Just ordered a Brompton, and of Course i have Questions
 

Hello everyone, this is my first post, and just last week i ordered a B-spoke Brompton. I ordered the H3L with the telescopic seat(im 6ft, 175lbs) and the brooks saddle, im getting the body in racing green and the rest in black, i dont think i need to post a pic, you all seem to know your stuff. Before I ask my questions let me give you all some of my cycling background, i grew up riding bikes in upstate NY but once i started driving and got a car biking fell to the side, but i now live in manhattan and havent bike ridden in several up until a few weeks i was on an extended vacation to miami, where i used a generic walmart bicycle that one of my cousins have, and i found myself doing a 10 mile ride everyday and this was one my favorite things to do on my trip. So i started researching bikes to buy to keep in manhattan and i came across the folding bike category that i didnt know existed until two weeks ago, and fits perfectly the small manhattan apt lifestyle. I quickly discovered through some research that brompton is the best and after scouring this forum and really anything i could read online about the subject i pulled the trigger and ordered my brompton from nyce wheels.( I am of the opinion BUY RIGHT, BUY ONCE) and waiting 6-8 weeks works out perfectly for me because its to cold, wet, and snowy, now and in 8 weeks i will be back in FL so i even went ahead and ordered the B&W hard case. Now for the Questions.

- So ordered the 2013 model does that include the brompton tool or is that sold separately?
- What is the general opinion of the including pump, is it worth carrying or cqn you recommend a higher quality pump with built in gauge that fits on the mount or not, i usually carry a back pack(I didnt get the carrier block, i like back packs)?
- i was thinking of ordering new grips b/c everyone says such nasty things about the brompton ones, does ergon gp3 biocork effect the fold at all?
- I need to order a helmet, I see there are many very high quality helmets out there for the serious riders, but im looking more for something that fits the classic cool styling of the brompton and fits my color scheme with out compromising one drop on safety?
- Also any recommendations of an oil or grease on hand for the chain or any other contact points that may need some occasional lubricating?
- and last but not least any other thoughts or insights that i may have overlooked or not know about would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for your time,
Alex

After reading some posts and blogs about people carrying their Brompton
on planes and stuffing it in the overhead compartments I got curious. I
travel a bit and would really enjoy having a bike with on my travels. I have
a folding bike with 20 in. wheels and it was a lot of work to stuff in my
regulation check-in luggage. I was at Nyce Wheels today checking out their
stock. I'm not familiar with the pump that comes with Brommies, but a lot
of bikers like to carry Topeak's Morph pump.























Snug Harbor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFj80L5e3no

check out bfold also. a really great shop in the east village. primo customer service.

http://www.bfold.com/StoreFrameset.htm

to OP, what's your inseam? i'm also 6' with a 33" inseam and i did not need the telescopic seat post..

Did you get it from NYCE Wheels?

ive been meaning to check out bfold, the location isn't to convenient for me I'm on the upper west side, but once I have the bike to ride I'm gonna check it out, also to be honest I don't know what the inseem is, I mainly got telescopic to be able to quickly remove the seat for travel

I have GP3 grips, on my M3L the Biocork are not in the same length options as the 2 gripshift ones, I got .
they're shorter..
so You will have to cut them down in length, [others have done this..]

the black and grey ones are offered in alternate additional lengths.

I like the handling improvement of having a bag with weight in it, on the Front, luggage rack..

now Shimano makes a Hub Dynamo for Brompton, Schmidt did so many years ago..
for jump on and just, ride lights..


stock is 50:13. optional crank rings have been 44 & 54t, hub cog 14 and 15 t..

Yes

Do you mean cutting the height of the side handle or the width to fit it on the bar, thanks

you must cut the width so as to avoid hitting the brake levers. i have the ergon gc2 grips with mini bar-ends. love them.

http://www.backcountry.com/ergon-gc2-grip

no , the Grip itself.. as delivered the biocork standard length grip will not slide on far enough
before hitting the brake lever, to have the clamping bolt on the grip, around the handlebar..
so you cut down the inner end of the Grip.

Or just get the shorter grip shift version in the lower cost black grip..
the bar end will be black in all cases anyhow..

http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gp3-biokork

Vs http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gp3

Ok good to know, I plan on riding the bike for a little before I make a decision on the grips, If I get the grips that do not require extra cutting are the fairly simple to install myself or am I better going through the LBS

cannot judge your mechanical chops from a computer on the opposite coast..

might need help blowing the stock grip off, and an air-compressor in the Bike shop makes that simple.

the GR3 twin Gripshift version is easy to install after that.

