Total miles a year on a Brompton

Hi, I use mine pretty much everyday even if it is only popping out to the supermarket about 1 mile away. It has however done a lot more substantial distances in the past. It's great as you don't need to lock it up you can just put it in the trolley. No fuffing around locking it up. Well the first one did the Grand Tour until it was stolen shortly after from outside London University in Mallet St beneath a CCTV camera and secured with a substantial Kryptonite D-lock which was opened with a Bic pen I have since been told. Anyway insurance paid for a new one. Don't buy a Kryptonite lock! I now use Abus Granit.

Anyway in June 2004 I went down to Biarritz on the TGV with it and then cycled into the Basque Country Bidart, Saint Jean de Luz, St Jean de Pied-de-Port gradually making my way over to the famous Pyrennean Cols doing the Col de Marie Blanc, the Aubisque, the Soulor and the Tourmalet all on my red Brompton(L6 2004 vintage). Did about 60-70 miles a day sometimes alot less sometimes more depending on how I was feeling and what I wanted to see or do, one day I covered 96 miles on this route I planned involving the Aubisque and Soulor, very little luggage except for lunch and water on this day. There were a few rest days as well. Once I left the mountains I headed north back around Lourdes and Pau into the Bearn, Salles de Bearne back to Bayonne and Biarritz just in time to jump back on the TGV just under 3 weeks later. The train deal was a Times offer £75 to anywhere in France and back from Waterloo with upgrade to first class for an extra £25 which I took. I have one of the old style Brompton touring panniers when they had an all metal frame and none of this plastic which I see they now use which in my view makes the pannier frame inferior in the strength department meaning they are not so robust and therefore you cannot carry so much.

I carried a Vaude Ultralight 2 man tent, sleeping bag and assortment of clothes and all the other essentials to camp. I think I stayed in an auberge once and of course hotel in Paris in Pigalle which was fun but generally camped. The Brompton was a constant source of curiosity everywhere I went however in France unlike the UK they are genuinely interested and want to know all about it, preferring not to hurl abuse or chuck rocks or cans at you because you are riding something different.

Mine is a straight L6 2004 no back rack or lights to make it heavier than necessary. I bought a bar rack for the rear to mount on the seat post when the bike was up which worked really well. It was so stable on the move much more than I had anitcipated. The gearing was fine for me. I climbed the Cols no problems although after I seriously considered trying to fit a second smaller front chainring as I believe some Brompton owners have done. Descending was a bit hair raising at times trying desperately not to over heat the brake blocks with the small 16" wheels on std brakes but I managed ok. Before I left home I removed all the inner cables and thoroughly greased them which transformed the brakes and gearchange. Some days riding I had no luggage or very little as I decided to stay at a campsite for several nights other days was a big move day but the Brompton handled it all fine. I have a nice shot of it loaded up adjacent to the Pyramid in the Louvre and I cycled up the Champs Elysee and around the Arc de Triomphe on it albeit very early in the morning. One of the best cycling hoildays I've had. The French loved the Brompton. Sometimes in a small village town I would have 4 or 5 people coming up to find out what it was. Riding aorund Ascain I overtook to french riders out on a training ride. They weren't very gracious. The only person who really didn't take a shine to it was the guard on the TGV leaving Paris heading out. He took one look at me on the platform and exclaimed "Non a velo! Vous ne pouvez pas voyager avec ca. Desole" and walked off. "Mais c'est un velo pliant........." He didn't want to know. Of course what he didn't know was that Brompton is the best folder on the market and it is BRITISH. Where would the French be without the British to save their country. D'accord. Plus I kew that I had previoulsy checked it was ok to travel on the Eurostar and TGV with it. I collapsed it, boarded the train and sat waiting for the Grand Depart. About 20 minutes after departure as we zipped out of the Paris suburbs he tapped me on the shoulder "Monsieur, votre ticket et votre velo?" "Voila mon ticket, mon velo c'est la, a la bas. " He glanced toward where my hand was pointing to my folded Brompton sitting snugly and quietly in the luggage rack, he then turned and walked off without so much as a word. England 1 France 0.

The Brompton is definitely able to tour just be prepared sometimes to spend alot if time showing it to all sorts of people. It's a great point of conversation and way to meet people.

I've also ridden it all over London out of necessity as it is the best way to get around the capital even rode it up Crouch Hill without stopping. They didn't tell me it was so steep.

Keep away from wet man hole covers and white lines though which you would anway.

Alex

The locks were redesigned about 4 years ago (it was a major scandal at the time) and no longer have the circular lock in question. Current top model Kryptonites compare favourably with Abus Granit X Plus locks.[/quote]

If there was a scandal I didn't hear about it. Kryptonite never contacted me to tell me of the breathtaking deficiency with their lock. Still wouldn't buy another Kryptonite. AVOID. They cost me £700 for a replacement bike which I have been paying off in increased insurance premiums in the last few years. Abus are much better and preferably when used as a pair x2 Abus Granite X PLus 54 300mm locks, one for each hand.

Weekend chores and 100 miles a week commuting - come rain, snow or hail (bloody hurts tho!). So around 3500 - 4000 miles in the 8 months I've had it. No major problems so far, although I appear to be getting through rear tyres like no tomorrow (marathons) lost 2 now to 2 inch gashes.
Marathon Plus goes on tomorrow so I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I'm now paranoid that someone's made a stinger for bikes!! :roll: