32 miles on a Brompton, no issues… what is your farthest distance…?

[stoatsngroats]

I know many have done many more miles on their Brompton, but today I did my farthest cycle on my Nine Streets.

For anyone who wonders whether these amazing machines can be used for anything other than a short (commute) distance, I have to say, they really are fine.
I had some well worn, tree-route damaged and ‘pock’ marked tarmac (the kind damaged over many years by tree sap) and it went very well.
I climbed about 800 feet over the 32 mile distance (so not fantastically hilly, and completed it in about 3 hours, with photo stops, at an average of 10mph, maxing at 20mph.

I was comfortable the whole way, no saddle issues etc.

best bit was taking it into a cafe for brunch, and keeping it by my side, rather than locking it outside in the rain.

 

[palinurus]

I never did any really big miles when I had a Brompton. I would take it to France sometimes on the Eurostar (pre Velib') and ride around Paris- a good way of feeling more at home in any place. Also Ms. P. has some friends who live in Troyes in the Champagne region- so I'd take it out for rides around there, the most I rode was about 50 miles. There's a couple of big lakes to the east of Troyes so I went over there once, I remember a lot of the route being good quality cycleways. I rarely prepared much for these trips- I'd check the weather and just take my wallet.

Sold it after a while. The next owner took it on a trip to New York and- on a separate occasion- rode it to a podium place at the Brompton Worlds at Blenheim Palace. I rode the most boring cyclocross race ever devised at the same venue on the same day (it was on a completely flat grassy area on a really dry & sunny day)

 

[a.twiddler]

Never had a Brompton, though had a Dahon Vitesse simultaneously for a while with my Viking Safari. Both aluminium framed 20" folders with no suspension and 7 gears, the Dahon with a Shimano Nexus on the back. The Dahon was theoretically a "better" bike -supposedly better made, better finished, originally much more expensive, certainly a better fold but the Viking folded sufficiently well to go in the car with my wife's folder so the issue was not a burning one.

I was quite conflicted as I had to sell one or the other. Eventually I did a back-to-back shootout over the same mixed 25 mile course of urban streets, minor roads and unsurfaced rail trails. This confirmed my suspicions that the Viking actually rode better than the Dahon, even with its nondescript 1.75 tyres and the Dahon temporarily equipped with 50mm Big Apples instead of the 1.5 Marathon Racers it came with. No tingly fingers on the Viking at the end of the shootout, definite numbness and tingling with the Dahon.

Longest trip on the Viking since has been about 35 miles, still running on 1.75 tyres. Since getting into recumbents it's mainly been used if I need to drop the car off somewhere, eg for servicing, so I can cycle home, and for picking it up again. So it's a bike for a purpose now rather than a leisure vehicle.

Brompton riders will no doubt continue to post reports about eye popping mileages with alarming amounts of luggage, and more power to them.

Just because your bike has tiny wheels, and folds, doesn't mean you can't use it for fun.

 

[Gunk]

I sold mine earlier this year as it wasn’t being used, longest trip I ever did was about 10 miles.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

They’ve been used successfully on the big audaxes such as London Edinburgh London. That is around 900 miles in a bit under 5 days. Longest I have been on mine is about 41 miles. I use my other bikes for longer distances.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I've posted this before, but Mrs Tenkaykev and I cycled Bowling Basin in Glasgow to Portobello in Edinburgh on our Bromptons. It was a distance of 70 miles on the day of my 70th Birthday.
I had planned to take part in the " Ride to the Sun " 100 miler this year, but the Covid situation made it a no go. Looks like a brilliant event so fingers crossed for next year🤞

https://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/

 

[Fab Foodie]

Have done just over 100 miles in one go on the Brompton and many 60/70 milers.
It’s not difficult if you can do similar on a regular bike.

 

[oldwheels]

When I rode on 2 wheels I often did about 40 miles on my Brompton just pootling around. I still retain probably doubtful hopes of getting back on 2 wheels as I am now mostly on 3.

 

[oldwheels]

I've posted this before, but Mrs Tenkaykev and I cycled Bowling Basin in Glasgow to Portobello in Edinburgh on our Bromptons. It was a distance of 70 miles on the day of my 70th Birthday.
I had planned to take part in the " Ride to the Sun " 100 miler this year, but the Covid situation made it a no go. Looks like a brilliant event so fingers crossed for next year🤞

https://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/

Bowling basin is not in Glasgow. I lived in Bowling for 10 years until 1972.

 

[cougie uk]

Only shortish 10/20 milers tbh. Longer rides use the other bikes I really must try harder.

 

[Blue Hills]

Pretty sure I've done 80 miles in a day on mine - maybe more.

Have posted before, but a pic here, and I've been up more fearsome climbs than that. It's the 5 speed one.

brommie

• Blue Hills
• 21 Jul 2018

 

[oldwheels]

I've posted this before, but Mrs Tenkaykev and I cycled Bowling Basin in Glasgow to Portobello in Edinburgh on our Bromptons. It was a distance of 70 miles on the day of my 70th Birthday.
I had planned to take part in the " Ride to the Sun " 100 miler this year, but the Covid situation made it a no go. Looks like a brilliant event so fingers crossed for next year🤞

https://www.ridetothesun.co.uk/

About 1970 Bowling Basin

 

[steveindenmark]

My longest day on my 9 streets was 143 miles. I have done several hundred milers. You just need to relax a bit and realise it is not a road bike.

 

[PeteXXX]

Inaugural Brompton ride was Strava'd at 25 miles, around London Town from the Brommie shop in Covent Garden, though 3 or 4 miles of that was a walk from Euston Station.

My S6L in Brompton Square..

 

[TheDoctor]

Longest in a day? About 50 miles. I've done two weekend tours on it, 75 miles round Champagne and about 80 from Carlisle to Newcastle. Also a 250 odd mile weeks tour round Provence. I'm not attaching the Ventoux photo again...