Brompton owners

My regular Brompton trips tend to be commuting, 5km each way. But, for me, the benefits of the bike are really in it's potential for travelling longer distances. Visiting friends in Surbitton, Twickenham and Windsor (all the opposite side of London to me) is much easier when you know that you can bring your bike in their house and that if you have a few too many drinks you can always get the train back.

I've also enjoyed much longer distances, taken at a leisurely pace. I took it for a cycling holiday in France when taking a full size bike wasn't practical, and rode ~100km a day. Descending on a Brompton is a wonderful experience (as long as you don't need to stop suddenly).

This wednesday I'll be doing my longest distance ever on a Brompton; Amsterdam - Antwerp. Really hoping for a tailwind!

Of all the modifications, I think bar ends are the most essential for making it feel like a real bike when doing more than just a commute, particularly when climbing.

Don't the bar ends affect the fold?

Not in the slightest. I've got stubby ones from Condor. There's quite a few options that'd work.

I use my Brompton for competing in World and National race competitions and regular trips to the allotment.
I use it for the 11 mile commute to work occasionally just for a bit of variety but the final 2 miles of the return journey involves Shooters Hill so we get on the bus. Climbing feels like the bars will wrench off.

Not in the slightest. I've got stubby ones from Condor. There's quite a few options that'd work.

Yeah I think I've seen them, I thought you must have to remove/adjust them.

I tried some amazing garish pink bar ends from the parts bin at a shop the other day, but other than having them vertical, I couldn't get them allow for a neat fold.

I suppose how you feel on long distances and climbs depends on your size.

Because I'm tall (normally take a 62cm frame), my saddle to bar drop on the brompton is slightly more than my roadbike.

Yeah I think I've seen them, I thought you must have to remove/adjust them.

I tried some amazing garish pink bar ends from the parts bin at a shop the other day, but other than having them vertical, I couldn't get them allow for a neat fold.

When folded my bar ends fit either side of the tyre, but if they were more than another 10-15mm extension and they probably wouldn't work.

Use mine mainly for home - station on commute 4miles. But also for football, Done, KGX - Crystal Palace, Watford, Luton, Fulham, West Ham. Canal routes Manchester - Sowerby Bridge, Leeds - Skipton. Welwyn GC - KGX through Lee Valley. Last month 20mls around Paris and Avignon. Only gets rough over cobbles and those grip bars on canal lock rises where the 16" wheels show their limitations. If I only had room for one bike, this would be it (maybe with the Alfine conversion).

Yeah I think I've seen them, I thought you must have to remove/adjust them.

I tried some amazing garish pink bar ends from the parts bin at a shop the other day, but other than having them vertical, I couldn't get them allow for a neat fold.

I've got Ergon GP3's, they work well on Bromptons and don't affect the fold in any way. There's different sizes, I got the standard/large ones and they fit my S2L fine.

I use mine for:

Dropping the kids to school then carrying on in.
If I'm going out / need to be in town for meetings or something.
If the other bikes are in bits.
If I need to carry stuff (last week a frame / drivechain +stuff) - it's my mini-cargo bike.
mrs-ru also uses it to get to work one day a week.

M2L with reduced gearing - big ring is 68gi so relatively spinny, then have climbing gear. Usual journeys are 5-12 miles, but I've done up to 30 happily.

FYI...I've got one of my Bromptoms up for sale, it's on the bay at the moment. I never even thought of posting it on here first.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321198533446?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

I'd happily accept £850 plus postage.

If this post breaks any rules or offends anyone, can the mods remove it please.

1 - Villa-Ru
2 - Clever Pun
3 - Fasih
4 - overtheroad
5 - Dropout
6 - hillbilly
7 - mrs_socks
8 - veLLo
9 - Clefty
10 - cake
11 - atbeard
12 - BMMFold
13 - Rod Munch
14 - Dom
15 - Xander
16 - Charco
17 - Mikey
18 - BlueBrompton
19 - tilover (assuming i get plenty of notice for location)
20 - Lolo
21 - goodhead
22 - desouz (if I can borrow my father's i'll be in)
23 - lardboy
24 - Cazakstan

Just bumping the ride subject...

Yesterday we met with Dropout and discussed the ride a little...

The ride will be based on Villa Ru's original suggestion of going to Hampton Court station, and come back, with the ride ending at Clapham Junction where we will have a late breakfast at Jack's at the Junction.

John had few nice suggestions on the route, I'll let him develop this here himself, my geographical knowledge is too limited to relate properly what he said, but it sounded good.

Mileage should be around 16 miles in today, departure / meeting point from London at 10am on sunday 29th september, one or two pub stops, arrival for breaky in Clapham about 3pm.

Voila

^ Sounds great - can't wait.

I use my Brompton usually for commuting via the train, days that I can't be asked to cycle the whole 15 miles each way. I tend to use the Brompton more in the winter months. At the weekend I use it about town, providing I don't need to carry too much.

