Folding Bikes, Recumbent Bikes & Trikes, Cargo Bikes, Tandems, Custom Framebuilding
When Howard at Velovision Magazine suggested that I send him a custom Brompton to review, it seemed a good opportunity to build a test bike.
I didn’t want to go too experimental, this is a pretty normal Brompton with Rohloff hub and disc brakes.
One thing I have tried out is a TRP HY/RD disc brake, it’s an interesting design which uses a cable to pull a hydraulic piston which then operates the brakes. It’s too big to fit the back, but works nicely on the front.
A rare conversion, this aluminium-framed version of the Brompton was made by Merc I think. I replaced the very worn frame bushes, and fitted disc brakes and Rohloff hub.
This was a fun bike to build, with loads of upgrades – Rohloff hub and Hope discs of course, but also Brooks saddle and grips, Hope headset, SON lighting and some Brompfication upgrades.
This was a new chainset to try too, quite a retro look!
And the Cinq5 shifters:
People sometimes ask what my Brompton forks weigh, so here you go – first the normal Brompton forks:
Then my Brompton forks, with cast ends, cast crown, Columbus blades:
Apart from the paint, there’s nothing in it 😉
I really liked the colour combination of this one – a lovely bright blue Brompton with Rohloff hub and disc brakes.
I also filmed me folding it, to show how quick the folding is – identical to folding a normal Brompton:
An interesting, and quite difficult job this one – this frame was stripped and nickel plated to give a beautiful finish.
With red Rohloff hub gear and Hope hub at the front, and disc brakes.
A matching pair of Bromptons – custom paint, Rohloff hubs, SON lighting…
The advantage of stainless rear triangles is they can be left unpainted, just wire brushed.
This was an interesting project – a very modified Brompton:
The frame was repainted grey, and it got Rohloff hub and disc brakes, with a new design of integral rear carrier.
Lots of red anodised details, including a Hope headset.
These bikes were for a couple who wanted to upgrade their existing Bromptons with Rohloff hubs.
It’s possible to match Brompton frame colours so the new rear triangle I fit doesn’t look out of place.
I do a kit if you want to upgrade your bike yourself, or I’m very happy to do the fitting here.
Well, almost! This Brompton has a Sturmey Archer Duomatic rear hub which gives two gears and a brake with no cables – you backpedal a little bit to change gear, backpedal more to brake.
The front brake cable spoiled the look of the bike, so I ran it internally down through the stem.
