A weekend with a Brompton

[Accelebrate]

To save derailing the cycled to work thread any further I thought I'd start a new topic.

I was planning to spend the weekend putting some miles on my new road bike, but the forecast was looking miserable and I'm being a bit precious about saving it for fair weather. Then I spotted this on my way to the station to get lunch...



...A bit of texting later and I had a code, which released a brand spanking new Brompton ML3:




I put nearly 30 miles on it over the weekend, through some fairly grim weather. I was very impressed with the ML3, it was very comfy, the gear ratios are spot on with a decent climbing gear, a proper high gear and something in the middle. Thanks to the small wheels it pulls away from lights amusingly rapidly. The folding process is a bit perplexing at first, but once you've done it a few times it becomes second nature.



It wasn't all perfect, it felt a bit skittish at times and the gear shifter is laughably cheap with loads and loads of play, so much so that it rattles as you ride. Not really what you'd expect on a £900 bike. Also, if you carry it around a supermarket you get approached by men who tell you they have 'Brompton envy', which might have been a chat up line.

Oh, and it's pretty much the first thing I've found that fits into the boot of a modern MINI...


OK, so the parcel shelf didn't lie completely flat, but I'll let that slide.

I'm not really sure what it was about the Brompton, in many ways it's inferior to the bikes I usually ride, but despite that and the appalling weather it was one of the most enjoyable weekends of cycling I've had for a while. I'm pleased I've now got a locker full of the things available to hire for little financial outlay (£5 a day), it's just a pity they're mostly pink!

[Pothole]

so £80k's worth of bikes in those lockers? How long till some DAYLs arrive with a backhoe and empty them?

[80sMatchbox]

They have them for hire not far from my house, so have been meaning to do the same, and take one out for fhe day.

Having been to the Brompton World Championships 3 times in the last 3 years, this may be the year that I actually take part..

[Fastpedeller]

Looks good - I've just done a search and found it's a scheme being launched at various sites. There's some aspects that bother me though....... What about the maintenance, a lot of hire bikes are way below safety, will these and up the same? What about the person who hires one and finds it too 'complex' to assemble (there's bound to be one) and ends up in an accident? What about the theft aspect? I'm not of a criminal mind, but I'm sure someone will work out how to get one without giving their real identity, and hey presto they have a very expensive 'prize' - but unfortunately that's one aspect of society!
Anyway, on the plus side a great scheme to get bums on saddles, and a great way to try before you buy - I had one some 20yrs ago, and it was a great little machine, I wish i'd never sold it.

[Accelebrate]

Pothole said:

so £80k's worth of bikes in those lockers? How long till some DAYLs arrive with a backhoe and empty them?

20k's worth - 40 lockers, and Brompton Dock claim a £500 replacement cost if it's stolen whilst in your possession. But it's a fair point.

On that note, as a hire scheme there are a fair few downsides, the lack of insurance being a fairly major one!

Fastpedeller said:

What about the maintenance, a lot of hire bikes are way below safety, will these and up the same?

I was wondering the same, there are some bits and pieces in the terms and conditions about what you should do if you're involved in an accident or break something. But nothing about what you should do if something minor happens whilst it's in your possession, like a puncture, other than stating that you shouldn't attempt to repair the bike yourself. It would be annoying to abandon a longer ride due to something trivial like that, and even more annoying if you were then lumped with an unreasonable call out charge to repair the puncture once you've returned it to the dock.

Edited by Accelebrate on Monday 18th March 21:52

[Pothole]

Accelebrate said:

Pothole said:

so £80k's worth of bikes in those lockers? How long till some DAYLs arrive with a backhoe and empty them?

20k's worth - 40 lockers, and Brompton Dock claim a £500 replacement cost if it's stolen whilst in your possession. But it's a fair point.

On that note, as a hire scheme there are a fair few downsides, the lack of insurance being a fairly major one!

