow-cook food too! Thanks for writing 😋😊

[@tomgreen5925]

We've recently become Brompton owners (25th wedding anniversary presents to ourselves) & are both really enjoying your videos. Very inspiring stuff. Keep up the great work 👏🏼👏🏼 ps. When is the next Hong Kong to London episode? 🙂

[@susannathornton]

Happy anniversary! What a great idea to get Bromptons to celebrate🚲🚲😊😊 Happy cycling! Another HK to London ep coming soon!

[@Curlew-Corner]

Another lovely trip to watch, thank you. I’ve watched three of your videos now and wonder if you ever wear a cycling helmet?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Emma! Oh that's nice of you, thanks for watching my films! About helmets, no I don't wear one when I'm touring these days. In the past I wore helmets a lot, eg for road racing and track racing and cyclocross, which I did through the 90s. Helmets were mandatory for those kinds of racing. And when I cycled from Hong Kong to the UK back in 2006, I was still in that mindset. But I prefer riding without. On a cycle tour, a helmet is a relatively big and awkward thing to carry and store - eg in your tent when you're not wearing it - and these days, I am really minimalist, paring down my gear and keeping everything as simple as possible. A helmet is one of the things I don't take. I think Chris Boardman puts it really well. He says if cycling looks and feels "normal" - ie can be done without body armour - more people will cycle instead of driving everywhere, and then fewer people will die from air pollution and obesity-related illness. And I think everyone would be happier too. Anyway there you go! Thanks so much for watching my films, and for writing too!

[@rlchardpritchard7426]

High Susan a I've been watching a lot of you lately and it's inspired me to ride to the coast its only 90m away but nervous I've done big miles on my mtb and done 30 plus on my 20 inch folder but not with weight how did you start out

[@susannathornton]

Hi Richard! Oh that sounds great, to ride to the coast. About starting out etc, the main stuff I had to sort out when I started touring on a Brompton was figuring out a luggage set-up that worked, was reliable, kept my stuff dry, didn't get in my way when pedalling, didn't rub etc. You prob want to do some practice rides, load the bike up and ride round the block to see how your set-up works, so that when you head off for real, you know it all works OK. You prob done that already. About weight and distance etc, if it is hilly on the route, then yeh you will defo feel the extra weight and get more tired more quickly with loaded bike than on an unloaded bike. But if the roads are fairly flat I think you won't notice the weight of the luggage really. Not sure if that is what you were asking...! Anyway, hope you do it! Sounds great, love the idea of riding to the sea

[@rlchardpritchard7426]

@@susannathornton thanks for your reply I am hopefully going to video it would be my fitst proper KZbin video

[@NottinghamshireMadness]

Another fantastic video, but! You have inspired me to order a trangia (arrives tomorrow) and prepare my own dehydrate food and homemade energy bars, can we have a food/snack prep video please?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Nottinghamshire Madness! great name by the way 😊 Oh that is exciting about your new Trangia. Hope you enjoy it for years and years! If yours lasts as long as mine has, you'll still be using it in the year ....2060! omg what a thought. About dehydrated food, oh great that you're gonna try that. I only started with it last year, and was a bit unsure as here in the UK, not many people seem to do it, but I was amazed how nice the food was - all the dinners I did were great, and the dried fruit is brilliant. Actually not expensive either. My dehydrator is a "Sous Vide 6 Tray" and cost £84. If I bought sachets of freeze dried dinners, and dried fruit etc from the shops, it would quite quickly amount to the same as buying a dehydrator. The thing with the dehydrator was that it is quite big - the size of a microwave - and our flat is small so had to really shuffle things round in a cupboard to find a place to store it. Anyway, yes, I'll do a film about food, and share what I have learned... Meanwhile, (and probably a better thing anyway) I really recommend this website www.trail.recipes/. The woman who does the recipes is a trained chef and nutritionist (and takes fantastic inspiring photos too). I looked at lots of websites, but this was the best I found for inspiration, and for recipes. I tried quite a few of her things. The quinoa energy bars were fantastic www.trail.recipes/recipes/puffed-quinoa-and-peanut-butter-bars/, and I used several of her ideas for my dinners too. Anyway, thanks again for watching!

