Compass Folding Bike



John B wrote:
> Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding Bike'?
> A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a back-pedalling brake.


Your first question, "no", but howzabout a Birdy City (TBFKA Birdy Green)

http://kinetics.org.uk/html/city2.shtml

Costs rather more, of course, but you get what you pay for, the fold is
rather more sophisticated and I know which one *I'd* sooner ride 10
miles on!

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 [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
 
Peter Clinch wrote:

> John B wrote:
> > Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding Bike'?
> > A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a back-pedalling brake.

>
> Your first question, "no", but howzabout a Birdy City (TBFKA Birdy Green)
>
> http://kinetics.org.uk/html/city2.shtml
>
> Costs rather more, of course, but you get what you pay for, the fold is
> rather more sophisticated and I know which one *I'd* sooner ride 10
> miles on!


Tremendous.
I don't know how I missed that one so many thanks.

Big problem will clearly be the price but the lady in question did say she
believes in getting what you pay for.

John B
 
John B wrote:
>
> Peter Clinch wrote:
>
>
>>John B wrote:
>>
>>>Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding Bike'?
>>>A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a back-pedalling brake.

>>
>>Your first question, "no", but howzabout a Birdy City (TBFKA Birdy Green)
>>
>>http://kinetics.org.uk/html/city2.shtml
>>
>>Costs rather more, of course, but you get what you pay for, the fold is
>>rather more sophisticated and I know which one *I'd* sooner ride 10
>>miles on!

>
>
> Tremendous.
> I don't know how I missed that one so many thanks.
>
> Big problem will clearly be the price but the lady in question did say she
> believes in getting what you pay for.


Would there be any point in recommending a Brompton?
 
Al C-F wrote:

> Would there be any point in recommending a Brompton?


Only if you find a rear hub with a back-pedal brake that will fit in the
Brompton's rather narrow dropouts. I'm hardly an expert on the back
pedal brake hub market, but I'm not immediately aware of such.

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 [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
 
Peter Clinch wrote:
> Al C-F wrote:
>
>> Would there be any point in recommending a Brompton?

>
>
> Only if you find a rear hub with a back-pedal brake that will fit in the
> Brompton's rather narrow dropouts. I'm hardly an expert on the back
> pedal brake hub market, but I'm not immediately aware of such.
>


OK, sorry, I missed that part of the spec.
 
"Peter Clinch" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> Al C-F wrote:


>> Would there be any point in recommending a Brompton?


> Only if you find a rear hub with a back-pedal brake that will fit in
> the Brompton's rather narrow dropouts. I'm hardly an expert on
> the back pedal brake hub market, but I'm not immediately aware
> of such.


The Brompton's back end isn't narrower than most traditional hub-geared
bikes, so a standard Sturmey or SRAM coaster hub will fit. The problem is
that you can't use a coaster brake with a chain tensioner, and the Brompton
need its chain tensioner to fold.

James Thomson
 
James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 17:34 +0100:
>
> The Brompton's back end isn't narrower than most traditional hub-geared
> bikes, so a standard Sturmey or SRAM coaster hub will fit. The problem is
> that you can't use a coaster brake with a chain tensioner, and the Brompton
> need its chain tensioner to fold.
>


ITYM it is narrower than other bikes - 112mm IIRC vs typically 120mm+

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
 
in message <[email protected]>, John B
('[email protected]') wrote:

> Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding Bike'?
> A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a back-pedalling
> brake.
>
> she is looking for something for short trips, perhaps up to 10 miles
> maximum.
>
> All I've found is:
>

http://www.compass24.com/cgi-bin/ab...dkimcnmcteomwkbeqiigulgfs&nummernliste=976004
>
> Any comments or other possibilities welcome.


Know nothing about the Compass. Several Dahons have back-pedal brakes.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; not so much a refugee from reality, more a bogus
;; asylum seeker
 
John B wrote on 27/06/2006 10:40 +0100:
> Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding
> Bike'? A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a
> back-pedalling brake.
>
> she is looking for something for short trips, perhaps up to 10 miles
> maximum.
>
> All I've found is:
> http://www.compass24.com/cgi-bin/ab...dkimcnmcteomwkbeqiigulgfs&nummernliste=976004
>
>
> Any comments or other possibilities welcome.
>
> John B
>


It was mentioned in the latest AtoB magazine.

