Making My Brompton Easier to Ride 😀
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- Опубліковано 30 бер 2023
- Join Paul in the workshop fitting a 39T chainring to his Brompton and taking it for its first test ride.
Bike: Brompton P6R. This model is no longer available but you can see their full range on their website and more about these beautiful bikes here @bromptonbicycle
We are Velo Works: www.veloworkshop.co.uk/
Velo Works is Paul and Sarah who love everything cycle touring / bike packing, Bromptons, Gravel and MTB's and much more.Further Info:
We offer hand built wheels, vintage bike restoration as well as mobile servicing and repairs in Bristol and North Somerset - Спорт
Changing to 44T was the best mod I’ve ever done. Didn’t realise a 40 and 39 were available too. Many thanks for this informative video. 👍👍
Thank you for the nice comment and watching. Glad you like your 44T 👍
My wife bought a 44 for me years ago. I just put it on last night. It’s a wonderful change. I live in a hilly area. 6 speed 2013 brommie with same touring bars you have. I found those to be the most comfortable for me although the ugliest
It’s definitely a better option for the Brompton (the 44t) glad you are enjoying it! And the P bars are the best!
What a wonderful workshop so organised brilliant
Thank you!
It really should come with the 44t as standard. I changed mine to 44t and I could actually use all the gears!
I agree. Unless you live in the super flattest place in the world it’s hard work!
Awesome effort, Paul. And your English weather just puts me in mind of what a hardy bunch of cyclists you have to be, while here in Calif. I wouldn't think of riding in the wet! . Great video. Love the content!
Haha yes we certainly would rarely cycle if we didn’t go out in the wet! Thanks for watching 👍
A little bit of inclement weather, not too much you understand, can be life affirming Adam. 👍😉
@@andyml1 😂 so true!
I recently switched to an H&H 40T (and made a video about it too!). Like you I started with the standard 50T on my M6R, found that a bit too long and swapped it out for a 44T which worked fine for most things but left me struggling on the occasional steeper inclines. The 40T is definitely better and still gives me a long enough top gear for my leisurely riding style.
Thanks for watching and your comment. Sounds like we approached it in the same way 👍 we will have a watch of your video. Just currently having coffee and cake and testing out the new chainring!
What sprockets you us in your brompton ??? The 16/13 or another ??
@@Ctorresbsn 13/16 👍
I did exactly the same thing a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't be happier with that setup.
I'm really enjoying your videos, and look forward to viewing many more. Thank you!
Oh wonderful! Thanks for watching - enjoy your 39t and happy cycling!
I changed mine to a 39t and it transformed the bike. Brompton should offer this as an option 😊
Wonderful! How long have you had it with a 39t and what riding have you done?
I’ve had it for a couple of years now. I do a combination of relaxing scenic cycling and bike camping. I take everything with me (Tent, sleeping stuff, Trangia etc) on my Brompton and cycle around 40 miles to the campsite. Total ascent of 427m according to Garmin. 😊
@@paulfairclough9350 this sounds like our type of trips! And similar to what we’ve done in the past just with the bigger chainring so looking forward to an easier ride next trip! Wonderful 🎉
I have the h&h 40t and it is a necessity in my area (or for me). And I feel like the top speed is more then adequate for such a small twitchy bike. So yes, it should be an option „C-Line Climber Edition“
@@paulfairclough9350is it a ta 39t chainring how many bolts so I can order the right one 👍
Another beautifully produced and very interesting video (yes...Brompton owner!) - M A N Y Thanks for taking the time to share... I definitely have P handlebar envy too!
Ah thank you! And thanks soooo much for taking the time to watch and comment. We asked Brompton if they’d do the P bars again and the response was ‘it’s not out of the question’ 😱😱😱
Spa Cycles of Harrogate sell Stronglight T55 chainsets for £30 in all sizes from 38T to 50T. I fit whatever I need for the area 38T in hometown Bradford! All you need is a cheap puller.
I did the same work on my M6R... now it's perfect for touring... 👍🏼
Good to hear! We can’t wait to take this on a tour now 👍
Fascinating! I'm about to take the plunge on a Brompton C-Line Explore, that will become an "adventure bike" to take on trips and holidays. It's just too much faff to take either of my full-size bikes on trains, and impossible on buses, and inconvenient in the car. My adventures always involve lots of climbing, often on long, steep ascents, so low gears are critical (and having several gears is important - hence the choice of the 6-speed C-Line).