[@NottinghamshireMadness]

@@susannathornton Wow. Thank you for such a concise reply. I ordered a dehydrator and shall look at the links you gave. Nottinghamshire Madness! I just wanted somewhere to store my videos as I have lost so many over the years to defunct technology, I thought if anyone could also have a laugh at watching them then go public! That also means trying to improve the filming. We have a Brompton Nottingham FB group, if ever you find yourself in the county of Robin Hood please make contact as I'm sure many of us would share coffee with you. Thanks again for the info and your video's Andrew

[@susannathornton]

Hi Andrew! Oh sounds great about the dehydrator. Hope you enjoy using it. So nice of you about coffee in Nottinghamshire - roll on lifting the lockdown!!

[@NottinghamshireMadness]

Spaghetti bolognese dehydrating! Thanks for the encouragement.

[@susannathornton]

@@NottinghamshireMadness oh wow, great!

[@rosshickman2777]

Enjoy the videos ... very engaging lady and kudos to her for the trips she makes solo. On a Brompton. However, FGS sort the sound system out ...., I have the volume cranked up to max to try a hear the dialogue. 😖

[@susannathornton]

Hi Ross! Thank you for watching! and for the feedback. Sorry you had to crank up the volume! In the next film, which I'm in the middle of editing now, I'm trying to control the sound a bit better. I am teaching myself everything as I go. Hopefully everything will slowly improve. ATB!

[@rosshickman2777]

@@susannathornton Hi, thanks for the response. I think when editing via computer/laptop/tablet, the sound seems even .... unfortunately, when watching on TV it is very different. The most common issue for many vloggers is that background noise overpowers the spoken word ... this again is probably more noticeable via the TV. Still enjoying your work though! Kudos! 👍🏻

[@susannathornton]

Hi Ross, thanks for writing again! Ah, OK, that it interesting about TV. I am aiming for my next one to be a bit better. Thanks again! I really appreciate who take the trouble to write.

[@alexmorgan3435]

That looks a beautiful kitchen! How does your pannier attach to the front of your Brompton? I have the old large touring bag with metal tubular frame that mounts onto the block on the headstock.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Alex! Thanks for watching! I wondered what you meant about the kitchen, then remembered that yes I had filmed myself in the kitchen for that film. Yes it is nice! small and nice - that's pretty much the whole thing. About the front pannier, it is attached onto the front of the bike using the standard Brompton luggage "block" and then a steel frame that my husband made. He made it so that we could use the Ortlieb bags, which we already had. They are big! and really reliably waterproof - and we already had them.

[@alexmorgan3435]

@@susannathornton Nice one. I have Ortlieb panniers, but not the skills to make a frame for them to mount onto the front block of the Brompton. I like your videos so have recently subscribed to your channel.

[@ascot1049]

Brilliant

[@ShantiTrish]

Great Thankyou. ☺️🌈👌

[@bikedreamer9345]

Wonderful, can you please share your route?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Bike Dreamer! thanks for the comment. About my route, from London to Oxford I went via Uxbridge, Fulmer, Woodburn Green, through the outskirts of High Wycombe, Lane End, Fingest, Christmas Common, Watlington, Chalgrove, Chiselhampton, and into Oxford. I planned to do a different route on the way back, but in the end I retraced my steps because I was hoping I might find my keys. Hopeless of course but I was kind of fixated on finding them

[@bikedreamer9345]

@@susannathornton nice way. Am planing to do trip from London to Cardiff , starting with London to Oxford in first day , one day enough for route? I mean from London to Oxford . And easy to find camping sites? And any suggestions will help me alot , btw never visited UK before coming there for my wife’s graduation

[@susannathornton]

