Any Brompton owners out there?

The year before last, after 50 years of never even thought of getting on a bike, I bought a KTM e-bike then swapped it for a Cube e-bike with a step through frame for ease of mounting and dismounting. I loved getting out in the fresh air and gently exercising my dodgy knees. However after a couple of ops, including a total knee replacement and another where I’m not really supposed to lift anything heavy, so I’ve sold the ebike and have bought a Brompton H6R with reduced gearing for getting up hills more easily, especially as I’m due a second TKR. 

So if there are any Brompton owners out there with any advice, my new Brompton arrives in four weeks!

P.S. I’m not colour blind!

Edited 29 April, 20188 yr by GeoffH
Typo

Yup, I've got a black M3L which I've had for over five years.  Absolutely love it.  It's mostly used for taking on holiday so MrsV6TDI can go for long walks and I can toddle along with her.  We've both got pedelec's for around and about when we're at home.

 

As to advice, go for the Schwalbe tyre option, I found the Brooks B17 saddle to be my saddle of choice, although they are a bit marmite and polarise opinions.  Never forget to nip up the hinge screws!!

 

Happy Bromptoneering!!

 

Gaz

 

PS: I like the colour   Reminds me of Applejack, from mini's in the 70's.

Edited 29 April, 20188 yr by V6TDI

I opted for the Schwalbe Marathon tyres because of their puncture resistance. I was going to go for a Brooks saddle but I felt I’d spent over £1100 and had to say “enough is enough “!   So I opted for the wider standard saddle and if I can’t get away with it I’ll buy a Brooks and keep the Brompton one to put back on the bike if I ever sell it. 

Have an older Brompton M3L with the Sachs 3 speed hub, been in my ownership for over twelve years. Fantastic bikes, the small scale appeals to me. Have taken mine abroad to Germany, Holland, France and Czech Rep on several occasions in the back of the car. Last year I bought a hard case for it and it flew with me to Keflavik for a few days in Reykjavik. Photo of my Brompton on tour below, it's nicknamed "Little Nellie". Enjoy your Brompton when it arrives.

 

Edited 1 May, 20188 yr by Zlin

19 hours ago, Zlin said:

Last year I bought a hard case for it.....

 

Oooh, so-oo tempting! 

I suppose the current five week estimate from ordering to delivery is better than a friend who bought one some years ago who waited three months!

I’m  getting impatient.... counting the days until it arrives.

 

On ‎02‎/‎05‎/‎2018 at 20:00, GeoffH said:

I suppose the current five week estimate from ordering to delivery is better than a friend who bought one some years ago who waited three months!

I’m  getting impatient.... counting the days until it arrives.

 

 

Best things come to those who wait etc etc etc :-)

I’m terrible, I walked into a bike shop and said ‘I’ll have that one ☝️ ‘. But then that’s pretty much what I did with the vRS. Patience - obviously not my strongest attribute! 

 

G

Edited 6 May, 20188 yr by V6TDI

I couldn’t find a “stock bike” with the reduced gearing for people with poorly knees who live in a hilly area, otherwise I’d have done what V6TDI did and walked into the shop and said I’ll have that one. 

Thank goodness my phone has navigation as I got lost in Sunderland on my test ride and had to use Satnav to get back to the bike shop!

Always wanted a Brompton but a bit difficult to justify the price (especially in Australia) and the number of times I would ride it as I have a few cycle options in the garage already.

Might be advising you how to suck eggs but with regard to your knee issues you might want to consider simple toe-clips if you were not already going with clipless ones to facilitate correct foot on pedal placement and knee orientation. 

The emphasis is then on cadence with lifting the rear foot rather pressing down more on the down pedal reducing pressure on the knee. It also develops the quadriceps that support the knee.

 

Did wonders for my knee issues.

Edited 4 May, 20188 yr by Gerrycan

1 hour ago, Gerrycan said:

Always wanted a Brompton but a bit difficult to justify the price (especially in Australia) and the number of times I would ride it as I have a few cycle options in the garage already.

Might be advising you how to suck eggs but with regard to your knee issues you might want to consider simple toe-clips if you were not already going with clipless ones to facilitate correct foot on pedal placement and knee orientation. 

The emphasis is then on cadence with lifting the rear foot rather pressing down more on the down pedal reducing pressure on the knee. It also develops the quadriceps that support the knee.

 

Did wonders for my knee issues.

 

Thanks for the advice. To be honest I’d never even thought about it... I’ll give it a go. 

?

Did you try one out well before ordering it?

