Wavshrdr

It seems I have almost every decent folder available in the US except a Brompton or Birdy. I'd rather have a GO Bike than a Birdy so I'll pass on it for now. However I am intrigued by the Brompton only for its mini size. So I've pretty much decided to buy one and now I have a few questions from those who know them pretty well.

1.) What is the best all around model? I think a basic 3spd drivetrain is about the most cost effective option as the 6spd doesn't increase the gear range a whole lot.
2.) Is it worth getting the rear rack? It’s pretty expensive and it seems like a front bag on the QR mount would be a better option anyway.
3.) How much better components do you get as you go up in the model range? No matter what I will most likely replace the stock tires so that isn't a factor. All the brakes seemed mediocre at best.
4.) Anything I should get upfront as it might be difficult to change later such as any option that appears to be a must have?
5.) What size seat post does this take? Any good options for seats OTHER than from Brompton?
6.) Anyone else besides Brompton make accessories for these? If so who and where in the US?
7.) Anybody discount them at all?

I am most seriously considering the base model that has a 3 spd int. hub. I would then probably add a front QR mount and some bag that I haven't determined yet. I would then add fenders and upgrade the tires. I will use a QR rack off the seat post if I need extra capacity. This seems like the most cost effective way to go. Any flaws with this plan? It will be only used as a city commuter. No long trips but maybe some grocery errands. Any suggested upgrades to this model?

Thanks! With any luck I might be ordering one tomorrow. BTW, I love my Swift and it is far and away my favorite folder but I see one application where the Brompton would be very useful for me. For my primary folder it makes too many compromises but for client that I support it would be ideal.

LWaB

The 6sp can be hotrodded to increase the gear range, try Highpath Engineering. I like the reduced gaps between gears on the 6sp.
The Brompton front QR bag is the only way to go. The rack is OK but not really worth it. Any aftermarket rack or bag is significantly less useful.
Except for the bottom of the range C3 - any Brompton has decent tyres and the components don't really improve in quality through the models, just more titanium bits. Stay away from the C3, if you can.
The seats can be replaced by anything you prefer on the standard post, fit the optional titanium post/ fork/ swingarm for reduced weight.
Nobody discounts Brompton, why should they? They sell every one they produce and there is a waiting list...

spambait11

When I was looking, many told me the 6 speed was the best compromise. If you get a 3 speed, many also suggest getting the base 3 speed that is not the C-type; their reasoning is that the C-type does not come with a quality wheelset, for the most part.


The front carrier block is awesome! I have the basket and love just shoving things in there. My 6spd did not come with a rear rack, but I woudln't use it anyway. However, the main advantage I see for having one is that in its folded state, it seems much easier to drag-roll because of the wheels; can't do this very well the models which don't have the rear rack. The main penalty is most likely weight.


Don't know, but Brompton uses many proprietary parts. Also when I changed to Kool Stop Salmons, I had to cut the end of the bolt down otherwise it would affect my folding. If you can put up with stuff like that, then you're good. Also brake and derailleur cables have non-standard (i.e. small) head sizes.


Titanium bits and parts. Longer bolts so that your frame clamps don't accidentally unscrew themselves. Pedals. Seat. Some dealers even offer Schlumpf drive options.


You know, someday I'm going to compare this to a Dahon seatpost as they seem to be the same size. Anyway, as long as you have the pentaclip (I think that's what they call it nowadays), you can fit any double rail saddle.


I would just make sure I could obtain the bits - fenders, etc. - as you just can't go anywhere and ask for Brompton parts.

And as always, although they say 16" wheels, they're closer to 18".

Wavshrdr

Thanks so far to the replies. It has helped a lot. I was considering the "C" type as it would just be a limited use bike. BUT...having said that, do they really cheap out on it a lot? If so, then I'll go to something better. I don't like the "S" or "P" bars so I'd go with the "M" model. I can't really find a matrix that breaks down the differences between models.

More detail on why NOT to buy the "C" type would be appreciated. Thanks!

easy racer

I'll give you an idea of the spec you get with C3, compared to the M3L.

1.There is no folding pedal.
2.They use a lower quality chainset.
3. No mudguards.
4. Very poor tyres - Though, you did mention you would change those anyway...
5. Very poor brakes - Even the dual pivot ones on the more expensive range, I think, are only just adequate!

