Brompton 3 speed reduced?

[chap]

Hey all,

I have had enough of the underground weekday commutes - life is for living, and I want to experience more than the 5 minutes of natural daylight I get between transitions from station to office; so I'm getting a folder

Is a Brompton a good idea? I need something accepted by the main train companies, the underground, and the bus. Plus, it needs to deal with London; the man at the lbs (Evans) said 3 speed will do, but after trying Hampstead, I am thinking reduced. I shall be using it throughout the year (including Winter) so need something robust. I move around a lot so it needs to be mobile.

To sum up I need a bike that is:

• Accepted (public transport)
• Portable (can be stowed away in a car or office)
• Robust (Save repair-funds for cars)
• London-friendly (fit for the landscape of Zones 1-3)
• Cheaper than my £1032 annual travel-card (the cheaper the better)

Any advice?

 

[TheDoctor]

A Brommie sounds perfect. Mickle of this parish reckons they're geared a bit high as standard, and I'd tend to agree. There's always a few on Ebay, although you won't save all that much, they do hold thier value. Just don't let it out of your sight - they're very desirable for bike thieves too.

 

[Crankarm]

2nd the above post. I would go for a 6 spd instead of just the 3, well three speeds in 2 different ratios H and L. It will fit perfectly in train luggage racks and in the boot of a car, folded up and laying down (Clio or 205 fine). If you buy off ebay make sure you're not buying a knicked one.

 

[skrx]

If it's instead of using the bus/Underground, why does it need to be folding?

A bike's faster than a bus most of the time, the only times I'd like to take my bike on a bus is if I'm drunk and I've missed the last train -- when this happens I usually cycle home on a completely off-road route, but I'm lucky to have them. If I'm with some other people and we want to go somewhere on a bus it would be useful then too.

Apparently I've found some reasons... a Brompton should be fine (never used one myself though).

Alternatively, bribe someone for a desk next to a window :-)

 

[chap]

Brompton it is...?

If it's instead of using the bus/Underground, why does it need to be folding?

Thanks you everyone for the advice (keep it coming ).

In answer to the above, whilst I am hoping to say 'au revoir' to the travel-card, I will need to take the train out of London often e.g. South West Trains to Southampton, or National Express to York. Plus, I do not envisage completely resigning myself from Tfl's charms, afterall this Chap wouldn't take his Brompton to the Proms

I hope to make use of a PAYG (pay-as-you-go) Oyster card for when I need it, but £20 a month will be my intended budget.

 

[Campfire]

A Brompton would be fine. I've got a 6 speed. I've a 10 year old Birdy that may be looking for a home, only used a couple of times a year at cycling events! Not so small a fold.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i love my brompton, i really do. it does exactly what you want. but be aware, the bespoke options, i believe from posts on here, delivery times are getting up to 4 months. so you need to find a shop that has the standards in stock. make sure you see it before you hand over the cash, some on line shops say in stock, but in reality there not. good luck

 

[srw]

Any advice?

Get a Brompton. It's perfect for the uses you've outlined.

this Chap wouldn't take his Brompton to the Proms

Why not? Back in the day mine used to come to the Wigmore with me regularly.

 

[Alan Whicker]

Why not hire a Brompton for a week from South West Trains at Waterloo and see how you get on?

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_bikescheme.htm

As I understand it (though I could be wrong) the scheme is for everyone, not just SWT season ticket holders.

 

[dellzeqq]

As the forum's resident Brompton hater I'd say that it ticks four out of your five boxes. Cheap it ain't. The additional box is the rack and the luggage - the front handlebar bag being an excellent briefcase that can be taken on and off in a trice.

As for the gearing, I went for the (expensive) 8% higher gear, and use the top two almost to the exclusion of all others unless I've got 10kg of shopping on the back.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I have a three speed Brompton. I found the gearing a bit high, but the LBS owner just changed the rear sprocket for a slightly bigger one and it's fine. I came 25th in last year's World Brompton Championship, averaging a shade under 20mph over eight miles, and I've also managed to climb Streatley Hill, a category 2 hill. They're jolly useful bikes.

 

[The Eighth Man]

I had a 3 speed Brompton and I found the gearing fine, I fitted the flat bars and a tan Brooks saddle it was fantastic, but to nice to use so I sold it!!! I will get another one day, it will be the S6L-X with all the nice titanium bits

 

[Twanger]

I have just bought one, bespoke, and waited five weeks for it. I would have waited longer, but Comptons at Catford have a deal where they keep a regular order going in, two a week, and then change the details on one in the queue for orders. So my waiting time was cut from 12 to 5 weeks.

6 speed. I have been playing with it this week instead of the Sirrus.

In town, in traffic and on the central London flat, I only use the middle two gears ( derailleur with the middle hub gear). At home in the wilds of Crystal Palace, the lower gears are useful, as are the high gears - we have roads you can actually get a bit of speed up on down here.

I have been taking the train and cycling from Victoria this week because I am being lazy. The Brompton (and this is great!) fits perfectly in the gap between the back to back seats on Southern trains. Like a bloomin' glove.

It's nice to cycle a little bit and not get in a sweat and a lather. It's nice to get to the station in 3 minutes rather than 15. It's nice to ride and not have to change anything other than shoes when I get in to work.

The ride is good. I got the regular M type bars after trying Dellseqqs S type (too salty) and the P type touring bars (too sweet) - the Ms are JUST RIGHT.

It's nippy...it will go places that my Sirrus is just too large to fit in.

Brooks saddle (I'm a luxurious SOB). Lovely.

Girls look at it.

But it has down sides.

It does not, and I agree with Dellseqq here, pedal fast round sharp corners and stay upright and underneath you at the same time.

The pedals suck. You can't ride them with hiking boots coz they are too small and your feet fall off the edge. I stuck a toeclipped pedal on the right (the one that doesn't fold) and I feel better. More secure and in control in traffic. You can fit SPDs to them, but I can't see the point - this IS after all the bike I used in normal clothes.

The longest ride I have done on it so far is about 10 miles (the Palace to Bromley Road and back). The ride was pleasant and easy. But I would not use it for touring. More comfortable and larger bikes rae just more fun for that.

Also, 36 quid for a spare folding pedal is an insult. Worth a fiver, if that.

There are lighter folders around, but really, who cares? It's light enough to carry up stairs with ease, and you can wheel it everywhere else.

Yes. Expensive, as D. said. But the cheaper ones (I have had a Dahon) do not satisfy. This is a satisfying bike.

 

[chap]

Thank you good people, I have recently acquired a glorious 3 speed Brompton, and am more than happy with it's whizzy and compact nature. It is a little heavier than I had imagined but it's charms by far outweigh this void flaw and I love it dearly.

Once again, thank you, your help has been indispensable,

Chap

 

[Crankarm]

Well done. Hope yours is a marriage made in heaven. Fit some Spd pedals double sided, grease the inner brake cables, fit mini bar ends eg Titec and get a touring pannier. Happy riding.