I've asked the bike shop to replace the stock 50T chainring with a 44T, which along with the 3-Spd Sturmey-Archer/BWR IGH and the 13/16 sprockets, will give me a 315% gear ratio, from 29 gear inches to 88 gear inches (and 5.2 mph to 26.2 mph at 60 rpm/100 RPM, respectively). I think the low gear may still not be low enough, but I plan to stick with it and if it's too much of a struggle, either reduce the chainring size or increase the two sprocket sizes. Although I am fit enough to cycle along at 25 mph, I don't choose to, and am happy to coast down hills, so the upper gears and speed (26 mph at 100 RPM on the planned purchase with 44T chainring) are less important.
Your chat perfectly resonated with all the calculations and rationale I have been going through over the past few days, thank you!
Thanks for your comments and taking the time to watch this video. Having changed the two rear cogs and experimented with different sizes, changing the chainring is the easier option 👍 Happy new bike day 🙌
you don't need a bike shop to swop out the chainring, its an easy job
@@grahamricketts-bq1ft I know how to change a chainring - the bike shop swopped it out for the stock chainring free of charge, so it was a no-brainer. No point paying for a second chainring if I didn't need to.
I fitted a 39T Shimano Ultegra chain ring to my Brompton that I had lying around unused but not before, I had gone through the hassle of buying two TA ones, but wasn’t impressed with the poor quality, lots of rough edges on the casting of the teeth so sent them back, twice.
I didn’t bother shortening the chain. Hasn’t had any negative affect and the gear change still works fine. Means if I want to revert to the 44T chain ring I can pretty easily do so.
With the 39T chain ring I spin out at about 24-25mph in top.
Std spec 6spd Bromptons are massively over geared with whoppingly large 50T front chain rings. Ridiculous unless you have the leg power of a Pro sprinter.
I have toured all over Gran Canaria on my L6 which has very steep hills and I can ride up all but the steepest where I had to get off and push.
Fitting a 39T chain ring is the easiest and most cost effective mod you can make on a Brompton to lower the gearing. You could go for a 15-17 rear sprocket combo if you felt the need I suppose but I haven’t.
Fitting a 39T front chain ring is a great and easy mod to make.
Hi Alex, thanks for the comments - great to see you get on with this set up. We are looking forward to test riding it more. Not sure when you last had the TA one but definitely the quality of this one is good and we use them quite often in the workshop for customers bike and not had any probs. Happy cycling those hills!
Completely agree with the over-gearing, at least in hilly areas like where I live. I ordered a 44t chainring to put on my H6 and plan to swap it on this weekend. Just need to find my chain break tool! If I recall correctly I need to remove 2 links.
@@readyplayer2 Hi, cheers for watching and you’ll definitely get on better with a 44t. Yes two links 👍
@@veloworks9266 Thanks for confirming, and thanks also for the fun and informative videos!
Good work. I live in a hilly area and use a 44 tooth chain ring and would like to try a 39 or 40. Question: is there a chain guard that fits your setup?
Thanks so much, I just got a Brompton 6 speed here in the US. I THINK I'd rather get the H&H with the chain guard - but I really don't know the pros and cons of a chain guard.
Wramest regards
Jennie
Hi Jennie, congratulations on getting a Brompton! Hope you love it as much as us. The chainguard can stop clothes getting caught in the chain but it also stops muck from the chain going on your shoes. So it’s your choice really!
Hello Paul,
Interesting video... I plan to swap my chainset for shorter cranks 1(60mm) to help with my replacement hip and have a 144 bcd so I can experiment with my old Campagnolo chainrings to find a suitable setup for me... Thanks for sharing.
Take care.
Paul,,
Sounds interesting! Out of interest what cranks would you use? Thanks again for watching!
Using Campag chain rings you might have to use Campag cranks which means a Campag bottom bracket which I doubt one would fit the Brompton shell if even one was suitable and available. Shimano would be the best and cheapest option.
@@alexmorgan3435 okay.
Nice video....I'd like to know if it's possible to replace only the sprockets with 17 and 14 and keeping the 44t chainring. Regards from Turin (Italy).