Buying many of these upgrades later to make a C3 into a M3L, is a much more expensive options. So I would seriously consider if you could live without them, or whether it would get enough use to worry about these little extras.

Andy
P.S. I know all about spending too much on trying to upgrade a Brompton, as I have spent £800GBP on a standard M3L in an attempt to make it into a 'Better' Brompton (work in progress).

easy racer

Just to illustrate the financial point a little more succinctly:

A C3 = £380 GBP
A M3L = £480 GBP
C3 upgrades to M3L = £137.48 (this excludes the upgrade to new tyres, which costs another £19.50 GBP, so true total = £156.98).

Andy

yangmusa

Ok, you've made my advice a little redundant.. But anyway, I was going to say that I seem to remember you're a tall guy and hence I don't think the S-bars would be tall enough. I'm 6'4" and felt that they were just too low by about 1" for comfortable long distance use. Unlike you though, I much prefer the look of the S-type, so I won't be shopping Bromton any time soon (although otherwise I'd be sorely tempted..)

Magnus

Wavshrdr

Again thanks to all of the replies so far, they have been very helpful.
Easy Racer- I appreciate the points.
1. I don't care about getting 1 folding pedal. I was going to replace both with pedals I like better and already have (QR MKS) so that doesn't matter too much.
2. For the drivetrain It looks like on the "C" model I saw it was a Sturmey Archer hub though the literature said it should be a SRAM. I can't tell if it is the exact same SA model as the other ones though.
3. I want mud guards. +50$
4. Even on the upgraded M model, I'd need to upgrade tires anyway. The stock tires aren't great anyway on either model. it is a wash for money as I'd have to do it on both.
5. Brakes are poor either way.

In the US the C models is $650 and the next cheapest M or L model is about $899. So if I put the fenders on the C model and upgrade the tires, I'll have about $740 in it. I'd need to upgrade brakes and I have no idea what Brompton specific brakes cost so lets say another $80 max. So then I have $820 in it. However I would need to upgrade the brakes on the other Brommies as well and the tires too. So that puts me close to $1020 for an upgraded M or L. So the net effect is they are still about $200 more.

I like the looks of the S bars the best but they are too low for me and I also can't fit a big bag on the front carrier. That is my favorite looking Brommie but least practical for me. I really wanted to like the P bars but they are too narrow and felt totally uncomfortable to me.

While the C only comes in red and it isn't my favorite color I could live with it. I really don't like the brakes at all on any of the ones I tried. My children's $80 bikes I bought years ago at a toy store felt like they had better brakes. Who makes good brakes for these things that don't cost a fortune? Maybe I could live with them as I am not going to use it every day but in reality maybe once or twice a week and an occassionaly trip to Europe.

Thanks again for all the input it has really helped me define what would be best for my needs. I can see that buying the M model could be a better choice IF I fundamentally like the brakes and tires but I felt they needed replacing too so that negates some of its benefits.

Wavshrdr

As a follow up I just found a C model for $500. It looks like it was ridden maybe 1 or 2 times. It is the current model. Is this a reasonable price for a "used" model. It was a display model apparently. I don't know the resale value of Brommies but this seems like it would be a great opportunity to try them out and see if I really like them. The price is firm but it seems like a no-brainer as I could take the savings and upgrade what I don't like quite easily and still come in less than the price of the normal "C" model.

jasong

The used ebay Bromptons I've seen have sold for within 10% of new price, so I'd say $500 is worth it. PS - If you don't want that $500 model, tell me more about it, as I would probably do it.

Also, I'm in the same boat as you as wanting a folder that will fold really small. I have a downtube now. I don't think Iwould buy the more expensive ones for your same reason. The gearing on the better ones isn't that great. I've really looked into trying to upgrade the 3 speed with the new SunRace 8 speed internal hubs, but posting in the Yahoo brompton's group, others are saying that will be difficult due to maximum cog size that can fit in the space in the back, and the cogs that are available for the 8 speed internal hub.

The schlumpf system seems to get over these issues, but is so much money.

Wavshrdr

Thanks for the info. I can't see the 6spd as it isn't really a big upgrade. I think the base C model will work. So it seems for that price I wouldn't get killed on selling it if I absolutely hate it. I definitely would like more gear range but I could live with the 3spd for now until something comes available (if ever) that would work. The Schlumpf is a sweet solution but then it gets even more expensive as you have to buy the special Brommie parts for it driving it over and above the "normal" Schlumpf price. The upgrade would cost more than the bike. I can't really see doing that either.