@@bikedreamer9345 Hi again! Oh that all sounds exciting, about your trip and wife's graduation. About cycling London to Oxford in a day, it just depends on what distances you're used to riding, and what kind of day you want to have. I took it very easy in the film above, doing the journey in two slow, short days (and the same on the way back). Actually I rode London-Oxford in one day when I cycled from London to Stockport, and enjoyed it. London-Oxford was my first day. I rode London, Pinner, Rickmansworth, Amersham, Great Missenden, Monks Risborough, Thame (I took the off road cycle path, good), Shabbington, Worminghall, Wheatley, Oxford. It was just over 100km. You can see the film here kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHPCamhpobKBeZo This route London to Oxford is also lovely. About campsites, yeh it should be easy, there are quite a lot of sites, and now also new things eg camping in people's gardens etc as well, I forgot the name of the app. I can't recommend any campsites specifically as I was wild camping not using campsites (and in Oxford I stayed with a friend). But if you just type campsite into google maps on the area you expect to end up, you'll find a good few options of camping sites to aim for, and that should help you plan day one. Hope that helps!

[@kitchencarvings4621]

Is that a dehydrator you have or a freeze dryer. I want to get a freeze dryer but they are very expensive. Still at $7-$9 for a backpacking meal it would pay for itself if you go bikepacking and backpacking a lot plus being able to store meals for a rainy day.

[@susannathornton]

Hi there! what I have got is a dehyrator. Yeh I thought kind of the same - the backpacking meals in shops are really expensive and I wanted to try to make my own. I got inspired by various people eg this website is great www.trail.recipes/ very nice photography and lovely backpacking food ideas

[@petergilbert72]

Hi again Susanna. I’m thinking I’d like to do camping on the Welsh hilltops where my Brompton won’t go so am looking for something light enough to carry (and in fact I’m thinking of the Enan). However it’d be cool if it’d also fit the Brompton for other occasions. I see you park yours in the vestibule. Do you have space for much luggage in the vestibule with the Brompton already in it? (I sometimes pull a trailer but I’m sure that wouldn’t fit!) Thanks Peter

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! Sounds like a lovely thing to do camping on Welsh hilltops. About storing gear in the Akto, yes I find the porch is massive. I use the "footprint" - as you can see in the films - which means there is loads of dry, usable space. About storing luggage in the porch, I empty my panniers of everything except things I definitely won't need, and put the bags one on top of the other in the farthest bit of the porch, the pointiest bit, if you know what I mean. Even there the roof is quite decently high so I can also put any wet stuff eg my raincape on top of the panniers, to sort of dry overnight. Then I can place the folded bike in in the porch snugged up to as close to the panniers as poss so that I still have space to sit in the door of the tent, and get in and out obviously. As the folded bike is quite narrow, there is space next to it (kind of under the zip of the door) for pots and pans, and porridge soaking for the morning etc. I hang things from the bike to "dry" too, to use the space. By the way, about Hilleberg, last night I heard Petra Hilleberg the owner of the company on BBC World Service actually, saying that they have had such a huge number of people buying their tents they could hardly keep up. You are prob across it, but anyway, hope you can get your Enan! it sounded like everything was selling out like mad. Anyway, thanks so much for watching. Stay safe! And hope we can all be OK and get out and do nice things again soon!

[@petergilbert72]

@@susannathornton that’s a great help Susanna, thank you for that level of detail. Makes it sound a practical proposition. There are so many tents and views and assessments are sometimes very contrasting which makes it difficult to choose without the opportunity of sitting in one! So your info is really helpful! Hope you’re well! Peter

[@petergilbert72]

@@susannathornton sorry, one other question. The Enna doesn’t have the little rain cap that the Akto has got. Would you really miss that aspect of the Akto if it wasn’t there? Thanks!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Peter! I had a look at the Enan online, to see what you meant. Yes I see that whereas the Akto has that little sort of peaked cap thing at the top of the door (a "vent" they call it on the Hilleberg website right?), the Enan doesn't have it. About whether I would miss it, I think I would, for two reasons - one just for fun really, cos it's nice to sit in the tent when it is raining really hard and it's daylight, and peek out and feel cosy. The rain drips off the peak thing nicely. It has a wire so you can bend and shape it, like the kind of wire you get in rainjacket hoods. (In the film I made about cycling from UK to Sweden, you can see the rain dripping off the vent actually , in a shot from inside the tent, about half way through the film I think). The other thing about the vent on the Akto is that it means that at night I can leave the tent door unzipped at the top a good few inches, to improve the ventilation, and not worry that it might rain. I pretty much always do that. On the Enan, I am not sure if you can do that, without risking that if it rains, the rain will come into the porch, right? I realise the weight thing. I do also use the Akto for hiking, abit like you maybe plan to on the hills, and it's obviuolsy not the lightest tent. But I am kind of addicted to the security of my Akto, and often choose it anyway even in summer. Sometimes I do use a quite old Terranova Laser, which weights about 800g, which I got before I got the Akto. But I think on balance if I could only have one tent out of my two, I would choose the Akto, for the sense of robustness and safety. Anyway, that's just me. But there's a couple of thoughts! Actually, just FYI, there have apparently been just a few Aktos that had leaks in that vent seam, and mine was one of them. I asked Hilleberg about it, and they were brilliant, and asked me to post it to them in Sweden, which I did (and they paid me back for the postage) and they did something to it at their factory - sealed the seam I think - and kept in really good contact with me throughout, and returned the tent, all really quickly, like in about a month round trip. They seem to be a terrific company.

