Folding Bikes - Slotted calipers for Brompton?

Lately, I've been thinking that having a slot in the cable-housing-holder part of the B's brake caliper would make the wheels a lot easier to remove. As I see it, there are two ways of accomplishing this:

1) Carve a slot into the stock holder (with a Dremel and a very steady hand); or

2) Replace the stock calipers with Bacchetta front calipers (http://calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=124&idproduct=848) (which have both the underhand routing and the slot).

So, has anybody tried either option? If so, how did it work out?

TIA,

ECB

P.S. I'm not affiliated with Bacchetta or Calhoun.

Does the Bacchetta brake have the correct reach and mounting bolt length?

Does the Bacchetta brake have the correct reach and mounting bolt length?

Excellent point: I'm not sure. Plus, judging from the Calhoun photos, it has a recessed bolt, as opposed to a nutted one. Not an insuperable problem, but still....I may have to call Calhoun and ask.

I'm a bit reluctant to start Dremelling my calipers, but it might end up being the best approach.

ECB

Well, I got my answer...

I just phoned Calhoun and got one of their tech reps. The reach on the Brompton calipers is 61 mm (with the pads pretty much maxed out in their downward adjustment); the reach on the Bacchetta calipers is 55 mm. So, the Bacchetta is a no-go. :(

Unsurprisingly, the tech rep also recommended against slotting the holder myself. I'm inclined to wonder, though, how much of that advice is (understandable) legal butt-covering on his part, and how much of it stems from how compromised the caliper might be by the Dremelling.

Could there really be such a negative effect, though? After all, Bacchetta's supplier (Tektro, IIRC) would have had to perform the same basic cutting operation in making those calipers.

ECB

Why would you want to take out the front wheel of your Brompton unless you have a puncture ?And then it's easy..Same with the back..

Why would you want to take out the front wheel of your Brompton unless you have a puncture ?And then it's easy..Same with the back..

Your point is well-taken. As it is, though, the B's brake arrangement obligates you to deflate the tire before removing it, and inflate the tire after putting it back. The latter can be a real nuisance, as I can attest from my experience earlier today. I struggled with a mini-pump after changing the tube / before trying to remount the rear wheel, only to find I had to let the air out and start all over again. :bang:

Not to mention the need to change/sand brake blocks, and switch tires, from time to time--processes which are made more convenient by being able to take the wheel out directly.

ECB

Hey ECB, just saw this thread. I thought about this before but shelved the idea for another time and instead went looking for a brake caliper replacement, with no success so far. Like you I am tired of taking off the brake pad or deflating the tire when I have to take it off. In case you go through with the dremelling, please post pics!

Ok, a question, on a standard Brompton fitted with skinny Schwalbe Stelvios do you still need to deflate the tyre or remove the brake blocks to take out and replace the wheels????

...Not to mention the need to change/sand brake blocks, ... processes which are made more convenient by being able to take the wheel out directly.

ECB
Hm, for changing/sanding the blocks, I find it more convenient to leave the wheels where they are and just push the refills out of their holders by unscrewing the little brake block screw.

Hm, for changing/sanding the blocks, I find it more convenient to leave the wheels where they are and just push the refills out of their holders by unscrewing the little brake block screw.

My M3L came stock with the one-piece pads; I've actually just ordered some of those two-piece dealies. Hopefully, I'l be able to swap the pads around soon.

ECB

Ok, a question, on a standard Brompton fitted with skinny Schwalbe Stelvios do you still need to deflate the tyre or remove the brake blocks to take out and replace the wheels????

Can't be of much help there, I'm afraid; I've only got experience with the Brompton yellow-label tires.

ECB

......Schwalbe Stelvios do you still need to deflate the tyre or remove the brake blocks to take out and replace the wheels????

Today I've had a front, then a rear, wheel puncture, so, since every cloud has a silver lining, here's an opportunity to show you if fitting a Stelvio without removing a brake block is possible.............

As can be seen, it's a trifle damp around here currently.

Caveat emptor:

this Brompton has been ridden about 2000 kms since end of August, so there is some wear on the front pads (I rarely use the rear brake)......

ICR how much extra material there was on the Fibrax brake pad 3 months ago, so no idea if this would work on a new bike.

the Stelvio is pumped to about 6 bar.

a Stelvio goes past the blocks just fine :-)

HTH,

john

That bike looks like a neat archaeological find John. Where was it dug up? How long had it been buried? Is it Roman or Anglo Saxon, and were there any weapons or bones found with it?

:)

That bike looks like a neat archaeological find John. Where was it dug up? How long had it been buried? Is it Roman or Anglo Saxon, and were there any weapons or bones found with it?

:)

LOL ;-)))

That's a tough one EvilV, but I think it originated from Londinium.

I've now cleaned it up (mud Lactodorum circa 2008, bones mine, more or less virgo intacto), & it looks like "July 2008" in fact ;-)

When I cleaned up the rear stays, where I see the brake pads have much more material, I tried the Stelvio wheel on that, & although a bit harder to do, it also squeezed through the pads ok.

I was about to put on the original front wheel when I spotted the bearings are like a bag of nails! That wheel was only on a couple of weeks before I swapped it for the Stelvio tyred spare wheel I bought, & I only fitted it again last week, for winter conditions, so maybe it wasn't well greased, or perhaps overtightened when new. Fixing that is the next job.