Fastpedeller said:

What about the maintenance, a lot of hire bikes are way below safety, will these and up the same?

I was wondering the same, there are some bits and pieces in the terms and conditions about what you should do if you're involved in an accident or break something. But nothing about what you should do if something minor happens whilst it's in your possession, like a puncture, other than stating that you shouldn't attempt to repair the bike yourself. It would be annoying to abandon a longer ride due to something trivial like that, and even more annoying if you were then lumped with an unreasonable call out charge to repair the puncture once you've returned it to the dock.

Edited by Accelebrate on Monday 18th March 21:52

I meant £18k (as I counted 20 lockers at £900 each...)

[anonymous-user]

They are cracking bikes, I use mine more than any of the others. I keep it in the cupboard under the stairs, so easy to jump on to go to the shops. Easier than faffing around unlocking the main bike in the garage.!
You do get a bit of banter when riding one in the provinces, not in the city though..

[Magic919]

Looks like you can text them to report a fault, but they deal with it by a bike swap at the dock.

Must give this a try once they open near me.

[neilr]

My brother and his wife both have Bromptons, we took them to France last year (stayng nr Alencon for classic Le Mans) It was the first time I had the chance to ride one in anger and I was really impressed.


His is a 10 speed (i think) with rear derailleur and hers is a 3 speed sturmey archer set up. I spent most of my riding on that one and despite the whole bike being pink it did a most admirable job. Although having not many gears, they do seem to be mostly the right ones.

The compact way it folds away is really impressive too. I think theres a blog somewhere of a guy who cycled round the world on one. (if not round the whole world then at least a hell of a lot of it).

[seadragon]

I cant wait to get my first Brompton next month, with the updated 2013 spec, S6L (Barcelona Edition).

Am getting it through my Cycle to work scheme. I had a Dahon Jetstream previously and I liked it but I am sure the Brompton will be on a different level. If I have any issues with the gear shifter and brake levers I will just upgrade them.

So excited.

Edited by seadragon on Friday 22 March 10:07

[croyde]

Thread resurrection alert! But where are these dock things. Was allowed a quick test ride on a Brompton this weekend and I was mighty impressed. Nearly ordered one today but a day on one to make sure would be good.

[croyde]

No worries found it. Might take a little train journey out to Guildford and have a play. Thanks.

[yellowjack]

First time I've seen this thread, and coincidentally I saw the Brompton hire dock outside Manchester Picadilly Station on the way home from a long weekend on Monday. If I'd seen it earlier I might have been tempted to 'have a wee go' myself over the weekend. I have to say I like the idea of a Brompton, but so far I've not found the need to own one, due to the lack of a 'ridable' commute (>100miles) for some years, followed by a long period without gainful employment.

[Accelebrate]

I was hoping to use the dock again this week, however looking at the site nearly all of the docks are out of order due to a 'technical upgrade', looks like they've been in the same state since the end of last month.

Seems odd to completely freeze most of your business without warning, there are users on Twitter complaining about not being able to return the bikes who have been told 'just keep them for now, FOC'. Sounds like something has gone wrong.

[Gizmoish]

Shame.

There's a dock near Hampstead hospital if I remember the news story correctly from when they launched...

[croyde]

Accelebrate said:

I was hoping to use the dock again this week, however looking at the site nearly all of the docks are out of order due to a 'technical upgrade', looks like they've been in the same state since the end of last month.

Seems odd to completely freeze most of your business without warning, there are users on Twitter complaining about not being able to return the bikes who have been told 'just keep them for now, FOC'. Sounds like something has gone wrong.

Result for them then

[Accelebrate]

That's what I thought!

'Could you return it now please?'
'Sorry, might be a while before I'm near the station...'

[Richyboy]

None near me. Seems like a bloody good idea, better than boris bikes. What are the solar panels on the roof for?

I hope it takes off and the guy that tries to rob it has his balls chopped off.