Stoke to Stockport cycle and wild camp - on a Brompton
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 жов 2019
- This was my first bike & wild camping trip after an operation earlier this year, which was for cancer but turned out not to be cancer after all. So lucky. After a fairly long recovery period, I seemed to be OK again, so decided to combine a cycle camping trip with having lunch with Dad. I packed my camping stuff on my Brompton, and took the train to Stoke-on-Trent, from where I rode north through Staffordshire and Cheshire. I found a brilliant place to camp wild, on a hill above the Dane Valley, and then the following day, met Dad for lunch at the Windmill Inn near Poynton. Then I got the train back to London. "Stoke to Stockport" perhaps sounds sort of dull, but it was gorgeous trip. Stockport is where I was born.
you're an inspiration! thank you
aw thanks Erik
Loved the video. Thank you. 🙂👍🚴♂️🏕️
Ok, Ive watched your whole channel and now totally inspired to take out my Brompton and do some wild camping when we are allowed to. Thank you so much for taking the time to post these and hope you can do some new videos soon!
Hi Algernon! Thank you for watching and for writing! So glad you liked the films. Yeh, really hope we can all get out and about soon! Hope to hear that you've gone out and had an enjoyable bike trip soon. I was saying to someone on here the other day that easy, minuscule trips, close to home or work, are great. Like the Scotland camp I did last winter, when I had to go there for work. I remember thinking oh it is a a hassle to get myself organised and to schlepp my camping gear as well as work stuff, and I nearly didn't do it, but I am so glad I did. It was only a tiny ride, really close to Glasgow as I didn't have much time, and I was only out one night, but I loved it. And it felt like I had been away ages by the time I reached that caff and had a burger and tea. Anyway, random thoughts. Thanks for watching! Happy New Year! 😊🚲
Hi Susanna, I have just binge watched most of your videos and thus subscribed. You always seem to show just the right amount of countryside (not too long to be boring, but just enough to satisfy). Although, I do enjoy you just sitting there in the tent with your coffee gazing out, it’s so surreal. I find you & your channel very therapeutic. So thank you for taking me with you throughout the world - much appreciated!!! 👍👍😍 (I’m binge watching you from Australia, during the Covid lockdown in Sydney).
PS Hubby says: “Are you watching that lady again? The one that’s always eating” - LOL
Hi Vanessa! Haha your husband is right, yeh in my films I guess I do eat quite often and I drink a lot of coffee too - which is also how I am in life generally haha 😋😁 Thanks for watching and for writing your lovely comment! And for subscribing too. Another film coming very soon! Hope you are OK there in Sydney and hope the lockdown there gets lifted soon. Best wishes!
wow your just fantastic,nothing seems to bother you in the slightist.fair play to you and great your back to touring.
Hi Anthony! aw thanks. Yeh it was lovely to be out again that time. Brilliant camp spot that. Thanks for watching!
I am binge watching all your videos☺️glad I found this, please pass on my kind regards to your dad.
Hi Dominic! Thank you for watching my films! Haha yes I will pass it on to my Dad. He has done a couple of cycle tours with me actually, when he was already in his 70s. We stayed in hotels. People were very nice, chatting with us. I am very proud of him. Thank you for your kind wishes!
it's great to have the world to yourself in the morning, loved your expedition, i do hope your well and in good health, thank you.
Hi Jacob! Thanks for watching! Yeh you put it really well, about the mornings. That little camp spot was brilliant - sheltered, a massive view, and in the morning I got a lovely sunrise. Hope you are keeping well too
You are amazing, and its so lovely to watch. I have just brought a Brompton and never owned a bicycle, so at 74 I’m looking forward to it. Watching you has given me inspiration
Oh thanks for the lovely comment! Wow, happy cycling!! Wishing you lots of happy freewheeling adventures!
Wild camping recipe book??? Looking forward to that one. I might finally get a camping stove then :). Very nice landscapes up north. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Susanna,
You have such a relaxed attitude to cooking that I am striving for. Had you considered a video on cooking ? What you cook etc. I have now discovered that I need to eat Gluten free and I am finding this difficult . Lewis on tha Outer Hebrides was great.
i have much admiration for you and all your rides , Ohio - USA
Hi Bill! Thank you for writing! Glad you enjoyed the film! 😎 Hope you get time to do the King Alfred's Way soon - I saw lots of media about it when they launched it. Happy cycling!
