Old Brompton rehab
I bought an old Brompton off ebay. It is frame # 1046, 5 speed Strumey Archer Sprinter so I think it is early 2000s. Paid too much. It functioned properly except the shifter needed a little adjust and the headset was loose.
I needed a bike that folded small to fit in an airplane. I have a Montague Paratrooper than I have upgraded over the years (hydraulic brakes, air forks, etc) but it wouldn't quite fold small enough to fit in the new airplane (Van's RV-4). I use the bike to get into town from small airports so riding at night or in bad weather is not an issue. Usually under 5 miles.
When I got the bike it had fenders, rack and generator lights, bell, etc.. It was set up for a tall rider, extended seat tube, high bars. One of the easy wheels that attach to the frame had been broken off. It weighed 29.6 lbs according to my calibrated bathroom scale.
I stripped off the fenders, lights, bell, front pack mount and rack. Put on some Easton flat bars I had laying around on. I bought some stuff off ebay, titanium seatpost that didn't use pentaclip, light brake levers (Chinese Litepro), Grabon foam grips. Interestingly the brake and shifter cables worked as is but I went ahead and replaced the brake cables with Jagwire pro along with Jagwire brake shoes/pads. Stock were shot. Replaced the stock Stronglight 48Tcrank and bottom bracket with Chinese hollow crank and BB with 50T chainring. Turns out the BB hadn't seen daylight in many years so that was a good thing.
I don't know anything about Bromptons. It appears the front wheel has been replaced, 28 hole straight laced with a rounded rim profile, allow hub. Rear is more square profile 28 hole laced 1x.
The headset is steel. I have a Chinese allow headset on the way. Got some light foldable tires on the way to replace the Schwalbe Marathons that are very old. The rear doesn't have a latch like modern Bromptons. Is it possible to upgrade to more current suspension block and latch?
Weight is down to 24.8 down from 29.6 lbs. I expect to loose another pound or so by going to lighter tires.
I needed a bike that folded small to fit in an airplane. I have a Montague Paratrooper than I have upgraded over the years (hydraulic brakes, air forks, etc) but it wouldn't quite fold small enough to fit in the new airplane (Van's RV-4). I use the bike to get into town from small airports so riding at night or in bad weather is not an issue. Usually under 5 miles.
When I got the bike it had fenders, rack and generator lights, bell, etc.. It was set up for a tall rider, extended seat tube, high bars. One of the easy wheels that attach to the frame had been broken off. It weighed 29.6 lbs according to my calibrated bathroom scale.
I stripped off the fenders, lights, bell, front pack mount and rack. Put on some Easton flat bars I had laying around on. I bought some stuff off ebay, titanium seatpost that didn't use pentaclip, light brake levers (Chinese Litepro), Grabon foam grips. Interestingly the brake and shifter cables worked as is but I went ahead and replaced the brake cables with Jagwire pro along with Jagwire brake shoes/pads. Stock were shot. Replaced the stock Stronglight 48Tcrank and bottom bracket with Chinese hollow crank and BB with 50T chainring. Turns out the BB hadn't seen daylight in many years so that was a good thing.
I don't know anything about Bromptons. It appears the front wheel has been replaced, 28 hole straight laced with a rounded rim profile, allow hub. Rear is more square profile 28 hole laced 1x.
The headset is steel. I have a Chinese allow headset on the way. Got some light foldable tires on the way to replace the Schwalbe Marathons that are very old. The rear doesn't have a latch like modern Bromptons. Is it possible to upgrade to more current suspension block and latch?
Weight is down to 24.8 down from 29.6 lbs. I expect to loose another pound or so by going to lighter tires.
1
Comments
-
Got my alloy headset today. Knocked out the old headset, got ready to press in the cups . . . #$%^. Bromptons are still using 1" headset and this one is 1 1/8". Put it all back together, good thing I didn't destroy anything taking it apart.
0 -
Post photos of your progress... always nice to see a Brompton jobleft the forum March 20230
-
Yet another one of those frequently asked questions on forums.........
If I had a £1 every time the question was asked about adapting a folding bike to so it can be carried in a Van's VR-4 light aircraft..........😁2 -
The beauty is I didn't have to adapt it. I sometime forget how folks in the U.K. live. I drive a pickup, wear a ball cap, carry a .45 and fly an airplane. But I also drive a Lotus 7, ride a bicycle and drink tea.reaperactual said:Yet another one of those frequently asked questions on forums.........
If I had a £1 every time the question was asked about adapting a folding bike to so it can be carried in a Van's VR-4 light aircraft..........😁
Turns out the old Bromptons us 1" headset and somewhere along the line they went to 1 1/8".0 -
Yeah, but i bet it’s not really tea.
Photo required of brand of tea and colour of your completed brew.
If you can’t use it to remove rust from a 1980s British steel frame it’s not tea.
Best wishes from Wales!1 -
You are one cool Dude.😎👍 That's awesome! 🤘swjohnsey said:
The beauty is I didn't have to adapt it. I sometime forget how folks in the U.K. live. I drive a pickup, wear a ball cap, carry a .45 and fly an airplane. But I also drive a Lotus 7reaperactual said:Yet another one of those frequently asked questions on forums.........
