DerbyTup Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Just an idea... I used to travel from Sheffield to Derby, cycling at both ends. I considered a folding bike, but decided that the easiest (and cheapest) solution was to buy two bikes and lock them up at the cycle racks at the respective stations. As well as not having to compromise between 'foldability' and 'usability', it means you can buy different types of bikes for the different types of terrain in Doncaster and Sheffield. Now that's what I call smart thinking! I'd have bought a normal bike for Derby and one with an electric motor for sheffield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotty902 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) Has anyone on the forum got a Brompton folding bike? I was wondering what the 3 speed model (M3l) was like to ride on the hills around Sheffield. Thanks Hi I have a 3 speed Brompton and it is fine for most of the hills in Sheffield but if you get your self down to Edinburgh bikes Broadfield road they will let you take one out on a test ride and if you speak :|to Alan he will sort you out they are very good with Bromptons Edited April 18, 2012 by knotty902 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewheeldave Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I would definitely say you need the six-speed with the low gear option if you are going to ride it extensively around Sheffield. Having said that you can always fold it up and take it on the bus/tram when the going gets rough - that's the point of it. Edinburgh bike co-op sell them as well as James's who don't seem very positive about them and will try to sell you a Dahon - don't be deterred, the B. is a better option if you are going to fold it a lot. Seems quite commendable of them, as the Dahons are cheaper than the Brompton, and they tend to have a more suitable selection of gears (derailers) then the Brompton where Sheffield (hilly) is concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewheeldave Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I have a 3 speed brompton and cycle around Sheffield. I have also cycled coast to coast on it. I love it. It folds easily and is light enough to carry around and small enough to hide under your desk at work. Other half commutes on the train with his brompton (cycling both ends on the train) and confirms it is the best bike for commuting. We brought ours about 8 years ago on ebay in excellent condition. Once you are a established commuter, come and join us at the Brompton World Championship in Oxford. Hi I have a 3 speed Brompton and it is fine for most of the hills in Sheffield but if you get your self down to Edinburgh bikes Broadfield road they will let you take one out on a test ride and if you speak :|to Alan he will sort you out they are very good with Bromptons I'd be interested in knowing more details about what 'fine for most of the hills in Sheffield' means. What about the steep hills like Rutland rd, Crookesmoor rd etc? I've done a fair bit of riding round sheffield on a single speed and hills like that are really tough on one gear- doable, and, great if fitness is the priority, but, I had to conclude that, for general commuting, a single speed is not a viable option in Sheffield. I've never had experience of the 3-speed internal hub gear systems- so, could you give some thoughts on it's suitability for general commuting in sheffield, bearing in mind that, once out of the flat city center area, hills like the ones mentioned above are unavoidable. In the past I have come close to getting a brompton, as, it clearly has the best fold and smallest folded size of the main folding bikes, but went with a dahon due to it's cheaper price and 6 gear deraillers- but one factor was also doubts about the suitability of the 3 geared Brompton for Sheffield. So it'd be good to know if the 3 speed Brompton can handle Sheffields tougher hills adequately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotty902 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Hi I have cycled up to crooks with my 3 speed brompton and the hill by the side of re cycle bike and both me and my wife have got up them, I am 59 years old and my wife is 51 , but if the gears are a problem the price of a new 6 speed Brompton is about £60 more than the 3 speed but if you require a folding Bike it has to be a Brompton,the dahon folds is not as good and will not last as long as the Brompton and the re sale price of the Brompton is very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yog Sothoth Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Have a look on ebay... http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bikes-/33503/i.html?_nkw=brompton&_catref=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1538 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyhorse Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 I have a 3 speed and can just about ride it up to Hangingwater road from the train station. I wouldn't really like to ride it up the hill any further though, as when you start pulling on the bars, you worry they might snap. I also lowered the gearing by changing the rear cog, which helps. I do some work up in the North East occasionally and was considering taking the Brompton on the train and riding up through Gateshead from Newcastle train station. However the hills are just as bad as Sheffield, so I now store a road bike up there, which I find is a much better ride. I also used to ride my Brompton around Norfolk which is fairly flat, but I found an 8 mile commute each way to be the maximum I really want to spend on it. They are great bikes for taking on trains and short commutes, but quite harsh compared to a full size bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beansforyou Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Spend £90 on your CBT and ride a motorbike, cheap as chips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotty902 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Has anyone on the forum got a Brompton folding bike? I was wondering what the 3 speed model (M3l) was like to ride on the hills around Sheffield. Thanks Just bourght my new Brompton from Edinbourgh Bikes of Sheffield 300 broadfield rd they were so helpfull I got to go out on a 20mints test ride on a New Brompton but I was so happy with the Bike I just new I was going to have to have one after the first 100 yards I have orderd a M6L in Orange the Bike is so cool so cool just cool :love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotty902 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Just bourght my new Brompton from Edinbourgh Bikes of Sheffield 300 broadfield rd they were so helpfull I got to go out on a 20mints test ride on a New Brompton but I was so happy with the Bike I just new I was going to have to have one after the first 100 yards I have orderd a M6L in Orange the Bike is so cool so cool just cool :love: for got to say thanks to Alan And Miles from EBC Sheffield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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