RSSBrompton bike in Brooklyn
Jun 18
Brompton folding bikes Bromptin bike Brooklyn, Brompton bike, Brompton folding bike, Brompton NYC, folding bike 2 Comments
A Brompton bike in Brooklyn might look strange, but trust me; this bike gets the job done. Don’t sweat the ‘tiny wheels.” Don’t let the “weird handlebars” sway you. If the Brompton folding bike can handle the mean streets of Brooklyn, NY it can most likely handle anything in your small town or big city.
Recently I rode my Brompton bike in the Tour de Brooklyn, an 18 mile loop through Bushwick, East New York, down to Canarsie Park and returning to Crown Heights. The pavement was as just as tough as the neighborhoods we rode through and the 16” wheels handled the terrain just fine. The suspension bumper in the rear of the folding bicycle let me keep up a good pace with other cyclists around me over the entire tour.
Seth with his Brompton bike in Brooklyn
Do Brompton bikes look silly?
I’m always asked if the tiny wheels (they’re 16”) make it hard to keep up with more “traditional” bikes. I’ve been riding bicycles for over 20 years now, and I can say this with complete confidence; a six-speed Brompton bike in Brooklyn can keep pace with fixies, road bikes, hybrids and amped up kids on BMX bikes.
Trust me; there were loads of people on this Tour de Brooklyn trying to go as fast as possible, but I never found myself pedaling faster, or having to ride in higher gears just to keep up. I never get the feeling like I’m on a “little bike” when riding in a group of other cyclists. Believe me, as your fitness improves you’ll soon be blasting by people on your Brompton just like any other bike.
T Bag is great for a Brompton
Riding with the T-Bag, the touring bag, on the Brompton bike in Brooklyn worked great. The bag can carry anything you might need for a big group ride, including sun screen, maps, tools, rain coat, tubes, camera, food and drink. Since the bag attaches directly to the front of the frame, you don’t feel the weight on your front wheel. Your steering is still quick, easy and comfortable. From hauling groceries, laptops or group rides – the T-Bag is very versatile bag for your Brompton.
Since the Brompton folding bike has a built in holder for a Zefal air pump, a fellow rider asked to use mine for her (very flat) tires. The pump is attached to the rear triangle of the folding bike, with the head of the pump in a little “cage” and the bottom held by a tiny point in the frame. I’ve ridden over some nasty pavement and even some dirt paths and the pump stays secured to the frame.
I spotted maybe five other Brompton bikes in the Tour de Brooklyn on the ride, along with a few other folding bikes. I’m thinking the versatility of these bikes is appealing to other city dwellers – from commuting to group rides like this Tour de Brooklyn, and being able to take the Brompton folding bike on mass transit with ease is something any city person can appreciate.
