December 2025 Update

Posted on by kymdt

Brompton Christmas Ride – December 2025 – Brickmakers Arms

On Sunday 21 December at 11:00am, we will return to the Brickmakers Arms in Brompton for our Christmas Ride and Lunch.

This year, both Brompton Australia and Treadly are supporting our Christmas Ride and Lunch with some great prizes. There will be a best dressed bike prize, best dressed human prize, fastest unfold prize, and some lucky door prizes.

The routes for 2026 will be announced. This will include the routes for the Canberra Takeover in April.

If you are coming and haven’t yet registered please do so on this “feedback page”. This allows us to ensure that there is enough space around the lunch table after the ride! Please let me know in a note if a non-riding companion is joining you.

Get your very own Adelaide Bromptoneering Calendar

We had a great time with our regular Adelaide Bromptoneering rides. We have created the perfect souvenir of 2025. The Adelaide Bromptoneering Calendar 2026. It’s available now as a PDF by following the link.

Sneak Peek

The first ride for 2026 will be Wednesday the 14th of January starting at 5:30pm. So please add this to your calendar.

The reason for the odd time and the odd day is that the first ride for 2026 will be a progressive dinner. We will be visiting three local establishments in or near the CBD for entree, main and the followed by a lovely dessert.

We had a great time leading a similar ride for the Unley Bicycle User Group and thought we should share this experience with our Brompton friends.

Light ’em up

I was recently doomscrolling and came across what looked like a new and interesting set of lights specifically for Brompton Bikes. The Mini Bike Light Combo for Brompton from Magic Shine Australia. They state “The VTG lighting system is a high-performance, versatile solution designed specifically for folding bikes. Perfect for cyclists who enjoy urban commuting, leisure riding, and road cycling, the VTG system combines innovation, safety, and user-friendly design to enhance every ride.

The system includes three key products: the VTG 1000 Front Light, the VTG Wireless Remote, and the VTG 50 TL Tail Light. Together, they ensure maximum visibility and safety, all while maintaining a sleek and compact design.”

You can see a review here – https://youtube.com/shorts/OO63WnaJtps?si=7AMR7x61sKNm5rRy

November 2025 Update

Posted on by kymdt

Brompton Social Ride – November 2025 – Silver Brewing Co – Adelaide

Helen and I returned from our trip to Japan yesterday. We are looking forward to riding with you again this Sunday, 23 November 2025. We leave 11am from Silver Brewing Co in Gouger Street, Adelaide. The weather is looking warm (26c-29c during the ride). Please dress appropriately and bring some sunscreen. Details about the ride are available from the November 2025 Social Ride – Silver Brewing Co post.

Our coffee stop will be at the Marion Wetlands – this is a coffee outside moment – please bring your own coffee in a thermos or the necessary coffee making equipment with you. Gail will be bringing some lovely baked items to share (looking forward to these – thanks for offering!).

If you are coming and haven’t yet registered please do so on this “feedback page”. This allows us to ensure that there is enough space around the lunch table after the ride!

Ride Calendar for 2026

Planning has commenced for Adelaide Bromptoneering’s 2026 rides. The details will be announced at our Christmas Lunch on Sunday 21 December 2025.

Do you have a favourite ride that you like to do again? Or a new venue or location you think would be great for the Bromptoneers to explore?

Please send us your suggestions be leaving a comment on this post. You can do this by simply replying to the e-mail newsletter or if you prefer you can leave it directly on the blog.

I’ve created a gallery of photos from last years rides to inspire you!

Going to Japan with your Brompton?

You can find out about Brompton Community events in Tokyo (you’ll need to turn on your translate function) from this website >> https://brompton-community.peatix.com. You can message through organiser from the website – you never know your luck in the big city.

Brompton Junction in Tokyo can be found online here >> https://jp.brompton.com/find-a-store/brompton-junction/tokyo and in real life in Jingumae, a district of Shibuya.

