We checked in ✅
Had drinks at bar with view of airport ✅
Return to access room 🙅♀️
After a couple of attempts, and resetting the room key, a staff member (chief charging officer) came to our room door and had to recharge the swipe key access. It took less than ten seconds, and the swipe keys worked again enabling room to access.
Highlighting every industry has its technical issues…
This holiday feels like it’s been a long time coming, but I’m so happy it’s here.
After a morning running around completing small jobs, we were packed and managed to watch the last episode of Slow Horses 🫣 before setting off for the airport.
Surprisingly we managed to bump into a couple of Bromptoneers (without their bikes 🚲) 👋 after being dropped off – sooo Adelaide!
After checking in we managed to sneak in a quick drink….and by the time we were at the gate we spotted our bags on the trolley prior to it being loaded on the plane. Can you spot them…?
| Time | 11:00am Saturday 21 November 2026 Add all rides to your calendar |
| Getting there | The closest train station is the Mile End Station on the Seaford and Belair lines. The closest tram stop is Thebarton. |
| Lunch | We will be grilling sausages for lunch. I’ll be bringing enough sausages for the usual number. If you have a dietary requirement let me know in your registration. I’ll be seeking a small contribution to cover the costs. |
| Location | Wheatsheaf Hotel 39 George St, Thebarton SA 5031 |
| Route | 22 km loop through Thebarton, Hindmarsh, Flinders Park, Kidman Park, Findon, Woodville South, Croydon Bowden and Southwark. Strava Link GPX Route (to be updated) |
| Refreshment Stops | 10km Collins Reserve for BBQ lunch. 22km Wheatsheaf Hotel for rehydration and a snack, |
| RSVP | Let us know if you’re coming on the registration page. |
The next ride is Sunday 11 October leaving from Lonsdale Railway Station at 11:00am. We will be on the Seaford Train arriving at Lonsdale 10:41am. We will be boarding at Woodlands Park at 10:15am. Otherwise, there is car parking at the station. Details including the route and a GPX file are available on the October 2026 Lonsdale Adelaide Bromptoneering Adventure Ride.
This is an adventure ride, so bring your adventuring boots. For the most part we will be on paths and tracks which means there isn’t too much traffic. There are however some on-road sections in industrial areas but the timing of the ride should mean that this will be pretty quiet. There are some sections on beachside paths – if the weather is good we are likely to experience pedestrian activity. As usual in these circumstances, please ride single file, ring your bell or talk to people you are passing, give space and go slowly.
A significant portion of the ride is on single track near the Onkaparinga River. This is likely to be quiet but there may be other track users including the occasional reptile. I only saw a stumpy tail lizard on the test ride. Google AI advises however that “If you see a snake ahead while riding, stop safely if you have enough distance, or maintain your momentum and roll past its tail if stopping risks a crash. Never attempt to touch, poke, or ride over a coiled snake on purpose, and always give the animal a wide berth to escape.” The rest of the ride is on the relatively quiet Coast to Vines trail!
There are a few little mounds that for safety reasons we will hike our bikes down. Bromptons are flexible, but they are not downhill mountain bikes!
Let us know if you are coming on the registration page.
I am starting to plan the rides for 2027.
I have prepared a short survey to get your feedback on what you would like to see in 2027.
Take the 2027 Adelaide Bromptoneering Rides survey.
You may have seen some new bike lights on Helen’s bike. They are Magicshine remote controlled lights. They are designed to work work with more recent C/P Line Bromptons. They are impressive lights that don’t get in the way of folding. Magicshine have a range of parts that fit on Bromptons. They have given us a 15% discount code valid until the end of January 2027 – Bromptoneering15
For those interested about attaching them to older Bromptons. The remote controller attaches to one of the gear shifters. But if you have an older bike like Helen you will need to buy a compatible remote control that uses rubber rings to attach. Similarly, the front bike mount works with newer Brompton. But it may not work on older bikes as the mount is too wide for the front brake bolt. Rockbros have a mount that fits older Bromptons.
Please note the change to date for the November ride. The original program (postcard) was Saturday November 28 it is now Saturday November 21.
Just in case you were planning to join me for tomorrow’s Thursday Throwback ride, I had delayed releasing the ride details because of the weather forecast. With up to 25mm forecast for tomorrow, I have now decided to cancel tomorrow’s ride.