If I don't buy the bike I'll let you know where it is at. I am going back again right now to spend more time on it.

spambait11

I'm guessing you're at Calhoun. As far as price goes, they're the best I've seen on the net, but I've seen B.'s goes cheaper locally through Craigslist. Of course it's not the best solution if you're in a hurry.

Anyway, as far as upgrades go, I've read the main difference between the C-type wheelset and the other models is that they used a cheaper rim and galvanized – as opposed to stainless steel - spokes (granted this info was a few years ago). I'd check to see if the C-type wheelsets have changed. If so, no problem. But if not, one upgrade I'd seriously consider is to have those wheels rebuilt with better spokes.

Also, last I read, B. was going to use both SRAM and SA as sources for their hubs.

folder fanatic

Hello all. I will report on this with my own Brompton C-Type or CE3. I was about to purchase a Brompton M type at around 900 US dollars back in December of 2005 (6 weeks ago as of this writing). I went for this model instead for these reasons:

The C type served my needs the best as it appeared to the the most flexible one available with the ability to be upgraded at purchase or at a later date. I bought the folding pedal at purchase (I am glad I did-I use it alot when folded).

I have the rear rack on my Dahon. I used it only 2 times in the 2 years that I had it. I use more bags-the Brompton's QR bags in the front offer me more options to carry a wide range of things. I will purchase one of my choice in the future when needed.

The components are quite adequete for my purposes. The spokes never came loose and the hubs are the same as the upper models as far as I can see.

The offerings that Brompton has for seatposts-check out the telescoping one!-is far more than most will need or even want even if you are big or tall.

I was informed that I will be able to upgrade at a later date if I choose-and alot of things that I thought I needed turned out to be not so.

As far as accessories go, I use a wide variety of things I pick up for next to nothing-especially bags to tote the bike in.

My brakes are fine. They perform flawlessly. I don't know why people don't like them.

My C type will be upgraded in steps as I get the finances to do so. The fenders I do not need all the time so I will use the SKS clip-ons for that. The saddle will be upgraded within the year to a sprung Brooks. The plastic shifter I hate so I will replace it with a traditional S-A metal one in 2 weeks.

As you can see, the C type might not be the fanciest model on display, but it is the most flexible as you can add more options as you need them-or not. You might not so easy change something like the color of the bike, but you usually can learn to live with it as it is not critical to the bike's perfomance. I saved over 200 US dollars even new and I am very happy with my bike and would not sell it for the world. I do not understand why anyone would.

Wavshrdr

Well it's a done deal now. I now am the (proud?) owner of a C type Brommie. Actually make that 2. I also picked up the front bag (cloth pannier) and clip mount. I'll order fenders for them and I should be set for a while. After looking at them closely I may pick up a M6R-Plus model. It would have most everything I need for even moderate touring.

Thanks for all the input. I am sure this will be another learning experience. I will probably upgrade the seats and tires immediately. I'll go on a 10-15mile ride tomorrow if we don't get any more snow and see how they are for more than a test ride.

BruceMetras

Nice!... try to resist the temptation to follow your son over the whoopies this time, you're on 16" wheels!

Bruce

folder fanatic

Please let us-other C type owners and potential ones-know how you are doing with your new 2 (purchased at the same time???) Bromptons when you get a chance, Wavshrdr.

Wavshrdr

Yes, I bought 2. They will make nice bookends when I am not riding them. What else are those tiny little tires for?

Actually just went for a ride with my kids. One of the reasons I bought 2 of them is because of them. Yes Bruce, I avoided the whoop-de-doos. No chance doing a table top jump or clearing a double on these tiny little wheels. As luck would have it got my first flat in a long time. Now I get to learn how to change the tire on the rear on the little Brompton. I definitely don't hate the stock tires but I don't love them either. I will put some Schwalbe on there as soon as I can get some ordered.

All in all I must say they aren't terrible bikes BUT it has whetted my appetite to maybe plunk down the cash for the M6R-Plus. I can definitely tell you that while the stock handelbars on the "C" are ugly as sin, they are pretty comfy. I was just too big to be comfortable on the "S" bars though I like the looks of them better. If I could find the "S" bars in about a 2 inch wider width I'd go that route (maybe). So far I appreciate what makes the Brompton unique but I can't say that I "enjoy" it too much yet. It is more like an appliance to me. My Swift has an emotional connection that says "I am not only useful but fun!"

