Originally Posted by
12boy
Folded Brompton are usually right side up, the rear triangle is trapped by the seat post, when folded, the handlebar stem hooks into a catch on the fork and the fork attaches to the folded rear chainstay.
Yes, the handlebar stem snaps into a catch at the fork crown. However the fork hook (at the hub end) does not attach to the folded rear chainstay, it merely rests on it. If a normal brompton is similar to my custom one, this hook provides no support against anything pushing in towards the crank from the handlebar side. On mine, the hydraulic disc brake caliper gets pushed against the chainguard and all load is taken there. Perhaps on a normal brompton, the fork blade near the hub axle gets pushed against the chainstay?