Over the last couple of days I’ve been exploring London on a small bike. I’ve done London on my full sized bike before, but was a little concerned about some of the places I was going to have to leave it on this trip, and so I elected to hire a Brompton. My first thoughts are as follows:
- It’s fast. Probably at least as fast as my other bike, and I managed to set a couple of personal records on stretches of road I’ve cycled before.
- It’s light. When the bike is unfolded it feels very light.
- But it’s also heavy. When the bike is folded it is straightforward to carry, but you definitely notice you are carrying a steel frame.
- It’s responsive. London is a full of traffic lights and other hazards, and the Brompton was great for the sort of start/stop cycling that I always seem to need to do in London.
- It handles canal towpaths fairly well. I cycled a stretch of the Regent’s Canal yesterday and it handled well enough, although on the bumpier areas it was definitely more noticeable than it would be on my other bike (which I bought specifically to cycle on towpaths, so this is not really a surprise).
- It can easily be stored in a hotel room, and no-one gives it a second glance.
- The folding/unfolding of the bike seems fascinating to people, and it’s definitely a conversation starter.
- I can use a couple of my smaller bike packing bags with it, and between those and a rucksack I can easily carry everything I need for a few days away.
- If I had to use this bike for my commute, and for shopping and generally getting around then I think it would be fine.
- For longer trips (especially with a significant off road aspect) I would probably still want something with more gears, larger wheels, and the ability to use more of my usual bike packing bags.
