Brompton owners

hang on are you girliefying the gearing? hmmm

I ride about on 48x19/68" at the moment (48x17/71" on the new steamroller) so am just matching it to roughly that.

I just have my courier bag like normal, but with brompton repair stuff in

I ride about on 48x19/68" at the moment (48x17/71" on the new steamroller) so am just matching it to roughly that.

which gear are you matching, the middle one?

you should have a go on mine and try out the increased gearing and see how it feels?

I was thinking of going for 42.1"/56.2"/74.7" and then ride in 74.7" most of the time.

but the options are:-

std - 47.9/63.8/84.9
-12% - 42.1/56.2/74.7
-18% - 39.1/52.2/69.4
+8% - 51.7/69.0/91.7

I guess I could gear up (+8% instead) and use the middle gear (69.0") around town, leaving the lower gear (51.7") for emma to use on hills/pulling away at lights and the higher gear (91.7") for me to make the jamaica road roadies cry when I've got fresh legs

I was thinking of going for 42.1"/56.2"/74.7" and then ride in 74.7" most of the time.

but the options are:-

std - 47.9/63.8/84.9
-12% - 42.1/56.2/74.7
-18% - 39.1/52.2/69.4
+8% - 51.7/69.0/91.7

I guess I could gear up (+8% instead) and use the middle gear (69.0") around town, leaving the lower gear (51.7") for emma to use on hills/pulling away at lights and the higher gear (91.7") for me to make the jamaica road roadies cry when I've got fresh legs

I would recomend your standard gear to be the middle... this way as you say you can step it up or get up some of the more cheeky hills.

automattically putting yourself in the top gear seems a bit counter intuitive to me

I think it's just cos I'm happy to ride around in that gearing and if i want to go faster I just spin up instead.

I think it's just cos I'm happy to ride around in that gearing and if i want to go faster I just spin up instead.

does make sense for your main gearing to be the middle though or is that just my way of thinking?

I was going to ask about that. Since no one has mentioned luggage on this thread.

I don't want to buy a Brompton specific bag. I was after a pannier or bag which I can strap to the carrier frame using pannier clips/hooks. I have seen a hack somewhere that adapts the carrier frame to do this, which I can't find now, typical.

At the moment I'm getting by with my little messenger bag, since I'm not carrying a lock around. But what are other people doing luggage wise?

I've got a Carradice City folder, which I love, they are only apparently supposed to be suitable for the M type bars, but I've been using mine on an S type for over a year and its fine - only time I've had a bit of an issue is if the bag is absolutely rammed, then the steering gets a little stiff :-)

You can strap anything to the front tho, before I got the city folder - I had a carradic saddle bag strapped to the front, that worked really well, but not great to carry off the bike. Brompton baggage generally annoys me, there's not enough thats decent.
What I actually want is something like the city folder, but usable as a rucksack when its off the bike, a shoulder strap is a pain in the arse on the tube, when you really want your hands free to carry the bike as well and the bag out of the way. I' m currently trying to think of a way to convert my existing city folder, maybe with some army webbing to make back straps..
I wish Black Rainbow Project made Brompton bags...

Oh also, has anyone got a 24mm socket I could borrow, to remove the folding pedal - my socket set runs to the size below :-(

yeah I've got one.. drop me a pm

I want a brompton now.

Finally have my ride to work voucher in hand (but not a utility bill to prove my address so might not be able to redeem it til friday. fml)

thing is I'm starting to wonder if it's really worth £100 for the raw finish. it looks lovely but I'm also happy with plain black bikes too.

what do people think i should do?

Don't get the same colour as me... mines special, not yours

Is it worth it? Probably not.

Will you regret it if you don't? Once you get bored of black, probably.

What would you spend the £100 on otherwise?

My conclusion... ditch all the extras and go Titanium ;o)

The raw ones look so much lovelier, ciq.

meh aesthetics are overrated if I get bored of black I'll get it powdercoated for less than £100.

I went for black frame and different colour extremeties, if you pick the right colours it wont cost you anymore, and I'm pretty pleased with my turkish green/black combo

I've seen a chap with black frame, hot pink extremeties that looked pretty awesome as well.
Dont be afraid to rock the pink!

#dontcopyme

meh aesthetics are overrated if I get bored of black I'll get it powdercoated for less than £100.

check with armourtex how much for strip and clear lacquer, probably less than £100 but more hassle

Well that's £1000 gone in roughly 2.5 hours.

Brompton

1. Model Type - S - £650
   
2. Gearing - 3 speed +8% (51.7",69,0",91.7") - £75
   
3. Mudguards & Rack - L (mudguard only)- £50
   
4. Frame & Colour - Black - £0
   
5. Seat Height - Standard - £0
   
6. Saddle - Unisex - £0
   
7. Tyres - Schwalbe Marathon - £20
   
8. Rear Suspension - Firm - £0
   
9. Lighting - Reflectors Only - £0
   10a. Front Luggage - None - £0
   10b. Rear Luggage - None - £0
   
10. Transport - Easy Wheel (half set) - £18
    
11. Transport - Cover & Saddle Bag - £25
    
    

Accessories
Kryptonite - Evolution Series 4 LS Lock - £32.96
Kryptonite - M18 Lock - £59.76
Fibre Flare - Single Rear Light - £20.99
Endura - Humvee Shorts - £45.5
Specialized - Inner tube - £2.79 (Discounted to make up the even £1000)

While talking about expected delivery timescales the guy at Evans told me that Raw and titanium finish bikes are so heavily delayed right new orders are being touted for jan delivery(!) so am even more comfortable with ordering the black one now.

Picking up a 2007 M6R tonight which seems like a decent deal at £450. It's in superb condition. Personally I'd have specced less gears but beggars can't be choosers.

I'm popping over to Greece for a month or so and plan to take it with me to pootle around Athens on. Any tips for getting one on a plane appreciated (I read the link posted above and really just want to take it as extra luggage.

I was going to ask about that. Since no one has mentioned luggage on this thread.

I don't want to buy a Brompton specific bag. I was after a pannier or bag which I can strap to the carrier frame using pannier clips/hooks. I have seen a hack somewhere that adapts the carrier frame to do this, which I can't find now, typical.

At the moment I'm getting by with my little messenger bag, since I'm not carrying a lock around. But what are other people doing luggage wise?

It depends what you need it for. I got the touring bag for my dad as it was the biggest. From the few times I used it for shopping it worked really well. However on his replacement model there is a rear rack which seems pretty sturdy so you could probably put pretty much anything on that.

Also can someone explain to me why all bromptons have those plastic derailiers?

Also is there any difference between the newer frames and the older frames?

(sorry for all the questions)

The really old frames are shorter wheelbase and don't have deralleur braze-ons on the rear triangle.

Thanks.

also they might not have the clip to secure the rear triangle in place which can get exciting if you're dropping down off something