Having just purchased a Brompton, I'm considering using it to ride from my home in Ludlow to Chepstow, via Ross on Wye.
I've ordered a 39T chainring to replace the default 50T and it's the 6 speed Explore version so walking should be minimal.
Keeping an eye on the postman ( for the 39T ) and the weather forecast.... it might be on for this weekend though currently it's not ace. Leave work at 15:30 and mooch on down to Ross, about 45 miles a way ... or if it's shizen maybe detour to Hereford and get the train back !
Saturday head to Mitcheldean for the BCQ point there then back to Goodrich and the Wye through Symonds Yat and Monmouth then down to Tintern for another BCQ and onwards to Chepstow.
Train home from Chepstow via Newport.

A few things need to line up for this to happen.

There's currently two loons Bromming from Mach to Bangor on the Trans something or other route - Traws Eryri? - a third of which is off-road, which is fairly bonkers

With my very limited experience riding the Brompton, I feel offroad is not it's natural territory...
Not sure if respect is due, or concern ....

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 3:10 pm Having just purchased a Brompton, I'm considering using it to ride from my home in Ludlow to Chepstow, via Ross on Wye.

hope the route goes through Bromyard...

Tractionman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:37 pm

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 3:10 pm Having just purchased a Brompton, I'm considering using it to ride from my home in Ludlow to Chepstow, via Ross on Wye.

hope the route goes through Bromyard...

Close-ish ... but no.
There is a 'Brompton' just south-east of Shrewsbury which'll get a visit at some point

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 2:10 pm

Tractionman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:37 pm

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 3:10 pm Having just purchased a Brompton, I'm considering using it to ride from my home in Ludlow to Chepstow, via Ross on Wye.

hope the route goes through Bromyard...

Close-ish ... but no.
There is a 'Brompton' just south-east of Shrewsbury which'll get a visit at some point

there are three more Bromptons in Yorkshire too!

Tractionman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:14 pm there are three more Bromptons in Yorkshire too!

And curiously a Brompton in, er, West London too

RIP wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:16 pm

Tractionman wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:14 pm there are three more Bromptons in Yorkshire too!

And curiously a Brompton in, er, West London too

Very curious !

Well it's a goer. She's not happy with me, but sometimes I've gotta fight my corner.
I'll be home tomorrow afternoon ffs.
And she'll just watch the tennis and reading whether I'm here or not...

So in the multimodal travel theme of Brompton's, I'm shortly (in 25 mins ) getting the train from Ludlow to Leominster to cut out 12 miles and 500' of stuff I ride ALL the time. Still going to be 30 miles today through Herefordshire so not exactly flat.

Good stuff. Look forward to some pix etc.

A short report...
All very last minute though I'd prepped the bike and lined up accommodation, finally made the decision to weather the storm with 55 mins to go before the train to Leominster left.
Women heh, who'd have them!
Made the train ok ...



Nice sandals !!!
Took the flats off the Jones as I know them and the sandals are a winning combo.

Anyway, arrived shortly thereafter in Leominster and mere seconds later was on my way south. Forecast was for rain so I set off trying to beat it...
The new 39T gearing proved to be a great modification.
Not a huge amount of flat on the route but all was rideable.



It was lanes all the way, but a really enjoyable ride through Bodenham and skirting the east side of Hereford through Withington and first crossing the Wye at Holme Lacy.
I then crossed, and recrossed several times, a disused railway that used to run from Hereford to Ross. It's too far gone to be a sustrans . Shame.
I managed to get up Ballingham Hill which warned of 15% though personally I doubt this.
The Brompton does ride exceptionally well, with the Ergon GP3 grips putting your hands in quite a 'hoods' like position.
I rolled into Carey and with but a few miles to Ross, stopped at the Cottage of Content for a pint. Ok two.



The remaining ride along the Wye through Hoarwithy was very pleasant.

I'd booked a cheap B&no B in Ross so after a shower and change of clothes found a suitable curry house ( The Mint) for sustenance and beverage.



Saturday morning I was on the road with my pack of Eccles cakes by 07:40, continuing south east and upwards to Mitcheldean to collect the first BCQ point there.
Then it was briefly back the way I'd come to rejoin the Wye near Walford and passed Goodrich Castle and into Symonds Yat



It was then along the Wye on the east side all the way to Monmouth, presumably along another disused railway, very possibly the same one as Fridays.
This was lovely , riding with the river flowing next to me most of the way.
At Monmouth I'd routed to go on the A466.
Oh FFS !!! Look at that map Corne!! Though oddly no obvious way to get onto to the that bridleway and, looking at the satellite photos, not suitable for a Brompton, there's a disused railway running along the west bank of the Wye... I probably made the right choice considering the bike.
Anyway the A466 was ok but not brilliant. But it got me to Tintern and another BCQ, and a Brie panini with a coffee and a great cycle friendly cafe.



It was then back a short way to get the bridge over the Wye and on to the Greenway. This was muddier than anticipated but the Brompton coped, without me dabbing, all the way to the tunnel....



I'd bought the Six-pack for this 1kilometre long tunnel... but upon arrival lights were forbidden due to a colony of bats.... luckily there's subdued downlighting that just about lights the way.

From the other side it was a short stint into Chepstow and the train home.



About 70 miles. Loved it. And I avoided ALL the rain !

Absolutely top work there GTR.

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:49 am Women heh, who'd have them!

Surely to carry the Brompton when you're not riding it?

