I have one suggestion for you. When I need to push the bike around for more than 20 meters I always unfold it completely and push it as a bicycle. That is much easier and for carrying it upstairs I use the saddle as a bag strap and put it on my right shoulder so I do not have to carry the bike with my hands. Of course I still have my right hand at the frame to control the direction of the carried bike. Maybe this helps for your next journeys. Cheers.
Dear David thank you for your fascinating series. As an 84 year old filmmaker and cyclist I think I need to make a Dear David film. So I will. It will show my bicycle which has electric assistance and some camera stuff. Keep on rolling we love it
Hi David, I gave up on the rucksack idea a while back as it is just too difficult for me to manage in situations where you have to switch trains. I now use the largest Carradice saddlebag instead. Getting on and off trains I can put it over my head and arm so both hands are free to carry the bike and the front bag. The main thing is that I can attach the saddlebag to the seat post in a matter of seconds and wheel the bike between platforms etc... Before I always struggled with trying to get the rucksack fitted on to the rack, it took ages and most times I just gave up and tried to carry all three with little success. In any case keep on peddling, there is still a whole lot of summer to be enjoyed. James.
As you know Dear Norman, I can go into 'Trauma" if someone slams a door near me. I am now back in form and looking forward to the next adventure. Thank you for commenting
Hello David, you are becoming an inspirational brompton traveller. In your own words, Brompton makes you “feel happy and virtuous” and I believe your new passion is getting accross to your viewers, like it does to me. I had my Brompton for couple of years and I am searching for tips and hints here on youtube and I found your videos very encouriging, I like your photos, the music, your honesty, the facts about the places you visited... Keep up with the good work and do not fogret, that every journey, every country, every culture will surprise you and will give you obstacles… Without obstacles, you would have no story to tell or to improve :) Greetings from Slovak girl living in Czech Republic. I do hope to see videos from High Tatras in Slovakia or from Prague in Czech Republic from you and your Brommie one day :)
Dear Gabriela, your comment was a joy to read, not just because it contained compliments (which of course I adore) but it was a story and yes it named countries and cultures that perhaps I had yet to consider. "A Slovak girl, living in the Czech Republic" Standing in National costume by her Brompton is now an image I have to make ! Thank you SO much.
Pas de râleurs?? I think you are correct that the problems must be normal on that route! haha. But that train station in Nièmes looks lovely! You are inspiring me to get outside of Paris more on my next trips to France. I'll gird my loins for chaos on the trains though 😀
My few trips before this one have seen trains rolling in bang on time, never a breakdown or hitch. Perhaps I 'complain'eth too much' ! Nîmes Station was not only surprisingly beautiful, but the escalators were working also. Thank you for a comment touched with humour James.
@@davidsbrompton-1947 I've always had excellent luck with the trains myself, but that was on the Thalys TGV. I'll expect to be flexible on the more local trains 🙂 I'm reading about the night train services that are launching from Paris so I'm looking forward to those.
Looking forward to part 2. I prefer trains over cars and planes, too. However, sometimes you need a lot of patience and understanding when choosing the railroad. Not only in France. I hope the next video will show that it all was worth it. If it wasn't, ok, there's always an exception to the rule, keep on doing what you do!
@@davidsbrompton-1947 As for coming to terms, I wouldn't put it that way. You obviously have got something that compensates one shortcoming or another and that is: wisdom! I find it amazing how you cycle through your little village over cobbled streets on a sunny day with a friendly "bonjour" to the left and a jolly "ça va" to the right. If you apreciate that your are a enviable man. So keep them wheels spinnning, David 😀 !
@@AxelLoos-i3d Ha Ha ... I wouldn't want to come across as a whiner Axel, I actually 'love' my life and have been fortunate for most of it so far. Your words are bolstering and I am very appreciative. Thank you.
I am so pleased I stumbled onto your channel, I too am a huge fan of the Brompton and hope to purchase one in the near future, for now, I enjoy riding my vintage hardtail MTB. The journey you have chosen to take with your Brompton is so enlightening and look forward to following in your footsteps, I look forward to part 2. The underground train station with the arch passages is wonderful!
