bikegang
Mod before ride, my bike my style...
- Location
- Newcastle, England
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Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
I'll have you know I'm not a country bumpkin! I go into London quite often, so do see a fair number of Bromptons, but also a number of Dahons and others, probably a 2.5 to 1 ratio. As there's not a lot of difference between the fold, weight and size (although there are some which are lighter than Bromptons), the herd instinct comes to mind, and the development of this Brooks 150 limited edition is indicative of the "designer" element.
Of course Brompton would be even busier if they brought out a modern, lighter model. As I said, 12kg for a standard model is not a good way to encourage new customers. @velovoice ditched the 8 speed as it was just too heavy.
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
That's pretty awesome. First time I've seen paired-spoke wheels in 16".How do you like this one then? The whole bike with rack and fenders still under 8Kg (Stock fork and rear triangle).
But the owner think front part too flexible during ride, he (~70kg) would prefer to have thicker heavier but stronger stem and frame.
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Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
Not so sure how long they'd last on some of London's roads..............
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Not that old chestnut! They're tough. And even tougher in smaller diameters.
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
So why aren't all wheels built that way?...............
windmiller
Guest
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
Beige was considered stylish in the 70's but you got the full monty not just the extremities. Does anyone know the price? Hope it's not, "well if you have to ask".
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Well, for a start, Rolf Prima hold a load of patents on them, for another people think they're fragile.....
CharlieB
Junior Walker and the Allstars
- Location
- Therivermeadowatthepileofstones
CharlieB
Junior Walker and the Allstars
- Location
- Therivermeadowatthepileofstones
Are you saying I should up it to 67%, as above, then, @User ?
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
I bought mine largely on the strength of a test ride - I was attracted by the compact fold (in 2009, nothing else was even close) but had decided to compromise a little and get a Mezzo. But the B rode so nicely that I changed my mind again - the backwards compatibility (and reasonably cheap parts) is a big plus for me too, as I can't see buying another being in my immediate future.
I have no illusions about my fashionability on one - colleagues, and even my own daughter see me with it and say "Oh, on the clown bike again then?"
Kell
Veteran
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
I must admit, there aren't many people (I've met) that don't own a Brompton that then see one and don't think it's pretty neat.
The only people that tend to put them down tend to be those that have bought another bike and put down Bromptons as a way of justifying their own purchase.
I owned three folding bikes before getting a Brompton so it's not like I wanted one above all else. In fact, the first three I chose were deliberately done just because they weren't Bromptons. I genuinely don't care what other people ride, though I am interested in their reasons for choosing their bike, but to make a blanket statement about all Brompton owners is insulting at best.
And I'd hardly say any small-wheeled folder is a fashion icon. They are all, to a point, function over form.
The only people that tend to put them down tend to be those that have bought another bike and put down Bromptons as a way of justifying their own purchase.
I owned three folding bikes before getting a Brompton so it's not like I wanted one above all else. In fact, the first three I chose were deliberately done just because they weren't Bromptons. I genuinely don't care what other people ride, though I am interested in their reasons for choosing their bike, but to make a blanket statement about all Brompton owners is insulting at best.
And I'd hardly say any small-wheeled folder is a fashion icon. They are all, to a point, function over form.
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
Fair comment, and they're brilliant at what they do, and I do genuinely like Bromptons. A Brompton was the last bike I put away in my garage last night and I lovingly locked it up alongside all the other varied bikes in there, so I'm not size-ist!
They could be much better though. However increasingly they are marketing a concept as they know they're in a dead-end. So recently there's the Black edition, now this Brooks model. As I keep on saying, 12kg for steel gas pipe construction is not giving consumers a good deal. Their web site boasts that they are at the cutting edge of bicycle innovation. And yet the product is almost identical to 25 years ago. How is that cutting edge?
There's the Hummingbird - 6.5kg or Helix 9.5 kg coming along - they're cutting edge.
They could be much better though. However increasingly they are marketing a concept as they know they're in a dead-end. So recently there's the Black edition, now this Brooks model. As I keep on saying, 12kg for steel gas pipe construction is not giving consumers a good deal. Their web site boasts that they are at the cutting edge of bicycle innovation. And yet the product is almost identical to 25 years ago. How is that cutting edge?
There's the Hummingbird - 6.5kg or Helix 9.5 kg coming along - they're cutting edge.
