Brompton luggage carrying options

Quoted message said:

Has anyone successfully fitted a rear rack to a Brompton other than the
ones that they specify?

Don't know, but let's start at the beginning, or rather the front, and
ask if you've considered the front mount pannier? The reason they're
/very/ well thought of is they're astoundingly good: quicker and easier
to mount and dismount than pratting about with a rack, they're simply a
very good bit of design.

Quoted message said:

Also has anyone towed a BOB trailer with a Brompton before? Is it
possible to get the special nuts to fit a C type 3 speed hub?

I'm pretty sure this has been done. Give Darth Ben a call at Kinetics
as he deals with both Bromptons and Bobs and is the sort of chap who can
tell you /exactly/ what you'll need.

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:

The reason they're
/very/ well thought of is they're astoundingly good: quicker and easier
to mount and dismount than pratting about with a rack, they're simply a
very good bit of design.

I'll second that wholeheartedly. I got the S-bag cos it has loads of
extra pockets and compartments, and I find it generally more useful
than the panniers I use on my other bike.

d.

davek said:

Peter Clinch wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'll second that wholeheartedly. I got the S-bag cos it has loads of
extra pockets and compartments, and I find it generally more useful
than the panniers I use on my other bike.

Thirded. The front bags and basket are all great and are worth the
money though i can't decide which of the 4 options is best. The s-bag
seems the best made but is not necessarily the most useful. Basket in
great for shopping. Basic front bag (rather than touring) is perfect
for everyday use. Go see them all in the flesh if you can rather than
buying mail order.

We rarely use the rear racks. Anything too wide or too far forward and
you hit your heels on it. Also, because of the small wheels on the
Brommie, anything you do put on the back gets shaken to bits. It also
means you cant quickly park the bike. Ours get used for a lock or
maybe a coat. If i was buying again i'd probably not bother with them
and would get an extra bag for the front to give more options. Needing
to carry more luggage than that i'd supplement with a rucksack.

Quoted message said:

The s-bag
seems the best made but is not necessarily the most useful. Basket in
great for shopping. Basic front bag (rather than touring) is perfect
for everyday use.

Which bag suits you best really depends on your requirements - for
small shopping errands the basket would be perfect, though the basic
bag has the advantage that it can be closed, which might be handy if
you are carrying stuff that needs to be kept dry.

For commuting to work, the S-bag is probably best because of the extra
compartments and pockets - very useful for things like keys, pens,
phone, newspaper, etc. However, it does have a bit less capacity than
the other options.

Of course, if money were no object, I'd buy one of each type without
hesitation...

d.

davek said:

Which bag suits you best really depends on your requirements - for
small shopping errands the basket would be perfect, though the basic
bag has the advantage that it can be closed, which might be handy if
you are carrying stuff that needs to be kept dry.

Which is why I have the bag. Though it is often in "basket mode",
simply by tucking the flap down into the pannier. The two pockets on
the back are handy, aside from anything else in easy reach for
water/snacks on the move.

Quoted message said:

For commuting to work, the S-bag is probably best because of the extra
compartments and pockets - very useful for things like keys, pens,
phone, newspaper, etc. However, it does have a bit less capacity than
the other options.

There is a document holder in the standard bag and the two pockets on
the back. If you don't need more than that then simpler is probably better.

Quoted message said:

Of course, if money were no object, I'd buy one of each type without
hesitation...

Indeed...

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/

Thanks for your input everyone!

I'll look into the front luggage system some more!

The twin screw mount point just seems so small on the head tube. Is it
really up to large loads (within reason)?

Is the handling of the bike affected by the raised C of G when carrying
a heavy load in this manner?

I will see what Kinetics have to say too!

Regards,

Nick

On 16 Jun 2006 07:22:07 -0700 someone who may be
[email hidden] wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

I'll look into the front luggage system some more!

The twin screw mount point just seems so small on the head tube. Is it
really up to large loads (within reason)?

Yes.

Quoted message said:

Is the handling of the bike affected by the raised C of G when carrying
a heavy load in this manner?

It is improved slightly.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

On 16 Jun 2006 03:47:29 -0700 someone who may be [email hidden]
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

We rarely use the rear racks. Anything too wide or too far forward and
you hit your heels on it.

You do hook the elasticated cords behind the little pips on the
casting, which are a good indication of how far forward the load can
be without obstructing things.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Quoted message said:

The twin screw mount point just seems so small on the head tube. Is it
really up to large loads (within reason)?

It's a mounting point for a rather more substantial block, and the whole
thing /is/ up to large loads. There is a picture somewhere on the
Interweb of a chap taking a large storage heater around on one...

Quoted message said:

Is the handling of the bike affected by the raised C of G when carrying
a heavy load in this manner?

If it's very heavy it does get worse, but not unmanageably so. For
typical loads it makes no difference.

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/

Quoted message said:

I'll look into the front luggage system some more!

Very wise. :-)

One thing to bear in mind is that the Brompton-branded bags will seem
expensive, but, like the bikes themselves, to compare them with cheaper
merchandise may be misleading...

To illustrate the point, I was caught in a very heavy downpour a couple
of weeks ago and was amazed on getting home to find that the contents
of my S-bag were still perfectly dry. That's well worth paying a little
extra for.

d.

[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your input everyone!

Quoted message said:

I'll look into the front luggage system some more!

Quoted message said:

The twin screw mount point just seems so small on the head tube. Is it
really up to large loads (within reason)?

Yes, no problem.

Quoted message said:

Is the handling of the bike affected by the raised C of G when carrying
a heavy load in this manner?

YOUR C of G is much higher than any Brompton bag... (usually just above
the saddle)

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

On 16 Jun 2006 07:22:07 -0700 someone who may be
[email hidden] wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

The twin screw mount point just seems so small on the head tube. Is it
really up to large loads (within reason)?

To add a little more to my last reply. The screws only take part of
the load and are fine for normal loads. It is worth putting thread
locking compound on them if going over a lot of bumpy ground.

Anyone carrying abnormal loads can put a jubilee clip through the
block if they wish.

There are some alternative brackets for carrying larger loads. Some
Bromptons have carried laser printers and similarly heavy items for
a few miles.

Quoted message said:

Is the handling of the bike affected by the raised C of G when carrying
a heavy load in this manner?

The Brompton is far better for many large and heavy loads than most
large wheeled bikes. The load is carried much lower down and thus it
is more stable.

Using a suitable rack at the front and the rack at the rear the
Brompton can carry surprisingly large and/or heavy loads. Because of
the step-through design it is far easier to mount with such loads.
Obviously not the bike for doing long Alpine descents with such
loads, because the wheels are likely to overheat, but fine for a few
miles.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Just got a chance to read all replies.

Thanks for your helpful advice everyone!!

Regards,

Nick