The only thing worse than having cancer is having cancer and needing to drive on Ontario’s awful Highway 401 to get treatment. That was my initial thought after learning about a clinical trial in Toronto around 110 km east of my home in Waterloo, Ontario. I’d recently been diagnosed with cancer, though it was early enough that there had been no spread. The prognosis was good for an otherwise bad kind of cancer to get. And the clinical trial looked like a promising fit for me. I was lucky, if that’s the right word to use when writing about having cancer.

A metal display features a silhouette of someone holding a bike above their head. The text "The Ride To Conquer Cancer" appears below that. A man is standing next to the sign. He's smiling and looking at the viewer.
The author in front of Princess Margaret Hospital

A travel challenge

Not having spent much time in Toronto in recent years, though, travel challenges were foremost in my mind for the trial at Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the world’s leading cancer treatment and research hospitals. I was a little worried about the logistics of regular travel to and from the hospital; Highway 401 is a significant mental barrier for me, as well as a decidedly physical one as it’s usually so congested with heavy traffic.

A view of a multilane controlled access highway, looking ahead towards cars in three lanes of traffic. A sign over the lanes reads "401 East. Toronto."
Another busy day on the highway

After my first visit to meet the clinical trial team at the hospital, though, I started to reevaluate my options.

Bicycle Coach

Traveling by GO Transit train had easily taken me from Waterloo to Toronto and back again, and I had noticed that bikes could be taken on board. I started to think about taking my bike with me on my train trips. It turns out, though, that only some coaches will take bikes, and then only two bikes on a coach. 

A composite image that shows bike icons on two GO Trains. The icon on the train on the left shows a bike in silhouette in a whte circle with a green border. Beneath the icon there's text that reads "2 only seulement". The icon on the train on the right shows a bike in silhouette in a white circle with a red border and a read bar through it. There’s text that reads “GO Plus. Free Wi-Fi on this coach. Wi-Fi gratuit dans cette voiture.”
Two bike policies for GO Transit coaches

That’s not really practical for planning a predictable trip. But as an avid cyclist, biking from home to the local train station, riding the train to Toronto, then biking to the hospital and other locations remained particularly appealing.

How about a Brompton?

I then started to look into folding bikes in general, and Brompton bikes in particular. I’ll confess that much of my limited knowledge of the Brompton had come from the bike’s wonderful comedic appearances in the BBC TV show W1A. But I was intrigued enough to investigate more.

A metal display features a silhouette of someone holding a bike above their head. The text "The Ride To Conquer Cancer" appears below that. A man is standing next to the sign. He's smiling and looking at the viewer.
Three Bromptons in a scene from the BBC TV show W1A

I soon discovered Pedaal, a Brompton dealer in Toronto (and Canadian Brompton distributor) that’s not that far from the hospital. 

A view into a retail space. At the back there's a counter with various drinks available. There are two people standing at the counter. The ceiling has plants and mini banners hanging down. It's all quite colourful.
Inside Pedaal looking at the coffee and other drinks bar

One day after a hospital visit, I headed over to the shop. There, co-owner Eric Kamphof looked after me, letting me test ride multiple bikes on neighbourhood streets and answering my many questions. That initial visit gave me lots to think about.

An obvious choice

Once I was home it didn’t take me long to conclude that an Electric G Line would be the perfect choice for me, and a great investment in my own health. I could take it with me on my GO Transit train trips to and from Toronto.

Sixteen cubby hole shelves hold folded Brompton bikes and bags. A ladder rests against the shelves.
Bromptons on the wall at Pedaal

And it would give me the flexibility to get to multiple locations in my healthcare journey. Plus the smooth pedal-assist boost would keep me cycling for years to come. I made arrangements with Eric to purchase the bike and return to Toronto to pick it up.