AtoB said
"Our favourite cheapie is the Compass Marine single speed 20" folder
with back pedal rear brake. A good simple rideable bike for only £69.
Compass currently sell the cheapest hub geared bike too - a 16" folder
for £117."


--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
 
John B wrote:
> Has anyone had any experience of the 'Compass Aluminium Folding Bike'?
> A lady i know is looking for a folding bike with a back-pedalling brake.
>
> she is looking for something for short trips, perhaps up to 10 miles
> maximum.
>
> All I've found is:
> http://www.compass24.com/cgi-bin/ab...dkimcnmcteomwkbeqiigulgfs&nummernliste=976004
>
> Any comments or other possibilities welcome.
>
> John B


When yotties ask me about folding bikes, I warn them off anything
bought from a chandlery (which is what compass24 is). I would no more
recommend buying a boat from the LBS than I would suggest buying a bike
from a chandlery.
 
"Tony Raven" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 17:34 +0100:


>> The Brompton's back end isn't narrower than most traditional hub-geared
>> bikes, so a standard Sturmey or SRAM coaster hub will fit. The problem is
>> that you can't use a coaster brake with a chain tensioner, and the
>> Brompton needs its chain tensioner to fold.


> ITYM it is narrower than other bikes - 112mm IIRC vs typically 120mm+


Not at all. You may be familiar with derailleur bikes with wider rear ends,
but in the world of hub gears, coasters, and single speeds (being the
context), 112mm isn't particularly narrow.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/sa/safitadj.pdf

The over-all width of Sturmey-Archer rear hubs over the cone locknuts,
as supplied from the Works, is 4 5/16" [109.5mm]. If necessary, it can
be reduced to 4 1/16" [103.2mm] by removing the spacing washer on
the left-hand side and the cone locknut on the right-hand side.

That applies to all the 3- and 4-speed hubs Sturmey made at the time that
was written, and the many of the fives that came along later. The Sprinter
fives and sevens were broader.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/s3c.pdf

Over Locknut Dimensions: 4 7/16" (112.7mm) (Note - this dimension
can be varied to suit customer's requirements)

The AW is still available from the factory right down to 107.7mm (4 1/4")
oln.

James Thomson
 
In article <[email protected]>
Not Responding <[email protected]> wrote:
<snip>
> When yotties ask me about folding bikes, I warn them off anything
> bought from a chandlery (which is what compass24 is). I would no more
> recommend buying a boat from the LBS than I would suggest buying a bike
> from a chandlery.
>
>

The shop I bought my Holdsworth from also sold rigging and outboard
motors :)
 
James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 23:34 +0100:
> "Tony Raven" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>
>> James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 17:34 +0100:

>
>>> The Brompton's back end isn't narrower than most traditional hub-geared
>>> bikes, so a standard Sturmey or SRAM coaster hub will fit. The problem is
>>> that you can't use a coaster brake with a chain tensioner, and the
>>> Brompton needs its chain tensioner to fold.

>
>> ITYM it is narrower than other bikes - 112mm IIRC vs typically 120mm+

>
> Not at all. You may be familiar with derailleur bikes with wider rear ends,
> but in the world of hub gears, coasters, and single speeds (being the
> context), 112mm isn't particularly narrow.


My apologies. When you wrote "traditional hub-geared bikes" I thought
you were referring to the bikes being traditional not the hub gears.
Yes you may be able to find old style SA hubs that fit the Brompton and
there are even three speed hubs still available from SA and SRAM, but
try finding any other current hub gear that fits a Brompton rear as
standard. Rohloff, SRAM, Shimano, SA, none of them fit without
resetting the rear triangle (possible on the steel but essentially
impossible on the Ti triangle).