Enjoyed that ,thanks for sharing .
Aw thanks Wing Nut. Haha I just watched it myself, to remind myself! Yeh such a lovely trip. I knew the bits nearer to Stockport well, as I used to ride those roads when I was a girl. The bits nearer Stoke were new to me. So many areas to explore :-)
What a glorious, windswept cycle ride through utterly beautiful countryside on lovely roads.
Your camp location looked so peaceful and far from everything intrusive, a really nice place to stop.
You really captured the benefits of travelling with a Brompton, the civilised train journey from London's traffic jam hell of Euston Road to gorgeously rural roads in little time at all.
This is a great companion video to your trip through the lovely Essex countryside, thank you for sharing your journey and for the inspiration to do it for myself.
wow😮! amazing places😲beautiful 👍really
Lovely mini adventure after your scary op. A part of the country I've never visited, what a treat and thank you for sharing! Love the brommie :)
Thank you for watching!
I am awed!
Hi Sunburn! oh, thank you for the very generous nice comment! 😊 On that ride, I felt especially lucky and glad that I was still alive and able to get out and about again. Best wishes, and thank you for watching! Susanna
@@susannathornton I was inspired by your journey.
@@susannathornton wishing you many more amazing trips and great health
Love the little dance of Joy at 8:12! I know that feeling well. Lovely vid of a great adventure in my neck of the woods Susanna, thanks for posting. Rich
Hi Rich! Aw thanks, that's such a nice comment! (Actually I had to rewatch the film to see what you meant! that Nutella was good haha!) I feel so lucky to have grown up in Stockport, with all those roads and hills within reach. I just love it there. Brilliant neck of the woods. Thanks again for writing
@@susannathornton Doh! And there was me thinking it was the existential thrill of surviving the night, and it was just a chocolatey sugar rush 😅. Aren't they the same thing though really? Either way, it made me smile.
I just discovered your channel and admire your wanderlust and tenacity. I also travel by Brompton and, before being shut down by Covid, did a two week trip up in Arctic Norway and the Lofoten Islands; I recommend it. Safe journeys.
Hi Peter! Thank you for watching, and for the nice comment! Oh I imagine that was amazing, cycling in the arctic! Hope you can get to do lots more journeys. Best wishes!
whoo your inspiring me to get the tent out!
Thanks for watching! Yeh that little camp was so nice, even a little wall behind me for shelter. I just love camping high up like that with a view. Hope you enjoy getting your tent out! x Best wishes!
Hello dear Susanna,
I hope you are still in good health (OP because of suspected cancer).
As I saw it in your video, it was probably quite windy the whole time. And then with the bike, all due respect. By the way, great landscape, and then camping there too, great. The tent you used is very well camouflaged, as it can be hidden well in the landscape. I think that you are a really "weatherproof" and therefore "robust" person. I am more of the more comfortable and, as they say here, "warm shower" type. That's why I take off my hat that you ride your bike in such weather. Still again, great landscape, I love it the way you showed it. Even if it means when cycling: uphill and down again.
VG, Kurt
Hi Kurt! Thanks for writing again! Oh that is nice of you to ask, yeh at the moment I feel really well. Thanks! Haha I also like the sun and warm days, but I don't mind going through rain and all sorts of weather too. Yeh this is lovely landscape isn't it. I grew up in Stockport and could see the Peak District hills from where we lived, and I loved to ride into the hills, after school in the summer when the evenings were long, and at the weekends and in the holidays when I was little. I don't live there now but I love going back. Thanks for watching!
Well done.
Thank you for watching!
Wow... I just didn't think a bike like that would be suitable for the job! Fantastic effort.
Hi Paul! Thanks for the comment! 👍 Yeh, in Holland and Germany people did stare a bit when I cycled past on the Brompton, or laughed actually. Especially children laughed! I don't mind 🤪. And people often asked what the bike is like over long distances, if it is suitable etc. It is basically hopeless on cobbles or sand or mud. But apart from that it is brilliant. The whole luggage thing is the main challenge. My husband made the front bag support a few years ago, to use an Ortlieb pannier on the front of the bike. Then this summer I found a way to use an Ortlieb on the rear rack as well. Bit of a breakthrough. The Ortlieb bags are big, and waterproof (and we already have them, so no extra cost). Anyway, thanks again for the nice comment!
