Let's see your Brompton

[Johnnybee]

Kell said:

Leithen said:

I'd love to, but fear I'd be far too slow....

I know I'd be too slow. I'm middle aged and fat.

But how often do you get to compete in the World Championships of anything?

I'm what I'd class as a leisure rider

There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing people taking their time completing the circuits, filmed from the competitive ones as they whizz past.

[sjg]

Accelebrate said:

The best combination of comparatively cheap and light is to opt for a single or 2 speed - skipping the rear hub saves quite a bit of weight. It all depends on if that suits your commute and legs though.

Agreed, 2 speed is the way to go IMO. It's only 190g heavier than 1-speed but gets you a useful "bail out" gear for hills. The other is fine on most flat-ish roads, and if you're pointing downhill you just let gravity do the work. Try one with the regular gearing (I think it's fine, and used to live on top of a big hill) and if you think the low gear isn't low enough then you can spec a smaller chainring for -7% or -18% gearing (the latter would be ridiculous IMO, but each to their own).

Going for 3 speed over 2 speed adds 550g, which is a long way towards the claimed weight saving of titanium frame/fork over steel.

Don't bother with the rack, it adds 400g and is pretty useless to carry anything on. Likewise, use small battery lights (not Brompton's ones) rather than the dynamo ones you can spec.

[bakerstreet]

Had my Brompton for approximately 18 months now and its still used everyday. Its completely standard. However, as the months roll on, I do get tempted to mod it.

You can get carbon M bars on Ebay for about £55 and it will then need new grips. Not sure I could be bothered to upgrade anything else.

The titanium clamps for the stem and seat post always look very expensive.

A Titanium seat post is quite tempting, as mine has a few stone chips and the covering has clearly cracked as its rusting in places.

As for the person with all the negatives:

Its a 16in wheel bike with a fold at the BB. What were you expecting it to handle like?!?

S-Bag is too small?? Go and buy the Messenger bag and sell the S-Bag for £50-£70 on Ebay. Simples.

[Kell]

My only planned possible upgrade is the new gear levers.

Hate the ones it came with.

And I'd quite like the Brompton black edition seatpost.

And crankset.

And some of those fancy looking springs to replace the rubber suspension block.

And some hinges that stay in the correct position...

and and

[Kell]

PS - this is what mine looked like after just two weeks back commuting after Christmas.

The chain pusher was so clogged with grit and sludge it wouldn't shift at all.

[neilbauer]

Mine was quite dirty from the bad weather and I noticed some surface rust on the chain.

So into the bike room for a clean

[hora]

What did you use muckoff?

[neilbauer]

hora said:

What did you use muckoff?

Muc-off chain cleaner with some Halfords degreaser.

[neilbauer]

[Kell]

I'd love to see what you class as dirty for a before shot.

I use Virasol (citrus degreaser) and that removes caked on brake dust off my car alloys yet it won't get rid of the sludge on my bike.

[louiebaby]

Kell said:

I'd love to see what you class as dirty for a before shot.

I use Virasol (citrus degreaser) and that removes caked on brake dust off my car alloys yet it won't get rid of the sludge on my bike.

Baby wipes will get rid of just about anything. Fragrance free, though, obvs.

[neilbauer]

Kell said:

I'd love to see what you class as dirty for a before shot.

I use Virasol (citrus degreaser) and that removes caked on brake dust off my car alloys yet it won't get rid of the sludge on my bike.

Didn't take a before shot unfortunately, the chain had surface rust on it.

[neilbauer]

Weighed my Brompton

[bakerstreet]

Kell said:

PS - this is what mine looked like after just two weeks back commuting after Christmas.

The chain pusher was so clogged with grit and sludge it wouldn't shift at all.

Mine is permanently filthy and people at work have started commenting on it now 😕.

Actually going to clean it today and lubricate the chain. I try and do the chain every couple of months, but I think the bike has been cleaned once since I've had it and I've had it 18 months now.

It still shifts perfectly through. When it's two years old, I'm treating it to carbon bars and new grips 😀

[neilbauer]

bakerstreet said:

Kell said:

PS - this is what mine looked like after just two weeks back commuting after Christmas.

The chain pusher was so clogged with grit and sludge it wouldn't shift at all.

Mine is permanently filthy and people at work have started commenting on it now ??.

Actually going to clean it today and lubricate the chain. I try and do the chain every couple of months, but I think the bike has been cleaned once since I've had it and I've had it 18 months now.

It still shifts perfectly through. When it's two years old, I'm treating it to carbon bars and new grips ??

That is a similar state to mine, it gets like that in a week in the rain.

[Johnnybee]

Was anyone successful in the ballot for the Brompton World Championship in London? The emails were sent out today if you applied.

[neilbauer]

Nope

[Accelebrate]

For the third year running... Nope.

[Bunfighter]

Do you have any issues with getting on trams, tube, buses or trains?

My office location might be changing which will mean tram instead of drive.

[neilbauer]

Bunfighter said:

Do you have any issues with getting on trams, tube, buses or trains?

My office location might be changing which will mean tram instead of drive.

No issues, that's what they excel at