The Brompton’s not meant for that!

Port de Larrau TdF 100 No. 1 From Logibar

My rides become more frequent and at a respectable pace, which made me think.

What do people rarely do on a Brompton?

Early in the 2000s, I took my race bike (geared as low as it could go) to the Alps to watch the tour and ride some climbs.

Climbing the mountains that the greats had ridden and created history on was inspiring.

I thought about the Alps again.

Is it right to ride them on the Brompton?

“Why not?”

Question  Describe a bike?
Answer  A vehicle comprising two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel. The Brompton is like any other bike.

After a bit of idle browsing and researching later, I happened upon the “Club des Cinglés du Mont Ventoux”.

You must ride the three roads ascending Mount Ventoux in a 24-hour period.

This seemed a mad thing to do.

It was a challenge, but on the 24th Of July 2019 I became member No. 14368.

Despite taking three days to get over the effort, the mountain climbing flame ignited.
What’s not to love about passing rider sweating blood on bikes costing 4 to 5 times and saying, “Hi”.

After Ventoux, I moved on to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

This was a great base for the Brompton to ride, Galiber, Alpe d’Huez, Madeleine, Glandon, Chossy and the Telegraph.

As I returned home, my thoughts were on an Alpine return the following year.

The Covid Pandemic, however, had other ideas.

No foreign travel.

Next year would be ok (or at least I thought so at the time).

Not so, now what?