Now that I know an air compressor is involved, I will definitely do it myself

steve at b-fold is pro at cutting down and installing ergon grips on bromptons...

asr3510... I posted instructions and pictures last year on installing Ergon grips on my Brompton. I'm guessing it's still applicable to what you want to do. It's pretty straight forward - takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...zonation+ergon

Why do you have to wait 6 to 8 weeks? I thought NYCE Wheels had most configurations in stock?

As for your questions:

- No idea if the 2013 model comes with the Brompton tool. I'm guessing no. It might be cheaper to assemble your own tools and bundle them into a small bag.
- I think, frankly, that the included pump sucks. No polite way to put it. It's great for an emergency, but for regular inflation, get a third party pump. Because you normally want to run the tires at significantly higher pressure than larger tires, get a pump that: 1) can fold out to include a little foot rest to stabilize the feet by stepping on it; 2) a built in gauge otherwise you'll have to keep checking with a hand gauge; 3) has a comfortable foldable T-style handle - you're going to be exerting a lot of force to get a high volume of air into those small tires. I have an Axiom Enforcer hand pump.
- No carrier block? The quirky, integrated luggage system is one of the Brompton's best features! I'd seriously get it installed when you pick up your bike. Not only is it convenient for carrying stuff, I've found that a bit of weight on the carrier block helps smooth out the twitchiness of the front end, and dampens vibrations.
- Yes. Ergon Biokorks are great.
- Go for a cool helmet. Get the one that is the "smallest" so that it packs the most compactly when traveling. You don't need the latest aerodynamic styling.
- I use a teflon based lubricant. Works well. I'm sure NYCE can recommend something.
- Other hints? If you've got the B&W case, be sure to pad up the interior well so that the Brompton doesn't bang around and break the case when handled roughly.

Good luck!:thumb:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...zonation+ergon

that's awesome stuff there Ozonation!

I know this isn't a pump thread, but here's my thoughts on a pump:

I too am not familiar with the Brompton pump. However, I have a Topeak Morph pump and rarely take it with me. I leave it at home in favor of the much smaller, nearly as efficient Park mini pump http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00188NM4Y/...SIN=B00188NM4Y

I use the Park for MTB, utility, road riding, and anywhere I go with my folding bikes. In fact, since getting the Park a couple years ago, I have not even used the Morph.

Helmet: http://www.premiumbikegear.com/biolo...go-helmet.html

Oh yes, you need a compressor or you just take a 5 ton truck or a buldozer and ...

If you are not going to use the grips just use a exacto knife and cut them off. Careful so you do not scratch the handlebars. Personally I keep usable grips as I often use them on bikes I fix up and give away. I use a syringe with a needle. Just plain water inside. press the needle under or trough the grips and squees in some water. Some times i do it twice on one grip, in oposite spots. Then you just slide them off with two fingers.

When I cut off the foam grips on my Brompton, I found they had applied some adhesive. For me, after trying to slip them off, I decided cutting them was a better way to spend my time.

Thanks. More fun than doing work! :thumb:

Hey, thanks for that!

I do a lot of touring here in Spain, and more so in Portugal, in and around Cork Oak (Quercus suber) forests, and I try to support the industry as much as possible. No wine bottled with plastic stoppers for me! Gotta get a pair of those Biocork grips!

The Brompton pump isn't bad for a small pump with no gauge, and it fits right on the bike nicely. I have a Topeak Morph that lives on my non-folding errand-running bike and it's a nicer pump, but the Brompton one would get me home after a flat just fine.

But not available in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

Yes, I noticed that too... I wonder why - maybe it didn't meet government approvals? And the video in the helmet link - "Josh"... that wouldn't be Josh Hon of Tern, would it?

The Brompton-Zefal pump has a sealing ring under the handle, and a cap over the end,
so it's plunger and valve seal remans clean and ready to pump, in spite of constantly being less than
half a M from the pavement.

helmet.. Bern .. the Carbon fiber shell version is almost tweedy..

though you could get a racing silks cover like a jockey..

perhaps in matching tweed with the coat. , brim front and back, Sherlock..

Yes, it is Josh Hon.

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

Can not let that stop you if you want something. "Nothing" is available where I live. I buy 98% of my bikestuff on the net from abroad. Bought from the shop I linked to also (not the helmet yet) and they are superfast and cheap shipping.

Thank you for your detailed instruction on the handle bar replacement process, im going to look into that pump, i didnt realize the carrier block added so much performance i already use a backpack in my day to day already so i figured why change. and in terms of a cool helmet i came across nutcase helmets they are very cool but they seem to have gotten a terrible safety rating. so any recommendation for stylish helmets that are safe would be helpful. and i will definitely keep an eye on the padding situation for the travel case.

thank you for the input

Also currently non of the folding helmets on the market meet US safety standards so its something im gonna pass on, also i believe the bern helmets however cool dont even attempt to meet any regulatory standards, and again a pump question what PSI do the schwalbe marathon tires need to be pumped.