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@Brommers
The Brompton's been working nicely and I've been using it every day. However, one of the rear spokes snapped recently, which is a bit of a PITA as removing the rear wheel of a Brompton is not entirely straightforward. So I took the rear wheel out, replaced the spoke, and refitted the inner tube and tyre. Sadly, I forgot to replace the rim tape, so that was one inner tube dead and another job to be redone.
While the rear wheel was out, I made a few improvements. The brake hanger bracket on the rear mudguard was a bit flimsy. The bike rests on the mudguard-mounted wheel when it's folded, and because the bracket's too fragile it folds up.
This means the pop rivets holding the bracket on rubbed on the tyre. The result was that every time you unfolded the bike you had to pull the mudguard back off the tyre, which was also a bit of a PITA. So I made up a new bracket from some beefier aluminium angle, and rather than two pop-rivets I've cut down two button-head titanium bolts and made up a titanium plate with two threaded holes in it.
The hole in the bracket is off centre as the holes in the mudguard aren't quite in line. The titanium plate with the threaded holes proved to be a bit of a challenge. I can't remember where I got the piece of titanium that's made from, but it's hard as nails. Making that cost 3 drill bits and an M5 tap.
Anyway, fitted it looks like this:
Seems to be doing the job so far.
I've also found a replacement for the standard Brompton chain-directing doo-dah on the chain tensioner. The standard one weighs 7 grams:
The replacement is a carbon one which saves a massive 2 grams:
So far it too seems to be doing its job. Which is nice. Oh, and I've readjusted the gear cable and things appear to be improving. I've now definitely got 5 different gears, and it seems to be a bit less clicky. Still needs some tweaking, but it's improving.