The new integrated brake/gear/derailleur levers

In my blog post yesterday CLICK HERE I wrote about the new integrated brake/gear/derailleur levers. Since then I have been inundated quite literally with one or two emails requesting that I let you know what I thought of them.

It didn't actually take that long to replace everything on my P-type and once done I took my bike out for a quick spin. (As I managed to do this pretty much trouble free I decided to replace the levers and cables on my S-type as well with the new version).

Well, the all important question what do I think of them and are they better than those they replace? The simple answer is yes. It does take a little getting used to but after a few minutes I had the hang of it. There isn't that rattle, so familiar from the old ones and aesthetically they are a big improvement. They are neater and you don't have them just sticking up on the handlebar like some sort of agricultural device you'd expect to see on the inside of a tractor.

Another good thing is that your hands do not have to stray too far from the brake levers in order to change gear and apply the brakes. I also like that the bell - although still quite pathetic in terms of its audible volume - can be happily used with just the flick of an index finger. The little windows that tell you gear 1, 2 or 3 and + and - is good but if you were a new owner I doubt you'd need to look after fives minutes. All in all the new integrated levers have brought Brompton to at least 2004 which can only be a good thing.

If I had an M-type or H-type would I go to the bother and expense of replacing the handlebar and stem into order to fit to my existing bicycle? Absolutely not! The old gear and derailleur shifters are fine, cheap to replace if they do die on you and are functional in every way.

Look at it tis way. I suppose it is good that Brompton are still continuing to refine an already great design with updates to components like this. For me at least this has more value than the yawn announcements of yet another 'special edition.'

Replacing old for new

Up until last year the only bicycles I owned were by Brompton. I have had a few many years before but that was so long ago I can hardly remember them. The Brompton gear shifters, although perfectly usable and reliable on all sorts of adventures I have been on, are universally regarded by many users as cheap, rattly and to be blunt more than a little crap.

Using the Shimano 105 shifters on my Condor road bike or the quite brilliant SRAM NX system on my Whyte mountain bike, I have come to realise that those on my humble Brompton bicycles were beyond crap by comparison. Both are quicker and easier to use. It is of course not fair perhaps to compare, however there is no comparison if that makes sense.

The new 2017 bicycles from Brompton came with a few updates and one of them was an integrated gear sector and derailleur shifter. This was a welcome addition as it seemed that of late Brompton only seemed to care about 'special editions' which were all about colours.

There are two downsides. First is that if you have an M-type or H-type you cannot upgrade easily as a new handlebar and stem is needed. Expensive and who knows when they would be available even if you wanted to be bothered with this.

Second, when would they be available to buy as an aftermarket upgrade? We have been there before with Brompton. Remember the double walled rims or the new brake levers? How long did we have to wait for them?? It was therefore with much shock that the all new integrated levers were out there and available to buy. Astonishing!

The levers with integrated brake levers and shifters certainly feel of much better quality than the older ones they have replaced.

They appear well made, solid and are made of what seems to be much better materials.

Owning a P-type and an S-type I can make the change quite easily and I have a normal sliver pair for my P-type and an all black set for my S-type.

The jury is out on these until I fit and test them out on my daily commute and weekend adventure. So, watch this space on what I make of them, assuming the DIY fitting goes well...

Rapha Festive 500 Roundel Arrives?

Some of you might have read about the Rapha Festive 500 I completed over the Christmas period. If not you can read about it by clicking the link HERE. Well in the post at the start of the week in a royal blue envelope was my Rapha Festive 500 Roundel.

I have it pictured below with my Whyte mountain bike in shot. This is definitely most appropriate as I completed almost all of the required 300 miles on it.

I have to confess that I had doubts about whether or not I would receive it but very pleased that it has.   I am not overly sure what to do with it? I feel I should sew it onto something however I cannot think what? Perhaps it could go on one of my saddle bags.

I do think that I will try my very best to complete this challenge again this year. I enjoyed it greatly and loved the early starts in sometimes quite bracing weather conditions. As I type this I can think back to some extremely cold mornings with freezing which fog and the reward of a hot mug of tea.

For next year I think I would like to take some more photos along the way but do realise that this might not be the best of ideas as far as I am concerned.

If you are able and get the chance, I can highly recommend the Rapha Festive 500. You can set your own route, pace and choose whether to do it all solo, with friends or a combination.