Looking to join The Fold

[HaloJ]

Hey! Been a little while!

Due to an upcoming office move I'm looking to get a myself a Brompton mainly for the compactness as I'll be travelling on London's hell trains. I think I'm pretty settled on a mudguarded C-Line 12 speed but wanted to ask about the rack. No rack the bike seems to fold onto it's jockey wheel pair and what looks like a protrusion on the actually mudguard which gives me concern as that seems like quite a lot of weight to be resting on such a flimsy component. How strong is the base mudguard and should I be adding the rack kit to my budget? There will be times that I'll need to wheel the bike folded whilst transitioning from train to street as I'm not sure I'm strong enough to lug 12K about without a little assistance.

Abs

 

[fossyant]

I don't see many folk at work wheeling a brompton - most carry them. Although the rack with the wheels looks better

https://www.google.com/search?q=whe...ate=ive&vld=cid:5ed7e544,vid:TbqZQb6PA-Y,st:0

 

[HaloJ]

I don't see many folk at work wheeling a brompton - most carry them. Although the rack with the wheels looks better

https://www.google.com/search?q=whe...ate=ive&vld=cid:5ed7e544,vid:TbqZQb6PA-Y,st:0

Thanks Fossyant, I'd not seen that wheeling video. I also found a thread from Wafter debating the same thoughts I had regards durability of the guard ( https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/brompton-racks-help-me-make-up-my-mind.292844 ) before their Brommie purchase. Interesting to see most advocating to just unfold and roll rather than specifically using the jockey wheels, something I'd not considered.

 

[Drago]

Thanks Fossyant

We call him 'Gramps.'

 

[fossyant]

We call him 'Gramps.'

You are older than me, just.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I don't use my Brompton much these days, but back when I had a commute that needed it ...

I had a rack with EZ wheels. I used to wheel it while folded a lot around stations. It's a real boon. I reserved carrying it for stairs only.

I can't answer your question though. I always thought, like you, that the other arrangements for the little wheels looked a bit flimsy compared to the rack-based wheels. But I have no experience of them.

As to the rack itself, I tended not to use it much for two reasons. One was that, with my big feet, I got heel-strike if I carried anything wider than the rack. The second was that you can't flip the rear wheel under and stand the bike on its own if you have anything there.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Maybe I can't help as i don't commute with my B. I don't have a rack and I agree the wheel on the mudguard doesn't seem a good option for wheeling - I add that I don't wheel my B part-folded. For the small added weight of a rack (although maybe not small price), I'd be fitting a rack if I intended to wheel the bike part (or indeed fully) folded.

 

[Gunk]

Personally not a fan of the rack, IMO they look much cleaner without it. The luggage block on the front is all you need for commuting.

C Line 12 speed is a good choice, however if you live on the flat consider a 4 speed, the three speed hub adds a lot of weight to an already pretty heavy bike.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Is the 4 speed only available as P-Line, or has it now been made available in C-Line?

 

[Gunk]

Is the 4 speed only available as P-Line, or has it now been made available in C-Line?

It’s P Line only

 

[HaloJ]

Since I posted this, each Brompton I've seen being pushed about on a platform or between train and stairs has either been unfolded for rolling or carried so I think I'll put the rack allocation towards a nice front bag instead.

Thanks all, now just to get over the nervousness of making such a large purchase whilst I'm not entirely convinced I'm safe from the redundancy pool.

Also, spoke to the Brompton reps, apparently there is a colour refresh coming in October so I might wait and see if they drop a C-Line 12 in red if not it'll be namesake yellow.

Abs

 

[Gunk]

Since I posted this, each Brompton I've seen being pushed about on a platform or between train and stairs has either been unfolded for rolling or carried so I think I'll put the rack allocation towards a nice front bag instead.

Thanks all, now just to get over the nervousness of making such a large purchase whilst I'm not entirely convinced I'm safe from the redundancy pool.

Also, spoke to the Brompton reps, apparently there is a colour refresh coming in October so I might wait and see if they drop a C-Line 12 in red if not it'll be namesake yellow.

Abs

They might also launch a 4 speed C line which would be a great addition to their range

 

[T4tomo]

Since I posted this, each Brompton I've seen being pushed about on a platform or between train and stairs has either been unfolded for rolling or carried so I think I'll put the rack allocation towards a nice front bag instead.

Thanks all, now just to get over the nervousness of making such a large purchase whilst I'm not entirely convinced I'm safe from the redundancy pool.

Also, spoke to the Brompton reps, apparently there is a colour refresh coming in October so I might wait and see if they drop a C-Line 12 in red if not it'll be namesake yellow.

Abs

Yes sensible choice. The front bag is a better solution than a rack and the rack is just extra weight you don't need. I've only had to replace my flimsy mudguard with its protruding wheel once in 20 years.....

and yes either unfold and push, or carry if up some steps / onto LondonNorthwestern rolling stock.

 

[Dogtrousers]

+1 for carrying luggage on front block. My rack is only there to provide the little wheels for folded rolling, (something I used to do a lot of but it seems most others are stronger than me and don't mind carrying the thing). It's a bit pants as a rack.

 

[Fastpedaller]

They might also launch a 4 speed C line which would be a great addition to their range

A 4 speed C line would be ideal - fit a front derailleur and the bike has gear range and is lightweight!