This is a photo of my Brompton in the changing room of Marks & Spencer. (I was trying on a dress.) I didn’t bring my lock today so of course I had to bring the bike into the shops. When I was in a crowded lift at John Lewis department store a woman asked the usual question of how heavy the Brompton was and asked me if she could pick it up to test it which I obliged. ‘ Ooh, not that portable’ she said. I said there are lighter ones if she wanted to pay extra. When I left the lift I pushed the bike along the ground on the Eazy wheels and behind me I could hear the woman go ‘Ooh’ again to her friend. Earlier when I was at the
London Graphic Centre the security guard offered to watch the bike for me so I didn’t have to carry it upstairs and when I was in ‘Accessorize’ opposite John Lewis the staff showed me to the staff lift because I needed to go downstairs. Staff in small shops are often very helpful about watching the bike while I shop. I can only think of one occasion at
Cass Art in Islington when I asked to leave the bike at the counter and they said no. Having said that in the tiny branch of Cass Art on Charing Cross Road last week a member of staff saw me carrying the bike and took it from me. She carried it too saying she would leave it at the counter.
Carrying a lock is a hassle but I sometimes find it easier to leave the Brompton in one place while I shop.
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