I don't mind long rides on the Brompton up to 20 miles is quite comfortable. Having said that I have a single speed setup, so touring on mine would be a challenge. If I ever were to take it around Europe I would probably upgrade to a 3-speed.

Climbing feels like the bars will wrench off.

I know that feeling.

I just found the MKS Urban Step-In EZY pedals on hubjub for £45:

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/store/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_category_id=40&virtuemart_product_id=913

These are quick release pedals which are flat on one side and Time ATAC on the other; absolutely ideal for the Brompton. They are hard to find and normally retail around £90. I just snapped up a pair.

Hub Jub just cancelled my order.

Seems they must've been selling things they didn't actually have.

Yeah, confirmed... you all beat me to it.

1 - Villa-Ru
2 - Clever Pun
3 - Fasih
4 - overtheroad
5 - Dropout
6 - hillbilly
7 - mrs_socks
8 - veLLo
9 - Clefty
10 - cake
11 - atbeard
12 - BMMFold
13 - Rod Munch
14 - Dom
15 - Xander
16 - Charco
17 - Mikey
18 - BlueBrompton
19 - tilover (assuming i get plenty of notice for location)
20 - Lolo
21 - goodhead
22 - desouz (if I can borrow my father's i'll be in)
23 - lardboy
24 - Cazakstan

Just bumping the ride subject...

Yesterday we met with Dropout and discussed the ride a little...

The ride will be based on Villa Ru's original suggestion of going to Hampton Court station, and come back, with the ride ending at Clapham Junction where we will have a late breakfast at Jack's at the Junction.

John had few nice suggestions on the route, I'll let him develop this here himself, my geographical knowledge is too limited to relate properly what he said, but it sounded good.

Mileage should be around 16 miles in today, departure / meeting point from London at 10am on sunday 29th september, one or two pub stops, arrival for breaky in Clapham about 3pm.

Voila

looking forward to this. will meet you at the start point though as the trains are easier for me to get from raynes park/wimbledon.

Out - can't do the 29th.

    ![](http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3992/5lwi.jpg)

1 - Villa-Ru
2 - Clever Pun
3 - Fasih
4 - overtheroad
5 - Dropout
6 - hillbilly
7 - mrs_socks
8 - veLLo
9 - Clefty
10 - cake
11 - atbeard
12 - BMMFold
13 - Rod Munch
14 - Dom
15 - Xander
16 - Charco
17 -
18 - BlueBrompton
19 - tilover (assuming i get plenty of notice for location)
20 - Lolo
21 - goodhead
22 - desouz (if I can borrow my father's i'll be in)
23 - lardboy
24 - Cazakstan

Just bumping the ride subject...

Yesterday we met with Dropout and discussed the ride a little...

The ride will be based on Villa Ru's original suggestion of going to Hampton Court station, and come back, with the ride ending at Clapham Junction where we will have a late breakfast at Jack's at the Junction.

John had few nice suggestions on the route, I'll let him develop this here himself, my geographical knowledge is too limited to relate properly what he said, but it sounded good.

Mileage should be around 16 miles in today, departure / meeting point from London at 10am on sunday 29th september, one or two pub stops, arrival for breaky in Clapham about 3pm.

Voila

the hubjub ones are out of stock fuuuuuuuuuu

hmm black £65ish silver £88

Silver would be more in keeping with the aesthetics of my bike

I also got owned, just got a refund from hubjub :-( I replied and had a bit of a bitch.

edit: found them for £65 on fleabay

You found the EZY ones at that price?

oh fuck it, you're right - they're not the ezy ones. Glad I double checked before I bought!

Continuing the above subject of bar ends, these are awesome:

Bling… bling…

Do want!

^ Aye, what are they?

Nitto forged alloy bar ends:

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/store/index.php/handle-bars/bar-ends/nitto-bar-end-grips-detail

Another gem on hubjub. Pricey though.

I use mine most days and often for longer trips. For those with plenty of time on their hands, and nothing better to do (so sad) I wrote up a London Paris 5 day trip on a 3 speed Brompton http://rgstocker.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/london-to-paris-on-brompton.html I've also signed up for both the Benelux (Antwerp) and Portuguese (Lisbon) National championships this month. Great excuse to see the sights of two of Europes better cities - not to mention Belgium beer and Portuguese wine - I've also taken part in all the Smithfield Nocturnes - must have seen loads of you there. Those pedals look interesting, saves taking a pedal spanner when flying as the pedal was mangled (non folding side) on one flight so I now remove them both.

I also need to post these here so I don't forget about them:

Nov EZY pedal holder: http://cafe.naver.com/novdesign/27

Minivelo EZY pedal holder: http://www.ssung2shop.com/shop/goods/goods_view.php?&goodsno=186788525&category=019005003

Both discovered on this page of awesome Brompton goodies: http://www.bromptonforum.net/t4921-54620443975064049436-4463651677-510604829253944-coree-et-brompton

Has anyone tried to order these?