Brompton news

Tony Raven said:

All on Mike Hessey's Foldsoc website after last night launch
http://halffg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/foldsoc/news.html

Titanium extremities model for enthusiasts
New touring model

And, a single speed model. Oh, and, flat bars for the bloke who didn't
like the girly, curly bars. And, curlier, girlier bars for them that
does. And,... it sounds like there will be so many options that the
range will have gone from five to some large number I can't quite
calculate at the moment.

Colin

Tony Raven said:

All on Mike Hessey's Foldsoc website after last night launch
http://halffg.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/foldsoc/news.html

Titanium extremities model for enthusiasts
New touring model

I would be interested to see how the new models compare with the
Airnimal Chameleon and the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. I'm actively
considering buying something in that category for this summer.

Mike K Smith said:

I would be interested to see how the new models compare with the
Airnimal Chameleon and the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. I'm actively
considering buying something in that category for this summer.

At heart the Brompton will remain primarily a short range machine with
an optimum fold, titanium or no titanium. The BFPR and Chameleon are
primarily sports machines that happen to fold up with the smallest fold
requiring a bit of extra effort. There isn't much clear overlap with
the new Broms AFAICT.
Other bikes you might look at for performance with size reduction are
the Moulton R18, Birdy Black and the hot Dahons.

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 hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Mike K Smith said:

I would be interested to see how the new models compare with the
Airnimal Chameleon and the Bike Friday Pocket Rocket. I'm actively
considering buying something in that category for this summer.

I have a Brompton and a Pocket Rocket (the only real answer as I'm sure
you really know ;-) ). They are completely different tools. The B is
the commuting bike par excellence that folds quick and easy to take into
a train, taxi, tube, office or hotel. No locking up so no fear of theft
in a big city. The Bike Friday is the last machine I would use for a
commute but great for taking in the car/train/plane for long distance
rides. The fold is OK but the folded package ungainly (as is the
Airnimal with its detached front wheel). So if you are going on long
rides, get one of the latter two, for commuting and short trips, the
Brompton. Or get both ;-)

AVC behind the railway station in Bath has them all if you want to try
them out.

Tony

Colin Blackburn said:

And, a single speed model. Oh, and, flat bars for the bloke who didn't
like the girly, curly bars. And, curlier, girlier bars for them that
does. And,... it sounds like there will be so many options that the
range will have gone from five to some large number I can't quite
calculate at the moment.

Hmm flat bars eh. :-) Ive been completely turned around and I now like
the 'girly' bars. Went for a test ride today at BikeTrax - lovely machine.
But the L6 or T6? I cant decide.

Tony Raven wrote:
[Paean to the virtues of both Brompton and Pocket Rocket deleted for
reasons of brevity and jealousy]

Quoted message said:

AVC behind the railway station in Bath has them all if you want to try
them out.

I spoke to the AVC guys at the show in Islington last November. I'm
intending to get out to Bath next month to try out some bikes.

Mike

Peter Clinch said:

At heart the Brompton will remain primarily a short range machine with
an optimum fold, titanium or no titanium. The BFPR and Chameleon are
primarily sports machines that happen to fold up with the smallest fold
requiring a bit of extra effort. There isn't much clear overlap with
the new Broms AFAICT.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if Brompton were trying to move into the
foldable-sporty sector as well.

Quoted message said:

Other bikes you might look at for performance with size reduction are
the Moulton R18, Birdy Black and the hot Dahons.

I'll certainly include them in the list of bikes I want to test-ride.
Isn't the Moulton significantly dearer than the others?

stupot said:

Hmm flat bars eh. :-) Ive been completely turned around and I now like
the 'girly' bars. Went for a test ride today at BikeTrax - lovely machine.
But the L6 or T6? I cant decide.

I think the pannier is far more useful than a rack for carrying stuff,
so I never miss the rack on my L. I can throughly recommend the pannier
system on either.

The dynamo on the T is a worthwhile feature, though personally I've gone
for the dynohub route on mine. Schmidt's SON XS was designed with the
Brompton and similar in mind, so it'll work very well with it.

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 hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

I think the pannier is far more useful than a rack for carrying stuff,
so I never miss the rack on my L.

I occasionally use the rack for carrying large-ish cardboard boxes that
don't fit in the front pannier. The B. is rather good at load carrying.

Tony.
--
f.a.n.finch <[email hidden]> http://dotat.at/
: SOLE VARIABLE 3 OR 4 IN EAST AT FIRST, OTHERWISE SOUTHEAST 5 TO 7. RAIN IN
WEST. MODERATE OR GOOD.

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 17:03:43 +0100,

Peter Clinch said:

stupot said:

Hmm flat bars eh. :-) Ive been completely turned around and I now like
the 'girly' bars. Went for a test ride today at BikeTrax - lovely machine.
But the L6 or T6? I cant decide.

I think the pannier is far more useful than a rack for carrying stuff,
so I never miss the rack on my L. I can throughly recommend the pannier
system on either.

The dynamo on the T is a worthwhile feature, though personally I've gone
for the dynohub route on mine. Schmidt's SON XS was designed with the
Brompton and similar in mind, so it'll work very well with it.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I got a T3 and then "had" to get the
front pannier. The rack is occasionally useful but the pannier is so
easy if you will be folding and unfolding regularly.

Tim.

--
God said, "div D = rho, div B = 0, curl E = - @B/@t, curl H = J + @D/@t,"
and there was light.

http://tjw.hn.org/ http://www.locofungus.btinternet.co.uk/

Mike K Smith said:

I'll certainly include them in the list of bikes I want to test-ride.
Isn't the Moulton significantly dearer than the others?

You're probably thinking of the New Series, which is about five grand
(!), but the R18 is made by Pashley and is £995. Since the separable
frame is optional it may cost a bit more, but you're in the same area as
the Bike Friday and Airnimal.
The Moulton isn't a folder, it's a take-apart, but if you're going
somewhere and then reassembling for use this needn't be a Major Issue.

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 hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/