Now that is just my initial impression. I am reserving judgement until I spend more time on it. Today it was cold and strong winds but no snow on the bike paths. Today would be a great day to hate a bike if you didn't like it. I definitely would like a greater range of gears than what it has but the 6spd might not be quite enough. My kids are already manuevering for position for who gets one of the Bromptons. My one son inherited my DT and he absolutely isn't interested. It has become a BMX bike to him. It is built like a tank so I don't worry about it getting broken but he likes the Brompton. I definitely don't like that the handlebar stems don't adjust for height. A major minus in my book. Seat isn't very good either but overall all it isn't a bad bike. I honestly don't think that if I had boughten a base M,P or S model that it would have changed my fundamental impression of the bike. So far the running gear feel pretty good other than I don't like any of the brakes on any of the Bromptons I tried.

Anyway I'll keep my observations posted here as I go. I plan on riding again later today after I fix the flat. Hopefully it will get up to about 20F by then and if the winds get below 20mph I'll be happy. I got a bad windburn earlier today but such is life here if you want to bicycle as much as possible. I'd still rather ride outside in the cold than sit on trainer and feel like a hamster on a treadmill!

Wavshrdr

I have had a chance to spend more time on the Brompton tonight. For comparison I rode with my oldest son. He took our Dahon Boardwalk with rear derailleur along for comparison. We swapped off several times so I could get a back to back feel. I didn't take my Swift for comparison as it is definitely in a different class.

Gearing - I don’t like the gearing on the Brompton BUT for an internal hub it seems pretty efficient. Gear changes are good (not as good as my Nexus 8spd hubs) and overall engagement feels good. I definitely would like a wider range but overall I can’t fault the mechanism. I guess in some ways I am already spoiled by the hub on my Swift. If I had a wider range on the Brommie I could live with it for what I plan on using it for. I wouldn’t mind a slightly lower gear as overall the gears are taller (more gear inches) than I need for the hills that I will be potentially commuting in. I am willing to trade off top speed for betting climbing ability. Out of 10 points, I’d give it a 6.5 (mostly due to the limited range). Now if I could only fit the Nexus 8spd in here I would be TRULY happy.

Chassis – All in all it doesn’t feel as small as it is. This is the part that I respect the most about it. It really isn’t twitchy at all. It is maneuverable and relatively stable. No apparent flexing of the frame (and I am big guy). The rear elastomer does a decent job of acting as a shock. I wouldn’t mind a firmer one. Anyone know of a company that makes these in stiffer (higher durometer) versions? Even at pretty high speeds it felt pretty good. I’d give it a 8 out of 10.

Brakes – Initial impressions were more favorable than later one and they weren’t good to begin with. I think dragging my feet would slow me better than the stock brakes on the C model. The M and P I rode didn’t seem much better. Any tricks for setting these up better or better pads? My son actually drug his feet one time to stop more quickly. These far and away are the worst part of the bike and seriously mar a pretty decent overall package. If I had a serious downhill and I had my bag loaded I’d really need to watch braking distances. I’d give it 1 out of 10. Actually it should be negative compared to other brakes. Even the Dahon Boardwalk would out brake the Brommie. I only gave it a one because they are slightly better than grabbing on to passing objects. Maybe a stick through the spokes would be more effective...

Tires/wheels – Tires WILL be upgraded soon but not as terrible as I first thought but not much better either. It seems to roll better than the crap rubber Dahon puts on the Boardwalk. On the plus side the tires don’t transmit a huge amount of shock especially coupled with the rear suspension. I did get a flat on my first relatively long ride. I hope this isn't an omen of things to come. I give it a 6.5/10.

Bars, seat and controls – I have non-folding pedals and they are ok. Handlebars aren’t too bad, ugly but functional. Not easy to adjust brake levers. They look ugly but don’t feel too bad in my hands. Grips are sort of a semi-hard plastic but not terrible. Seat truly sucks. I haven't felt something worse in a long time. Truly “ugly but functional” would sum up my opinion of the controls in general. 7/10 points. It should be worse but seats are often a very personal choice. Did I already say the seat sucks?

Ergonomics – Feels more short-coupled than my Swift and my Dahons. I definitely need to get the longer set stem.. Bars definitely help out. All in all I was surprisingly comfortable. I would like to be stretched out a bit more but I could actually tolerate it for about 10 miles without much issue. I might be able to go longer after I get a longer seatpost and a better seat. 8/10 points.

