Cycling UK Forum

I'm not sure if I've finally flipped or having a mid life crisis but do you think touring with a Brompton and a trailer is preferable to buying a new Surley/Kona/Dawes tourer? I regularly go cycle camping and have an old Rockhopper which has served me well over the years. The thing is I love the idea of the versatility of the Brompton. You can take it on buses and don't have to book trains in advance each time I go to either Oban or Mallaig. Both trailer and bike pack into bags. I choose not to drive so regularly use public transport.

I went for a test drive at the weekend on the 6 speed tourer and totally fell in love with it, The range of the gears is excellent as is the build quality. The bike plus trailer is about 1800, I could get a blooming good tourer for that but then I felt like a kid on his first bike on the Brompton!

There are quite a few web pages with folks touring these bikes to extremes so they are obviously up to the task. I'm only going to the Hebrides and staying on decent roads. I'll also take spares as Brompton dealers are few and far between.

Regards
Jug

I'm sure you will be fine, I've met quite a few people touring on Bromptons and they didn't appear to have any complaints. I like to tour with a trailer, it is a great way to carry your gear. I use a Carry Freedom (small) with an Aluminium box attached as recommended by Mick F.

I went to northern France a couple of weeks ago with my Brompton fully loaded for camping. Just a weekend but enough to get a flavour. The bike has a Brooks saddle, plus a 5 speed sprinter hub and 44 tooth ring, so good for hills.

Pros of the Brompton
Cheaper ferry ticket because I bagged up the bike.
Folded down at night and stashed in the tent porch
Versatile for multi-modal transport.
Slightly less carrying capacity forcing me to pack less stuff.

Cons
Not quite as comfy a ride as my tourer.
Didn't trust the strength of the bike fully loaded. Not sure how it would cope over a longer period of time. Luggage block inparticular.
Street credibility - the French gawped at this 6ft 2 bloke riding what probably looked like a clown's bike.

That said, I had a good weekend. If you like the bike, go for it. You'll soon know if you've made the right decision.

Jughead wrote:I'm not sure if I've finally flipped or having a mid life crisis but do you think touring with a Brompton and a trailer is preferable to buying a new Surley/Kona/Dawes tourer? I regularly go cycle camping and have an old Rockhopper which has served me well over the years. The thing is I love the idea of the versatility of the Brompton. You can take it on buses and don't have to book trains in advance each time I go to either Oban or Mallaig. Both trailer and bike pack into bags. I choose not to drive so regularly use public transport.

I went for a test drive at the weekend on the 6 speed tourer and totally fell in love with it, The range of the gears is excellent as is the build quality. The bike plus trailer is about 1800, I could get a blooming good tourer for that but then I felt like a kid on his first bike on the Brompton!

There are quite a few web pages with folks touring these bikes to extremes so they are obviously up to the task. I'm only going to the Hebrides and staying on decent roads. I'll also take spares as Brompton dealers are few and far between.

Regards
Jug

go for it, you have more options in the future, you can upgrade to 8 speed or a rohloff later on

http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/foldin ... speed-kit/

or if your rich you can have a rohloff then you have the ultimate touring setup

http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/foldin ... hloff-kit/

oooooh, sounds great, just need to win the lottery.

I have toured extensively on my Bromptons, generally cycle-camping. I had no difficulty in the Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland or the Scottish Highlands. Also I have toured in the Netherlands and attended three Semaine Federale tides using it, including the Alsace one with the ballons. Recently I toured around Devon, which has hills worse than those I found in Wales! I had to travel by bus when a puncture would have left me stranded at Lynmouth. I am not sure about using a trailer: I have an Ortlieb bag with shoulder straps for the rear carrier, and the touring bag for the front, and can carry all three for public transport. The load rides well on the road.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5011/5424037487_f5087e547b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5220/5431251225_f7f2768d83.jpg

Have a look at a post on here a few weeks ago;

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=73116&p=649544&hilit=brompton+tour#p649544

I've got a 6 speed M type Brompton. Not toured on it...yet but have used it for plenty of 30+ mile rides back to back on holiday in UK and Europe, on a variety of road and off-road surfaces.

I'd recommend getting the lowest gearing with a 44T chainring as I never use top gear because it's too high for me. The lower gearing really helps on hills - Mrs M_W has a 6 speed with 44T.

I also have a Surly Disc Trucker which I love to bits (as I do the Brompton!). They're very different but riding either of them puts a big grin on my face...

I recently did a mini tour on my Brompton to check it. It's a great way to cover huge distances and see great stuff if you're not a purest. When things get boring or you hit a big city you can just pop onto a bus or train for an hour. I think its a great way to see Europe.

I had great problems trying not to do wheelies all day, as it just feels like a bmx Its slightly less comfy on a long day than my other bikes but thats fine you can plan around that.

My blog for that trip is here... http://www.shanecycles.com/the-genius-o ... n-touring/

i also wrote a little piece on baggage and the Brompton (incl. the Cyclone trailer) as I had a few small wheeled friends with me the first days http://www.shanecycles.com/carrying-lug ... ding-bike/

I'd also agree with the comment above to use the 44t chain ring

Hi Shane It was your excellent site that got me thinking in the first place.

Jug