Nice sandals !!!
Took the flats off the Jones as I know them and the sandals are a winning combo.

They certainly are. All we have to do now is convince the other 2355 members and we'll have a sandal-wearing bikepacking group .

1kilometre long tunnel... but upon arrival lights were forbidden due to a colony of bats.... luckily there's subdued downlighting that just about lights the way.

I obtained inordinate amounts of pleasure riding that tunnel and its subdued lighting - bit like a trendy bistro without the food.

About 70 miles. Loved it.

Nice one. Big fan here, especially when combined with gigpacking - Brompton on the train to the gig, fold it and take it in, jump up and down a bit for an hour or two with the other punkpensioners, unfold and ride away to a suitable bivvy spot, kip, ride to the station and away home.

Pickers and Nick did the WRT on Bromptons of course, which was very enterprising. I know I've got to contact you Rich re another Brom ride - bear with me.

Nice one
Shame I wasn't on here while you were planning your ride, I could have directed you from Monmouth to Bigsweir Bridge along rideable disused railway lines (infact all the way from Monmouth to Chepstow off-road with only about 3 miles or so on tarmac, just not on a Brompton!).
The landslide on the Greenway just beyond Tintern has now been cleared (officially re-opened today).
Coffee with Vinny at the Filling Station Café in Tintern is a bike rider's must! He would have been interested in your tale.

Pickers and Nick did the WRT on Bromptons of course, which was very enterprising. I know I've got to contact you Rich re another Brom ride - bear with me.

Excellent write up there, top stuff!

Reg - Consider me duly bearing with you!

How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

psling wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 2:15 pm Nice one
Shame I wasn't on here while you were planning your ride, I could have directed you from Monmouth to Bigsweir Bridge along rideable disused railway lines (infact all the way from Monmouth to Chepstow off-road with only about 3 miles or so on tarmac, just not on a Brompton!).
The landslide on the Greenway just beyond Tintern has now been cleared (officially re-opened today).
Coffee with Vinny at the Filling Station Café in Tintern is a bike rider's must! He would have been interested in your tale.

I might do it (or something similar) again but camping and on the Jones so a suitable (doesn't need to be incredible) route from Monmouth to Tintern would be much appreciated anyway !
Vinny was over the road in the ice cream parlour so didn't get the chance to chat.

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 8:57 pm How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

Pubcrawl you say ....

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:19 am

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 8:57 pm How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

Pubcrawl you say ....

If Pickers is OK widening out into a team effort we'll get our people to fax your people nearer the time.... Sept any good? Although some of the tentative ideas preclude much more than 2 or 3 contestants. Then again several separate groups would work . Sept was going to be Cider Tour but that's deferred until next year now, so maybe Ale Tour will be a good substitute!

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:39 am

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:19 am

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 8:57 pm How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

Pubcrawl you say ....

If Pickers is OK widening out into a team effort we'll get our people to fax your people nearer the time.... Sept any good? Although some of the tentative ideas preclude much more than 2 or 3 contestants. Then again several separate groups would work . Sept was going to be Cider Tour but that's deferred until next year now, so maybe Ale Tour will be a good substitute!

PLEASE DO NOT change your plans for me ! Adding "unknown quantities/(qualities?)" to an existing group is seldom a good idea. Not sure sleeping in a disused factory is my bag. Enjoy yourselves though

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 9:01 am

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:39 am

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:19 am

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 8:57 pm How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

Pubcrawl you say ....

If Pickers is OK widening out into a team effort we'll get our people to fax your people nearer the time.... Sept any good? Although some of the tentative ideas preclude much more than 2 or 3 contestants. Then again several separate groups would work . Sept was going to be Cider Tour but that's deferred until next year now, so maybe Ale Tour will be a good substitute!

PLEASE DO NOT change your plans for me ! Adding "unknown quantities/(qualities?)" to an existing group is seldom a good idea. Not sure sleeping in a disused factory is my bag. Enjoy yourselves though

We rarely have "plans" to change . As ever in This Place there's no expectations or compulsions for anybody to do anything, if something takes your fancy join in, if if doesn't then don't join in . I'll let you know how things progress and you can yea or nay as you wish, no hard feelings either way .

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 9:45 am

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 9:01 am

RIP wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:39 am

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 8:19 am

RIP wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2024 8:57 pm How about an urban Black Country pubcrawl-Brompacking escapade kipping in a disused factory or something. Your old manor. Or is that a bit too edgy .

Pubcrawl you say ....

If Pickers is OK widening out into a team effort we'll get our people to fax your people nearer the time.... Sept any good? Although some of the tentative ideas preclude much more than 2 or 3 contestants. Then again several separate groups would work . Sept was going to be Cider Tour but that's deferred until next year now, so maybe Ale Tour will be a good substitute!

PLEASE DO NOT change your plans for me ! Adding "unknown quantities/(qualities?)" to an existing group is seldom a good idea. Not sure sleeping in a disused factory is my bag. Enjoy yourselves though

We rarely have "plans" to change . As ever in This Place there's no expectations or compulsions for anybody to do anything, if something takes your fancy join in, if if doesn't then don't join in . I'll let you know how things progress and you can yea or nay as you wish, no hard feelings either way .

Black Country pub run? You’re on my manor!

A few friends have done the Bathams pubs ride, that’s a challenge!

might have rope you in as a ride consultant (although Pickers is a Black Country world expert already )