Where My Brompton Fits

For a week or two, I have been switching off between the Brompton and the Casseroll as I ride to and from school. The Casseroll, of course, is parked outside--which is quite nice since it's covered. When I ride the Brompton, I have been lugging it around orientations and from classroom to classroom. This works fine, since it is quite small, but does get heavy throughout the course of the day. I even had a chance to demo the fold in front of my cohort during an orientation by Chris Hinrichs, an Executive MBA professor and fellow folding bike aficionado (he rides a Birdy). Shortly after orientation started, I was finally granted access to our private MBA locker room. Hmmmm, I thought, locker??? Would it fit?

After trying different configurations inside the locker, here are the results:

All cute and folded. So proper.

This is the best configuration: saddle straight, back left corner to front right corner. If I have the ITChair, it comes off and sets to the side inside the locker.

And it closes w/o effort!

Imagine if your employer provided a simple locker system such as this. Our locker room has shower facilities for both genders, and some private bathrooms. Brompton to the bus (or straight to work), bus to work, Brompton from bus stop to work, Brompton inside locker, BAM! I suppose when I have an actual desk/office, I would rather just park the Brommy right next to me, but that's a few months off yet. No locks, no thieves, no weather on bike, just excellence. Just ask the Queen.

Adventures With the Brompton

After much patience, my new best friend arrived in a cardboard box. So, like with a friend who is visiting from out of town, I had a host of activities planned for us.

First we had some fun on the swings. I had to push, silly Brit.

A little cruise around the yard in Barbie's 'Vette. Good thing I have narrow hips.

Sweet nothings.

No one likes a dirty saddle.

The ITChair is a perfect match for Brompton's black finish--it looks like a natural extension of the bicycle. Took Kate on it to the grocery store this afternoon, in fact.

It's only a demo, it's only a demo . . . . .

I've been anxiously awaiting my Brompton since early March, so on occasion I have borrowed the shop's demo model, which is similarly spec'd to mine. This is a M6L-X in British Racing Green with the Shimano generator hub and Brooks B-17 saddle. Mine will come in black with the Schmidt Son generator hub. Every time I take it out, I have to tell myself: "It's only a demo, it's only a demo."

Seen here with the IT Chair installed. I have since installed a Bontrager Eco saddle in brown. I rigged a 6mm seatpost QR lever on standard straight post saddle hardware so I can flip the IT Chair saddle out of the way, so as to keep my Carradice City Folder installed on the carrier block. Did I mention I have a Carradice City Folder? Mine was made by a certain Priscilla. Thanks, Priscilla.

Here's the Brompton folded with the IT Chair and Carradice.

Top view of the fold including the IT Chair.

Front view of the fold with the IT Chair.

So far, I've taken this setup on a handful of commutes and family rides with my almost-five-year-old daughter. She's quite tall for her age, and still fits comfortably. I've wheeled it right in to the grocery store and used it as my shopping cart. I absolutely love it. Can't wait for mine to arrive! (Although I'll have to).

It's Beginning

I received a package today from Spain. Perhaps the cart is in front of the horse on this one, but it's contents are gorgeous. Here's a picture:

This little contraption is a child seat attachment for Brompton folding bikes (mine is currently being built in London). A bicycle saddle is installed on the short, protruding post, and the child places his/her feet on the pegs (which fold up while not in use). The child then sits in front of the rider, holding onto the handlebars. One of the best parts of this tool is that it does not compromise the intricate fold of the Brompton. Click here to see how it works, here for the Spaniard's blog, and here for Portland, OR's Clever Cycles post.

Some more pics:

Front view with pegs down

Front view with pegs up