[@petergilbert72]

@@susannathornton thanks Susanna. Yes, I read about those leaks, but impressive stuff from Hilleberg! The vent thing is tricky and the rain peak is defo a practical enhancement for rainy or windy weather as the Akto’s zip goes horizontal at the top allowing a flap to be opened for a sneak preview on the works outside! I think with the Enan it’s possible to leave a slit open at night just a couple of inches long (one blogger puts a clothes peg in it to hold it open) , and if rain did enter I suppose it would only be on the vestibule floor. I think if I was to get either one it has to be the Enan simply because I’m 1.88cm tall and, from I’ve read, the Enan is slightly bigger. The ends of the tent have a triangular peak which sort of extends the usable interior length, while the ceiling is suspended from shorter loops than on the Akto meaning I’d get another cm or two of headroom. I’ve tried sitting on a mat and measuring my sit up height and its around the official measurement of 93cm if I’m sitting curved as I probably would be in bed, so even an extra cm would make a difference to me. Basically both tents are a little small for me but the advantage of relatively low weight and Brompton indoor parking are huge pluses! I love the vestibule and footprint arrangement which adds enormously to the utility of both tents for only a small weight increase. I might leave it behind for backpacking but bring it along when bikepacking. Thanks for your latest vid btw! I must have another read online about dehydrating food to see if it’s possible without buying a special oven. Thanks again for your time and interest Susanna.

[@UUche]

What a great idea to go bike camping, I think I might use my brommie to go bike camping in spring. I already have a roll top bag for the front but what kind of bag did you use on your rear rack?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Mr Uche! Thank you for watching and for writing. On the rear rack I am using an Ortlieb pannier bag. Hope you get the chance to get out on a bike camping trip on your Brompton soon! Susanna

[@santomuljo9216]

Great !!!!

[@furkuk]

What a lovely little adventure 😊 I’m looking to do something similar on my Brompton. What size chainring do you have on your bike?

[@susannathornton]

Hello! ah, well it is a 39 tooth. Therein slightly lies a tale actually. Until this summer, I was struggling with the gears being too high, and ending up walking a lot of hills. I seemed to be walking a lot of the way through Essex when I rode to Harwich and got the ferry to Holland for my friend Andrea's birthday party, for example. The hub gears were supposed to be the lowered gears that you can order when you buy a Brompton, so I assumed there was no room to go lower there, and decided to try switching the chainring for a 39 tooth. I rummaged in my box of old bits from when I used to race, and found a 39 in there, which was handy, so I could just put it on, shorten the chain and I was off. And the new gearing felt great. Anyway, one day recently when I was cleaning my bike in detail, I noticed that the hub actually has "standard" written on it. So, that was a bit of a surprise. It looks like I didn't actually get those lowered gears. Not sure..! I should probably chase it all up with Brompton but I haven't. And now with the smaller chainring I find it is perfect, so I am just carrying on like that. Long answer! Anyway, hope you enjoy getting out on your Brompton soon!