Hey David. Another lovely video. Regarding the issues with the French train system, I would look at it in two ways. First, France is an awful country in terms of anything related to service. May daughter has just graduated from Science Po and we went through so many impossible situations not only with her landlady but also with Science Po administration. Things simple do not work, and people do not care. With that being said, as a traveller myself, I believe that those bumps are part of the journey and once you adjust your expectations depending on where you are travelling to, you will get less surprised or disappointed. And laugh it out! For me, the best about travelling in general, and in particular traveling by bike are the surprises and the fact that everything tends to solve itself in the end, regardless. Looking forward to Part 2!
Firstly, congratulations to your daughter on her graduation. Thanks once more Ana for an interesting and supportive comment. YES, I am a novice at all aspects of my Brompton and traveling with it and anyone who has ever travelled anywhere will have experienced a problem major or minor BUT, I’m still full of enthusiasm and exited to plan the next trip somewhere.
That is so friendly coming from a successful vlogger like yourself Andrew. DO please post a review of the C67 I would love to see and hear your assessment
@@davidsbrompton-1947 I will post a review, at the moment it's on my Pashley Pronto sit up Dutch style bike, it's very good. Successful! I just shake the camera and open my mouth, I don't even view the videos until it's online, my idea is to video the the raw as is, what you see is what you get. Thanks for the lovely snippets of the South, I spent a number of years in Laure-Minervios, I would love to go back but as the saying goes 'you should never go back' All the best.
Hey David I too enjoy photography but I'm not prepared to put my expensive cameras in the lumpy bumpy front carrier block bags, how do you carry your camera gear if you don't mind my asking?
Hello 'Bromptin' Absolutely right, so I have a Peak design 20 ltr back pack, camera bag (can be seen in latest video.) In the left over space I put a 'tech pouch' for all the cables, chargers, memory cards etc that one needs when away from home. Tripods and selfie stick go nicely in the Brompton Borough Hope this was a little helpful
Hello there SNCF is one of the worst company in France, but if people did not complain much in the South is probably because they are used to horrible journeys and the mentality in rhe South is more relaxed than in the North 😂. Me as a French I do not take the train much 😅, its very expensive, not comfortable and it takes ages sometimes to go from point A to point B. What's Niemes station ? You mean Nîmes ?
Thank you for this Nat*** It backs up my impressions, although you have said it far more directly than I would have. Also you are the first to mention the spelling error. I think it must have happened when I was trying to type the little hat on the i
@@davidsbrompton-1947 I am French living in France, I have this bad habit of saying things straight, sorry about that. I hope you will enjoy our nice villages but please just drive if you want to enjoy a nice journey,🤣🤣🤣. Oh yes it's Nîmes then, I didn't know this lovely station. Thank you for sharing those images
@@Nat007_ Dear Nat, being French and living in your own country gives you the right to be as critical and forthright as you choose. I am a guest here and select my words. Mainly because I am as happy today as the day I arrived 26 years ago, and I think it's only polite. Your comments are much appreciated.
You’re not moaning just saying it as it is, good job you got the seat sorted riding on those cobblestones, it wasn’t bad planning I think it was just a carry on from the train bad planning = why blame oneself when you have French people there to blame ,
I think I was unfortunate on this weekend trip, only future trips will indicate if it was the exception or the rule. The whole point of buying my (folding) Brompton was to travel by train around France and not use my car. Why didn’t I cycle ? Are you taking the piss Alex ?
Wish I could move around as easily. I'm also 77. Love riding my junker bike around town. Single speed home made bmx.
I am looking forward to part 2.
I have one suggestion for you. When I need to push the bike around for more than 20 meters I always unfold it completely and push it as a bicycle. That is much easier and for carrying it upstairs I use the saddle as a bag strap and put it on my right shoulder so I do not have to carry the bike with my hands. Of course I still have my right hand at the frame to control the direction of the carried bike.
Maybe this helps for your next journeys. Cheers.
Great idea to try out. What I found tough was the flights of stairs up and down to change trains. Thank you for the tip
Dear David thank you for your fascinating series. As an 84 year old filmmaker and cyclist I think I need to make a Dear David film. So I will. It will show my bicycle which has electric assistance and some camera stuff. Keep on rolling we love it
What a lovely thing to say Barney. I would love to see you, your bike and your camera gear. I thank you sincerely for this exceptional comment.
