Brompton owners

Do have an M_V special fork, CK gripnut and fancy brake levers in a box waiting. Some DA 7400 cranks, but unsure of bb length

A connoisseur I see.

If weight saving is your aim, what Hoke & Cov Eagle said, 3 speed external.
Don't underestimate changing the suspension block and if you roll it anywhere putting roller blade wheels to replace the roller wheels.

This chap's video might also lead you down a couple of cul-de-sacs but I suspect you might enjoy watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz24HOdUctA

Brilliant! Inspiring. 3-sp external it will be

This guy is on here IIRC, bike was purchased from the Classified.

I'm down to 8.4 kg with mine.
ETA - There's plenty of opportunity to lose more. But I need to eat.

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Ti triangle for the win. Might be a little rich for me. Looking good.

Nice builds! I've seen that video before which reminds me: I was looking at changing the Brompton crankset and BB earlier, after much usage, lack of trueness and play. While doing a clearout I noticed all the chainrings and crank arms I've sheered. Have decided I'm gonna go for something else - no JIS/Square taper, might even go Shimano HollowTech and run a 105 with a single ring.

@JurekB looks like you've done something similar with the Alfine cranks.

Another general Q, how daunting is changing the headset for a home mechanic with no press tool?

how daunting is changing the headset for a home mechanic with no press tool?

You’ll need a press tool of some fashion to do it properly. Bodging it with a mallet might get the job done but you’d risk damaging the parts. There’s affordable press tools made from threaded rod on eBay and the like, but you get what you pay for. If you plan on doing it again, lifeline makes a decent headset press for not loads of £.

Got a Dura-Ace FC-7800 with a 53t chainring if you're keen? Came off a Brompton so has had the rear tabs ground a bit to clear the frame, etc.

Hey Brompton owners!

I’ve been on a Dolan pre cursa with wide bars, front rack, hydraulic disc, gravel fork. Full commuter hipster build. I love it. Naughty I know, but no foot retention and disc feels plenty safe. Especially as I’m on like 48x17 or 18. Something spiny and slow for going along the Thames path to work.

Anyway, I need to get a folding bike, as I need to drop off my boy at the child minder, and currently that means one stop on the tube that’s unavoidable.

Was looking at the subscriptions (c line 3spd) and that might be a good start, but I don’t really want gears. Is it stupid to go for the p line single speed? Will I miss the gears? Any advice with this harrowing transition to a non-fixed gear bike?

How big is the cost difference? If you get gears, you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to; if you don’t get gears, you can’t use them even if you do want to.

I'm with @Leshaches. Having them is better than wishing you did. I'm not sure what the hiring subscription is like, but testing a few different setups might help you decide.

Cheers. I have a blacked out black edition minus a couple of 'mods', so as much as I like Dura Ace, I don't think the 7800 silver will suit it. Rear tabs to clear the frame? I would've thought that you could run some spacers if the BB cups don't get in the way.

I guess the thing is I’ve pretty much only ridden fixed for so long now, that I have no desire for gears, because I enjoy next to no maintenance and simplicity.
I’ve never ridden a Brompton, and I’m struggling to imagine what it’s like with such tiny wheels, are gears necessary? Do the gear ratios feel different because of smaller wheels?

are gears necessary?

No. I rode my Brompton fixed for over 5 years.

Clearance is really, really tight on the rear hinge and DS chainstay in the folded position with anything non-brompton/square taper. You can definitely get creative though...

I ended up running a MTB BB (longer thread depth but 2mm shorter cup depth) with a 2mm driveside spacer and road BB plastic centre sleeve to give me enough clearance with an Alfine chainset without screwing up the chainline and playing nicely with the 68mm shell width.

Used this post to help figure it all out

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Cheers. Not seen that post before, but this is in line with what I've read;

• 63mm BB
  
• narrower cups (e.g. Mtb ones)
  
• spacers
  
• road sleeve
  

I've a 105 5800 double set up as above for many years. The wide chainline on the big ring hasn't been a problem.

(I actually have 3-4mm of DS spacers to help the chainring bolts clear the triangle, which means the left crank has slightly shorter length spline engagement. Again not a problem)

Good to know. This is starting to sound like more of a faff than hoped.

Anyone has a bag which is no longer needed?

Thought I'll ask here before going retail.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/393503/#comment17267711

Cheers but wrong colour bro!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHO9_RpSjPw

Not too sure if this is all correct, but quite nice to see a before and after.

I know the cable clearance relative to the chainrings is small, but I'm now getting cable rub. I can't tell if it's either or both a) I cut my cables a tad too long and b) my chaining/BB runs so untrue that the chain rubs against my cables once per pedal revolution.

Any suggestions?

I have to go to London to visit my sister in hospital (Bromley/Orpington) and clear out her fridge/bins in her flat (Blackheath). Was considering trying the Brompton hire to get me between as the public transport options look crap. Am I going to hate myself riding the 25 miles or so shuttling back and forth? Having never ridden one before I’m not sure if it’s a dumb idea, although I guess I can fold it and take it on a bus or train if necessary.