International Journal of Motorcycle Studies

I’m not sure whether to be disappointed (because some of the speakers are cool – Like Lois Pryce) – or relieved (is that what academics are really like? – oh no!) to have missed this conference.

Here’s a great video of this conference held at Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London in July 2013

IJMS Conference + Exhibition 2013 from IJMS on Vimeo.

In 2014 its in Colorado so I probably won’t be going.

Commuting on the Brompton

I’ve done two days commuting on my new Brompton and I’m impressed with how well such a little bike copes with the steep hills on the route, both up and downwards. My timing is no different from the times I made on my racing bike. The lowest gear on the Brompton is lower than the lowest gear I used on the big bike and I miss the choice of in-between gears. Yesterday I also kept stopping to move the saddle higher, convinced that it was slipping down. In fact it wasn’t and somehow it feels more cramped than a racing bike and my knees feel they are taking a strain. the riding position must be different. The bag at the front works beautifully and it feels so good not to ride with a heavy rucksack. Here’s the record on Strava of my first day. This morning was a few minutes longer as there was a headwind. (In fact a 16mph wind from exactly the direction I was heading towards.)

The journey back home is never any quicker because, although it is mostly downhill, its the people walking out into the road in Hampstead and Belsize Park and dealing with other traffic that determines how fast you can move.

My folded life begins here

After 6 weeks of waiting I finally collected my Brompton this evening from their slightly chaotic store in Covent Garden and I wobblingly cycled it home having left my full size bike obediently waiting at St. Pancras. Folding and unfolding this thing is daunting. I can’t believe how people do it in the blink of an eyelid. So I am keen to see how cycling up those steep north London hills feels on this little bike.
brompton home

Cycling to Hendon

At last, I’ve plucked up the courage to cycle from Old Street out to where I work in Hendon, up past Camden Town, turning right at Hampstead station then straight up all the way to Hendon then diving down an oblique footpath to arrive nearly opposite the university. I’ve also discovered Strava thanks to my technical guru Geoff Jones from where this map comes.