folding bike for big and tall rider

  • Thread starter Andreas Schulze-Bäing
  • Start date



Andreas Schulze-Bäing wrote:
> Am Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:15:53 +0100 schrieb Tony Raven:
>
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>> [email protected] says...
>> I don't have a lock with my Brompton (other than a
>> lightweight cable to secure it if I can't sit near it on the train)
>> because I always fold it up and take it inside with me.

>
> I just can't imagine to take it into a theatre or cinema. Or is it
> even small enough for these environments? I would probably carry
> around a u-lock in the rucksack, just in case.
>
>> Brompton's figure is a very conservative 245lbs or about 110kg but
>> they are pretty indestructible and will carry far more than that.
>> You would be surprised at the things people carry on them and there
>> are plenty of early model Bromptons still going strong.

>
> 110kg? That sounds convincing, plus I have no intention of exceeding
> that figure or doing an offroad downhill ride :)


I have a friend who rides a Brompton who is at least the size you quoted
earlier - he's around 6ft5, and, I guess, 15stone. He rides it a lot on
road, with luggage/shopping on the bike. Has been known to take it up an
alpine col to annoy the local road-racers :)


> The ideal compromise for me would be a Brompton with 7 or 8 hub gear.
> But apparently, according to a German Brompton tuning website, the
> Brompton manufacturer refuses to work together with Shimano. So the
> six speed version seems to be the best compromise.


Don't know the reasons, but the rear of the Brompton is quite narrow, so the
newer hubs are too wide.

There was an online PDF article about fitting a 2-speed gear (not using the
standard Brompton cog ratios) to the 5-speed Sturmey Archer hub (now back in
production), to extend the gear range. I think the range ended up around
300%, ending up as effectively a 7-speed due to the overlap of ratios. The
argument for this arrangement was a mixture of weight and cost; considerably
lighter and cheaper than a Rohloff conversion. I cannot remember the URL.




> I spotted this website offering the update with a Nexus 7 for 330
> Euro. http://www.junik-hpv.de/html/brompton_tuning.htm
> Or I'll do it at some point as a DIY project. :)



Might work nicely.



- Nigel



--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
>
> There was an online PDF article about fitting a 2-speed gear (not using the
> standard Brompton cog ratios) to the 5-speed Sturmey Archer hub (now back in
> production), to extend the gear range. I think the range ended up around
> 300%, ending up as effectively a 7-speed due to the overlap of ratios. The
> argument for this arrangement was a mixture of weight and cost; considerably
> lighter and cheaper than a Rohloff conversion. I cannot remember the URL.
>


Best ways of extending the gear range on the Brompton are either fitting
a front derailleur and dual chainwheels or by fitting the Schlumpf
Mountain or Speed drives.
http://www.foldabikes.com/CloseUp/bike/deraillerMain.html
http://www.schlumpf.ch/schlumpf_engl.htm

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell
 
Tony Raven wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
> says...
>>
>> There was an online PDF article about fitting a 2-speed gear (not
>> using the standard Brompton cog ratios) to the 5-speed Sturmey
>> Archer hub (now back in production), to extend the gear range. I
>> think the range ended up around 300%, ending up as effectively a
>> 7-speed due to the overlap of ratios. The argument for this
>> arrangement was a mixture of weight and cost; considerably lighter
>> and cheaper than a Rohloff conversion. I cannot remember the URL.
>>

>
> Best ways of extending the gear range on the Brompton are either
> fitting a front derailleur and dual chainwheels or by fitting the
> Schlumpf Mountain or Speed drives.
> http://www.foldabikes.com/CloseUp/bike/deraillerMain.html
> http://www.schlumpf.ch/schlumpf_engl.htm


Your first suggestion (derailleur) gives 300% with a 5-speed rear hub.
Remarkably similar result to the arrangement using the rear 2-speed I
mentioned.
Weight likely to be slightly more for the front derailleur due to big
chainwheel and mechanism, compared to tensioner (needed for both) and
smaller rear cog.
Whether a front derailleur is better than a rear on a Brompton is debatable.


The second is well known, though expensive. My friend has one on his
Brompton.



- Nigel



--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
 
Quoting congokid <[email protected]>:
><[email protected]> writes
>>Get it dirty. Mine (accidentally) got a coating of Milton Nero which dried
>>on, and it now stays where it is put.

>After consulting The Brompton Folding Bicycle FAQ I was thinking of
>giving it a good clean with solvent (which one?)


Mine was certainly improved after a clean with ordinary washing-up liquid,
but as I say it is a small amount of scunge that has really done the job.
--
David Damerell <[email protected]> flcl?
Today is First Stilday, September - a weekend.
 