[@furkuk]

Thanks for the update. I’ve just ordered a 39 tooth chainring to make it easier on my trips. As far as I’m aware the reduced gearing is as a result of different sized chainrings. The hub is the same. When I bought mine it had a 50 tooth chainring so I changed it for the 44 tooth but I’ve now decided to go down to a 39. Love your videos, such a relaxed style. 😊

[@Flintynicknacks]

I’m so decrepit I’ve got a 32T chainring on mine! Love your gear- Akto, Trangia, poncho, flask! I can’t help but get meths all over my fingers though.....yuk!🤦‍♀️ Just re-watching these in Lockdown 3 - such a good balance in your videos between the cycling bits, and all the other peripheral bits...camping, cooking, eating etc. And no intrusive loud music - much nicer hearing the sounds of touring, even if it is traffic sometimes. Thank you.

[@daveadriffield7296]

Never mind your keys. I keep worrying every time you forget your camera.

[@vicentm981]

Excuse me, I don't speak English and I use Google Translate. I follow your videos and I really like them. I want to ask you a question: What type of stove do you use and what fuel? Thank you. Vicent.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Vicent M! Thanks for watching! About my stove, it is a Trangia, and it uses methylated spirits as fuel. On the Trangia site they have a page with the name of this fuel in different languages, in case that is helpful. The page is here trangia.se/en/fuel-list/ There are different sizes of Trangia, mine is the 27 which is designed for 1 or 2 people. My stove is very old. I got it when I was a schoolgirl, many years ago. It has got a bit dinted over the years but still a great bit of kit. Thanks so much for watching my films!

[@vicentm981]

@@susannathornton Muchas gracias.

[@derekperkins7343]

I'm saving your videos for a coffee break treat but you ruined it today- I can't stop worrying about that key!

[@susannathornton]

Hi Derek! Oh no! sorry about that! ruining a coffee break is serious😧

[@gibbson130]

Nice wild camp. What's the stove you're using called?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Gibb Son! Thank you for the nice comment. The stove is a Trangia. I got it when I was 14, in 1982. Recently I bought a new burner for it, and a new frying pan, but the rest is original. It has got quite a lot of dents, but still going strong nearly 40 years on. A lovely thing!

[@gibbson130]

@@susannathornton thanks for the reply!

[@Rob7911]

How do you prevent or repel tick bits when you are camping in the wild?

[@susannathornton]

Hi Robert, yeh good question. I just do the normal recommended things, ie to prevent them sometimes I wear long trousers if I know I am going to walk around in long wet grass, but sometimes I dont actually just cos I am too lazy to change into them or in a rush etc due to the light failing or being hungry. I shake out my sleeping bag and clothes each morning and evening. And I check my body every evening and morning and use tweezers to pull out any ticks asap, and then keep an eye over time to see that I don't get that bullseye rash thing. So far I have never had the bullseye thing so never had to have antibiotics. I had two ticks on a recent ride in Ireland. That was quite a lot. I seem to get between zero and two per trip.

[@Rob7911]

@@susannathornton thank you so much for the reply! Ya that is one of my largest barriers to bikepacking/camping - but hoping to get tips and tricks from others about how to get over that fear :) - most recently on a hike I used a Permethrin spray for my clothes and that seemed to do a great job. I was in tall grass with no issues. Always looking for more ideas though. Just got a brompton and loving it, use it mostly for urban commuting but looking to do more- so you’re very inspiring! Thank you so much for your feedback and love your channel! :)

[@susannathornton]

Thanks Robert! yeh it is great to share tips and inspiration. I really like it that we can do that here on KZbin. Happy cycling!

[@davidhale1568]

Evening 10s.....I remember having to pay the time keeper the then new light weight ten pense bit when it came out sadly replacing the even lighter five pence.... outrageous inflation I thought at the time 😂

[@susannathornton]

Hi David! Haha yes, evening tens! Actually, you make me realise that I can't remember how we used to pay... I guess we must have paid when we all went up to the person with a clipboard who wrote down the names and gave out the numbers. Maybe there was a tin or something. All the volunteer club people who ran everything were absolutely brilliant to give up their time. I did my first ever 10 on that course Stadhampton Watlington course actually. I think I was caught by about 5 people haha.