Look up Brompton traveler to see what Brommies can do 🤓
@@geoffbrompton822 I've got a mountain bike and road bike but have to tell you I was very impressed with what Susanna gets out of a Brommie. :-)
Great stuff as usual see your rocking the little orange flask I got a thing for a nice small flask have a few myself lol.
Haha yeh that flask is pretty well travelled! So nice to have a flask of hot coffee in my bag, ready for an afternoon sit in a good spot. Essential actually 😁☕
Inspiring!
Thank you for watching, and for the lovely comment! 😎
At seven minutes in you mention recipes from your new book… is that still available as I’m always interested in what you cook, how you dehydrate etc! Enjoyable video again, thank you!
Morning Ceri! Ah yeh, the cookbook, it is "Kokbok för Friluftskockar" "Cookbook for Outdoor Chefs" published by Calazo. It was a present from my husband. It is a cute little handbook, lots of nice ideas, but it is in Swedish! My husband is Swedish. But I put a link to the book below anyway in case helpful (inspiring photos, worth a look just for that actually). About dehydrating, yeh I got into it during the lockdown. I found Tanya Krezevska's food blog for outdoor enthusiasts and got a lot of ideas from that www.trail.recipes/ . It's brilliant, and in English, really good on how to dehydrate camping food, plan complete food for a whole trip etc, and more gorgeous photos. Hope these are enjoyable and helpful...! Here is the book...
www.calazo.se/bocker/svenska-bocker/kokbok-for-friluftskockar/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhf2MBhDNARIsAKXU5GSMNZCoUs8JUoINmmObDSy8PQVNCeG_zmnkaVhbnRmqV4dWEbnjrmoaAlDqEALw_wcB
Number one brompton channel!!!
I can not wait to buy my brompton and do something as wild, peaceful, awesome as you do. You are pure inspiration to me. Great videos. Thank you!!!
Ps. Please, can you advise on your cooking gear?
Wow, thanks for the great comment Anna! I love what you said - wild and peaceful - (and awesome haha!) About my cooking gear, the stove I mainly use is a Trangia. I got it when I was still a schoolgirl, and after all these years, it is still going strong, with a (fairly) new non-stick frying pan, which I bought to replace the old basic one a few years ago. The stove uses methylated spirits. I also have an MSR stove, which I use in countries where I am not sure that I can get methylated spirits, like when I rode from Hong Kong to the UK a while back. In an MSR you can use all sorts of different fuels, including petrol (ie what you use for a car), which is available kind of anywhere. Anyway, then I just have a cute little chopping board, which is a great Trangia accessory. It packs away inside the stove, and it has holes in so that it doubles up as a colander, which is super handy if I do pasta etc and want to tip the water away without tipping out the pasta too. And the knife I use is just our kitchen knife. I made a little cardboard holster for it. Actually, I am making a film about the gear I use, including the cooking gear. I have finally *nearly* finished it, and will put it up soon. Anyway, meanwhile thanks so much for watching!!
@@susannathornton i am looking forward to see gear explaining film. Thank you ever so much for coming back to me. I appreciate it a lot. Big fan. Anna
Just rewatching your wonderful series of videos as they are so inspiring.
The text over you cooking said you had a new cookbook. Is this one you have written or one you would recommend? I’m always after Trangia ideas.
I can see you are a person after my own heart - enjoy the simple beauty and feeling of experience, whatever that might be. I hope your channel grows. It’s really hard to get going and build that subscriber number (I’m slowly doing the same), but the people who do sub, do appreciate your efforts. I subbed you and look forward to more. Not sure I will ever go far on my Brompton but I’m hoping to do some painting trips on my other bike. Take care and well done.
Hello! Thank you so much for watching and subscribing, and writing too, with such a nice comment, especially about enjoying beauty and experience. You put it so well. It is so nice when someone writes in and says something which I hadn't thought of, but makes me think oh yes, that's exactly it. Happy painting trips on your Brompton - sounds fantastic! And no need to go far! Take care and well done you too!
🌹🌹✌✌👌👌👍👍❤❤
my neck of the woods having lived in both Manchester and Stoke, you obviously know your stuff having made a beeline for Morridge. I once watched the sun roll down Bosley Cloud, from upon the ridge a phenomenom known as the double sunset and recorded from Leek since ancient times. I'm in the process of cyclo- camping on every hill you can see from Morridge, which is quite a few as the view is 70 miles plus on a good day. The pool you pass is the Mermaid Pool and legend has it is bottomless.
