Do you lock your Brompton on public transport...

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Changing the subject slightly, do all the Brompton owners on here fold their bikes before they board a train? I only ask because I see a lot of people simply parking them which then causes issues for anyone with a full size bike who might also want to get on in the same carriage.

Personally I always fold, and if there's space to unfold once we're moving I will, but that's the advantage of only going one stop down the line. I think if you can take up less space you should, but not everyone thinks that way it seems.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Changing the subject slightly, do all the Brompton owners on here fold their bikes before they board a train? I only ask because I see a lot of people simply parking them which then causes issues for anyone with a full size bike who might also want to get on in the same carriage.

Personally I always fold, and if there's space to unfold once we're moving I will, but that's the advantage of only going one stop down the line. I think if you can take up less space you should, but not everyone thinks that way it seems.

It depends on the arrangement really. When I do the long-distance train thing I often have the bike, a backpack, a front bag and a rear bag. Getting that on the train is much easier if you do it in one and then fold on board (note that with a B you don't need to board at the same door as the full size bikes).

I were doing the commuter rush, however, there wouldn't be as much luggage and there'd also be much less space to fold on board, so I'd fold before hand.

While I'm on the train I do almost always have her folded (I think there have been occasions where she hasn't been but can't remember any offhand). Again, largely dependent on the train layout and the number of people onboard.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Changing the subject slightly, do all the Brompton owners on here fold their bikes before they board a train? I only ask because I see a lot of people simply parking them which then causes issues for anyone with a full size bike who might also want to get on in the same carriage.

Personally I always fold, and if there's space to unfold once we're moving I will, but that's the advantage of only going one stop down the line. I think if you can take up less space you should, but not everyone thinks that way it seems.

With the proviso that my current Brompton has made three journeys by train, all yesterday on the day I collected it, I can say yes all the time.

Drives me to the point of mild irritation when I get on a SWT service and find an unfolded folder in the scarce bike space.

 

[BentMikey]

That seems a bit OTT surely? Just lean your bike up against theirs, there's enough room for two in most cases. If there really isn't room, then a nice request usually gets the other bike folded.

 

[Arch]

That seems a bit OTT surely? Just lean your bike up against theirs, there's enough room for two in most cases. If there really isn't room, then a nice request usually gets the other bike folded.

That's got to be the first time 'mild irritation' has been described as OTT....

And I always fold mine before getting on. I'm usually well early for my train, so it's something to do, and often slightly impresses onlookers.....

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

With the proviso that my current Brompton has made three journeys by train, all yesterday on the day I collected it, I can say yes all the time.

Drives me to the point of mild irritation when I get on a SWT service and find an unfolded folder in the scarce bike space.

I depends

If the bike spaces are empty I leave it unfolded
If the spaces are full of passengers who are too lazy to walk into the carriage to find a seat I leave it unfolded and say "excuse me"
If the spaces have another bike I fold it.
If the carriage is rammed full I fold it.
If its a HS125 I fold it.

 

[BentMikey]

That's got to be the first time 'mild irritation' has been described as OTT....

And I always fold mine before getting on. I'm usually well early for my train, so it's something to do, and often slightly impresses onlookers.....

LOL, I read it as "drives me to some mild irritation" expressed on the outside, but a bit of a volcano on the inside. Maybe he could even fold it for the other rider if he's that bothered about it.

 

[StuartG]

I always fold on long distance and leave (locked) in the luggage bays.
On local crowded trains I fold and hold.
On local uncrowded trains I do not fold.
I would always fold to give bike space to an unfolder.

Something I do, never really thought about it before. Would anyone here do different?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

LOL, I read it as "drives me to some mild irritation" expressed on the outside, but a bit of a volcano on the inside. Maybe he could even fold it for the other rider if he's that bothered about it.

There is an inner volcano but that sort of thing doesn't cause it to erupt.

Touch, let alone fold, another cyclists bike? Not on your life; I don't have a death wish.

EDIT: Actually I do remember someone folding mine once on Southern back in the slam door, bikes in the guards van, days. That caused the magma to rise.

 

[BentMikey]

Yes, perhaps you're right, Greg!

 

[Bromptonaut]

Depends where I'm boarding, what the weather's doing and how much time there is to spare. If I'm running late and it's pi**ing down then jump on with it unfolded, over to the 'dead' side of the vestibule and fold. Similarly if I know which side the platfom will be on I'll unfold and drop the C bag on before the train stops.

Never leave it unfolded though.

 

[fimm]

Changing the subject slightly, do all the Brompton owners on here fold their bikes before they board a train? I only ask because I see a lot of people simply parking them which then causes issues for anyone with a full size bike who might also want to get on in the same carriage.

Personally I always fold, and if there's space to unfold once we're moving I will, but that's the advantage of only going one stop down the line. I think if you can take up less space you should, but not everyone thinks that way it seems.

I always fold mine, because the old rolling stock on our route didn't have a lot of bike space and the whole point of having a folder was not to be dependant on getting a bike space; and the new rolling stock doesn't have any official bike spaces at all, which means you can put your bike in the vestibule, but the B is much more stable folded than unfolded so I fold it. If there's space near the doors I'll unfold it as we approach the station where I'm going to get off. This is all commuting - I've never taken it on a long distance train - I'd always take one of my big bikes.

 

[Mad at urage]

[QUOTE 1590844"]
Sheesh, if you could just all stop pretending that there aren't alternative, and sometimes superior, folders available to Brompton, some of us others might be able to answer.


I've done both with my folder. If it's a busy train then I'll fold it. If it's quiet, then I won't necessarily.

You could always leave it unfolded and then fold it up if others got on with bikes and it started getting full.
[/quote]
It's obviously because the clearly superior owners of clearly superior Mezzos will always fold, as it is so much easier to unfold the bike back to the same setup than on the clearly inferior Brompton

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It's obviously because the clearly superior owners of clearly superior Mezzos will always fold, as it is so much easier to unfold the bike back to the same setup than on the clearly inferior Brompton

The only variable on a Brompton is the seat post height. Not a variable for me at 6' 2"! Fully extended please.

 

[Mad at urage]

The only variable on a Brompton is the seat post height. Not a variable for me at 6' 2"! Fully extended please.

Yeah, I know - Mezzo have this scale on the seat-post (and at 6'6" I have it fully extended too ).

Oh and our QR clips are better than those friction things and the reach is extended for more comfortable ride (at least for us tall people ).

Mezzo is de BESTEST!!