Let's see your Brompton

[louiebaby]

I have a raw lacquer with titanium bits, and realistically, I'm never going to sell it, or get another one. I don't use it enough to justify doing so. It also has the look I like for this bike, a sort of vintage look, kinda, with the Brooks seat, silver wheels and mudguards.

• An Alfine conversion won't work, (I'm lead to believe), as this is wider than normal, and stretching the Titanium rear frame is a bit . Apparently there is an 8 speed Sturmey Archer hub that fits though, and is on one controller. I'm very much interested in this. I need a decent spread of gears, as where I live is pretty lumpy, and when I do use it, I use them all on the 6 speed.
• Discs are a too, as I don't want to mess about with the Titanium loveliness, but hydraulic rims came along, I might be tempted.
• I'd also like a Titanium telescopic seatpost. It needs to be telescopic as I'm 6'8'' tall. They're properly pricey though, so may have to wait.

[stripy7]

NO!!!!

A single speed or a 2 speed is a joy, so much lighter than the multi geared versions. Don't try and turn a Brompton into something it isn't.

[neilbauer]

I'm happy with my twin speed 🤓

[velocgee]

BaronVonVaderham said:

It is by far the least fun bike I own and I only use it out of necessity!

quite surprised by this statement. i think the Brompton is great fun.

on the point of the Ti addition, i didn't see the point paying £500-600 for a 0.9kg weight saving (S2L). but then i'm very rarely lugging it around.

[anonymous-user]

velocgee said:

quite surprised by this statement. i think the Brompton is great fun.

on the point of the Ti addition, i didn't see the point paying £500-600 for a 0.9kg weight saving (S2L). but then i'm very rarely lugging it around.

A fair chunk of the weight saving is due to not having a pump!
However the anti-corrosion properties could be beneficial..

[BaronVonVaderham]

To respond to the replies to my post;

Brompton and cycle surgery were contacted regarding the wonky front bag mount, and they did offer to replace the headtube section, but as this would involve drilling out and then repinning the main hinge, I declined as didn't want a brand new very expensive bike to undergo such major surgery. Also whilst riding with a bag on it's pretty hard to notice and so I've accepted it as part of the character of the bike.

When the annual train ticket cost is £3.7k, it was very easy to justify another £600 for the Ti!

One thing I forgot to mention in the good section though is the fact that it enables me to have cycling as part of my daily routine, which is a truly wonderful thing - I badly smashed up my knee before Christmas and have had to endure the tube this week...

I will be a far less reluctant Bromptoneer when I get back on it!

Also, to qualify the 'least fun bike I own' comment, my other bikes are all MTBs (DH, FS trail, jump/4x) and a BMX. This is my first road only steed.

[Leithen]

Just ordered one - Steel, M-Type, 6 Speed -12%, Version L Mudguards, Tempest Blue Frame and Extremities, Battery Lighting, Brooks Saddle, Standard Seat Height, Standard Suspension, Marathon Tyres and 0-Bag.

WooHoo! Just have to wait 8 weeks or so....

[neilbauer]

Leithen said:

Just ordered one - Steel, M-Type, 6 Speed -12%, Version L Mudguards, Tempest Blue Frame and Extremities, Battery Lighting, Brooks Saddle, Standard Seat Height, Standard Suspension, Marathon Tyres and 0-Bag.

WooHoo! Just have to wait 8 weeks or so....

Sounds great and good choice with the Brooks saddle, I'm loving mine.

Welcome to the eccentric club

[Johnnybee]

So who's putting their name down?

http://www.brompton.com/bwc#tab3

[louiebaby]

Johnnybee said:

So who's putting their name down?

http://www.brompton.com/bwc#tab3

I did it at Goodwood a few years ago, and enjoyed the day. I'll ask the wife.

[neilbauer]

[Kell]

I saw the BWC email today, but it's the 29th of July which is the first day of my summer holidays.

One of these days, I'll get to go.

[Leithen]

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

[louiebaby]

Leithen said:

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

In my experience, you'd struggle to be last. The Goodwood one last year had a broad reach of abilities. There were some proper whippets. There were also a few older, weightier folk who had clearly been on the gin beforehand.

It was a great, fun atmosphere, and most definitely not all about the race time. I may have lapped some people twice.

[Kell]

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?

[louiebaby]

Kell said:

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

Well, just the other weekend as it happens!

I am interested to see what it's like when held in London vs at Goodwood.

[hora]

The myriad of options is confusing. What's a good 'cheap' but light Brompton?

Can you combine those two attributes?

[neilbauer]

hora said:

The myriad of options is confusing. What's a good 'cheap' but light Brompton?

Can you combine those two attributes?

Nothing really about Brompton is cheap, it all comes with a hand built quality premium.

And anything you do to lighten a Brompton like wheels seat post or many other bespoke products are ££££'s

You can't even strip them down as most of the parts serve a function.

All said if I want light I'll use my road bike

[Leithen]

One attempted lift of my wife's Pashley and almost any other bicycle feels light as a feather.

[Accelebrate]

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.