Brompton or something else?
Discussion
I am wondering about buying a folding bike to use when I drop off cars for servicing.
The route home and back is around 7 miles each way usually and there are some climbs.
Is a Brompton just going to leave me a sweaty mess at the end of it, or are they quite efficient? Also, is Brompton still the gold standard for folding bikes?
Anything I buy needs to go in a Fiat 500 and a Porsche 911.
Electric Brompton!
I've got a Ridgeback folding bike but it's s
te compared to a Brompton, although I dont worry about it getting nicked! It's not as efficient as my Carbon road bike but they're not as hard work as I suspect you think? The small wheels dont give a great ride and bumps etc are more noticeable but they're great for being able to chuck in your boot.
I've got a Ridgeback folding bike but it's s
te compared to a Brompton, although I dont worry about it getting nicked! It's not as efficient as my Carbon road bike but they're not as hard work as I suspect you think? The small wheels dont give a great ride and bumps etc are more noticeable but they're great for being able to chuck in your boot.Edited by _Hoppers on Thursday 11th June 08:57
Edited by _Hoppers on Thursday 11th June 08:59
There is no reason you can't do 7 miles on a Brommie. A smaller front chainring might help om the hills.
They are also v well made and hold their value incredibly well. But there are other folding bikes available - Tern, Birdy and Airnimal all have their own pros and cons. I have one of these:
https://airnimal.co/products/joey/sport/#.XuHjHqbT...
Folding is a faff compared to a Brommie, but it goes in the boot fine and rides imo a great deal better. Just like a normal bike in fact, and it is v well made and easy to maintain with off the shelf Japanese components. Had mine 5 years and used hard all seasons for three of those, it's still in good shape.
Bromptons are a v clever but quite extreme design. They are seriously compromised as bicycles in order to achieve their amazingly neat fold. Twitchy steering and hard ride. Try one before you buy.
Its a question of priorities - what do you need most, the fold or the bike? For me it was the latter.
Having said that they are clearly doing something right as the local population of Brommies seems to have doubled in lockdown. Perhaps they are breeding;)
They are also v well made and hold their value incredibly well. But there are other folding bikes available - Tern, Birdy and Airnimal all have their own pros and cons. I have one of these:
https://airnimal.co/products/joey/sport/#.XuHjHqbT...
Folding is a faff compared to a Brommie, but it goes in the boot fine and rides imo a great deal better. Just like a normal bike in fact, and it is v well made and easy to maintain with off the shelf Japanese components. Had mine 5 years and used hard all seasons for three of those, it's still in good shape.
Bromptons are a v clever but quite extreme design. They are seriously compromised as bicycles in order to achieve their amazingly neat fold. Twitchy steering and hard ride. Try one before you buy.
Its a question of priorities - what do you need most, the fold or the bike? For me it was the latter.
Having said that they are clearly doing something right as the local population of Brommies seems to have doubled in lockdown. Perhaps they are breeding;)
dontlookdown said:
They are also v well made and hold their value incredibly well.
Agreed, to the point that it's hardly worth buying second hand!dontlookdown said:
Twitchy steering and hard ride.
Don't agree, but it depends on how it feels to the OP. I like the twitchy steering, makes it great for manoeuvring in traffic etc. My Ridgeback has a tendency to wheelie under power bu the Brompton is much more planted under power.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I owned a Brompton. You have to be a sadist to endure lifting the thing, folding it out and in and then the ride.....
7 miles? Not a chance.
Get an E Scooter or walk.
I’ve done 60 on mine, brooks saddle too (it’s ok, don’t want any more children..)7 miles? Not a chance.
Get an E Scooter or walk.
Brompton is the way to go, i doubt if the others will fit in a fiat 500!
I have a couple, 3 speed & 6 speed
I’d go for the 3 speed tbh as the 6 speed is a bit of a faff
I prefer the S type straight bars
A few shops have demo bikes you can take for a spin, not sure if they do at moment
Hold price well too. If able to purchase via a cyclescheme, they can sell them for more than you paid at the end of it .
Fastpedeller said:
There are Brompton hire points in some cities - IIRC £10 for a day or some similar low amount. Well worth it just to see if you like the ride. One bike I very much regret selling.
Shortly after posting this, I saw a chap on a Brompton not far from here. He was quite a stocky chap and it looked quite weird.I am stocky and weird enough already, I am not sure whether I need the assistance of a Brompton.
I am wondering about the suction bike rack mentioned above. Though, are they a bit harsh on paintwork?
I have been toying with the idea of a Brompton/electric Brompton for some time.
I had a test ride on an Electric Brompton a few week back. I will not be buying one.
I thought the gear changes were very clunky. I had the derailleur and hub gear combination. That didn't work smoothly. But it was the ride and the handling that were the killer. The steering was so twitchy, I was afraid to take one hand off the bars to signal.
Nice idea, but no. Not for me
I had a test ride on an Electric Brompton a few week back. I will not be buying one.
I thought the gear changes were very clunky. I had the derailleur and hub gear combination. That didn't work smoothly. But it was the ride and the handling that were the killer. The steering was so twitchy, I was afraid to take one hand off the bars to signal.
Nice idea, but no. Not for me
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