 

In the past 10 months with my electric bike i have covered over 1,600 miles using it, 

and only about 300 cycling on my other pedal bikes.

 

My right leg is amputated above the knee and my left knee is pretty worn out. 

The electric bike has me easily doing 50 mile days on consecutive days, and now on the push bikes my own knee is sore or uncomfortable after a 15 mile ride, 

i used to do 40 mile cycles just a year ago, but having been riding the e-bike not only made me lazy, i have been enjoying riding more.

I used to use small quarter toe clips on bikes, but i stopped that years back and just used one on the left with my own foot until i found that causing knee pain.

Now i fit the widest pedals i can. Onza Trials or Wellgo pedals as i refuse to pay for Azonic Bigfoot pedals.

On my cheap not Brompton folding bike i use the same pedals, taking off the folding pedals it came with.

 

The best change in bikes for me has been the dropper seatposts, and being able to get on an seated as i want and change seat height as a ride if i feel my knee complaining.

For a light easy to transport bike i have a Diamondback Lumis Carbon Frame bike that i put in a soft back with the wheels and pedals removed.

 

Edited 4 May, 20188 yr by Offski

I did try it before I ordered it... I was offered a three -  four day test ride but was going on holiday so couldn’t take it for that length of time to had a decent demo ride. 

i loved my e-bikes but I felt although it got me cycling after approx a 50 year break it was too heavy to ride without assistance, especially the Cube. I will start  off on the flat with the Brompton and build up from there. 

 

When you ordered the bike I suspect you opted for the smaller 44 tooth chain wheel, howver on the cycling UK and Brompton forums there are owners who have swopped this out for a smaller chainwheel - 38 or even 36 teeth so you might want to google and see what you come up with. The conversion is not expensive and is easy to do, but you will need to shorten the chain.

 

Mine BTW is the P6R - P is the handlebar that gives me the opportunity to get down to it if windy in open spaces like, say, the Tissington trail, 6 is the number of gears, and it has a rear rack!

 

It also has the telescopic seat tube which allows removal of the saddle.I bought mine from On your Bike in Birmingham, and I took my other car (an MX5 MK3) round to see if the bike could be fitted into the boot! They spent quite a while experimenting, and came up with the seatpost option. In the Rapid, I remove the saddle and the bike then drops into the space behind the front passenger seat, surrounded by cardboard to protect the upholstery from sharp bits. Brommie owners will know that the fold is designed to keep the oily bits in the middle when folded, out of the way!

 

Expensive it was but yes, my saddle was quickly replaced with the Brooks B17 (a fetching honey coloured one), and I quickly replaced the rear bungy it with the softer version. Marathon tyres due to the main intended use - railway tracks, Forest of Dean trails and the like with loose surfaces so a bit of tread gives me confidence.

 

BTW avoid the Stratford Greenway if wet - even going up it on a frosty day will leave you struggling on your return journey when the path has thawed out. Why? Its clay, and it clags everything up, the mudguards if you have them, and you if you haven't!

Edited 23 August, 20187 yr by RMurphy195

I really love my H6R with reduced gearing. The bike has done amazing things to me.... I feel so much fitter and when people ask me about the bike and they say it’s expensive, I explain I’ve had a knee replacement and it’s my physiotherapy to keep my knee mobile and build up quadriceps AND it’s much better value and healthier than  paying membership of the local gym!

My only problem with the bike is I have to use the car to get out of our village as it’s a very hilly area. Anyway on a trip out, with bike in boot, I mentioned to SWMBO that I’d received the email from Brompton asking if I wanted to go on the waiting list for an Electric Brompton.... I nearly drove off the road with shock when she said “ order one... you don’t smoke drink, smoke or gamble and it’s doing you so much good, I’ll buy you one”. WOW! The result is I’ve just been notified my bike is being built this week. Unfortunately they only do black or white, but never mind the test ride in York convinced me. The thing now is whether to keep or sell the Apple Green Machine!

Well.... it’s arrived!

 

i have just just sold the Apple Green one and am now the proud owner of a white Electric Brompton, yet again with reduced gearing. 

My initial thoughts are the assistance is great but I need to find out when it is going to cut in and cut out. I find when starting off I sometimes need to use the brakes to tame it! The main downside is not having a power control on the handle bars..... the instructions say not to, but it is just possible to press the power button to change power level without falling off!!

I have only done 20 Miles and will post a more detailed report when I have used it more. 

P.S. I forgot to mention it’s easy to get wheelspin on gravelly inclines!