The next Thursday Throwback ride will be in December. Details shortly.
| Time | 11:00am Sunday 11 October 2026 Add all rides to your calendar |
| Getting there | We will be on the Seaford Train arriving at Lonsdale 10:41am. We will be boarding at Woodlands Park at 10:15am. Otherwise, there is car parking at the station. |
| Location | Lonsdale Railway Station Lonsdale SA 5160 |
| Route | 29 km loop through Lonsdale, O’Sullivan Bech, Christies Beach, Port Noarlunga, Huntfield Heights, Hackham West, Morphett Vale. 259 Vertical metres and 10 km or so of gravel, dirt or single track. Strava Link GPX Route |
| Refreshment Stops | 3km screaming seagull for coffee and/or toast. 16.5km Kimber Park – own refreshments. 25.5km Unit Three Collective – drinks, beer, snacks, order in food, BYO food. |
| RSVP | Let us know if you’re coming on the registration page. |
September’s ride commenced at Catlin on Magill Road, which is a suburban tasting room for the winery. While parking was limited, the opportunistic ones took advantage of the numerous car parks at Magill campus of Adelaide Uni. However, there was limited signage about parking. The less risk adverse took the limited opportunities in the side streets.
Following the traditional line-up and informative ride briefing (second version had more detail – more like that style please Kym!) we were back on the bikes and following the route through the Uni campus admiring the early 70’s story cement style. Making or way through to the other side, we began zigzagging through the side streets when the dark cloud unleashed some rain. Some pulled over immediately to throw on a rain jacket, while others had made it to the local shops on St. Bernards road for shelter. Being spring, the rain lasted as long as it took everyone to cross the traffic lights – that’s cycling.
While Campbelltown housing area seems to be a mishmash of housing styles, surprisingly Kym managed to find a gravel path called Kuula Tapa, translated as Koala Lane between Courtabie and Jury avenues in Rostrevor. It was delightfully filled with native plants, including wattle which was in bloom. From here we headed slightly up to the trail alongside fourth creek which took us all the way to Hectorville.
September’s coffee stop found us at ‘Daly Coffee Kick’ at Daly Oval in Tranmere. At the time there also was a local celebration with a BBQ. Ian took advantage of a cheap egg and bacon sandwich, all for a good cause. It is a great local run cafe – and worth the stop.
Cycling through the back streets was pretty cruisey. While there were a couple of minor busy roads, and traffic lights for crossing points. Many at the back were pretty lost and couldn’t quite place where we were in relation to the start. There was a general sense of confusion between Kensington Gardens Reserve and Kensington Oval (weren’t we just here a few minutes ago?). Cycling through Coopers Avenue between Statenborough Street and Stanley Streets was an interesting choice (yeah – open fence). Thankfully the rain held off, it wasn’t long before we were back at Catlin on Magill Road, taking in the delights of the mid century seating and decor while relaxing with a wine or beer, and a toastie. It was certainly an enjoyable backstreets ride – perfect for Bromptons!
Riders start: 13
Riders completed the full distance:13
Flat Tyres: 0
Tip: parking is free on weekends at Magill campus.
The next ride is Sunday 13 September leaving from Catlin on Magill at 11:00am. I forgot to include the registration link on original route post. If you haven’t registered that you are intending to ride on Facebook, then please follow the link to register at Bromptoneering.blog. This will help me ensure that everybody has a seat!
The weather is looking like the perfect spring day. The route takes us through the back streets of the “outer” eastern suburbs. It will involve riding on some narrow gravel and paved paths. If there are walkers, I will call out and slow down to fast walking pace. Depending on the circumstances, I may stop to allow the walkers to pass safely. On these paths please ride single file.
There will be a number of major roads that we will cross without the advantage of signals. I am expecting that the roads will be reasonably quiet. In most of the crossings there is space in the middle of the road. However, please exercise caution at these crossings.
Given the ‘tilt’ of the Adelaide plains there will be some gentle inclines as we head east or south, but this is compensated some nice freewheeling as we head north and west. Take it at your pace and Helen and I will ensure the group stays together.
This Thursday (10 September at 11:00am) I will be re-riding Adelaide Airport – Yellow Matter route originally used on 28 July 2024. This time I will start and finish at Beach Break Cafe (1 Seaview Rd, West Beach SA 5024). If you have a big wheeled friends who you think might enjoy this ride, then it’s ok to bring them along! No RSVP required just turn up on the day.
