Brompton owners

I pretty much see the Brompton as the Supergrass of the cycling world. Everyone's second favourite bike, virtually no-one's first bike.

ftfy

I dont NEED a brompton!

No-one needs a Brompton.

bromptons are the perfect cycle2work bike for this very reason, no one needs one but they're the expanding foam of the bicycle world such that they can basically fill every gap in your transport needs that you can't achieve with a 'proper' bike.

mine lives in the cupboard and rarely sees the light of day but when it does it's because my other cycling options were exhausted and without it i wouldn't be able to ride even part way of my intended journey.

So those pedals I posted on the previous page? The ones where I was the only one lucky enough to actually get them before they went out of stock?

Yeah Royal Mail fucking lost them.

I bet a postie knew what was in the package and intercepted them.

There's a postie with a big smug grin riding around and sometimes wearing Sidis, and sometimes wearing trainers.

Just bumping thread... so that people keep in mind the ride on the 29th. As the date was decided after the list was created, I am unsure whether all in the list can still make it (beside people who have already clarify...)

This is fairly soon now!

L

Reposting the list, if you are 'out' then please update!

Less then two weeks now.

1 - Villa-Ru
2 -
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

I'm considering getting the Brompton insured. The only time it is locked outside is when I pop into Sainsburys or for an hour twice a week when I attended psychotherapy training sessions.

I have the SS insured with ETA, I inquired about adding it on to the existing policy, they offer a 40% discount on folding bikes but its still an additional £60 to get the Brompton added to the policy.

I'm already paying £58 for the SS, even with my watertight logical argument that I'll only be riding one bike at a time, they can't offer a better deal.

Is there an admiral multi-car equivalent for bikes?

I've got all my bikes insured under M&S house insurance, they basically don't care how many bikes there are and dont want to know the details as long as a single bike is not worth more than 4k. Haven't had to claim yet, but have heard good things from others who have on here.

On another note, I need some gearing advice.
I keep spinning out on the flats on my S2l and it's annoying me. I'm on standard gearing (whatever that is).
I'd like to keep the spinny gear the same, but ramp up the 2nd gear to give a bit more oompf on the flats, but not sure what to change to and whether it'll affect the chain line etc.

Best. But not cheapest solution would be to upgrade to a 3+ speed rear hub. You cant change the range you have. You can only move it up and down by swapping sprocket, or chainring.

Sorry that's what I meant, I was planning on swapping one of the sprockets, just not sure what to go for.

Have thought about upgrading to a 6 speed BWR and to hell with it, but want to try the cheaper option first.

What about going all out and getting an 8 speed Sturmey Archer hub fitted?

http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/folding-bikes/brompton/brompton-8-speed-kit/

I'm not really serious, that's a mad expensive option!

I think you should try stepping down a tooth on the back. Cheapest option by far and easily reversible.

here's the standard gearing options if it helps you decide...

http://support.brompton.co.uk/entries/22354981-gear-ranges-and-ratios

Those MKS EZY Urban pedals?

Fucking sweet.

Soooo smoooooooth. And the perfect profile for a pair of Asics trainers on the flat side, and perfect for Atac cleats on the clipless side.

Flip backwards for flats, forwards for cleats.

Did I say how smooth they are? They really change how the Brompton feels. If you're still on the stock pedals then I highly recommend getting off them (especially when I felt the crunchy motion that their bearings produce).

And yes... HubJub sorted these out, and the service was great as always.

Are we already saying that Drew from HubJub is a God?

Whaaat, you got some? Mine were "lost in the post" and Drew from hubjub completely ignored all my emails (for two weeks). I had to chase and chase. Yesterday I managed to get through to them on the phone and was offered nothing but a refund and not even a sincere apology. I will never be ordering from hubjub ever again.

I planned to simply forget about the pedals and keep the stock ones but after reading your post I realise I need them :) Now I must resort to ordering from somewhere else and paying full £80-90 RRP.

Damn!

here's the standard gearing options if it helps you decide...

http://support.brompton.co.uk/entries/22354981-gear-ranges-and-ratios

Thanks man, that's really useful! Looking at it the 3 speed +8% looks like my perfect set of ratios - so I may look at going down that road.

Sorry that's what I meant, I was planning on swapping one of the sprockets, just not sure what to go for.

Have thought about upgrading to a 6 speed BWR and to hell with it, but want to try the cheaper option first.

You can add an extra sprocket on the back wheel, fiddle with the gear adjuster, and get a third gear onto the 2 speed without having to upgrade the hub. Cost will be next to nothing, unless you damage the tensioner and assorted pieces in the meantime. I have a PDF file that describes the process if you PM me your email.

Here is a question. Which of the MKS Ezy 'Superior' pedals would fit pedal straps? Anyone with experience?

The Espirit pedals will take diagonal restraps (I have some)
full straps I'm not sure about, there are holes at the end but it would be a tight squeeze

oh and that extra sprocket thing sounds interesting, PM coming.

Thanks man, that's really useful! Looking at it the 3 speed +8% looks like my perfect set of ratios - so I may look at going down that road.

that's what I have. i find the 69gi on the middle to be ok but a bit wearing on the legs over 11mi commuting (compared to 69 on my surly) the low end is spinny so i only use it when i'm knackered and want to pootle on the uphills and the top end is good for casually destroying/baiting cat6 roadies on the downhills.

i've toyed with the idea of switching to 2 speed as i'd prefer to drop the weight of the hub but haven't fully made my mind up about it but if you don't rush out to replace yours there's a remote possibility for some kind of swapsies down the line perhaps.

that's what I have. i find the 69gi on the middle to be ok but a bit wearing on the legs over 11mi commuting (compared to 69 on my surly) the low end is spinny so i only use it when i'm knackered and want to pootle on the uphills and the top end is good for casually destroying/baiting cat6 roadies on the downhills.

i've toyed with the idea of switching to 2 speed as i'd prefer to drop the weight of the hub but haven't fully made my mind up about it but if you don't rush out to replace yours there's a remote possibility for some kind of swapsies down the line perhaps.

+1. This is what I have and find myself with almost the exact same opinion.

The Brompton ride is in only few days so it's about time that we firm-up things a little bit.

So we had a little meeting with John Von Dropout, and here's the plan:

• Meeting on Sunday on Trafalgar Square at 10 am, sharp(ish), for a start at 10h15
  
• We then ride thru beautiful central London, including Brompton Oratory and other nice bits of town
  
• We will then arrive at a secret underground station and will take the tube with our folding bikes (like a boss), heading west to a secret destination.
  
• The ride back will include going thru Kew riverside, Richmond Park as originaly suggested by Villa Ru (and show them roadies what we are capable of), Putney heath, Wandsworth Riverside.
  
• Arrival at Clapham Junction for a late breakfast (round 3pm) at Jacks at the Junction.
  The ride will allow for one or several Pub and Tea stops, depending on how everybody feel about it on the day and the forecast also.
  
  

I've copied the list of rider below, please add / remove names as necessary so we have a good idea of numbers by thursday (I need to call the caf to let them know)

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

still in.

out, only just saw this! oops :S