Kitting out the Brompton

I didn’t get too many accessories for the bike to start, as I wanted to spend more time riding it to better understand what I might need. And the battery bag that it came with did have room to carry a few things. I did, though, get a lock, and a loud electric horn to use when car drivers are being awful. And I got a mirror as I always use one for general situational awareness. I also got a cool Fidlock water bottle that mounts to the bike with magnets on a low-profile attachment point. These accessories gave me a ready-to-explore urban bike, one that’s fun to ride and feels safe.

In the foreground, there’s a Brompton bicycle leaning against a storefront. Behind the Brompton in the store window, there are multiple posters, including one for Cycling Guide.
The author’s Brompton Electric G Line in Waterloo

To finish off my initial set-up, I already had a helmet and Quad Lock case for my phone, as I use them with my regular bike. I got a handlebar Quad Lock mount for the Brompton, as the Cycling Guide mobile app that I work on is so important to me when cycling to new places. The routes are great here in Waterloo, and I’m also discovering how they are in our currently-limited Toronto-area testing. I always prefer our routes to those from the big map app players.

Getting home

My first day riding my new Brompton in Toronto after taking delivery of it was exhilarating. Downtown Toronto is a profoundly car-centric environment, but at least there are multiple streets with physically separated bike lanes. 

In the foreground, there’s a Brompton bicycle leaning against a storefront. Behind the Brompton in the store window, there are multiple posters, including one for Cycling Guide.
The author’s Brompton on a GO Transit train

Cycling from Pedaal to Union Station to catch the GO Transit train was straightforward and surprisingly fun, with those separated bike lanes providing a safe space for me and many other cyclists to ride in. The subsequent train ride back to Waterloo was relaxing and issue-free, with my Brompton folded on the floor next to me. Cycling home from the Kitchener GO station was a breeze.

Gearing up

As I rode my new Brompton here in Waterloo and in Toronto, I gradually came to better understand my riding needs. On the less-exclusively-bikey side, I picked up a light rain jacket for the Toronto trips when there was rain expected. That worked out well, though I’m happy to have missed the worst of an intense storm that hit one day, seeing only a little light rain when I was riding.

A three quarter front view of a bike. There's a large bag hanging on the front. The bike is leaning against a raised vegatable garden bed..
Another view of a basket bag on the front of the author’s Brompton

I wanted to use an old-school milk crate on the rear rack to make grocery shopping more practical. I added a couple of bungee cords and it’s ready to haul! The crate has worked great both at a favourite farm market and favourite independent grocery store. The 45º orientation of the crate on the rack ensures that my heels don’t hit it while I’m peddling.

A 3/4 overhead view of a bag on the front of a bike. Various groceies can be seen filling the bag.

A basket bag on the front of the author’s BromptonMore recently, I decided to address a minor limitation that became apparent over the last few months. The small battery bag can carry a few items, and the milk crate can carry a decent load of groceries. I found, though, that I needed something in between to handle running errands that included a smaller shopping haul while folding the parked bike. That led me to the Brompton front basket, which is open-topped like a traditional basket and has decent capacity. It’s been a wonderful and practical addition to the bike so far.

The Bottom Line

That pretty much sums up the physical bike and its accessories. This set-up is ideally suited to my current needs, and the Brompton is clearly an adaptable bike that’s more than capable in a variety of riding contexts.

A view of a subway train approaching passenger platform. There's a white tiled wall on the left, with the station name that reads "QUEE'S PARK. COLLEGE STREET."

In multiple rides since getting it, my Brompton has emphatically confirmed for me that I’d made the right choice. It’s exceeded all my expectations and been a joy to ride. Traveling with it on the train has been revelatory. My cancer care team has been impressed with it too! And each of my three sons has ridden it and they love it as much as I do.

A view of a Brompton Bicycle, folded and on the floor of a train in front of a seat.

As a person who cycles for day-to-day transportation, I’ve been delighted with its practical utility. Clearly the Brompton isn’t just for train rides! It’s been great for grocery runs here in Waterloo, and just running errands in general. It’s also been a fun conversation-starter for people who see it, especially on the train and at the hospital. 

But those stories are for another time.

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