Oh the sunset from Bosley Cloud sounds like it was fantastic. And what a super project to camp on every hill you can see from Morridge. Brilliant! About the Morridge, I didn't know it at all actually, but saw the road on the OS map and thought it looked nice. Actually that whole part of the Peak was new to me. It was too far away to reach easily from Stockport, where I grew up. This ride from Stoke was lovely, seeing whole a new chunk of the Peak District, and then rolling into the bits that I knew from when I was small.
I'd think an ability to assess from a map is probably a good innate or developed skill of the cyclo tourist, I reckon it's genetic as many groups eg aboriginal folk of australia have been shown to better recall and eyesight, and skills related to travelling, navigating and ranging over long distances. if you are ever in the vicinity again maybe the Manifold Valley, Tissington Trail or Lud's church may provide some interest and variety. the first two are gravel cycle trails that give good access into the Peaks,, no problem for a brompton. and ofcourse Dove Dale is quite famous. I used to Live to round the corner from Stockport in Didsbury.
My neck of the woods too - lucky to live here! am glad you liked it too 👍🏻
Nice viewing. East Coast had better weather then
Hola desde la Argetina si me puede informar la marca de la cocinita que ocupa en sus salidas en bicicleta. Muy buenos los videos que siga así un afectuoso abrazo y gracias por compartir tus aventuras y experiencias.
Hi Juan Daniel! thanks for the lovely comment! about my stove, it is a Trangia 27. The 27 means it is a small one, suitable for 1 or 2 people. It's very old! I got it when I was a schoolgirl, and have been using it ever since haha. But Trangia definitely still make this stove, and I think that since I got mine they have probably improved the metal alloys they use, lighter and stronger etc, and more choices of "finish". About my gear generally, there is a film on my channel about my GEAR, which might be helpful if you want to know a bit more. Or of course just ask me. Thanks for watching! Best wishes!
Thank you for taking me (us) with you on your. trips. They (you) are inspiring! I have a Brompton, which I love, but I am curious as to why you find it the vehicle of choice on some of your more rugged routes (am thinking of the foot path bits and single tracks) as opposed to a more conventional big wheel bike? Gravel or Trail or such. Is it to utilize the rail system (I'm insanely jealous - USA has a pitiful mass transit system, not worth the name)? Is it a case of dance with the one who brought you (I can't imagine you only have the one bike)? Is it just easier to handle a small bike with so much baggage? Additionally, I put a smaller chainring on my B, but got a 38t vs your 39t. I haven't tried it out on hills yet, but notice it is about as small as the crank spider can accommodate. What prompted you to chose 39t? Again, thanks for the effort making these videos entails, and for taking the time to respond to so many of the comments. Safe travels! (why no helmet? No judgment, just curious).
Hi Randy! Thanks for watching! Yeh good question re the Brompton. Yes I ride all sorts of bikes and have (or have had) pretty much all sorts of bikes incl cyclocross, track bike, MTB, time trial bike, road racing bike, winter training bikes, hybrids etc. I have chosen different bikes for different things. When I rode from Hong Kong to London, ie a very long ride with unknown riding conditions, incl probably bad roads - I chose a cyclo cross bike. It was absolutely brilliant. Comfortable for long days, day after day, handled tracks, deep water-filled potholes etc etc really well. Sometimes I wished I had mudguards, cos I got dirty and my gear got dirty which is a pretty big problem when you don't necessarily have access to washing facilities and time to dry clothes etc. But, as everything it was a compromise. Re the Brompton, I use it on shorter tours, these days, when I am combining - or might combine - the bike with other forms of transport. On a shorter tour, I carry less equipment (eg clothes for only one season, minimal medical kit etc) so it is no prob to fit it all on the Brompton, in basically just two bags. And re combining with other transport, obviously taking a "normal" bike by train (where trains exist.. ) is a hassle, needs to be booked on, paid for, possibly not permitted, perhaps already fully booked and no space etc etc. Taking it on a bus is normally straight out impossible, unless you can persuade them to let you slide it into the luggage space under the bus, or hook it on the back (rarely). On a ferry, the bike has to be wheeled onto the car deck etc. In cars or taxis it's super awkward cos people have to take out the seats and it is a big hassle etc. So the Brompton has a massive advantage from that point of view. I love how I can piece together a flexible round trip, with public transport at both ends, and just rock up to any rail station or bus station etc fold the bike, and get on board. Of course there are also compromises. Sometimes when i am out on my Brompton on a muddy trail or when I see a muddy trail that looks interesting to do, but I realise it's going to be too much for my Brompton to handle (the issue is the mudguards and tight clearances, so that in mud and leaves etc the wheels get jammed) I do wish I was on an MTB or cyclo cross bike. But then if that bike had mudguards, I'd have similar issues, and if it had no mudguards, I would end up covered in mud etc too... So... yeh. It is always a compromise!
