Brompton owners

I have a friend, I do, honest, who would like to buy a folding bike for 3-400 quid.
In that budget, what's good and what's not?
I doubt there's a brompton going on here for that, is there?

there are many 2nd hand Bromptons for that price.

Pacific Cycles are a new folding bike company who I saw at the Gadget Show last month. They were very friendly and had a good range of quality folding bikes. Could be an alternative to Brompton, Dahon etc?

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/folding/product/carry-me-29690/

http://www.folding-bikes.com/

They're not new. They've been contract manufacturing for agessssss. They did some work with the Strida (remember those?). Anyway this is the Brompton thread, shoo!

Hangs head in shame and leaves the thread

and you :)

(you were in a lot of the shots!)

and so was my beer

I am still in two minds about the gears. Apart from commuting I have this crazy plan to do a few trips around Europe over the summer, and I was thinking to do some sections of the trip on the bike. I was about to build up a tourer, but now I'm thinking maybe I can pull off 30-50 miles stretches on the Brompton. So what do you guys reckon 6 gears or 2? I have only tested the 2 speed model so far, need to find a S6L.

I am still in two minds about the gears. Apart from commuting I have this crazy plan to do a few trips around Europe over the summer, and I was thinking to do some sections of the trip on the bike. I was about to build up a tourer, but now I'm thinking maybe I can pull off 30-50 miles stretches on the Brompton. So what do you guys reckon 6 gears or 2? I have only tested the 2 speed model so far, need to find a S6L.

How much stuff would you need to take with you and over what sort of terrain?

Velocio, if I can make a suggestion/comment.

Please do not contact people that work at a place about their place of work unless you've already talked to them in person and they are expecting to hear from you.

This is a personal forum, not everyone appreciates getting work requests on the place where they spend their non-work hours. You would be better off emailing BC.

How much stuff would you need to take with you and over what sort of terrain?

Haven't quite worked out what the terrain is like, I was planning on panniers and the front saddle bag. Was going to carry tools, spares and a couple of changes of clothes and not much else. I'm talking about more off a credit card tour, rather than a fully loaded tour. So no tent and utensils. My ultimate destination is my cousin's house in Koln. Was looking at Eurostar to Lille then using the local trains and cycling between towns to get there. The distance is only about 170 miles, so I could even consider just going to Calais. Aiming for 30-50 miles a day depending on the next stop. Probably not spending more than 1 week on the road. Not fully worked this out yet, still researching.

My original plan was to refit my old Raleigh frame with a groupset and put racks and bags on it. But I keep hearing mixed things about bikes on trains through Europe so was thinking the Brompton just makes it easier.

^ make sure you can attach panniers and still pedal, it's all much closer together and I find my size 9's easily strike stuff on the rack. I adjust foot position to compensate, however this is for short distances and anything longer would be painful 'coz of awkward biomechanics as a result.

I'm not wearing baggies. The rule is stupid.

Have fun anyway :)

so is cycling in a tie...

had a good time last year and the weather can only be better

I don't understand the rationale. Is it performance related? In that case, ban spds & cycling shoes. Is it image related? In that case, ban helmets/gloves and 'technical' baggies. Someone explain…

Surely helmets and gloves are safety gear, not performance gear?

My gloves give me a lot of special sauce with which I go much more quickly. It makes me feel like leaving the city to ride town to town on Interstate 76.

My gloves give me a lot of special sauce...

Keep what you do with your gloves to yourself :-)

I'm going for Artic Blue as the colour for the frame rather than my usual choice for black. What colour have you opted for?

Surely helmets and gloves are safety gear, not performance gear?

That's why they weren't part of the sentence discussing performance-related stuff.

YouTube - Brompton World Championship 2011 Launch Video

Tried out a M6L today at Putney cycles. Tried some of the slopes nearby and it climbs quiet well actually. Still thinking I need the telescopic seat post, the standard still felt a little low.

You can generally squeeze an extra inch or so out of the standard seatpost (depending on how the shop had it set up). Firstly move the pentaclip up to the top of the seapost rather than where it first starts to narrow. Also use it this way up (rails at the top)...

rather than this way up...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13605870

F**k you Barclays.

Excellent!

Ha!

For anyone (like me) who can't decide on a colour scheme, although after all the messing about I think it might be white. http://site.nycewheels.com/Brompton/Interactive/brompton_interactive.html#

I'd strongly recommend a colour on the extremities; Turkish Green if you want a non surcharge one or any colour looks good with a White main frame.

You can make some hideous combinations :-)
Raw lacquer frame with yellow extremities anyone?

I have a friend, I do, honest, who would like to buy a folding bike for 3-400 quid.
In that budget, what's good and what's not?
I doubt there's a brompton going on here for that, is there?

there are many 2nd hand Bromptons for that price.

There's one in the classifieds in this weeks Cycling Weekly. £370 in Humberside