Brompton Cover - worth the $?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Brompton Cover - worth the $?
Has anyone used it and loved/hated it? I'm thinking of getting it for times when I want to avoid calling attention to myself with a bright orange/white/lime green Brommie at my side.
The saddle bag seems somewhat useful to throwing small stuff in as well, but that's negligible.
The saddle bag seems somewhat useful to throwing small stuff in as well, but that's negligible.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 418
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Sure it's worth it, and you get a saddle bag also. Sometimes when you don't need the cover, you can leave it out and just use the bag to carry a few small items with you on your ride.
I didn't see me using the Velcro strap that goes around the seat post, so I used a stitch remover to remove it. I also think it's best with the two straps that hold it to the seat cinched up as short as possible.
I didn't see me using the Velcro strap that goes around the seat post, so I used a stitch remover to remove it. I also think it's best with the two straps that hold it to the seat cinched up as short as possible.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Also, just wondering..does anyone else find the EZ-wheels quite difficult to maneuver, or will I get used to it in the long run? It's not quite as smooth as I thought it would be. Or maybe I'm just doing something wrong.
#5
Senior Member
Are you referring to the black, vinyl-like bag that fits fairly snugly on the Brompton?
EZ wheels are a bit of misnomer: they're not exactly "easy" as you've discovered. You can replace them with inline skate wheels, as many of us of done. Inline skate wheels are not particularly easy to maneuver (turn) either, but the clearance and better rolling makes it much easier to wheel around.
EZ wheels are a bit of misnomer: they're not exactly "easy" as you've discovered. You can replace them with inline skate wheels, as many of us of done. Inline skate wheels are not particularly easy to maneuver (turn) either, but the clearance and better rolling makes it much easier to wheel around.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Are you referring to the black, vinyl-like bag that fits fairly snugly on the Brompton?
EZ wheels are a bit of misnomer: they're not exactly "easy" as you've discovered. You can replace them with inline skate wheels, as many of us of done. Inline skate wheels are not particularly easy to maneuver (turn) either, but the clearance and better rolling makes it much easier to wheel around.
EZ wheels are a bit of misnomer: they're not exactly "easy" as you've discovered. You can replace them with inline skate wheels, as many of us of done. Inline skate wheels are not particularly easy to maneuver (turn) either, but the clearance and better rolling makes it much easier to wheel around.
And yes, it is the black, vinyl-like bag. What do you think of it?
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: The Big City
Posts: 619
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
7 Posts
I got one, but I've only used it a handful of times. Most places don't have a problem with me bringing in the folded bike, and at the places that do, the cover probably wouldn't help. I don't regret getting it, but it's a "could be useful," not a "must have." It's not the first thing I would get if my budget was tight.
ETA:
Has anyone figured out a cleaver way to use it as a saddle bag with taillight? If I hand it from the back of the saddle, it covers where my seatpost taillight goes. I need a taillight a lot more than I need the cover.
ETA:
Has anyone figured out a cleaver way to use it as a saddle bag with taillight? If I hand it from the back of the saddle, it covers where my seatpost taillight goes. I need a taillight a lot more than I need the cover.
Last edited by wilfried; 02-23-14 at 04:16 PM.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I got one, but I've only used it a handful of times. Most places don't have a problem with me bringing in the folded bike, and at the places that do, the cover probably wouldn't help. I don't regret getting it, but it's a "could be useful," not a "must have." It's not the first thing I would get if my budget was tight.
ETA:
Has anyone figured out a cleaver way to use it as a saddle bag with taillight? If I hand it from the back of the saddle, it covers where my seatpost taillight goes. I need a taillight a lot more than I need the cover.
ETA:
Has anyone figured out a cleaver way to use it as a saddle bag with taillight? If I hand it from the back of the saddle, it covers where my seatpost taillight goes. I need a taillight a lot more than I need the cover.
Let me know if you do figure it out.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,706
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 840 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
251 Posts
Now no taillight is in many countries just plain illegal.
#10
Senior Member
The cover makes the bike look like a piece of luggage. It allowed me e.g. to get the bike on-board as a carry-on on an airline which would knowingly not allow for that and which would normally take bikes only with a bike fee. At times, for one reason or another, I do not test the policy of my lodging towards bikes and if I put a cover it is nobody's business.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 449
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks guys. I might go ahead and get it then. I love the idea.
Also, just wondering..does anyone else find the EZ-wheels quite difficult to maneuver, or will I get used to it in the long run? It's not quite as smooth as I thought it would be. Or maybe I'm just doing something wrong.
Also, just wondering..does anyone else find the EZ-wheels quite difficult to maneuver, or will I get used to it in the long run? It's not quite as smooth as I thought it would be. Or maybe I'm just doing something wrong.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: The Big City
Posts: 619
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
7 Posts
No taillight is illegal in New York, not that you'd ever know it.
I'd be more inclined to carry the cover if I could hang it off the back, but the light prevents it, and having to plan on carrying the cover generally means I don't.
I'd be more inclined to carry the cover if I could hang it off the back, but the light prevents it, and having to plan on carrying the cover generally means I don't.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Over here, it's VERY common to see bikes with absolutely no lights whatsoever in the dead of night. Ridden by people in dark clothing. Pisses me off no end. AFAIK it's not illegal, but at the very least they should have reflectors. But no.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A somewhat annoying flaw I discovered is I can't turn the handlebar stem hinge's twist-handle (the one that allows the stem to drop to the side) properly when the C-bag (or any bag I guess) is clipped on the front carrier block.
It's just a matter of 0.1 inch or less, but as it stands I need to remove the C-bag so I can use the twist-handle to drop or lock the stem, which I find pointlessly frustrating.
Am I the only one?
It's just a matter of 0.1 inch or less, but as it stands I need to remove the C-bag so I can use the twist-handle to drop or lock the stem, which I find pointlessly frustrating.
Am I the only one?
Last edited by keyven; 02-24-14 at 03:28 AM.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Fully customized 11-spd MTB built on 2014 Santa Cruz 5010 frame; Brompton S2E-X 2014; Brompton M3E 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That sounds bad. I hope I don't run into that problem.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 106
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I’ve used the cover a lot. It’s a hassle to use, but sometimes it’s necessary. I have no regrets getting one.
I have dynamo lights, but the lights are much lower than I’m used to on other bikes. I attached a Radbot 100 rack mount using zip ties, to tabs on the the underside of the Brompton saddle.
The saddle gets in the way of mounting a Radbot 100 (it’ll fit, after a bit of pushing). But it is just possible to mount and unmount a Planet Bike Superflash because of the indent on the Brompton saddle (it shares the same sized mount with the Radbot).
The screws in the picture don’t actually hold anything in place.
I have dynamo lights, but the lights are much lower than I’m used to on other bikes. I attached a Radbot 100 rack mount using zip ties, to tabs on the the underside of the Brompton saddle.
The saddle gets in the way of mounting a Radbot 100 (it’ll fit, after a bit of pushing). But it is just possible to mount and unmount a Planet Bike Superflash because of the indent on the Brompton saddle (it shares the same sized mount with the Radbot).
The screws in the picture don’t actually hold anything in place.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
keyven
Folding Bikes
2
09-05-14 09:27 AM
bd6675
Folding Bikes
4
07-18-14 12:27 PM