Hi David,
I gave up on the rucksack idea a while back as it is just too difficult for me
to manage in situations where you have to switch trains. I now use the largest
Carradice saddlebag instead. Getting on and off trains I can put it over my head
and arm so both hands are free to carry the bike and the front bag. The main thing
is that I can attach the saddlebag to the seat post in a matter of seconds and wheel the bike
between platforms etc... Before I always struggled with trying to get the rucksack
fitted on to the rack, it took ages and most times I just gave up and tried to
carry all three with little success.
In any case keep on peddling, there is still a whole lot of summer to be enjoyed.
James.
You are always encouraging James and it is appreciated
Thumbs up and waiting for the next video... al the best!
I send my grateful thanks to you ‘Entropia Organizada’
Poor boy! So sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations! Glad to hear you weathered it without too much trauma! :-)
As you know Dear Norman, I can go into 'Trauma" if someone slams a door near me. I am now back in form and looking forward to the next adventure. Thank you for commenting
Excellent looking forward to part 2 🚆🚴♂️
That is SO generous Mark, I really thought I'd blown it on this one.
Hello David, you are becoming an inspirational brompton traveller. In your own words, Brompton makes you “feel happy and virtuous” and I believe your new passion is getting accross to your viewers, like it does to me. I had my Brompton for couple of years and I am searching for tips and hints here on youtube and I found your videos very encouriging, I like your photos, the music, your honesty, the facts about the places you visited... Keep up with the good work and do not fogret, that every journey, every country, every culture will surprise you and will give you obstacles… Without obstacles, you would have no story to tell or to improve :) Greetings from Slovak girl living in Czech Republic. I do hope to see videos from High Tatras in Slovakia or from Prague in Czech Republic from you and your Brommie one day :)
Dear Gabriela, your comment was a joy to read, not just because it contained compliments (which of course I adore) but it was a story and yes it named countries and cultures that perhaps I had yet to consider. "A Slovak girl, living in the Czech Republic" Standing in National costume by her Brompton is now an image I have to make ! Thank you SO much.
Pas de râleurs?? I think you are correct that the problems must be normal on that route! haha. But that train station in Nièmes looks lovely! You are inspiring me to get outside of Paris more on my next trips to France. I'll gird my loins for chaos on the trains though 😀
My few trips before this one have seen trains rolling in bang on time, never a breakdown or hitch. Perhaps I 'complain'eth too much' ! Nîmes Station was not only surprisingly beautiful, but the escalators were working also. Thank you for a comment touched with humour James.
@@davidsbrompton-1947 I've always had excellent luck with the trains myself, but that was on the Thalys TGV. I'll expect to be flexible on the more local trains 🙂 I'm reading about the night train services that are launching from Paris so I'm looking forward to those.
@@james-p Totally agree, I look at videos about the night trains going to wonderful locations and find the concept very tempting !
I will gladly wait for part 2!
Comments like that Doug could earn you Honorary Membership !
@@davidsbrompton-1947 Anything to brighten up life here in NJ.
@@doug2835 New Jersey ? Newark Jail ?
@@davidsbrompton-1947 No, down at the Shore where the drivers should be incarcerated.
Looking forward to part 2. I prefer trains over cars and planes, too. However, sometimes you need a lot of patience and understanding when choosing the railroad. Not only in France. I hope the next video will show that it all was worth it. If it wasn't, ok, there's always an exception to the rule, keep on doing what you do!
100% Agree Axle. I have no fear of flying, but am unlikely to ever choose flight again. Coming to terms with my age and 'faiblesse' is hard.
@@davidsbrompton-1947 As for coming to terms, I wouldn't put it that way. You obviously have got something that compensates one shortcoming or another and that is: wisdom! I find it amazing how you cycle through your little village over cobbled streets on a sunny day with a friendly "bonjour" to the left and a jolly "ça va" to the right. If you apreciate that your are a enviable man. So keep them wheels spinnning, David 😀 !
@@AxelLoos-i3d Ha Ha ... I wouldn't want to come across as a whiner Axel, I actually 'love' my life and have been fortunate for most of it so far. Your words are bolstering and I am very appreciative. Thank you.
I am so pleased I stumbled onto your channel, I too am a huge fan of the Brompton and hope to purchase one in the near future, for now, I enjoy riding my vintage hardtail MTB. The journey you have chosen to take with your Brompton is so enlightening and look forward to following in your footsteps, I look forward to part 2. The underground train station with the arch passages is wonderful!
Thank you so much Lorna for this lovely comment, you warm my heart !
