Originally Posted by
avole
Because of an up-and-coming trip around the Mekong delta using the Brompton, I decided to get some time up using it on my usual road bike run. It's a mix of long gentle slopes with some rather sharper ones on the way back, which is almost always into a head wind of some description.
The road bike is a lightweight carbon-framed one, 11 speed Ultegra gears, brakes etc and Campi Zonda wheels with 23mm Michelin road tyres on.
The Brompton has a rack, front carrier back, front dynamo, 6 gears and some heavyweight Marathon on
The figures are stark: the road bike was much quicker over the abbreviated 20km run I did today: 35 km top speed, 22-23 average, total time around less than 54 minutes. Might be less, I usually measure over longer distances.
The Brompton's speed was average 18,7 kph, 1 hour 2 minutes, top speed 34 kph. I have to be honest, though: I thought the discrepancy was going to be larger, especially as the gear range is so different. The fact the Brompton's top speed was close to that of the road bike came as a surprise.
In fact, given I wasn't pushing and the headwind was stronger than normal, I think the bike performed more than creditably. It felt slower, no question, but the Strava figures are not bad at all. Where it falls down - and the reason why I want to get used to it again for longer distances - was its performance on potholes and generally poor surfaces. It wasn't comfortable, and that lightning steering isn't forgiving of sharp changes in the road surface. Certainly the carbon frame absorbed bumps better, and, in general, the road bike feels a lot more sure footed and is a more relaxing ride.
The Mekong delta is flat, so the planned 80km/day on the Brompton should be achievable, especially given I like to be on the road a little after dawn. Won't be carrying much weight as I'll be lodging in homestays. Yes, I'd be happier on a road bike, but many buses and trains won't take them, plus taking a full-size bike bag with you is only possible if it isn't hard nor excessively padded.
One thing I might do before leaving is address the saddle. I'll give the Brooks another try, perhaps a different version. Other than that, the Brompton will be on the road again.
well...there's always faster rolling, larger-tire folders with 406, 451 wheels. Brompton is hardly the only choice, particularly in South East Asia, and i find it hard to believe that a bus/train that takes a Brompton would not take, say, a Dahon Boardwalk or one of those slick Tern 451 foldies. It's SEAsia, everything is negotiable.
In any case, i would not be concerned about average or top speed. I myself don't track using Strava or the like, and don't own a travel computer thingy. Just ride...