Planning a 2026 Brompton Adventure: From Home to Brussels, the Long Way Round

Every adventure starts as a daydream — and mine begins at home, staring at my old Brompton. It’s carried me through cities, trains, and even the odd commute that felt like an expedition. But in 2026, it’ll be doing something a little different: a bikepacking trip across northern Europe, from the south coast of England to the heart of Belgium.

The plan is simple, which is how I like it. Cycle from home down to Newhaven, catch the afternoon ferry to Dieppe, and set off the next morning along the old Avenue Verte trail. From there, wind through Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Abbeville, and Saint-Omer — those quiet, rolling parts of France that most people only ever see from a car window — before crossing into Belgium and following the canals toward Bruges, Ghent, and finally Brussels.

It’s not about distance or speed — more about rhythm. The rhythm of small gears, gravel paths, and café stops.

I’ll probably remove the electric motor from the Brompton before setting off. Go back to analogue. Lighter, simpler, less to go wrong. There’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that every kilometre comes from your own legs.

I considered taking my gravel bike, but the Brompton wins for this kind of journey. Most of the route is smooth cycle tracks and canal paths — the kind that flow rather than fight you — and when it’s time to come home, it’s far easier to fold the bike, roll onto the Eurostar in Brussels, and be back in London the same day.

Right now, it’s just a plan. But I can already picture the ferry pulling out of Newhaven, the cliffs fading behind me, and the promise of Europe opening up ahead. A small bike, a big adventure — the perfect combination.

Parkrun with Emma – A PB, a Proud Dad, and a Reminder of Why I Run

Saturday was a special one. The plan was simple: help my daughter Emma chase down a new 5km PB and share her first parkrun. In my head, I had a time of around 25 minutes — a steady 5-minute per kilometre pace — and, as always, a little fatherly optimism.

We started strong. Perhaps too strong — 4:51 for the first kilometre (my fault entirely). But Emma settled in beautifully, even as the effort started to bite. Around 4.5km, a stubborn stitch nearly stopped her in her tracks. We slowed to almost walking pace, caught our breath, and regrouped.

What happened next made me a very proud dad. She dug deep, found that extra bit of determination, and powered through the final stretch — passing several runners and finishing strong. PB achieved!

For me, it wasn’t about the numbers but the shared experience — that mix of focus, effort, and connection that makes running so special. I actually felt great throughout, plenty left in the tank, maybe thanks to the recent HIIT sessions on the treadmill, which I’m really enjoying.

With a trail run lined up for December, it feels good to be getting back into rhythm. But this one was about more than training — it was about time together, shared goals, and the simple joy of running side by side.

“It’s not just about pace — it’s about purpose”

Happy Birthday Dad x

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Happy Birthday Dad

It would have been Dad’s 87th birthday today.
He passed away in 2014 — but he’s still very much part of my world. I think about him often, especially on days like this. Not with sadness, but with gratitude. He taught me so much about life, family, and doing things properly — lessons that quietly shape everything I do, even the way I train.

There’s not much relevance to fitness in this post, other than the reminder that who we are today comes from the people who came before us. Dad loved the outdoors, loved a good walk (and a good laugh), and would have been quietly proud that I still get up each morning and move — sometimes slowly, sometimes not so slowly — but always with purpose.

On the fitness front, a few bits swirling around my head lately:

• I’ve entered a trail half marathon from Plumpton in early December — my first event for a while. I haven’t run outside for a couple of months, but I’ve been enjoying shorter HIT sessions on my new treadmill, especially the Zwift workouts.
• The plan is to ease back into some longer Zone 2 trail runs on the Downs as prep — slow, steady miles, the kind Dad would have approved of.
• I’ve been spending more time researching bikepacking adventures — probably something for 2026. The gravel bike is perfect for UK trails, but my Brompton keeps tempting me for European escapes: maybe Paris or Brussels, ferry over, Eurostar back. It’s the simplicity that appeals — small wheels, big freedom.
• Catching up with my old triathlon mates for a curry on Friday — it’s been too long.
• And with Lucy away in Thailand, I’ve got some plans to dial in the training and diet a bit — a mix of fasting, keto, and getting a few extra sessions in. Though, knowing me, the time will fill quickly with work, the dog, and life.

So not a particularly structured post — just a snapshot of where my head’s at.
A good day to pause, look back, and look forward.

Thanks, Dad — for all of it.

Another failed attempt at Garmin Lactate Threshold Test

Probably not the best day to have another go at the Garmin Lactate Threshold Test, given that I am experiencing the back-end of a cold, however I thought I would have a better chance on my treadmill.

At first, I couldn't work out how to do the test on the treadmill as it is simply not an option under 'Virtual Run', or 'Treadmill', but only one 'Run'. I should have really turned the GPS off and selected run indoors (next time).

Anyway, the test kind of worked - I was running within selected heart rate zones, however like last time, I blew out on the penultimate set, and didn't complete the last 166bpm+ set.

So my zones remain the same for now. Garmin has them down as

Z1: Warm up 112 - 130bpm

Z2: Easy 131 - 148bpm

Z3: Aerobic 149 - 153bpm

Z4: Threshold 154 - 165bpm

Z5: Max. 166bpm +

Bit coldy (sore throat)

I enjoyed a lovely sunny e-Brompton commute yesterday. I still really enjoy my little yellow Brompton (must be over 10 years old now!), albeit pimped up with DIY Swytch e-power.

It does make me think of getting another lighter (P or T Line) Brompton 8-10kg and using it for travelling and bikepacking simply because it is so versatile and easier to combine with public transport. Anyway, enough bikes for now, possibly down the line (although the seed is planted 😁).

I am a bit coldy 😷 at the moment with a sore throat, so opted for an easy TRX and weights session today. Hopefully tomorrow I can get back on the Treadmill for a Zwift run session - let's see how we go.