Hi thanks for watching and your comment. It is possible, I’m not sure what cogs you would use but I have done a combination using 11 speed road cogs. In this experience I’ve found it better to change the chainring as changing the rear cogs made the bike feel clunky. Hope that helps
Using the Sheldon Brown gear calculator, it seemed the best chainring size would be a 36T. This would drop the 6th gear from 85.3” to 69.8”, effectively moving each gear back one gear, if that makes sense (eg: 6th becomes 5th, 5th becomes 4th etc) and making 1st gear 23.1” (as opposed to 28.2” as it is with my 44T). I seem to spend a lot of time riding in 3rd & 5th, which with a 36T would become 4th & 6th.
I had contemplated running a 44/28 double chainset, but that would only give 2 gears lower than the 44T 1st (17.9” & 22.1”), then the 28T starts overlapping 3rd to 6th by 0.1” per gear, so no point and a waste of money.
For the record I’m still on my original 44T swaged chainset, not bad for a 2012 bike.
Hi thanks for watching and your comments. On the 5 arm Brompton cranks you wouldn’t be able to fit a 36t chainring. 39t would be the lowest you can go without the chain hitting the spider. It’s really great to hear your so enthusiastic about gears! I’m personally so happy with the 39t set up! Check out our latest video and what I managed to get up today 😂👍
I love your videos! And looking to do this myself. If you were going from a 54T to 39T - Do you got an idea how many chainlinks would this be? Thank you! Also - do you know of any third party guard for a 39T?
Thanks for watching 👍 sorry for the late reply I missed the comment 😱 If you want a guard it’s best to go for the 40t chainring from H&H because that is supplied with a guard. Most 39t rings are a replacement for an inner or middle ring so therefore they don’t come with a Chainguard. Not sure on the chainlinks - just use the current angle of the derailleur to gauge how short the chain needs to be as per video 👍
@@veloworks9266 Thank you! I've ordered the H&H 40T now :)
Hi, How many links do I have to remove in order to convert from 50 teeth (6 speed C line explore) to a 39 teeth chainring? thanks
I believe it will be 6 links but as mentioned in the video it is worth using the position of the derailleur to dictate the length of the chain 👍
My brother has just given me his Brompton. I'm going to pick it up from London next week. I live in Edinburgh and all my routes are much hillier so I reckon i will be doing this to it. How do people who put two chain rings on handle chain length? Is it that critical? Would it be better to favour tighter or looser if you had to? (BTW I grew up in Bristol so it is fun to see you on hills i used to try and cycle up over 40 years ago! Constitution Hill, St Michael's Hill, Stoke Hill were dreaded. Even Park Street.)
Hi Roger, thanks for watching and the comment. It’s all about making sure the chain tensioner or derailleur on the rear of the bike can function correctly. You certainly don’t want a too tight chain but you can have a slightly looser chain. I don’t have loads of experience with the 2x but people must find a chain length that works with both chain ring sizes.
Good luck and ahhh we just moved back to Bristol from Scotland. Hills are far worse here surprisingly 😂
Hi there, thanks for the video! Does the lack of chainguard affect the fold at all? In particular, can you still rotate the cranks while the bike is folded or does the chainring without a guard interfere with the cables?
Hi thanks for watching. No it functions exactly the same 👍
P.s the main difference without the chainguard is oil does head towards your legs and cranks so a lighter oil is better 👍
Hi ai own Brompton and is due for new tyre soon, at the moment it got it standard Marathon racer so which tyres would you recommend for commuting? Thank you
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. I would highly recommend the Marathon Plus 👍 The only one I would use
My 2019 "SuperlightM6LXBrompton" has 6 gears and when I had bought it (During High Covid19, for the vacation money saved), I at first I wondered for which use I had the low gears, till I met a very steep Danish Serpentine Road (On the Danish Island of Bornholm), and had to walk on top, to go up! I have seen double chainwheels for the front, but I can't - imagine for which conditions I would ever need a gear which was further down than mine (I'm able to walk faster than that). My bike has been much modified down to now 8,75 kilo, and still with its mudguards (I think about the same as a T-line with 4 gears, and mudguards?) As a Rainy Dane I never leave Home without them! I expect to reach 8,5 kilo with a little further changes and work! Finn. Denmark
Hi, thanks for the video. We changed our brompton to the 44t but after watching your video i think the 39t would be better as we live in a very hilly part of the sw. Could you please pass on a link or let me know where i can order one?
