Curiously, nobody has made any disparaging remarks about the Brompton while I've been out and about, even though my incoming insult radar was tuned to a hypersensitive level. It is a non eye catching plain white though. One or two comments while riding the 20" folder but realistically, that does look a bit ungainly. I thought the Brompton looked a little strange when I first had it but I must have got used to it. It's only when I ride past a shop window and see my reflection or see my shadow on the road that i'm even aware of it. It rides OK and you can't see it while you're riding it.
Short or tall, it is what it is, one frame size fits just about everyone even if you need a different size seat post to fine tune it. Like many things in life, how it feels is what matters, not what it looks like to others.
In fact, if a conventional bicycle can be considered a "type object", easily recognisable in any culture in any part of the world, a Brompton, by its very existence in an instantly recognisable form for forty years is heading for the same status. A rider of such a bike therefore is not such an unusual sight in many parts of the world. It might be different, but rather than be self conscious, celebrate the difference!
in my eyes as this way their function is very limited at best (at least regarding my arms and hands)
I do usally mount the grips that they are more or less in line with my arms when riding the bike so that arms, hands and grips are almost a straight line. The concrete angle thus depends from the difference between saddle height and bar height on any given bike plus the reach - the lower the bar the steeper the angle.