[@davidhale1568]

@@susannathornton club secretary was not to be argued with! Local courses were the Worcester area, club hero was Paul Carbutt lands end to John o groat's record holder and bronze medalist Montreal Olympics. Our training rides would sometimes involve scrumping😱. I got the touring bug around 1985 a few years after hanging the sprints up. Was very handy having a job you could take two or three months off. First thing I did after retiring from the NHS was to fly out to Gibraltar and cycle back. Spain had changed quite a lot since last I rode there tho sadly it hadn't got any flatter. I was a little surprised when motorists weren't too bothered about a Dutch guy on a recumbent and myself cycled five miles down a motorway... hadn't done that since I was in Norway 😵

[@susannathornton]

I couldn't think what scrumping was so looked it up and realised I have done that too 🙄. Funnily enough i have ridden along a motorway by accident as well. Though never on a recumbent I must say

[@ethecyclists8189]

Hi getting around your great videos now do you not wear a helmet? Please do they are very busy roads you are on.

[@alandeakins1607]

Why are you riding without a helmet...??

[@tobewiser6738]

Love your vds--a bluetooth microphone would be nice--can't heard your narratives which is important.

[@susannathornton]

Hi Tobe! Thanks for watching, and for writing with suggestions 👍

[@bytesabre]

I’d like to do something like this. Any recommended recipes for dehydrated meals and energy bars you’re making? At the moment I’m just doing things like dried fruit and dried chillis with mine and using them as ingredients in other things later

[@susannathornton]

Hello Tina! Thank you for watching, and for writing. About the dehydrated food, I only started on it this spring when the whole corona situation made me want to try and carry all the food I need for a trip, except obviously water. So am a very much a beginner on it. I got really inspired by this beautiful website www.trail.recipes/ and tried out quite a few of their main meal recipes, eg the mushroom risotto (brilliant) and the chickpea curry (great). Then I tried just cooking extra portions of meals that I was making anyway, and dehydrating them spread out on brown paper in the dehydrator - a veggie chilli and tamarind rice dish with aubergines turned out well, and it seems like as long as you cut things small and avoid dishes that have lots of fat in, a lot of dishes would work OK. But you already got a dehydrator, so you know all that sort of thing prob better than me. Once the stuff is dry, I weigh everything out and put it in little bags for each meal and snack, like the Trail website people suggest. About energy bars, they had loads of really tempting recipes. I tried www.trail.recipes/recipes/fig-and-oat-bars/ and the www.trail.recipes/recipes/puffed-quinoa-and-peanut-butter-bars/ which were both good. Anyway, that's a few thoughts! Thank you again for watching! Hope you enjoy some great food outdoors somewhere nice soon, dehydrated or not! x Susanna

[@bytesabre]

@@susannathornton thanks for getting back to me. I’d not ridden in years before getting back on a bike over the summer so I need to build up fitness first, but good to have some info to plan out when I do.

[@susannathornton]

@@bytesabre Great that you are back on the bike Tina. Hope you enjoy building up gradually, and feel good. Last year I had to stop riding and everything for 6 months as I had to have a big op for ovarian cancer, which turned out not to be cancer, which was miraculous and of course wonderful, but after the operation it took me ages to be able to ride my bike again, or carry a rucksack. Sometimes it felt like I'd never be able to. I'd had breast cancer a few years ago, but I'm really lucky that I seem to be OK at the moment. Anyway. Let's keep going! Happy cycling! 😊 x

[@scottknapp8984]

London looks really cycling unfriendly.

[@susannathornton]

London, well, yeh. It is somewhat better now than when I first moved to London in 1999. They have put quite a lot of investment in, and massively more people cycle in London now. I hope they keep going with that and I hope other UK cities get similar investment, or more. The lockdown was amazing in London, when the cars kind of disappeared. Women friends of mine who had not cycled before actually got on bikes in London then, doing normal journeys in normal life by bike. That was great. But across the whole of the UK, yeh there is a loooong way to go before we can say we are cycling friendly

[@scottknapp8984]

@@susannathornton thanks for your reply, and I do love London. I also adore your videos. They’re beautifully shot and edited. I confess to being somewhat addicted to them because they allow me to go on vicarious adventures during an otherwise dreary work week.

[@simonhawker9277]

there is no wild places in England its all parks