Brompton change the names of their bike models

Not that long ago Brompton decided to change the way they names their bicycles. Previously it was all M, S and H but now it's A, C and C Electric. Oh, and there is also Low, Mid and High handlebars. Confused? Don't be.

The A Line:

• 3 x gears
• Mid handlebar (M in old money)
• White main frame and black extremities 
• No mudguards

For my money this looks a little like the B75 but in a different guise - older handlebar and brake levers.

The C Line:

• 2, 3 or 6 geras
• Low, mid, high handlebar 
• Front carrier block included 
• Choose your colour 

Within the C Line are a few sub-categories

C Line Urban:

• 2 x gears
• Low, mid, high handlebar 
• Mudguards
• Lighting and rear rack optional 

C Line Utility 

• 3 x gears
• Low, mid, high handlebar 
• Mudguards
• Lighting and rear rack optional 

C Line Explore 

• 6 x gears
• Low, mid, high handlebar 
• Mudguards
• Lighting and rear rack optional 

Brompton Electric C Line Urban

• 2 x gears
• Mid, high handlebar 
• Mudguards
• Lighting intergraded

Brompton Electric C Line Explore

• 6 x gears
• Mid, high handlebar 
• Mudguards
• Lighting intergraded

There has been much chattering about why Brompton has gone to the trouble of renaming what they call their bikes instead of thinking of disc brakes, several more gears...the list goes on. I go on lots of rides that the Brompton really isn't meant for. It is essentially an urban commuter and that is its target market - both here and worldwide. I will continue with the urban commute, pottering around and going on longer adventures on my 3x Brompton C Line Explore, Mid  bicycles with optional lighting! 

I am sure that Brompton had a good reason to make this change. Trying to put myself into the shoes of a an urban, hip city dweller (those days are long since past since I could be described hip, if at all) I am wondering if it all makes sense and would I be able to find what Brompton suited me best? I think it probably does. I am just glad that there isn't the option for the standard and firm suspension block!

Stay safe out there people!

Brompton Nicholas Hawksmoor ride

Last Sunday was a Brompton Club ride and meant to be a themed ride on the buildings of Nicholas Hawksmoor. I had not heard of him before and am shamed to confess that I am none the wiser. Read on and I will explain. 

The meeting point was outside London Bridge Station, which was a new meeting point location for me. I cycled just over 6 miles from NW8 to reach the start and thought it was quite a chilly morning. Making it to London Bridge in good time I saw the first Brompton contingent that soon moved on to the second one waiting a little further up the road. There I found some familiar faces and quite. few new ones too.

Quite promptly we were off to our first location - The Monument. This commemorates the Great Fire of 1666 in which lots of old London was lost to the ravages of a the fire that legend has it, started in Pudding Lane a stones throw away. 

Cycling down Pudding Lane we came to a junction and a church opposite that had something to do with Hawksmoor. 

It was good to catch up with Jenny and Sam. I don't really know how long our association goes back but it is several years now. Sam sometimes recalls a Christmas lights ride which saw us cycled down Brick Lane. It was there that I saw sights I will not forget and as such I have avoided that area after the fall of darkness ever since!

At Embankment I stopped to take a photo of the memorial to Sir Joseph Bazalgette, engineer extraordinaire. I am convinced that he would have approved of a small wheeled folding city bike!

We stopped off at Westminster Abbey. The Towers had something to do with Hawksmoor - you can tell perhaps that I wasn't paying attention. 

The last time I stopped here to take a photo, it was a cold evening and the Abbey was the backdrop for one of the many Lumiere London installations. 

As we approached Buckingham Palace, the streets were lined with people awaiting the changing of the guard. I think that many were bemused by the sight of over 30 Brompton riders gliding by. It reminded me of the Brompton World Championships.

At Kensington Palace we stopped for another group photo. It has been ages since I have seen so many Brompton bikes out for this sort of thing. It was all rather lovely. 

Not long after this photo was taken I got a text message from a relative who lives but a stones throw away, inviting me for a stop of luncheon. I couldn't refuse. Making discrete farewells I headed off and in less than five minutes I was inside and seated waiting for a feast. 

 

One day I will find out more about Nicholas Hawksmoor! I still enjoyed my little adventure, despite only cycling just over 12 miles in total. 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

Back to commuting on a Brompton

It has felt like ages since I wrote a blog post. I have been rather busy of late and just haven't had the time to put fingers to the keyboard. Ironically, September and what we have had of October has been one of my most active Brompton cycling months. I have been on several adventures - including a nocturnal run to Southend - but just haven't had the time to let you all know about what I have been up to. There has been one big change.

A few years ago I stopped commuting on my Brompton bikes - for reasons I won't go into now. I have missed this a great deal but from more or less the start of September until now I have cycled to work by Brompton.

I have three Brompton bicycles:

• Orange Titanium, M6LX
• Cloud Blue, M6L
• Orange, Black Special Edition, S6L (but with a rider bar fitted, so more like an M-type)

My commuter hack has turned out to be my Orange, Black Special Edition. This is the only one of my bicycles that has still got the standard Marathon tyres fitted. All the others have the newish Continental tyre - that I really do like a great deal.

I have given up on a dynamo set up mainly as the wire bracket holding the light always shears off and the version that works, doesn't really make it easy to use a bag on the front mount. Instead I use the Brompton Cateye mount - which works really, really well. I can also use an old Volt 300 in addition to the one that comes with it. 

Talking of bags I currently have two that I use regularly. The first is the 'Brompton Borough Large Roll.' This is a great bag that has a huge capacity, with a material that has some degree of waterproofing without the use of the rain cover it comes with. The second and perhaps my favourite is the 'Brompton Borough Large Waterproof Bag - Navy' that is for my money, the best bag they produce. Large capacity and totally waterproof, it really is an excellent commuter bag. 

My commute is not really that far but it does cut my journey time down by a considerable amount when compared to walking. As I did when up to a few years ago I took the Brompton to work every day, I cycle in all weathers. If it is raining I will wear a waterproof jacket and some waterproof Proviz over-trousers. If the weather is dry and mild, I just wear my suit. 

So far it has all worked really well. Abandoning my former route to one created by my Wahoo, I now cycle on very quiet roads I previously knew noting about. This new route is better in every way. 

Winter is of course coming but the only thing that has ever halted my Brompton commute has been icy roads and snow. Normally this doesn't happen too often. 

I hope that you are all well out there and hopefully I will be abel to get some more blog posts out there to reflect all the cycling I have been doing.

Stay safe out there people!