The next Throwback Thursday 1 October. If there is a ride you’d like to re-ride with me let me know on Sunday.
Gordon has ridden one or another of his Brompton folding bicycles more than 5,000 kilometres since 2020, across the UK, Taiwan, California, and France, including up the famously brutal Mont Ventoux ascent, the so-called “Giant of Provence”, where the grades are as steep as 10%.
Some of those kilometres were in Adelaide earlier this year and few more were in Sydney when he rode part of the Greater Sydney Bike Trail with us.
Full story on CycleHub.com.au
The rides for the remainder of 2026 are:
| Time | 11:00am Sunday 13 Septemberber 2026 Add all rides to your calendar |
| Location | Catlin on Magill 563 Magill Rd, Magill SA 5072 |
| Route | 21 km loop through Magill, Rostrevor, Hectorville, Tranmere, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Park, Erindale, Hazelwood Park, Leabrook. Strava Link GPX Route |
| Coffee Stop | Daly Coffee Kick 31 Fisher St, Magill SA 5072 |
| Notes |
This is the final 49km of our Greater Sydney Bike Trail adventure. We will return to where it all started – Mascot – not for any reason other than that is where my bike bag is being stored. And by 7:00pm, I’ll be on board a flight back to Adelaide to return to my ordinary existence. My ride statistics are available on Strava.
My accomodation was in the Rocks, conveniently within a stones throw from the Lord Nelson. My room had quite a pleasant view over Barangaroo. By the time we had arrived in Sydney, we were already aware that this weekend was the Sydney Marathon weekend. If I hadn’t already known, by the time I had arrived to Circular Quay by bike it would have been beyond doubt. Many groups of runners enjoying stunning Sydney weather for an iconic run. Later in the ride the temporary fencing and other preparations would also be present.
Like a homing pigeon, I headed to my favourite Sydney coffee and breakfast spot Parami to meet Andrew and Lizzie and have breakfast together. They take the humble muffin, almost universally dull and dry, and create a delicious moist extravaganza of flavour. It is the perfect light breakfast when combined with a black coffee. I know that many people don’t like muffins, but please suspend your judgement until you try it. This homing pigeon headed straight through the city utilising the excellent cycleways now in Sydney. There is not doubt in my mind that Sydney has been the most successful Australian city in transforming itself into an attractive human centred CBD. Great investments in urban space, transit and cycleways contribute to a more engaging and pleasantly quieter CBD. I have avoided brining my Brompton to Sydney for many years – but there are no excuses anymore. I didn’t take any photos because I was just enjoying my ride in the centre of Sydney!
Of course not long after breakfast there was a need to have a quick morning tea. This time we headed to an old favourite Bourke Street Bakery. I have the book – but have never made anything from it – perhaps it’s time?
I didn’t want to embarrass any of the road racers on the Centennial Park track so we only did part of the loop before heading off on a random meander towards the beach. It is fair to say that there were a few short hill climbs to keep us honest in this shore adjacent segment of the route. While we planned to arrive at Coogee for lunch, we were making good time and actually arrived a bit earlier. Andrew had a chance to explore a few ocean pools – perhaps in preparation for his next visit? We decided to follow the shore path towards Maroubra for a light cafe lunch at Marini Cafe.
All that was left was to head out to historic La Perouse and then to meander our way back to Mascot. Sounds simple enough? We were doing pretty well until Heffron Park. What I hadn’t realised at the time was that when I edited the GPX file to include directions to my luggage storage in Mascot, Strava decided to algorithmically redraw the route from Heffron Park to Mascot. So instead of turning left at Fitzgerald Avenue the algorithm decided we should go right and then join Anzac Parade!!! I was having doubts about this route but gaslighting myself I persisted for a while before stopping and confirming my fears. By this time, the best solution was for us to follow our own way back to Mascot.
There are important lessons for people contemplating doing trips like this in Sydney, or for that matter anywhere else in the world. Nothing beats a route that has been prepared by and tested by a human – the algorithm only knows a model of the world. In many cases that model is wrong because of old data, wrong data and missing data. It can lead to terrible routing decision made by a computer. It is important to encourage and support the work of people like Garry Robinson who work very hard to bring together routes like the Greater Sydney Bike Trail. If you’re interested in some of my routes in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra (and soon Brisbane) you can find them at Bromptoneering or Bust. I promise that you don’t have to have a Brompton to enjoy these rides – but it would surely will be better!
Until next time…