I’d also recommend visiting:

  • Life with Bicycle which can be find online here >> https://lb-daikanyama.jp and in real life near Daikanyama, also a district of Shibuya. Life with Bicycle was the shop that fixed my bike last year after my pedal “bolt” broke in the crank. Very helpful!
  • Loro Slowspot which can be find online here >> http://www.loro.co.jp and in real life their Tokyo branch can be found in Nihonbashi, a district of Chuo City. When our friend forgot to bring her frame for her front bag, they helped us out by lending us one for the trip!
  • Rinproject makes a bunch of interesting gear for Brompton and other bikes. They can be found online here >> https://www.rinproject.com/index.html and in real life in Matsugaya, in Taito City.
  • Blue Lug has cool gear for all sorts of bikes, including Brompton. They can be found online here >> https://bluelug.com. They have three shops in Tokyo – I’ll let you Google them. Apparently, they also run a custom paint shop, a cafe and a barber!

If you happen to be heading down to the Shimanami Kaido next month, then you might able to join the Brompton in Palace meeting on 21 December 2025 in Sentoda. We have been to a few Brompton in Palace meetings when they were held in Tokyo. We met many liked minded Brompton friends.

I’ve included some photos from last trip to encourage you. And finally a shout out to Alison and Sam who are in Tokyo as I type.

Winter is coming to Tokyo

Posted on by helenhmk

While the forecast for the next week in Tokyo highlights the cooler temps are beginning to set in… Our last Monday in Tokyo was a high of 20 degrees. It was pleasantly sunny and warm.

We finished packing (arugh… always painful because it takes a long time), went for a walk, and enjoyed a lovely lunch with our friends in Hibya Midtown. Oh.. the chocolate mousse!!

From there we thought about seeing a view of Mt Fuji from Bunkyo Council but it was closed for renovations for the 12-15 months. In the end we headed to our favourite local garden Koishikawa Korakuen. The autumn leaves were stunning.

We were able to enjoy one last coffee, before heading to the airport, with one of our long time Japanese friends.

Overall… was it a great trip… yes, loved it as always. We really value the friends we’ve made in Japan over the years (both Brompton and non cycling friends), and you’ve made our experiences in Japan richer – thank you… and hopefully we will see you next year 🙌

People often ask.. what’s the best time to come… autumn, it’s really the best season in Japan.

Croissants

Posted on by helenhmk

On the ride back to the port on Awaji island, we stopped at SaVa Bakery. Thankfully it was after the highest elevation point.. so we had definitely earned our stop.

It was great that it was open on Sunday morning… fabulous! While my reaction may of been ride impacted… the croissant itself was flaky, and butter, airy and and oh so perfect. If I lived on the island I would cycle here… better tasting than most places in Adelaide.

Screenshot

Cycling Awajishima…

Posted on by helenhmk

We spent the last two days cycling half of Awaji island. I would suggest it more for experienced cyclist based on some of the roads being the main highway around the island and you need to be consistent and hold your line. The majority of the time it was great.

While cycling around the island is promoted – it’s not the same as the Shimanami Kadio. There isn’t always the space on the road and if you are not an experienced cyclist you won’t enjoy it. Although there were only a couple of spots we didn’t enjoy, thankfully they were short.

Over the last two days we really enjoyed the rides on both days, as I had planed the routes maximising the side streets which are quiet. This is where the real joy of cycling through local neighbourhoods ca be experienced. You see gardens, little shops and people going about their daily life. We stopped at a few coffee shops and places for lunch along the way. Here are photos from the two days:

Last 36 hours in Japan

Posted on by helenhmk

Morning! – this is today’s view (so far).

Today we ride 60km to the port at Iwaya on Awaji Island. It’s a large island that we’ve only cycled part of… but we have to come home. After the 60km we catch a ferry, ride to the Shinkansen station, where we catch one back to Tokyo.

I’m guessing it’s time to get up and get going…

Taking the bus

Posted on by helenhmk

We left Imabari by bus to get to Fukuyama for the Shinkansen to Kobe… and it was fabulous. It’s not often you would say that about a bus ride, but I am.

Having spent the last few days cycling the Shimanami Kaido, it’s a highlight as you get to relive the bridges and the scenery you’ve passed through from another perspective.

The ride takes approximately 1.5 hours and costs $28 (pay as you leave the bus), and its bus stop 2 from the Imabari bus station… which thankfully was in front of our hotel.

Here’s a short video taken through the window of the bus – yeah qualities a little dodgy but it helps to show perspective. It reminds me how amazing the ride was.. and we’ve now cycled this route four times – it truly is one of the best cycling routes of all time.

I’ll admit these photos are pretty average … but hey they were taken from the window of a bus.

Once we got off the bus.. thankfully we had enough time for a quick coffee before caching the Shinkansen.