Looking forward to the next episode David 👍
Always nice to see a familiar face with an encouraging comment. Thank you Philip
Hey David. Another lovely video. Regarding the issues with the French train system, I would look at it in two ways. First, France is an awful country in terms of anything related to service. May daughter has just graduated from Science Po and we went through so many impossible situations not only with her landlady but also with Science Po administration. Things simple do not work, and people do not care. With that being said, as a traveller myself, I believe that those bumps are part of the journey and once you adjust your expectations depending on where you are travelling to, you will get less surprised or disappointed. And laugh it out! For me, the best about travelling in general, and in particular traveling by bike are the surprises and the fact that everything tends to solve itself in the end, regardless. Looking forward to Part 2!
Firstly, congratulations to your daughter on her graduation. Thanks once more Ana for an interesting and supportive comment. YES, I am a novice at all aspects of my Brompton and traveling with it and anyone who has ever travelled anywhere will have experienced a problem major or minor BUT, I’m still full of enthusiasm and exited to plan the next trip somewhere.
David, it is always a pleasure to be part of your vlog, keep them coming.
I did get my C67 saddle!
That is so friendly coming from a successful vlogger like yourself Andrew. DO please post a review of the C67 I would love to see and hear your assessment
@@davidsbrompton-1947
I will post a review, at the moment it's on my Pashley Pronto sit up Dutch style bike, it's very good.
Successful! I just shake the camera and open my mouth, I don't even view the videos until it's online, my idea is to video the the raw as is, what you see is what you get.
Thanks for the lovely snippets of the South, I spent a number of years in Laure-Minervios, I would love to go back but as the saying goes 'you should never go back'
All the best.
Hello David,
It sounds like that was a bit of a challenge getting to Provence... Nimes station looks very cool. See you next week...
Take care.
Paul,,
Nimes was something to see Paul. Hope you are stronger by the day !
Sounds like British Rail. 😂
I'm not qualified to make comparisons Gordon (perhaps I'm being overly critical)
Hey David I too enjoy photography but I'm not prepared to put my expensive cameras in the lumpy bumpy front carrier block bags, how do you carry your camera gear if you don't mind my asking?
Hello 'Bromptin' Absolutely right, so I have a Peak design 20 ltr back pack, camera bag (can be seen in latest video.) In the left over space I put a 'tech pouch' for all the cables, chargers, memory cards etc that one needs when away from home. Tripods and selfie stick go nicely in the Brompton Borough
Hope this was a little helpful
@David's Brompton Thank you will check it out, keep the video's coming David, love watching folk's adventures on their Bromptons
@@bromptinowner763 Thank YOU for interacting with the channel
I know it is frustrating but at least the carriage was sorted and did not turn into a nasty accident.
Hello there SNCF is one of the worst company in France, but if people did not complain much in the South is probably because they are used to horrible journeys and the mentality in rhe South is more relaxed than in the North 😂. Me as a French I do not take the train much 😅, its very expensive, not comfortable and it takes ages sometimes to go from point A to point B.
What's Niemes station ? You mean Nîmes ?
Thank you for this Nat*** It backs up my impressions, although you have said it far more directly than I would have. Also you are the first to mention the spelling error. I think it must have happened when I was trying to type the little hat on the i
@@davidsbrompton-1947 I am French living in France, I have this bad habit of saying things straight, sorry about that. I hope you will enjoy our nice villages but please just drive if you want to enjoy a nice journey,🤣🤣🤣. Oh yes it's Nîmes then, I didn't know this lovely station. Thank you for sharing those images
@@Nat007_ Dear Nat, being French and living in your own country gives you the right to be as critical and forthright as you choose. I am a guest here and select my words. Mainly because I am as happy today as the day I arrived 26 years ago, and I think it's only polite. Your comments are much appreciated.
You’re not moaning just saying it as it is, good job you got the seat sorted riding on those cobblestones, it wasn’t bad planning I think it was just a carry on from the train bad planning = why blame oneself when you have French people there to blame ,
Observant and totally correct Kavan. I never forget I am a guest in France, but one can't deny their National idiosyncrasies
So nothing to do with Brompton or riding one. Why didn't you cycle or indeed drive if SNCF in France is so bad?
I think I was unfortunate on this weekend trip, only future trips will indicate if it was the exception or the rule. The whole point of buying my (folding) Brompton was to travel by train around France and not use my car. Why didn’t I cycle ? Are you taking the piss Alex ?