Andreas Schulze-Bäing <[email protected]> writes:

> Thanks, loads of options. My impression is that the Brompton in its core is
> a genius piece of engineering, yet I read some of the comments of Brompton
> enthusiasts on http://www.bromptonauten.de
> Some of the components used are quite cheapy, and could as well be found on
> cheap BSOs, they say... The comments mention low quality breaks, cheap
> saddle and pedals, soft nuts/bolts that get easily damaged with tools, bad
> position of brake levers.


My wife has a Brompton, and its saddle broke fairly shortly after she
acquired it (due to lifting by the saddle, I think); I note also that
the clip that holds the handlebars when the bike is folded keeps
breaking (IIRC she's onto the third one now, and she's had it less
than a year).

Matthew

--
Rapun.sel - outermost outpost of the Pick Empire
http://www.pick.ucam.org
 
Matthew Vernon wrote:

> My wife has a Brompton, and its saddle broke fairly shortly after she
> acquired it (due to lifting by the saddle, I think);


I put a Brooks on mine, which I find considerably more comfortable than
the default saddle. But the usual caveat is you have to get on with
Brooks saddles... But having said that I think it's very common to lift
by the saddle, and I don't know of other folk having that problem with
the standard one.

> I note also that
> the clip that holds the handlebars when the bike is folded keeps
> breaking (IIRC she's onto the third one now, and she's had it less
> than a year).


Seems odd... I'm on my first one, and I've owned the bike for... not
actually sure which year I bought it... must be a good 5 years or so
now. Makes me wonder if there's something systematically amiss with the
positioning.

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/
 
On 29 Sep, 16:39, Andreas Schulze-Bäing <[email protected]> wrote:

> .... For me it would
> be two miles at one end and one mile at the other end of the train journey
> for my commute. My only worry is that the first two miles go down hill -
> and i like to go that first part a bit faster, usually more than 30 mph.


Have you considered using two bikes? If this is a regular commute,
rather than general mixed-mode travel, you could use a conventional
bike to get you to the station and then lock it there (leave the lock
on the bike-rack, to save you having to carry it all the time). Get a
hack for the other end of the trip and you won't have to bother with
trying to get your bike on the train at all.
I'm not saying a folder is the wrong solution, but there are others
that might work better for you.

FWIW, my "town" bike is a parts-bin fixie based on a £20 eBay 10-
speed. I don't feel that it's a great risk to park it at a bike rack
in the station.

Cheers,
W.
 
Peter Clinch <[email protected]> wrote:

> Matthew Vernon wrote:
>
> > My wife has a Brompton, and its saddle broke fairly shortly after she
> > acquired it (due to lifting by the saddle, I think);

>
> I put a Brooks on mine, which I find considerably more comfortable than
> the default saddle. But the usual caveat is you have to get on with
> Brooks saddles... But having said that I think it's very common to lift
> by the saddle, and I don't know of other folk having that problem with
> the standard one.
>

yes the brooks fits me well or rather it is getting so on my cheap
hybrid. i suspect it would drive me mad on my other bikes though with
their more nose down postion.

snips

> Pete.


roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com
 
Am Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:44:05 -0700 schrieb [email protected]:

> On 29 Sep, 16:39, Andreas Schulze-Bäing <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> .... For me it would
>> be two miles at one end and one mile at the other end of the train journey
>> for my commute. My only worry is that the first two miles go down hill -
>> and i like to go that first part a bit faster, usually more than 30 mph.

>
> Have you considered using two bikes? If this is a regular commute,
> rather than general mixed-mode travel, you could use a conventional
> bike to get you to the station and then lock it there (leave the lock
> on the bike-rack, to save you having to carry it all the time).


It's certainly an option that I have considered. For the first part from
home to station I could use my current hybrid, which looks scruffy and
scratchy enough after 14 years intensive use, to not attract thieves. But
the other end of the journey is tricky. Most of the times it's just the 1
mile from station to work in Manchester, which I could even walk. But I'll
have to travel quite a lot in the job, so the idea is that train plus
folder could bring me to places I need to go to, nearly as convenient as
with a car.

> Get a
> hack for the other end of the trip and you won't have to bother with
> trying to get your bike on the train at all.


Well - I'll have to check if there's options to park a hack safely in
Manchester Oxford Road.

> FWIW, my "town" bike is a parts-bin fixie based on a £20 eBay 10-
> speed. I don't feel that it's a great risk to park it at a bike rack
> in the station.


That might be an option... but I need at least a 23" or 24" frame. And
these are even difficult to get with new bikes.