Accessories – Brompton has their kit pretty well sorted out. The front bag is awesome. Goes on a little block and comes off quite easily but doesn’t rattle while there. It would definitely be drag aerodynamically but since it will be a commuter bike it isn’t a major concern for me. All the accessories I have seen have been good quality but pricey. I have the 22liter cloth pannier. Definitely a nice bag. I looked at the rack an it is nice too but very spendy. Accessories are where Brompton really shines. 9/10 points.

Ride and drive – Climbs quite well. Better than Boardwalk and would be even better with lower gears. Surprisingly fast and stock tires don’t do it justice. Bad roads around me but I was very impressed with how it handled them. For tiny tires they did a great job. Not at as good as my Swift but better than the Boardwalk. Just for the record, my Dowtube handles the bad roads in my area of all the folders I own but it is fully suspended and it shows. The more time I spend on it the more I appreciate it normal handling. It isn’t fun like my Swift (nor does it feel as efficient) but it is MUCH better than my Boardwalk. I can’t see myself touring on it but I could do fairly length day trips IF I had more gear range. 7/10 points. Upgrade the tires and the overall package would improve to probably an 8.

Fold – This where Brompton owns the market. It is a compact fold and that is why I bought it. If you need something this small then you have few choices. It is not a super fast fold though. You have to twiddle a lot of bits and do several folds but it does get to a compact package. I can fold my Swift and Dahon much more quickly but obviously not as small. I’d give it 9/10 points.

Fit and finish – Generally good. Maybe they cheaped out on some parts since it is their cheapest model but all in all pretty good. Some parts could be better such as the seat but running gear seems ok. It looks like they used galvanized spokes and not stainless. Maybe the rear derailleur isn’t as good (but it felt fine). Paint was nice and doesn’t seem easy to chip but time will tell. I’d give it 7.5/10.

Value – This is very subjective obviously. If you weight compact folded size highly then you will think it is a great value. First and foremost though for me it needs to be a good bicycle as if I want ultra-compact transportation I’ll use my Xootr scooter which isn’t much slower than a lot of bicycles in traffic and sometimes faster. All in all I think the Brompton has a very good basic chassis. Even though I went with the entry level version, the Brompton is NOT an inexpensive bicycle. I generally think it is a good value given its basic goodness, compact fold and numerous accessories. I don’t think the more expensive ones are a better value. The components on mine seem generally decent except where previously mentioned. Overall value is 8 out of 10.

In Conclusion - I will most likely sell one of my C types and buy a more loaded M type to get some of the better accessories that I want rather than rebuilding this model. I want more gear range and it’s not cost effective to add a Schlumpf. I want a rack and to add it is pretty spend after the fact IF I want the factory rack and I do. I added a clamp on rack today but the factory one would suit my needs better because I could add the little skateboard wheels and push it rather than carry it at times. I could definitely use the greater range of the 6 spd. I also want better tires. So what I will most likely do is get a M6R-Plus and upgrade its tires and put the ones that came on it on one of my C types. I may also upgrades its brakes and then put its slightly better (but still mediocre) brakes on one of my C types as well. This way I get several upgrades for the price of one. My kids absolutely loved the Bromptons. They rated it much higher in fun to ride than the Boardwalk and about even with the Downtube.

Out of all my folders here is how I would rank them.

1.) Swift (by a wide margin).
2.) Bike Friday – Great bike but definitely spendy.
3.) Dahon Gotham City – Brompton in a tie
4.) Dahon SpeedPro (but very fragile in my book so I sold it when I started my Swift project)
5.) Downtube (built like a tank and great all rounder)
6.) Dahon Boardwalk (far and away the cheapest but not that far behind some of the others. Amazing value but not as good as current pricing with respect to a Downtube.

If I had to have only 1 folder it would be the Swift, no questions asked. If I lived in a small cramped apartment AND I had to ride a subway every day then I’d probably buy a kitted out Brompton. For traveling it would be a tough choice. I know I can easily tour on the Swift AND with a little disassembly it will fit into my suitcase. Ditto for the BF and Gotham. Brompton is very packable but I don’t know how it would be for longer tours but commuting in European cities or on the Tube it would be in its element. Downtube is a great all around bike but the fully suspended version is a little heavy for me to want to pack often in a suitcase.

