Brompton Spec

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:45:26 +0100, Tom Crispin
wrote:

One substantial difference between my Brompton and yours is that mine
is a steel frame, and yours is, I suspect, aluminium. But I would
have thought that steel would be more rigid, but perhaps the thinner
tubing makes for a more flexible frame.

No, all Broms are steel, mine has the Ti/Al extendable seatpost that's
about half a pound lighter than the steel post but I have the Brooks
saddle, rack, hub dynamo and lights - and anyway by the time I've
piled on the pannier with the laptop it's certainly no featherweight.

Another substantial difference is body weight. I expect I am at least
20% heavier than you.

Ah, possibly. I am just over 6ft tall and weigh about 13st. But I am
quite powerful in the leg department. I used to have to keep the rear
suspension bushes well maintained or the tail tended to wag (I have
now used thread lock on the screws, which appears to be a permanent
fix for that problem)..

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/urc | http://www.nohelmetlaw.org.uk/
"Nullius in Verba" - take no man's word for it.
- attr. Horace, chosen by John Evelyn for the Royal Society

On Fri, 7 Aug 2009 22:00:51 +0100, "Clive George"
wrote:

"Tom Crispin" wrote in message
.. .

One substantial difference between my Brompton and yours is that mine
is a steel frame, and yours is, I suspect, aluminium.

Do Brompton do Al frames? (checks) They do nothing but steel for the main
frame. Ti forms and rear triangle are optional, but wouldn't be the
substantial difference you're thinking of.

OK - my mistake.

For some reason I thought they changed from aluminium (or cro-mo) to
steel with the 2008/2009 model change.

I must be very confused... a senior moment. The main 2008/2009 model
change was from gloss paint to matt paint.

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:17:37 +0100, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:45:26 +0100, Tom Crispin
wrote:

One substantial difference between my Brompton and yours is that mine
is a steel frame, and yours is, I suspect, aluminium. But I would
have thought that steel would be more rigid, but perhaps the thinner
tubing makes for a more flexible frame.

No, all Broms are steel, mine has the Ti/Al extendable seatpost that's
about half a pound lighter than the steel post but I have the Brooks
saddle, rack, hub dynamo and lights - and anyway by the time I've
piled on the pannier with the laptop it's certainly no featherweight.

Another substantial difference is body weight. I expect I am at least
20% heavier than you.

Ah, possibly. I am just over 6ft tall and weigh about 13st. But I am
quite powerful in the leg department. I used to have to keep the rear
suspension bushes well maintained or the tail tended to wag (I have
now used thread lock on the screws, which appears to be a permanent
fix for that problem)..

One thing that makes me think that may not be the reason is that a
friend of mine - and very keen cyclist - says exactly the same as me
about the feeling of instability when riding a Brompton. He's
probably about 12/13st.

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:23:45 +0100, Tom Crispin
wrote:

Another substantial difference is body weight. I expect I am at least
20% heavier than you.

Ah, possibly. I am just over 6ft tall and weigh about 13st. But I am
quite powerful in the leg department. I used to have to keep the rear
suspension bushes well maintained or the tail tended to wag (I have
now used thread lock on the screws, which appears to be a permanent
fix for that problem)..

One thing that makes me think that may not be the reason is that a
friend of mine - and very keen cyclist - says exactly the same as me
about the feeling of instability when riding a Brompton. He's
probably about 12/13st.

I guess it's subjective.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/urc | http://www.nohelmetlaw.org.uk/
"Nullius in Verba" - take no man's word for it.
- attr. Horace, chosen by John Evelyn for the Royal Society

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:23:45 +0100
Tom Crispin wrote:

One thing that makes me think that may not be the reason is that a
friend of mine - and very keen cyclist - says exactly the same as me
about the feeling of instability when riding a Brompton. He's
probably about 12/13st.

ISTM that if one rider finds a bike bendy and another does not then
they might just have a tendency to push bigger gears. ISTR Guy has
reduced gearing on his.

Rob Morley wrote:
On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:23:45 +0100
Tom Crispin wrote:

One thing that makes me think that may not be the reason is that a
friend of mine - and very keen cyclist - says exactly the same as me
about the feeling of instability when riding a Brompton. He's
probably about 12/13st.

ISTM that if one rider finds a bike bendy and another does not then
they might just have a tendency to push bigger gears. ISTR Guy has
reduced gearing on his.


Also maybe degree of tolerance. I used to find mine bendy but no longer
worry.

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Marc wrote:

I think the spec i want is

M series

I ride an M, mainly because it was the only one when I bought. I
would get another as I don't really like a crouching position (like
the S) and I don't want superfluous stuff on what amounts to my
hack-bike. But if I were doing longer distances routinely I'd
investigate the Ps

Black/ Yellow

An excellent choice! (though I'm toying with all yellow, or orange,
or apple green or pink as replacements come the day, but probably
yellow and black again)

Brookes Saddle

Again, an excellent choice. Though you can probably save money by
just buying a B17 and a clamp and putting that on.

3 speed hub

That's what I have. I've tried the 6 and am not a great fan (you
effectively get half-gears alongside the main 3 and have to change
with two shifters one for the hub and one for the "halves" on the
derailleur, and the derailleur can't shift stood still, bit of a
faff if you ask me), but again it depends on the riding you'll be
doing. For my use I'm happy enough to let the gears dictate the
speed to some extent. If you do get 3 I'd consider the gear
reduction. Dundee has Real Hills (TM) and I have the -18%. I
prefer higher cadences and would get the -12% anywhere outside of
very flat, finding the default gearing a bit high for my personal
liking.

I'm thinking of replacing mine (it's been going a few years now)
come the next window in the Cycle To Work scheme and am pondering
the 8 speed one Kinetics are doing, putting an 8 speed Sturmey hub
in with no other radical surgery bar a new chainwheel. That gives
a nice linear run through the gears with one shifter. Weighs a bit
more than Brompton's solution, but to my mind it's cleaner.

Brom now do the new wide range, but the standard 3 is a pretty wide
range and I suspect I'd find the jumps infuriatingly large, though
I've not tried it in the flesh to be sure.

Sorn Dynamo

I've got a SON in mine, they're wondrous things.

Carrier and mudguards

Mine has 'guards, I've not ever had the carrier, or really missed
it. It's too low for panniers and if you put much on it you'll
have to take it off before the parking fold. One advantage is
stunt-parking is less likley to destroy a mudguard, but that's not
really enough reason to cart around the extra weight all the time IMHO.
What I unhesitatantly reccommend is the luggage block for the front
and one of the various bags. They attach and detach easily and
being mounted on the frame don't affect the steering until you've
put Far Too Much in the bag. You can use the parking fold without
having to take the bag off.

Wheelies

Look nice, but in terms of functionality seem a bit of a bof to
me. Not tried them so ICBW.

Standard tyres

A pal describes them as "a bit skittery in the wet" but he seems
otherwise happy with them, though he also sports inner tubes
comprised primarily of patches AFAICT... I use Marathons which
various correspondents tell me are dogs, but they don't seem to
slow me down too much and they last well and resist punctures
excellently (well enough I've never considered the Plus version).
Reports have putting them on as absolute battles, but the last
couple I've put on have gone on with just thumbs

Enjoy, whatever, great machines.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/