Many thanks for your helpful videos😊
Hi, thanks for watching and your kind comments. You can get that specific chainring from SJS cycles. Also, you can get a 40t chainring from h&h. Hope that helps. And sorry for the late response we’ve been on holiday 👍
P.s The H&H chainring can also be purchased from SJS cycles
I went from 52 or 54 (whatever the stock was when I bought my 3 speed) to a 44. Haven’t taken the plunge yet on a 39 as I’m a bit worried about not having the guard. Expect its not a problem in reality?
Hey thanks for watching and your comment. The H&H 40t chainring does come with a guard so this may be a good option for you. Personally it doesn’t worry me 👍
No problem whatsoever without a guard in fact better without.
Hi, I have cassette sprockets 11-13-15-18(P Line ) , I want to purchase a 44T and don't want to change the sprocket size, How many link chain i will use? Thank you
Hey, we haven’t done this to a P line Brompton so we don’t know. If you are unsure take it to a bike shop 👍
would any chainring work as long as its 130 bcd and 5 holes? I see options of 39T from inner chainrings for 2by cranksets. Do those work aswell?
I still have the 50t installed but want to try 44 or even 39 since I almost never use the hardest gear event on flats in my commute but I have hills on my daily commute/rides.
The 44t brompton chainring is quite expensive here in my area so I wanted to try a 44T or 39T first (from cheaper brands) before I commit.
Yes there is no reason why any chainring won’t work but they would need to be for a 3/32” chain . If you go for a track specific chain ring this won’t work as they require a different chain. So yes the 130mm bcd and 5 holes will work. And I think 39t would be the lowest you could go.
@@veloworks9266 thanks. Would the speed of the chain ring matter or can i still ise the stock brompton chain? I see some 39t innerchainrings that are 10speed.
Also related questions, do find the problem of spinning out on flats with the 39t or only on downhills?
@@jkevinAH hi sorry for late reply. The speed of the chainring doesn’t seem to make a difference as long as you are just using it for a single ring set up. The only issue is if you use a track or single speed chain ring as this has a different pitch.
@@jkevinAH and your 2nd question. Just on the downhills 👍
Had a mad moment about buying an electric Brompton. We get a big cash back from our local government here in Montpellier for the purchase of an e-bike. Just seems like the Brompton hasn’t got much range ? And even plenty of issues on reliability ?
We haven’t tried the Brompton electric so can’t really comment. Neither do we have any friends who have. I know @geekculture did a review of one about 4-5 months ago. May be worth checking out 👍
@@veloworks9266 even with government grant it’s too expensive for me. I’m going to purchase one very soon from my local dealer. C-line ….maybe the half titanium version…
@@gdwlaw5549 sounds great and you can always change the chainring to make it easier if needed!
I've been riding this bike for about a month ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxwC0IIeIomGQVeBWg-kKJaToZkLEFIA2W and a half now and I think it's fantastic. It helps me get to work on time every day since I'm able to fit it inside of public transportation rush hour. The price is great too, people are always shocked when they ask me how much I paid for the fold up and I tell them "200". It's easy to fold and installation when it ships is insanely easy. All you have to install when the bike arrives is one foot pedal, everything else is done for you. I do recommend you carry some sort of wrench to tighten any loose screws on the handle bar and seat whenever they get a little bit loose. Other than that I think it's a fantastic bike. Easily fits in the home, can fit inside a car trunk and can even fit in subway rush hour.
Both my wife and I changed to the smallest front chainring available from Brompton. I think the default gearing is just too high for the majority of users.
Agreed 👍 Hope you find it better now! Thanks for watching
I think too many bicycle manufacturers equip their bikes as if they're going to be ridden by pros - aggressive geometry, skinny wheels, and narrow/high gearing. Not all of these apply to Bromptons, obviously, but considering their target audience, 50T seems rather big!
@@davidrowe8747 I think the reason is it’s probably the perfect gear for London where they started and are based. I imagine that’s why? Not so helpful in every other city with a hill in the country through 😂
Has anyone said you look like Rene Redzepi? 😜
Haha no ! I’ve been told I look like a fat Ashton Kutcher though 😂
@@veloworks9266 Ha! That's funny. Instead of "fat" I prefer football player's build but you do look like a taller René Redzepi. Check him out, the all-star chef of NOMA.
@@davidhunternyc1 will do! And haha that is better than fat 😂