So at this point I have now definitely narrowed in on the folders I want to keep. Fortunately I can keep them all as it is easy to justify them with kids around. I’d sell the Boardwalk but it is great for guests to use and if they crash it. It makes a great “beater” folder. The Brompton will not fit as wide a range of riders as the Dahons will out of the box.

In summary I am pleased with my purchase. It is good bike in many respects and most people could be quite happy with it (the C type base model) IF they don’t need a wide gear range, can live without fenders, like the stock seat, aren’t too tall and can tolerate the mediocre brakes. In return they will get a good chassis that rides surprising well, folds to a very compact package and is reasonably fast. Anyone buying the C type should seriously think about upgrading the tires and brakes and possibly the seat.

As I spend more time on it I will continuously update my observations. If anyone has suggestions for good seats for this bike as well as better brakes please post them soon. These are two areas I must address immediately.

LWaB

To stiffen the rear suspension, just fit a jubilee clip (hose clamp) around the rubber block.

Fear&Trembling

Wavshrdr,

I assume the brakes on the C series are single pivot. If so, I can only recommend dumping them. Get the newer Brompton dual pivot type - this provides far better braking performance (but still not as good as properly adjusted V-Brakes).

If you want fast rolling tyres in the 349 size - see if you can squeeze on a pair of Greenspeed Scorchers.

Wavshrdr

LWaB and F&T- thanks for the tips. I'll get a hose clamp today and try that out. I'll see what I can do about tires. Definitely need something that rolls better. As for brakes I assume the only place I can get the dual pivot brakes is from a Brompton dealer, is this correct?

I worked on making sure they were perfectly adjusted late last night and I swapped the brakes so that the right lever is the front brake ala motorcycle. I haven't had a chance to ride it yet but I'll see if the adjustments made any improvements. I can see that this will be a work in progress to get it where I want it.

FergusF

I use a Brooks B66 on mine, (double rail version of the B67, so no converter is needed) - v. comfy right out of the box and a huge improvement on the standard Brompton saddle. Brakes are fine, but I do have the double pivot version that came standard with my L3.

spambait11

If you want setback on the seatpost, you can get an adapter to move the seat back 1-3 inches. If you go this route, you can only use double rail saddles (with the double rail adpater).

To lower the gearing, you can get new cranks and chainring; I went the opposite direction, though. Just an FYI, the biggest chainring a B. will accept is 60T - anything bigger and it will interfere with the folding. (Found this out by experience.) 165mm are a good size for cranks.

In terms of brakes, although I only have the single pivot, I still think the best and cheapest thing to do (besides totally replacing the brakes) is to update the brake pads with Salmons. This will also save wear on your rims; if you still have the stock brake pads, check to make sure they're not now eating your rims (again, my experience).

And I agree - the grips have to go. I use Raleigh retros from Sheldon; my other choice is Ritchey WCSs.

Wavshrdr

@Spambait - Are these a Brompton specific pad from Salmons? Or can I get these at any bike shop? Are the rear sprockets Brompton specific as well? Maybe I could drop a tooth there and be pretty close. If I changed the front chainring, would I need a new crank there or can I get something to just bolt on? Thanks for the info.

spambait11

Any bike shop that sells Kool Stops:
Kool Stop

I was told to get the Eagle model, but if I were to do it again, I might get the Continental model. You don't want to get 'em too long, otherwise they'll hit your forks - you'll notice that B. brake pads are very short. The only caveat is that you'll have to trim the bolt down otherwise your handlebars will hit the bolt and not lock into its Mickey Mouse-looking handlebar holder (look to see how long the bolt is on the standard B. brake pad; that's how short you'll have to cut the bolt). If I were to do this all over again, I might just go with a thinner locknut and use blue Loctite (still have to cut the bolt though).


Good question. I don't think they are non-standard, but I never checked either since I was told that you shouldn't install a sprocket lower than 13T, otherwise the chain will start rubbing against the chainstay. For the 6 spd, I have a 15T and a 13T sprocket. If I were to use the standard B. cranks, I would probably use a 14T. However, I just had a ss wheel built instead.


From what I've seen so far (bear in mind, I haven't examined a C-type up close) you'd need a new right crank because the chainring (50T I believe) is permanently attached to it. Whatever crank or crankset you get, don't forget the single chainring bolts as well – unless you plan to install two chainrings (<-- don't know if that's possible; I just know you like to tinker).