tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post5709931108530020104..comments2024-03-05T06:10:01.826-08:00Comments on Honoring My Compass: The First 800 Miles with My BromptonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-47320068216432717472023-02-19T19:10:34.540-08:002023-02-19T19:10:34.540-08:00Thank you for your note. I don't recall any si...Thank you for your note. I don't recall any silver spacers accompanying the pedals. I wish I had known this long ago -- I got so fed up with those dang pedals that I got ride of them and went back to using the standard Brompton pedals. Oh well! Thank you for the heads-up. Good to know!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-57600833035790253772023-02-19T18:02:39.177-08:002023-02-19T18:02:39.177-08:00I know this post was from ages ago, but those quic...I know this post was from ages ago, but those quick release pedals should have come with silver spacers. You slide the black ring over the spacer when the pedal is installed, and then the red ring can’t be depressed - preventing unintentional pedal releases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-31000075822703810822021-08-26T10:54:15.234-07:002021-08-26T10:54:15.234-07:00Hi Bill~
Thank you for your note. I'm glad y...Hi Bill~ <br /><br />Thank you for your note. I'm glad you found the post to be helpful!<br /><br />Most of my touring these days is off-road bikepacking, on forest roads and single/double-track. Bromptons aren't suited for this type of touring, and so I haven't toured much recently on my Brompton. <br /><br />However, the Brompton is very much still a part of my biking life. I've been living out of a van (refer to http://www.honoringmycompass.com/2021/05/home-sweet-home-van-is-done.html) for the past few months. I had been traveling with just my touring bike (a Surly Disc Trucker) and my fat-tire bike (a Surly ECR), but I just recently started carrying the Brompton with me in the van as well. As it turns out, I've been using the Brompton most often, as it's super easy to unload, unfold, and hop on for a ride.<br /><br />Also, of potential interest...I'm now on my second Brompton. I decided to sell my first Brompton (the black one, named "Bromleigh") two years ago. My new bike (orange, named "Clementine") has the same set-up as Bromleigh, except that she has a dynamo and front/rear lights. I decided to upgrade to add the light system as I was traveling exclusively on my Brompton to get to/fro housesits, and I was finding I was doing quite a bit of riding in the fall and winter, when the sun set early in the evenings.<br /><br />~SarahSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-73629538305779887452021-08-25T23:17:01.237-07:002021-08-25T23:17:01.237-07:00Your article is very interesting and very informat...Your article is very interesting and very informative, are you still touring on your Brompton? Bill Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05578305564719528369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-45485130071542589262020-12-02T09:01:51.720-08:002020-12-02T09:01:51.720-08:00How wonderful that you are planning a world tour!
...How wonderful that you are planning a world tour!<br /><br />Depending on the types of roads you intend on traveling, a Brompton may work splendidly for you. Because of the Brompton's small wheel size, the bike performs best (and is most comfortable) on roads with smooth(er) surfaces. A paved surface is a no-brainer. Unpaved surfaces are fine as well, as long as they consist of hard packed dirt or very small gravel. In my opinion, a Brompton is not ideal, at all, for any tours that have a considerable amount of rough unpaved surface riding. The wheels are just too small to navigate deep ruts, washboards, or babyhead rocks.<br /><br />There are parts of Patagonia that have paved roads that would work well for travels on a Brompton. My trip to Patagonia, however, was primarily along the Carretera Austral. I recall a 60km-ish stretch of the Carretera with very deep washboards. The washboards were difficult to ride on my 26" touring bike; they would have been even worse to ride (i.e. "unrideable") on a Brompton. With that being said, more and more miles of roads are getting paved every year in Patagonia. In addition, the quality of unpaved roads changes frequently for the better (but sometimes for the worse) with increased traffic and grading trucks. <br /><br />If you're dead set on a world tour on a Brompton, then power to you. Where there is a will, there most often is a way. I have heard of at least one person traveling the Carretera on a Brompton. I suppose you could always hitch a ride through the unrideable sections. After all, the Brompton is the perfect bike for hitch biking.<br /><br />Happy travels!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-2913023094718027992020-12-02T04:07:52.690-08:002020-12-02T04:07:52.690-08:00Can you tell me why the Brompton wouldn't work...Can you tell me why the Brompton wouldn't work for Patagonia?<br /><br />What other areas or countries would it not work in and why?<br /><br />I'm thinking of buying a Brompton for a world tour thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-9261676486713983642020-07-23T06:45:08.671-07:002020-07-23T06:45:08.671-07:00Thank you for reaching out, Mauricio. I wish you t...Thank you for reaching out, Mauricio. I wish you the best in adventuring with your Brompton!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-88932490295349527402020-07-23T06:44:28.417-07:002020-07-23T06:44:28.417-07:00Thank you for the kind words. Happy traveling!Thank you for the kind words. Happy traveling!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-62958945639094610832020-07-22T23:44:02.839-07:002020-07-22T23:44:02.839-07:00Thanks for your amazing post!