>
> http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/sa/safitadj.pdf
>
> The over-all width of Sturmey-Archer rear hubs over the cone locknuts,
> as supplied from the Works, is 4 5/16" [109.5mm]. If necessary, it can
> be reduced to 4 1/16" [103.2mm] by removing the spacing washer on
> the left-hand side and the cone locknut on the right-hand side.


If you are going to look at the SA range, at least look at the current
range - http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/sturmeyupdate.pdf

Tony Hadland's site is full of historical stuff but even then AFAIK only
the 3 and 5 speed hubs were available in a size that fitted the Brompton
rear.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
 
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:01:51 +0100, Tony Raven <[email protected]>
said in <[email protected]>:

>"Our favourite cheapie is the Compass Marine single speed 20" folder
>with back pedal rear brake. A good simple rideable bike for only £69.


That frame looks like a Dahon.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound
 
"Tony Raven" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> When you wrote "traditional hub-geared bikes" I thought you
> were referring to the bikes being traditional not the hub gears.


I was referring to both.

> Yes you may be able to find old style SA hubs that fit the Brompton
> and there are even three speed hubs still available from SA and SRAM,
> but try finding any other current hub gear that fits a Brompton rear as
> standard.


The Sturmey fives are also available in a narrow fitting, and there's talk
of a narrow 8-speed in the pipeline. But the context isn't whether or not a
112mm oln is universal, but whether or not it's unusual. In hub gear (and
more general) terms, it isn't.

> Rohloff, SRAM, Shimano, SA, none of them fit without
> resetting the rear triangle.


Of course not, and neither will they fit most traditional bikes without a
similar operation.

> (possible on the steel but essentially impossible on the Ti triangle).


Again, the context isn't whether or not it's possible to fit all hub gears
to all Bromptons. It's not difficult to find combinations that won't work.

> Tony Hadland's site is full of historical stuff but even then AFAIK
> only the 3 and 5 speed hubs were available in a size that fitted
> the Brompton rear.


The fours as well, as I wrote previously. And of course many single speed
coaster hubs will fit.

I went to Hadland not because his data is historical, but because its
authoritative, and shows clearly that there's nothing unusally narrow about
the Sturmey hub as fitted to the Brompton.

James Thomson
 
Tony Raven wrote:
> James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 23:34 +0100:
>
>> "Tony Raven" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>>
>>> James Thomson wrote on 27/06/2006 17:34 +0100:

>>
>>
>>>> The Brompton's back end isn't narrower than most traditional hub-geared
>>>> bikes, so a standard Sturmey or SRAM coaster hub will fit. The
>>>> problem is
>>>> that you can't use a coaster brake with a chain tensioner, and the
>>>> Brompton needs its chain tensioner to fold.

>>
>>
>>> ITYM it is narrower than other bikes - 112mm IIRC vs typically 120mm+

>>
>>
>> Not at all. You may be familiar with derailleur bikes with wider rear
>> ends,
>> but in the world of hub gears, coasters, and single speeds (being the
>> context), 112mm isn't particularly narrow.

>
>
> My apologies. When you wrote "traditional hub-geared bikes" I thought
> you were referring to the bikes being traditional not the hub gears. Yes
> you may be able to find old style SA hubs that fit the Brompton and
> there are even three speed hubs still available from SA and SRAM, but
> try finding any other current hub gear that fits a Brompton rear as
> standard. Rohloff, SRAM, Shimano, SA, none of them fit without
> resetting the rear triangle (possible on the steel but essentially
> impossible on the Ti triangle).


So you can't get an 8-Speed Brompton? Thats bad, I would have thought
it'd be crying out for that solution.

<snip>
 
Tosspot wrote:

>
>
> So you can't get an 8-Speed Brompton? Thats bad, I would have thought
> it'd be crying out for that solution.
>


On this years IoW trip, I met a lady with a Rolhoff-equipped Brompton.

Would that be enough gears for you?
 
Al C-F wrote on 28/06/2006 22:18 +0100:
>
> On this years IoW trip, I met a lady with a Rolhoff-equipped Brompton.
>
> Would that be enough gears for you?


Mary Jane. Her's is a Steve Parry special rather than a standard
Brompton. He does lots of bending and special parts to do that.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci