Brompton purchase today

[Hybrid21]

Bought myself a new Brompton today 😀

I've lusted after one for a few years but couldn't really justify it as I do have a few bikes. But I was in Evans cycles today while the wife was lady shopping and saw this little beauty.

Wife not 100% happy, but she will come round 😀

Anyone else got one ?  Brompton that is, not wife 😀

[Rhymes with Paris]

Unfortunately I have neither a Brompton nor a wife.

But I used to have a home made bike made up from scrapyard bits that I went a good few miles on when I was young and fit.

My wife petitioned for a divorce when I went away to work in Germany in 1979 , which did puzzle me a bit as I made sure that she was well provided for with a copious supply of hard boiled eggs, and a balaclava for the winter.

Btw, what's a Brompton?

 

 

[Cyker]

I assume one of those very expensive foldable bicycles! They are nice tho', good build quality and support from what I hear, but too pricey for me!!

That said I keep thinking of getting something like that to put in the car, as all the CPZs and LTNs mean I'm having to park further and further away from sites, and a normal bike probably wouldn't fit in a Yaris. And would also likely be stolen within minutes of entering Tottenham whether I was on it or not  

Problem is I'd want an electric one, and those cost near enough what I paid for my 2nd Mk1 Yaris, which is quite off-putting... maybe after I've finished paying off the Mk4...??

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Brompton bicycle:

C line

.

Electric C line

[Rhymes with Paris]

Ah,a bit like a Raleigh shopper then,a small wheel bike from the 1970s.

Even though coveting the Raleigh chopper from the 60s rather than the shopper to a degree that was nearly physical pain,it was somewhat lessened by no one else in the area having one either.

It was mostly 3 legged dogs, collapsed drunks, and an old man with a trade bike mounted grinding wheel who sharpened knives,and lived in a farmer's hut on the edge of town.

 

[Cyker]

I don't recalle the 'Shopper', but the Chopper is that the one that looked cool and had a T-bar gear selector which quickly became a testicular hazard if you tried to stop too abruptly...? Well named as it turned out...!

To this day I still cringe just thinking about riding one again!

 

[Big_D]

I remember the Chopper. Coolest looking bike ever.

[Cyker]

Yeah, it was a nice ride too, aside from the sudden surprise circumcision if you stopped too hard.  

If you're ever down this neck of the woods, the Brooklands museum has a section with lots of 80's and older bikes, including the Chopper and a Sinclair C5! They even have that one I can't remember the name of, but was basically a bog standard bike with a fancy plastic cover to make it look cool and buttons that made space ship and laser sounds  

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

When I was young - and pre Raleigh Chopper - Moulton bikes were sought after. Rubber suspension at the front. 

Alex Moulton also designed the rubber cone suspension used in the original Mini, hydrolastic suspension used in the Mini, 1100/1300, and 1800, and Hydagas suspension used in the Allegro, Princess and Ambassador.

[Eddie G]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

I don't recalle the 'Shopper', but the Chopper is that the one that looked cool and had a T-bar gear selector which quickly became a testicular hazard if you tried to stop too abruptly...? Well named as it turned out...!

To this day I still cringe just thinking about riding one again!

 

I remember mine what a pain in the backside trying to go up hills, always ending up walking and my bits and bobs and right shin can still remember when 2nd gear slipped! 

[Eddie G]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

I assume one of those very expensive foldable bicycles! They are nice tho', good build quality and support from what I hear, but too pricey for me!!

That said I keep thinking of getting something like that to put in the car, as all the CPZs and LTNs mean I'm having to park further and further away from sites, and a normal bike probably wouldn't fit in a Yaris. And would also likely be stolen within minutes of entering Tottenham whether I was on it or not  

Problem is I'd want an electric one, and those cost near enough what I paid for my 2nd Mk1 Yaris, which is quite off-putting... maybe after I've finished paying off the Mk4...??

 

My mountain bike fits in the MK4 but only just and with the front passenger seat all the way forward.

[Rhymes with Paris]

9 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

When I was young - and pre Raleigh Chopper - Moulton bikes were sought after. Rubber suspension at the front. 

Alex Moulton also designed the rubber cone suspension used in the original Mini, hydrolastic suspension used in the Mini, 1100/1300, and 1800, and Hydagas suspension used in the Allegro, Princess and Ambassador.

I do just remember seeing one of those round here, but they were as rare as ground unicorn horn.

IIRC they were well engineered, light, and expensive.

I can't remember if Halfords stocked them in this area, but I don't remember seeing any in the local Halfords when going for a gawp at all the lovely new bikes with my equally skint friends.

None of us had a hope of affording anything new, but it passed a Saturday afternoon.

[davidif]

15 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

Bought myself a new Brompton today 😀

I've lusted after one for a few years but couldn't really justify it as I do have a few bikes. But I was in Evans cycles today while the wife was lady shopping and saw this little beauty.

Wife not 100% happy, but she will come round 😀

Anyone else got one ?  Brompton that is, not wife 😀

I have an older one (c2009?) its still in excellent shape(better shape than me!)

Mine is a 6 speed, luggage rack and 'S' handlebars. I love it although I am eyeing up a replacement electric Brompton at some point.

Which model did you go for?

[Gerg]

18 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

Wife not 100% happy, but she will come round

She's at least 50% to blame for this.

She let you go into Evans on your own - what ever was she thinking? 😁

I'd love a Brompton.  When I was very young I used to marvel at the ingenuity of it's predecessor, the Bickerton.   Only a museum piece now, literally, (e.g. Lakeland Motor Museum, Coventry Transport Museum, IIRC. )

Incidently, and a bit off-topic, Tom Karen, inventor of the Raleigh Chopper (some debate over this, a former senior designer at Raleigh says different, but still...) died last New Year's Eve.  He was also responsible for the Bond Bug, Reliant Scimitar GTE, the Leyland T45 Roadtrain and much more.  Quite an agile mind...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_Bug

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Scimitar

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leyland_T45_Roadtrain_tractor_unit_1988.jpg

All very meaningful to people of a certain age. 

 

[Hybrid21]

4 hours ago, davidif said:

I have an older one (c2009?) its still in excellent shape(better shape than me!)

Mine is a 6 speed, luggage rack and 'S' handlebars. I love it although I am eyeing up a replacement electric Brompton at some point.

Which model did you go for?

Hi David, I went for the C Line Explore 6 speed, mid handlebars in Match Green.

Still trying to master the folding technique 😀

The bike mechanic did say yesterday that they had been having problems with the electric models and a few warranty claims re the electric side of things, so I would check it out 👍

 

 

[Hybrid21]

2 hours ago, Gerg said:

She's at least 50% to blame for this.

She let you go into Evans on your own - what ever was she thinking? 😁

I'd love a Brompton.  When I was very young I used to marvel at the ingenuity of it's predecessor, the Bickerton.   Only a museum piece now, literally, (e.g. Lakeland Motor Museum, Coventry Transport Museum, IIRC. )

Incidently, and a bit off-topic, Tom Karen, inventor of the Raleigh Chopper (some debate over this, a former senior designer at Raleigh says different, but still...) died last New Year's Eve.  He was also responsible for the Bond Bug, Reliant Scimitar GTE, the Leyland T45 Roadtrain and much more.  Quite an agile mind...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_Bug

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Scimitar

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leyland_T45_Roadtrain_tractor_unit_1988.jpg

All very meaningful to people of a certain age. 

 

Very interesting Greg 👍

[FROSTYBALLS]

Tom Karen (Ogle Design) was also responsible for the Aston Martin DBS V8 'Sotheby Special' in 1972:

[Cyker]

Pwoor! Now those sort of pictures should need an 18 certificate!!!   

 

 

[davidif]

4 hours ago, Hybrid21 said:

Hi David, I went for the C Line Explore 6 speed, mid handlebars in Match Green.

Still trying to master the folding technique 😀

The bike mechanic did say yesterday that they had been having problems with the electric models and a few warranty claims re the electric side of things, so I would check it out 👍

 

 

One of the reasons I’ve held off, I’m hoping for a MK2 version in the not too distant future with bugs ironed out 

[tfc]

I have a folding carrera crosscity ebike , I'm bit of a lazy git 😄

[Hybrid21]

A couple of pictures of my Brompton for your perusal 😃

 

 

 

[tfc]

Now that's a cool colour 👌

[Hybrid21]

Thanks John, that's what sold it for me when I seen it in the shop 👍

[Hybrid21]

Out a wee run on one of my other bikes this morning, great ride 👍

 

[Hybrid21]

Just managed to slot my wee Brompton (George) into my garage.

May need a bigger garage  🙂