Really enjoying your Brompton touring adventures Susanna. Given the rough terrain you encounter I’m assuming you’re on Schwalbe Marathon Plus rubber...
Hi Andy! thanks for watching! Actually when I rode to Stockport, I was still using the standard Brompton tyres that came with the bike when I got it. Those old tyres were OK, but eventually by last year got really thin and I was having a lot of punctures, especially when it rained when I suppose all sorts of sharp bits get washed onto the roads. Since last summer ie 2020 yes I am using Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, which feel really solid and I haven't punctured on them yet. Haha I shouldn't say that cos now I will definitely have a puncture. Thanks for writing!
@@susannathornton Not at all...thanks for posting your lovely videos! The Marathon pluses are rather heavy (sluggish) aren’t they but worth it for peace of mind I think. looking forward to your next adventure...happy cycling :)
Another great and inspiring video! Which kind of Brompton do you have i.e. how many gears, and if 6 then is it the one that’s easier going up hills? How do you find hills on your bike? I saw on another video that you used to ride in a club, so I suspect you just whizz up them. I have an Akto too, and you’ve inspired me to get it out with the bike :)
Hi Shirley! Mine's a 3 speed, with reduced gears, and I have lowered the gears even more by putting on a 39-tooth chainring. That makes the gears suit me better - basically now I can make use of all three gears properly - the top gear for riding downhill and with the wind, the middle gear for flat bits and small hills, and the bottom gear for climbing. That's it, dead simple. Yes when I was younger in my 20s and 30s, I was a club cyclist and I raced bikes, on the road and track and offroad too. In those days I trained a lot. Now I am in my 50s, and I do make an definite effort to keep generally active and fit, but I don't "train" and certainly don't whizz up hills haha. I walk up some hills. But I don't mind at all about being slow. I just enjoy it, going at my own pace. Actually in this film about riding from Stoke to Stockport, I had just had a huge operation taking out all my insides, because I seemed to have ovarian cancer, and so was definitely taking things gently. I was just so happy to be able to ride the bike again, after a long period of convalescence. I'd already had breast cancer some years before. Oh great about the Akto! I love mine. Rock solid and so fast and easy to pitch. Hope you enjoy getting out with your Brompton and Akto! Happy cycling! Keep us posted!
Another lovely journey. Thank you. Odd question I suppose, but with the small wheels, how do you tyres cope with the occasional off-road stretches?
Hi Emma! Thanks for writing! I find the Brompton copes well off road as long as the surface is firm, eg a hard-packed track, or a hard dry earth path, or fairly dry grass. If the surface is really potholey or stony, it is still OK - you just have to go more slowly than on a big wheel bike. The hard things for a Brompton off road are deep gravel, and sticky mud. Deep gravel is hard because the bike snakes and digs into the gravel worse than a big-wheel bike does. I just tend to get off and walk. And sticky mud is a problem because the clearances between the tyres and the mudguards are super-tight, so easily get rammed with mud and leaves etc and the wheels literally stop going round, and you have to poke the mud out with a stick. Actually, the same thing would happen with a lot of "normal" size wheel road bikes and hybrids etc - it is not specific to small wheels, but to the overall design of bikes meant mainly for road, esp if they have mudguards. Glad you enjoyed the film! Thanks for watching!
👍 do you pay extra fee for a folding bike in the train in England?
Hi ncls! thanks for watching and for the thumbs up! About taking a folding bike on the train in the UK, if you (can) fold the bike up, you don't have to pay for it, and you don't need to reserve a space for it either. All the train operating companies have their own rules, but I think that's true for them all. If you want to take a "normal" bike on the train, the train companies here often need you to reserve a space for it, but none of them actually charge for bikes - as far as I know.
Your flask 0.5 l or 0.75 l ? I enjoy your video 🤩
Hi Mariusz! Thanks for writing. About my flask, I just checked again to be sure. It is 0.35 litres. Thanks for watching the film! Glad to know you enjoy it 😃