Let's see your Brompton
Discussion
ecs said:
Just to add to the gearing debate. The chairing bolts on my 54t sprocket (M3L) came loose so it got lunched while riding. I switched to a 44t sprocket and I find the gearing far more pleasant for buzzing around London now.
I prepared a spreadsheet of gear ratios for my bikes when considering buying a cyclocross thing (the gearing on those is very odd) and, after suitably converting the Brompton ratios here: https://brompton.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203... I couldn't work out who would ever go for the 6-sp +8% chainwheel. Even the standard 6-sp gives 100 gear inches in top. The bail-out gear doesn't look too bad in the standard 6-sp, so I'm pleased I'll get to try that for real rather than speccing the -12% and finding I never use the lowest cog.Of course, I'll probably ride it like my old single-speed at university and wish I'd gone for no more than 2 gears
Mine has arrived today - christened with a ride through central Birmingham in my suit.
Of course, I'm already thinking I should have got a bag at the same time; is it practical to fit a suit in an S bag without crumpling it too much?
Not sure whether it'll actually fit in the boot of my MX5, even if I remove the spare wheel, but there's plenty of space on the passenger seat.
Of course, I'm already thinking I should have got a bag at the same time; is it practical to fit a suit in an S bag without crumpling it too much?
Not sure whether it'll actually fit in the boot of my MX5, even if I remove the spare wheel, but there's plenty of space on the passenger seat.
Having cycled to the station on Thursday, I've realised how quick a Brompton is. I expected sub-10mph but my first mile was over 14mph and I didn't drop much under 11mph. Which takes me back to gearing; I'm a spinner, not a grinder. I used all of my standard S6L ratios but I think I'd get more use from a lower 1st than the current 6th. The gaps between gears aren't small so a -12% chainwheel might also close them up a little.
Anyone tried a 44-tooth chainwheel on a 6-sp Brompton?
Anyone tried a 44-tooth chainwheel on a 6-sp Brompton?
Jobbo said:
Mine has arrived today - christened with a ride through central Birmingham in my suit.
Of course, I'm already thinking I should have got a bag at the same time; is it practical to fit a suit in an S bag without crumpling it too much?
Not sure whether it'll actually fit in the boot of my MX5, even if I remove the spare wheel, but there's plenty of space on the passenger seat.
Don't buy an s bag for carrying a suit. It isn't big enough. Neither is the messenger bag. Get a smart suit back pack from Amazon. Only £30 and work very well. Been using mine for about 4 months now. Of course, I'm already thinking I should have got a bag at the same time; is it practical to fit a suit in an S bag without crumpling it too much?
Not sure whether it'll actually fit in the boot of my MX5, even if I remove the spare wheel, but there's plenty of space on the passenger seat.
Jobbo said:
Having cycled to the station on Thursday, I've realised how quick a Brompton is. I expected sub-10mph but my first mile was over 14mph and I didn't drop much under 11mph. Which takes me back to gearing; I'm a spinner, not a grinder. I used all of my standard S6L ratios but I think I'd get more use from a lower 1st than the current 6th. The gaps between gears aren't small so a -12% chainwheel might also close them up a little.
Anyone tried a 44-tooth chainwheel on a 6-sp Brompton?
I got mine to over 20mph on the flat last week, I have a 2 speed that suits my needs Anyone tried a 44-tooth chainwheel on a 6-sp Brompton?
https://www.strava.com/activities/631902717/sharea...
neilbauer said:
I got mine to over 20mph on the flat last week, I have a 2 speed that suits my needs
https://www.strava.com/activities/631902717/sharea...
My peak was 22.1mph, that's on a 6-sp with the standard chainring. I don't think I'm likely to use top very often so I'm almost certainly going to swap to the smaller chainring. Turns out my local dealer can surreptitiously order a black 44-tooth chainring from Brompton, even though it's not officially offered.https://www.strava.com/activities/631902717/sharea...
Chris Type R said:
I had someone pull up alongside me in a car once and complement me on my speed - it was on a reasonably steep downhill though.
I've surprised a few people on mine. They normally ask how I'm "making that thing go that fast". I normally answer with "thighs, lots of thighs".
I have a spare one of these Aldi saddlebags: https://www.aldi.co.uk/bicycle-sports-bag-with-too... which I considered fitting to my Brompton (I have one on each of my other bikes already). I did wonder if it would interfere too much with the fold; it's easy to unclip but has a velcro strap round the seat post as well, which isn't so quick to undo.
Instead I mounted a Lidl phone holder and bag on the bars - coincidentally available from tomorrow in their cycle special: http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?actio... (the zip one, not the flat one with a flap, though both use the same clip attachment). It rests on the bell so that doesn't ring properly, and you have to attach it to the left of the stem so the mount doesn't foul when you fold the bars, but it's easy to clip on and off, and has space for a wallet, phone, puncture repair kit or whatever.
Instead I mounted a Lidl phone holder and bag on the bars - coincidentally available from tomorrow in their cycle special: http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?actio... (the zip one, not the flat one with a flap, though both use the same clip attachment). It rests on the bell so that doesn't ring properly, and you have to attach it to the left of the stem so the mount doesn't foul when you fold the bars, but it's easy to clip on and off, and has space for a wallet, phone, puncture repair kit or whatever.
Jobbo said:
I have a spare one of these Aldi saddlebags: https://www.aldi.co.uk/bicycle-sports-bag-with-too... which I considered fitting to my Brompton (I have one on each of my other bikes already). I did wonder if it would interfere too much with the fold; it's easy to unclip but has a velcro strap round the seat post as well, which isn't so quick to undo.
Instead I mounted a Lidl phone holder and bag on the bars - coincidentally available from tomorrow in their cycle special: http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?actio... (the zip one, not the flat one with a flap, though both use the same clip attachment). It rests on the bell so that doesn't ring properly, and you have to attach it to the left of the stem so the mount doesn't foul when you fold the bars, but it's easy to clip on and off, and has space for a wallet, phone, puncture repair kit or whatever.
I used a spare saddlebag similar to that for a while, as you say it has to come off to fold. I'm like that I can just leave this one on the bike and that it's Brompton. Instead I mounted a Lidl phone holder and bag on the bars - coincidentally available from tomorrow in their cycle special: http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?actio... (the zip one, not the flat one with a flap, though both use the same clip attachment). It rests on the bell so that doesn't ring properly, and you have to attach it to the left of the stem so the mount doesn't foul when you fold the bars, but it's easy to clip on and off, and has space for a wallet, phone, puncture repair kit or whatever.
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