Brompton: small wheels and shopping

Quoted message said:

One of the most important would be going faster at work. So I studied
my daily path, thinking about doing the same with the bike, and I
realized that there are two points to traverse which are too short and
encumbered of people to unfold the bike and pedal, nevertheless they
are pretty long and - I feel - very annoying to do with all the weight
on one arm.

The easiest way to move it for distances over, say, 30m is to unfold it
and wheel it. If it's someone's carpet they may object, but it's not
many places it's a problem IME.

If the wheels and the floor wouldn't mix next easiest is hook the saddle
over a shoulder and walk. The weight goes on your shoulder rather
than your arm getting longer. This is what I do for e.g. getting it up
staircases. The back hangs down so isn't in the way, it works very well.

Quoted message said:

So... I'm thinking about carrying the bike "trolley style" by using the
small little wheels and pulling around behind me.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

What can be best solution?

I personally use one of the two above. Just wheeling it in bicycle form
is usually the easiest way to get around places.

Quoted message said:

This brings this long post to... the second thing I'm thinking about
the chance to improve my life with that bike: going shopping with it.

Since I don't think I would never lock it outdoor (too expensive, and I
live in a bad zone) I'd like to bring it inside the supermarket with
me, hoping that it can be used as a shopping cart (!) by putting the
goods in the front carrier and pulling the bike semi-folded as above.
Can that be done easily and comfortably for regular and ordinary
shopping (I mean, replacing the usage of car for that!) or it is
uncomfortable and hard to do that?

It's /possible/, but I usually take mine in folded and leave it just
behind the security man or by the customer service desk where they're
happy to keep an eye on it. This wouldn't work if everyone tried it,
but everyone doesn't IME...

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/

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] writes

Quoted message said:

So... I'm thinking about carrying the bike "trolley style" by using the
small little wheels and pulling around behind me.

Quoted message said:

What can be best solution? I don't think I would use the back carrier
for anything else so I would avoid the cost and the extra weight if I
can do well without it.
Moreover, one of those methods can be effective in doing that or
they're still unconfortable?

I have an unmodified T3 and often wheel it fully folded for short
distances, holding onto the saddle - most frequently around office
corridors, supermarkets and shopping centres. Smooth floors and wide
aisles are a bonus. It can get rather tiring for my hand over long
distances.

If I need to go more than about 30 yards across rougher ground - ie, a
street or pavement, I unfold it and wheel it as I would a normal bike.
With practice the folding/unfolding action only takes a few seconds.

Quoted message said:

Since I don't think I would never lock it outdoor (too expensive, and I
live in a bad zone) I'd like to bring it inside the supermarket with
me, hoping that it can be used as a shopping cart (!) by putting the
goods in the front carrier and pulling the bike semi-folded as above.

Bromptons aren't very easy to move more than a few feet in the partially
folded mode, and could be even worse with a loaded basket, though I've
not tried this. They might also tip over very easily in this situation.
I've not tried to push a trolley and tow a folded Brompton either, but
it's probably doable. I usually just carry a basket and try to keep my
shopping to a minimum.

Quoted message said:

Can that be done easily and comfortably for regular and ordinary
shopping (I mean, replacing the usage of car for that!) or it is
uncomfortable and hard to do that?

When I was a student I cycled to the local supermarket, a couple of
miles away, on my touring/road type Peugeot bike and took a small
backpack. This held almost enough food to last me a week - can't imagine
how I managed it then as I'd never try it now.

Do you have the option of shopping online and having heavy or bulky
goods delivered, and leaving the bike shopping for smaller, perishable
goods?

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