I loved your setup a...Thanks for your amazing post!<br />I loved your setup and I'm sure that some of your tips will be useful for my next trip.<br />Cheers!<br />Mauricio (From Madrid, Spain)Mauricio Gelveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03342627216294580899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-35187496177030482792020-02-14T02:32:30.158-08:002020-02-14T02:32:30.158-08:00Good story 👍Good story 👍Bill Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05578305564719528369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-13381497581368141412019-06-27T21:33:56.302-07:002019-06-27T21:33:56.302-07:00best write up so far.. looking forward to travel f...best write up so far.. looking forward to travel further with my B after reading up all your tips .. kikilalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01339623236933807839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-47183070156271206322018-05-25T21:06:23.938-07:002018-05-25T21:06:23.938-07:00Thanks for reaching out! Glad to hear that you'...Thanks for reaching out! Glad to hear that you're still in love with your Brompton after all these years! :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-50058360805035031852018-05-20T05:05:10.377-07:002018-05-20T05:05:10.377-07:00Hi Sarah, thanks for the blog, which I'm readi...Hi Sarah, thanks for the blog, which I'm reading with interest. I've had a brompton for years and years (like 15 or 16?) and even though I have now moved out of the city and into somewhere where it's actually possible to store a full-sized bike, I still use it and take it up hills and load it up like a donkey. We've just bought a used one for my husband so we can take the train and cycle together. I have the M3R model and have considered getting more gears but.. nah. Also just got a folding trailer, the Burley Travoy, also foldable and takeable on trains. And good for grocery shopping. Wishing you many happy miles!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-28057034264343262082018-05-02T21:56:04.564-07:002018-05-02T21:56:04.564-07:00Thank you for reaching out, Leon. There are pros a...Thank you for reaching out, Leon. There are pros and cons to everything, eh? Would love to hear what the jury decides after your camping trip! Have fun!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-1870049808152644182018-05-02T20:00:11.344-07:002018-05-02T20:00:11.344-07:00Sarah,
I swapped my 44 tooth chainring for a 38. ...Sarah,<br /><br />I swapped my 44 tooth chainring for a 38. It is easier going up hilłs, but naturally my high gear is now less high. Also you lose the neat chain guard. Jury is still out. I am going on my first camping ride this weekend. We will see how it goes...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14320058550626357435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-19500041689781378742018-04-18T00:16:24.752-07:002018-04-18T00:16:24.752-07:00Great to hear from you, Steve! And glad to hear th...Great to hear from you, Steve! And glad to hear that you enjoy your Brompton as well. I did a cross-country bike ride a couple years ago from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. I could have delivered your Brompton for you. :) Cheers, and happy pedaling!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-1670921929532271852018-04-16T19:41:43.075-07:002018-04-16T19:41:43.075-07:00We have identical Bromptons, right down to the col...We have identical Bromptons, right down to the color. Purchased mine from Clever Cycles in Portland, OR, though I live in Portland, ME (no Brompton dealer here). I haven't had to remove my pedals while packing in my B & W hard case, though I do loosen the hand grips and turn them a bit. My second Brompton. It's amazing how much fun they are.Steve Schuithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09308284007934665635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-5445620600632405782018-01-25T13:45:38.951-08:002018-01-25T13:45:38.951-08:00Congrats on acquiring a Brompton! I haven't s...Congrats on acquiring a Brompton! I haven't seriously considered making any modifications to the drivetrain. Let me know if you decide to swap out the chain ring. I'll be curious whether you notice a substantial difference. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-6052501691036847432018-01-25T13:42:09.555-08:002018-01-25T13:42:09.555-08:00Hi Sarah, just got a Brompton and was browsing aro...Hi Sarah, just got a Brompton and was browsing around for options in using it for touring. Have you considered replacing the chain ring into a 38-tooth Sugino or even a 39-tooth Shimano chain ring? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-2314487056215822102017-06-29T09:22:25.036-07:002017-06-29T09:22:25.036-07:00That's great, Roy! I'll take a look at the...That's great, Roy! I'll take a look at the link you sent. Thank you. :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-23214506765139490422017-06-28T23:58:59.832-07:002017-06-28T23:58:59.832-07:00My Brompton has now replaced my touring bike for m...My Brompton has now replaced my touring bike for most of my travels, have you thought about some of the 8 speed kits available from the link below.<br /><br /> http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/folding-bikes/brompton/brompton-alfine-kits/ Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455293024582760906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-8247645247123566232017-03-20T13:36:02.321-07:002017-03-20T13:36:02.321-07:00Agree 100%. The Brompton can be the shopping cart....Agree 100%. The Brompton can be the shopping cart. :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-19740964320698857152017-03-20T13:34:32.447-07:002017-03-20T13:34:32.447-07:00Hello. :)
To answer your questions...
I remove t...Hello. :)<br /><br />To answer your questions...<br /><br />I remove the pedals to reduce the likelihood that they might be damaged. Padding them is also an option; I just don't want to have to carry or deal with extra padding.<br /><br />I considered buying the Brompton toolkit. However, given it's price, I decided it easiest just to use my existing multitool.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, and thanks for your questions.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364126026938904689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-66760258283800402872017-03-20T04:27:59.282-07:002017-03-20T04:27:59.282-07:00Hi Sarah,
Two questions: firstly, why do you remov...Hi Sarah,<br />Two questions: firstly, why do you remove your pedals? I have simply padded mine when traveling with them and they've come to no harm. <br />Secondly, have you bought, or considered buying a Brompton toolkit? Not only do you never have to worry whether or not you've remembered to pack it (it stows away in the frame so it's always with the bike), it's got pretty much everything you'll need to get you out of trouble. <br />Otherwise, good post! Happy Bromptoneering!daynaa2000https://www.blogger.com/profile/01250140145202444445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7227121216820368236.post-14088049620947062652017-03-20T04:23:00.917-07:002017-03-20T04:23:00.917-07:00Even better, your Brompton can BE your shopping ca...Even better, your Brompton can BE your shopping cart ;) <br />Especially easy to manouver and stable with a rear rack. daynaa2000https://www.blogger.com/profile/01250140145202444445noreply@blogger.com