If I had a £1 every time the question was asked about adapting a folding bike to so it can be carried in a Van's VR-4 light aircraft..........😁
I don't carry a .45 or own a plane but I'm happy that I can have a proper cuppa!☕
Best wishes from the England too!
0 -
Real tea! I have my own proper teapot with cozy. I most use Twining English Breakfast tea loose, with milk and sugar. I still mostly drink coffee army style, strong enough to float a nail.gethinceri said:Yeah, but i bet it’s not really tea.
Photo required of brand of tea and colour of your completed brew.
If you can’t use it to remove rust from a 1980s British steel frame it’s not tea.
Best wishes from Wales!1 -
Solid. Fellow veteran approves!0
-
One my wife just made me, could’ve had a few more minutes, but just about acceptable.0 -
Why such a large calibre?swjohnsey said:carry a .45 ...
Surely if you have to shoot someone one down on the boardwalk, a smaller calibre would give them a chance to survive and hence a lighter sentence for you?
Asking for a friend, obviously...
left the forum March 20230 -
Colt .45 ACP is pretty much the gold standard for one shot one kill in pistol rounds. Never shoot someone if you don't intend to kill them. I sometimes carry a Glock in .357 Sig. I have several calibers to choose from .25 ACP,32 ACP, 38 special, 357 magnum, 9mm, 41 magnum and even .22 LR.
The last deer I killed was with my Colt Gold Cup in .45 ACP about 50 yards.0 -
You might want to try telling that to your police officers.swjohnsey said:...Never shoot someone if you don't intend to kill them...
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Yep, did exactly this to mine. I got mine from SJS cycles here in the UK but there must be a good brompton parts stockist in the US somewhere.swjohnsey said:The rear doesn't have a latch like modern Bromptons. Is it possible to upgrade to more current suspension block and latch?
https://sjscycles.co.uk/frames/brompton-rear-frame-clip-retrofit-kit/
Id also look at changing the suspension block if its been that long. I did similar to you and found it way too bouncy and wasting power. The new standard block is much better although there are aftermarket firmer ones out there too.0 -
Judge, jury, and killers then?swjohnsey said:
Lockdown and staying indoors makes even more sense.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
U.S. cops are kinda funny, you try to kill them, they kill you. Have you tried hiding under the bed?pblakeney said:0 -
No. But some unarmed people have failed at trying to run away.swjohnsey said:
U.S. cops are kinda funny, you try to kill them, they kill you. Have you tried hiding under the bed?pblakeney said:The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
pblakeney said:
Never mind the woke lefties in here, good luck with the bike rebuild.pblakeney said:
Personally I think stand your ground is brilliant. As is not having playdates at a house where there isnt a gun
0 -
More people are killed each year by toddlers with guns than in shark attacks.david37 said:pblakeney said:
Never mind the woke lefties in here, good luck with the bike rebuild.pblakeney said:
Personally I think stand your ground is brilliant. As is not having playdates at a house where there isnt a gun
Yet there is no toddler-nado film.0 -
Check out Kids and Guns film 2014elbowloh said:
More people are killed each year by toddlers with guns than in shark attacks.david37 said:pblakeney said:
Never mind the woke lefties in here, good luck with the bike rebuild.pblakeney said:
Personally I think stand your ground is brilliant. As is not having playdates at a house where there isnt a gun
Yet there is no toddler-nado film.0 -
More kids are killed on bikes in the U.S. than by guns.1
-
Gotta watch out for those useless Usanian drivers.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Bubba only turns left!0
-
Bubba likes a challenge. Turning right is easier.swjohnsey said:Bubba only turns left!
Did you slip up there?The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
There are a few right turns at Watkins Glen.0
-
I wish I could find a source for the changes made to Bromptons over the years. It appears the headset went from 1" to 1 1/8" at some point. Crankset was changed to spyder style. Five speed went away. Wheel base was changed slightly. Wheel rims were changed, etc.
I've got a 1" Tange alloy headset coming, also some 192 g tires that will knock off another pound or so plus a light chain. Chain on there is 102 L, new chain is 100 L but I think it will work.0 -
Are they killing other people with them?swjohnsey said:More kids are killed on bikes in the U.S. than by guns.
0 -
There is always a first. Deaths of kids on bikes is way down because, sadly, kids in America don't ride bike anymore. I used to go for a ride on Christmas morning to see all the kids with new bikes. This Christmas I didn't see a single one. Christmas in South Texas is generally 60 - 70 and sunny, much like summer in the U.K.0
-
Maybe word got around that you go riding with a .45 in your pocket and the kids are staying out of sight.swjohnsey said:There is always a first. Deaths of kids on bikes is way down because, sadly, kids in America don't ride bike anymore. I used to go for a ride on Christmas morning to see all the kids with new bikes. This Christmas I didn't see a single one. Christmas in South Texas is generally 60 - 70 and sunny, much like summer in the U.K.
Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS0
