LittlePixel

Nice seminar given by Andrew at the iFest conference in Barcelona:
https://www.infonomia.com/tv/video.php?video=131
It's a bit 'business'y but lots of interest there too.

He's so humble! The classic British self depricator...

what bike?

argh! i want a brompton now

somnatash

Aah, he is just sweet
I wonder if he was very nervous - he hesitated as if he was short of breath sometimes.

PS:Hi LittlePixel, thanks for your pm and glad that everything arrived at your home
So I am looking forward for my parcel to come also

what bike?

yep he sure did seem nervous

SesameCrunch

Watching the video made me understand why the company is run the way it is. Very much a reflection of his personality. Very engineering driven, not a big marketing machine.

He seems like a really down-to-earth person.

joose

I think this video is a good example of why I would never buy a 'clone' bike

Simple Simon

+1

gringo_gus

sweet guy not making any money from his £600 bikes that dominate the market... and of course the cloners we know them not to be proper English gents

LittlePixel

I reconcile the fact I have a Merc frame (for lightness) by knowing I bought the full Ti Kit from Brompton along with other parts that are definitely greater in cost than buying one of their base models, so in theory it's a win-win situation, at least in my specific case...

StuAff

Very interesting talk from a very interesting guy. I don't agree with some of the design choices Brompton make- I don't get the odd gearing stuff- but they're well made and the fold's genius. His passion- which clearly rubs off on both his workforce and his customers- is a joy to behold.
I think Dr David Hon would show much the same enthusiasm if he ever did a talk like this- Dahon might be a much bigger company in global terms, but in the beginning it certainly wasn't much different, taking a risk and going out on a limb. And it's certainly good that we've got firms competing like this to make better and better products.

jur

I understand a bit now why the Brommie has the archaic gearing it has. The gearing is a 30-year-old relic, so to speak.

Dahon.Steve

I wonder who were the lucky ones to get the first 30 bikes he made! ;-) Does anyone know if people are still riding them? I would love to have a hand made bike from Mr. Ritchie himself! Those bikes are probably worth a fortune today.

I've only owned Dahon folders but the Brompton is without a doubt, the most comfortable 16 inch wheel folder I've ever ridden.

Silverexpress

Has anyone located a version of this broadcast in *.wmv or *.avi ...etc that can be downloaded? I would like to add it to my archive. It's a very inspiring presentation.

StuAff

If you want to download it, there are plenty of tools that can download Flash video (eg from YouTube or this very presentation) and save it...on my Mac, I use TubeTV.

mulleady

Wrong the 6 speed is highly efficient, I so disagree. It's only the gear shifters that are relics.

nigelme

What age of relic are you? Don't start railling against Brompton, you don't stand a chance, you're up against 'Andrew and the Bromptonauts'

mulleady

I'm not just a Brompton freak lol that's for sure with 2 other folders also. But, as a commute-and-go bike, it's the best there is in my opinion. Perhaps it's not a relic but a product that was ahead of its time in the 80's and now a product of its time.

There loads of fab folding bikes out there, each excelling in its purpose. Nevertheless, Andrew Ritchie is a modest gentleman (not an act) who has helped inspire a generation of folding bikes. I like the recognition he gave to Alex Moulton for inspiring his attempt to work with smaller wheels.

nigelme

Hear! Hear! Well said old chap.

cyclistjohn

I'm on a mac here, & use Realplayer 11, which installs a downloader that works for lots of sites. I just grabbed your sig' Youtube vid' in fact :-)

Real is probably on windows too.

jur

Actually I wasn't railing, it may have sounded like it though... it was just a comment on the fact that the Brommie uses the 3sp (that's actually a 100-year-old relic even though still in production) plus a 2sp derailer. It is a curious anachronism, regardless of the efficiency or suitability of existing setups, that a modern popular bike does not offer at least the option of a modern 8sp hub. It would increase the versatility a lot. I would have included it in my short list of the ultimate folding-touring-commuting-etc bike.

Still, I love the Brommie and want one.

mulleady

Yes the 8 speed Shimano Nexus would be the best. Pity the 8 speed Alfine hub on the Cadenza 08 is so big, it has a beautiful and quiet shift.

jur

The Alfine and Nexus 8 hubs are the same externally, with improvements on the Alfine innards.

mulleady

Would this work on a modified Brompton?

Would represent far more value than a Rolhoff for example. A 14 speed hub at over £700 would be wasted on a 16" wheel bike unless you wanted some sort of touring Brompton but a Shimano Alpine hub would be perfect.

somnatash

Hi mulleady
Juliane Neuss (makes the "brekki" the brompton recumbent) does modifications with the Nexus 8speed. She already started that modifications with the 7 speed. The rear triangle has to be bent/widened for the hub and it seems necessary to use special tools. Her website is in german only, and written only about 7speed there. I hope she will change that soon but so, yes it works.

LittlePixel

Pictures of early prototype Bromptons here: I think the early production run of 30 (+60) was like the last one with the steep angle to the frame instead of the now familliar curve.


Prototype two; 1975.

Prototype three, 1975.

Prototype five

Biggerify™ images here