Andreas
 
On 2 Oct, 11:48, Andreas Schulze-Bäing <[email protected]> wrote:
> ... I'll
> have to travel quite a lot in the job, so the idea is that train plus
> folder could bring me to places I need to go to, nearly as convenient as
> with a car.


Indeed, proper multi-mode transport. Round my way the off-peak trains
are much easier to get a bike on & off, though.
Personally, I don't much fancy a folder but I can certainly see why
they would be the right solution for different requirements.

> Well - I'll have to check if there's options to park a hack safely in
> Manchester Oxford Road.


There are four(!) rack spaces listed on platform 4/5 by network rail.
Whether they are safe and available is another question!
Waverley has 74 and CCTV, as well as being a very busy station.

> > FWIW, my "town" bike is a parts-bin fixie based on a £20 eBay 10-
> > speed. I don't feel that it's a great risk to park it at a bike rack
> > in the station.

>
> That might be an option... but I need at least a 23" or 24" frame. And
> these are even difficult to get with new bikes.


You might be surprised. It didn't take me long to find mine- the one
I use as a hack is 24" and the other (I bid on two and won both, but
the hack was so cheap I thought I might as well keep it) is at least
23". There's a healthy turnover on eBay and bigger frames find less
buyers.

It helps a lot if you are a competent fettler, of course. If you are
"mechanically challenged" then you may struggle to get something
reliable cheaply.

Cheers,
W.
 
[email protected] wrote:

> Personally, I don't much fancy a folder but I can certainly see why
> they would be the right solution for different requirements.


That was pretty much my take on them before I bought a bargain example
"just in case", and it soon progressed to "I don't know how I ever did
without it" status.

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/
 
On 2 Oct, 12:37, Peter Clinch <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Personally, I don't much fancy a folder but I can certainly see why
> > they would be the right solution for different requirements.

>
> That was pretty much my take on them before I bought a bargain example
> "just in case", and it soon progressed to "I don't know how I ever did
> without it" status.


Hmm, interesting... Thanks for that, I'll bear it in mind!

I can certainly picture situations where I'd like to be able to carry
a bike around with me more easily. Maybe I should be more open to the
idea.

Cheers,
W.
 
[email protected] wrote:

> Hmm, interesting... Thanks for that, I'll bear it in mind!
>
> I can certainly picture situations where I'd like to be able to carry
> a bike around with me more easily. Maybe I should be more open to the
> idea.


I wouldn't go out of your way to get one if you're doing fine without
it, but if there's an excellent opportunity to pick up a good example
it's probably worth a gamble. Aside from anything else the 2nd hand
values keep remarkably well so you could sell it on with little, if any,
loss.

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/
 
In article <[email protected]>, Matthew Vernon
<[email protected]> writes

>I note also that
>the clip that holds the handlebars when the bike is folded keeps
>breaking (IIRC she's onto the third one now, and she's had it less
>than a year).


My LBS fixed that for me - probably just before the clip broke
completely - by fastening a plastic cable tie round it. This holds the
clip together and takes the strain off it.
--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com
 
In article <[email protected]>, Peter Clinch wrote:
>[email protected] wrote:
>
>> Personally, I don't much fancy a folder but I can certainly see why
>> they would be the right solution for different requirements.

>
>That was pretty much my take on them before I bought a bargain example
>"just in case", and it soon progressed to "I don't know how I ever did
>without it" status.


Similarly I bought one thinking that at that price (£3[1]) it didn't
matter much if I turned out not to use it, and ended up using it most days,
paying for itself many times over (by not using our bigger car for commute
to Park and Ride).

[1] Not counting the inner tubes that needed replacing to make it
rideable in the first place, nor a number of upgrades since. But it's
still been very good value, even if it's not a very good folder.
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> Indeed, proper multi-mode transport. Round my way the off-peak trains
> are much easier to get a bike on & off, though.
>


The great beauty of a folder is you get on, store it and sit down for
the journey. Whenever I have taken a full size on, except for the rare
trains with a bike storage area, I spend the whole journey jumping up
and down to move it from one side to the other depending on which side
the next platform is located. YMMV

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell
 
[email protected] of http://groups.google.com wrote:

>On 2 Oct, 11:48, Andreas Schulze-Bäing <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Well - I'll have to check if there's options to park a hack safely in
>> Manchester Oxford Road.

>
> There are four(!) rack spaces listed on platform 4/5 by network rail.
>Whether they are safe and available is another question!

Available, maybe. Safe, no way. Leaving parked bikes anywhere in
Manchester cannot be considered safe.

This really is a job for a folder.
--
Steph Peters
Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group
Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester
http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm