BROMPTON Vs STEEPEST STREET IN ENGLAND

Can Paul ride his Brompton up the steepest residential street in England with his new 39t front chainring?
Vale Street in Totterdown, Bristol has an average gradient of 22% with a section that is 1 in 4 (25%).
Maybe I ask him to do it twice!
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
You can watch the Brompton Chainring Video here: • Making My Brompton Eas...
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Velo Works is Paul and Sarah who love everything cycle touring / bike packing, Bromptons, Gravel and MTB's and much more.
Velo Works offer hand built wheels, vintage bike restoration as well as mobile servicing and repairs in Bristol and North Somerset

[@bsa_brummie7775]

Credit where credits due well done. It also shows your changes definitely improved the Brompton's climbing ability + your stamina. Thanks for testing and sharing 👍.

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I certainly couldn’t have done it with the original chain ring 👍

[@Ezri_Actual]

Well done! 👏🏻 I recognise that hill from GCN, Connor fell off when he attempted it!

[@veloworks9266]

Oh hahahaha! Should have been on a Brompton 😜

[@patsmith7710]

its not the bike, its the man😊

[@veloworks9266]

Haha Brompton fit!

[@vaccinatedanti-vaxxer]

Wonder if a pro cyclist on a penny farthing can beat a 300lbs man on a carbon road bike..

[@macanic5161]

Thanks for sharing! I am very happy with the 39T chainring as well, it‘s a real improvement in the hilly areas in Switzerland. Even makes touring passes with luggage a lot more pleasant. The missing chainguard doesn‘t bother me at all, I‘m quite okay with it. It‘s actually no different on a mountain or a racing bike.

[@veloworks9266]

Great to hear! Yes we don’t miss the chainguard either 👍

[@pootlingalong8928]

I’ve just got back from the Lake District and had to walk my loaded touring Brompton up every hill! I thought you’d only get about 50 feet up that hill - impressive effort 🤗👍🏻

[@veloworks9266]

Hope you had a great trip! And thank you for watching 😀 The chainring certainly helps and can’t believe I had to do it twice 😂

[@jorgeantonioruizvargas7573]

🚴 Very, very good. From Cucuta city Colombia 🇨🇴 South America

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you 👍 👋🏻

[@jorgeantonioruizvargas7573]

@@veloworks9266 amen 🙏

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Paul & Sarah, Excellent video... That is one tough hill and a fabulous test for your new Brompton gearing setup. Take care. Paul,,

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks Paul! Can’t believe he did it twice! Actually 3 times as I needed a better photo 😂

[@ultrastoat3298]

0:47 once you go wax, you never go back.

[@terrysallbikes]

I’ve been getting around to making a video of this for over a year! Well I have to say you’ve made a great job of it as always, looking forward to seeing you on tour.

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you! The second attempt was certainly better (if people watched that far into the video 😂)

[@earlbee3196]

Love the music at the end of the video🎉🚴‍♂️🚴🏼🚴‍♂️

[@veloworks9266]

Haha thankyou! Thought it fitted 👍

[@MiriamKennedy]

Surely a sticky bun was a worthy companion with your coffee!! 😉 A great showcase of the capability of the amended chainring - well done!! 🏆

[@veloworks9266]

Haha think we had a chocolate flapjack later 🎉! And thank you!!

[@cliveelsmore]

Impressive achievement - well done! Good music choice too :)

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you! The second time was certainly better but then Sarah made me do it a 3rd time for a photo 😂

[@lonestarlaurel]

Absolutely inspiring, in every kind of way. Love this video. Great photography. Answered important questions for me. Big gratitude. Love your channel. Stay safe, happy trails 🙏🏼🐾🥳🎶 🇨🇦here

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching and thank you for your lovely comments 🥰

[@amandaleigh3852]

Bravo! Utterly bonkers, brave and Barking… love it! 🙌👊💥! (I’d have been walking up at Totterdown) 😂

[@veloworks9266]

Haha thank you!!

[@rkrock2514]

Oh my gawsh, You're an Olympian rider! You killed that hillclimb! Reminds me of hills back in the day in NYC; Bronx, Manhattan, & Staten Island! I have a Dahon Classic III folder from the 80's. I think it's in need of this chainring size. Brilliant upgrade!

[@veloworks9266]

Haha thank you 👍😂 We love Dahons - Sarah had one for many years… let us know how you get on if you do change the chainring 🙌

[@tvsony8929]

I’ve never watched your videos before today when it was randomly recommended by youtube but I really can’t go without complimenting Paul for his really nice set of teeth!

[@veloworks9266]

Hello! Thank you for watching and really glad you like his lovely teeth! I shall let him know! haha

[@dashamin]

Wow!!! Well done guys! 22% that's madness!

[@veloworks9266]

And twice 😂😂 Thank you!

[@doooofus]

pretty sure its more than 22% i did a bit of research on this in the past and learned about this road but heard it was 22 degrees, so as a grade that'll be 100*tan22

[@veloworks9266]

@@doooofus I think it’s average of 22% with the steepest section 25%

[@doooofus]

@@veloworks9266 are you sure? the bbc article "where are england's steepest streets" lists vale st at 22 degrees, and while im no fan of them theyre generally praised for their factual rigorousness. and 22 degrees would mean a grade of about 40%, while it'd be just 12 degrees it's 22%. though looking at pictures of it both of those seem too low haha, looks closer to 40 degrees or so, which would be a gradient of like 90% or something!

[@AgencyScum]

CHAPEAU! Mate that a wall with road markings!

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you! And yes 😂 The 2nd time in the video shows it even better I think 🤯

[@james-p]

As I think it is said in England: Jolly Good Show! Cheers from the US :-)

[@veloworks9266]

Haha thank you!

[@714SNF]

good work!

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you 👍 I think I did better on that second attempt eh!

[@john3892]

I believe HH do a 40T chainring with a guard. And Tim at Cyclecare, Purton, nr Swindon offers a 14T/18T rear sprocket conversion. Ideal combination for touring and climbing.

[@veloworks9266]

Sounds good 👍

[@dudleyarnold5745]

Good man. Good video. British bike, British hill, British couple. What’s not too like?😛

[@andyml1]

Brilliant….well done! 👍

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks!

[@Jonba7778]

Good effort!

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

As an elderly person of by then 74 I tried one of the steepest serpentine roads on Danish Bornholm, by Allinge, during a vacation. I have a 6 speed SuperlightM6LXBrompton and normally found the low gears - too low, but on this hill I had to walk at times! I could have given it a double chainring in front but that would be ridiculous! A Brompton is - heavy to ride because of the small wheels, which gives much more resistance than an ordinary bike, but that isn't the purpose for a Brompton! If you are able to just use an ordinary bike, don't waste money on a Hyper Expensive Brompton!! It is a tool for special circumstances!! Finn. Denmark

[@veloworks9266]

Hi Finn, personally wouldn’t agree with the small wheels giving more resistance as they are smaller they naturally require more effort when going fast to maintain the same speed but have advantages in that they are easy to accelerate so especially when town riding we feel as though Bromptons have a better safety advantage plus they are loads of fun and worth every penny !

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@veloworks9266 I also own a hand built Superlight, "Vision Kilo" based 33 speed Shimano XTR (with Top, oversize hydraulic 9120 Disc brakes and - XTR wheels). I can't even start on a flat road in the low gears (And get speed enough to ride the bike), but on a few extremely steep hils in woods close to my former home, and a - felt risk to fall backwards when going up, those became useful! If I had to stop when going up, I would have to let me fall, as I had no possibility to get my feet and shoes free of the pedal clips!!! 😁 Finn. Denmark

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@veloworks9266 I have modified my 2019 "Superlight" with new - titanium and carbon parts to for now: 9,35 kilo, and still with my "mudguards", and I expect soon to come below 9 kilo with even more changes (A new printet saddle, some/a few more titanium parts changed on my brakes and a carbon handlebar (I think about a titanium or carbon stem post 🤔)! And new carbon and alu- brackets for holding the - original titanium stays on my mudguards on my bike (They are originally made from "Heavy Metal", even on a "Superlight"). I hardly find it reasonable to buy a T-line for double the price, with only 4 gears, and which will, with added mudguards, come very close to my bikes weight! I have seen a film on KZbin, about how to make an Original T-line, with mudguards lighter, naming its "before" weight! Finn. Denmark

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@veloworks9266 It is easy to find Diagrams here, which give the size of a wheel - compared with the "rolling resistance", which increases with the smaller size wheels. You can do the same on a Brompton as on an ordinary bike, but it takes more effort to do the same! There is a reason why most MTBs are now sold with 29" wheel. Finn Denmark

[@annmarie3009]

Respect!

[@zetakones71]

Haha, 5:53….erst mal Eine rauchen😂 super!

[@jackm416]

Great effort. Congratulations on a great effort. You mention touring on the Brompton. What gear do you use for bags etx.?

[@veloworks9266]

Hi thanks for watching and your comments. We have always used the ortlieb front bag (no longer in production) and the Brompton rack bag. However, we have just received some Vincita bags specifically for a Brompton and will be trying these out imminently

[@Mr71paul71]

Now try Rosedale chimney and if you want a real challenge try the cobbled road in Whitby leading up to the Abby, now's that's hard work to say the least!!!!

[@veloworks9266]

Will add it to our list 👍

[@Mustafa-ri7gz]

I live in Istanbul, everywhere is such a slope. But no problem, the 1.4kg aikema engine does a great job, I recommend it.

[@veloworks9266]

😂 Bristol is very hilly but I actually like the hills strangely!

[@wingcreator]

I modded my Brompton x Barbour V1 with 40T before with 6sp. Was fine. Changed to 44T 3x3 sp mod - is a lot better for hills. Hoping one day can get the new Brompton P-Line 12 sp. Been told 42T is even better.

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for sharing! Really interested in the 12 sp too.

[@ODOB]

What a legend!

[@veloworks9266]

Haha thank you!!!

[@davidhunternyc1]

Well done !!! Congrats !!! What a stud and what a grin too !!! 😜... your accent is a bit funny though.

[@swissthun60]

Well done sir.., 😎

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you 😊

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

I have a narrow wide 38t 130bcd chainring for grip

[@leerobinson4078]

Where do I get 44 toof sprocket? Only have 44 tooth ones near me.

[@veloworks9266]

Make sure you keep watching for a surprise!! Hint: Will he do it more than once?

[@ricardorodrigues4277]

Probably I'm not able to make this done more than a half hill!

[@dant.6364]

I need a low gear of about 22 inches for where I live in the Pittsburgh PA USA area. Would the 39t chainring get me that on a 2022 6speed Brompton? Love your content btw!

[@dant.6364]

I have to deal with this lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6DLXqyHobRgrqc

[@veloworks9266]

I’ve looked at the calculator using a 13/16t rear sprockets the gear inch comes in at 25.7 so a little short. Looks like you’d need to go to a 32t and change the chainset . And thanks for your kind comments 😀

[@MoonlightSonata214]

Paul - you've gotten a little taste of what it's like to ride your bike in San Francisco! 🤣🤣🤣 Just looked up Vale Street, Bristol on Bing Maps... Is that what they call Windmill Hill? Coming back down, you should have turned right and continued down Park Street all the way to Bath Road (the A4) - it looks like those two would be SO much fun to come down at speed!! Is there any way to get to the top via other streets so that the trip up is much easier? Can you go to the south end of Park Street and go up via School Road to its east end, take the first right onto Fordell Place then the first left on Balmain Street to get back to the top of the hill? If so, I'd be tempted to do that whole circuit repeatedly, all day long!!

[@veloworks9266]

Hi thanks for watching! No, it’s an area called Totrerdown. Haha those roads are the way we went down but they are so steep you can’t come at super speed especially on the Brompton!

[@kavanobrien6547]

Well done Paul, but would like to see you go up the hill from the bottom of Lyme Regis going towards Sidmouth , I think the P handle bars come into their own , much more versatile and looks like you get more leverage.

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks! And thank you for watching 👍 Is that Cobb hill or another one? The P bars were great but coming back down they have a quite high pivot point so you have to make sure you are quite light on the handle bars and it was a little nerve wracking!

[@kavanobrien6547]

@@veloworks9266 I think it is cobb hill,

[@veloworks9266]

@@kavanobrien6547 ah I don’t think it’s as steep as this one but certainly longer! I’ll try it one day 👍

[@kavanobrien6547]

@@veloworks9266 You should be able to fly up that one then , must admit you did make that one look easy , you must be fit.

[@veloworks9266]

@@kavanobrien6547 haha thank you! A lot of Brompton riding has helped!

[@AndyZE123]

Excellent. I wouldn't have got as far as the first car. What I need though are some stats if you don't mind? Age, height and weight would be a good start.

[@alexmorgan3435]

Hardknot Pass 30% max gradient. Do you have the std 13/15 rear sprockets on your Brompton?

[@veloworks9266]

Yep certainly going to cycle that one day. As we say in the video this is the steepest residential street in England 👍 And we have a 13/16.

[@ricardorodrigues4277]

Probably after these passages you have lost more than 2kg in your weight! Congratulations bro!

[@veloworks9266]

Haha very probably! Thank you 👍

[@Bokooda]

👍

[@muratmustafa4532]

That some steep hills. A local club has a hill challenge night which we tackle all the steep hills in Bristol. I attend with my Brompton and it is a hard work.

[@veloworks9266]

Oh cool! Which club is this? Would defo be interested in coming along!

[@muratmustafa4532]

@@veloworks9266 They are lovely bunch. I do it (twice so far) on my factory standard 6 speed brompton and I am always the last one to reach to the top of a hill and they always wait for me. Every Wednesday at 6:30 at water fountain in front of the hippodrome. There is no club membership fees. So, you could just register and turn up at the spot.

[@veloworks9266]

@@muratmustafa4532 👍👍

[@richH1625]

On a six speed is there an option to change the speockets from 13-16 to 14-18?

[@veloworks9266]

Not with Brompton parts. It can be done with non-Brompton parts but the chain can get caught between the top cog & frame.

[@richH1625]

@@veloworks9266 Ah, thanks. Glad I asked!

[@FasterThanTheSpeedOfScience]

I'd need an electric Brompton with full afterburners for that hill.

[@veloworks9266]

Haha it was very steep 😂

[@rogerhudson9732]

I thought Porlock Hill was steeper ? I would have cheated at the bottom by cycling diagonally !

[@veloworks9266]

Steepest ‘residential’ street (we do say it in the video) 😉

[@lebaobab256]

are the 16' small wheels making this harder?

[@veloworks9266]

Hi thanks for watching. Think I explained in the video.. but no, it makes it easier. Because they are lower to the ground and the bike is more controllable. Plus it’s easier to turn the smaller wheel 👍

[@ilkyway5854]

Two times?!!? 😳 Well done you!

[@veloworks9266]

Actually three because my wife needed a better photo 😂

[@kentwydell9322]

Very impressive. How many inches is that first gear?

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you!!! And really sorry not sure as I am not sure how to do the calculation with the internal gearing of the Brompton. If you know how please let us know!

[@oe59]

Standard low gear is 2.63 metres-development for 50 teeth. 39 teeth is 0.78 of that, so Paul’s new first gear gives 2.05 metres-development. A regular touring bike low gear is about 1.5-1.8 metres-development. Metres-development is linear travel distance for one complete pedal rotation. My Brompton with 44 teeth chainring gets 2.31 metres-development in first gear. Apologies, I don’t know gear-inches.

[@veloworks9266]

@@oe59 ooo very interesting!

[@cliveelsmore]

@@oe59 Gear-inches uses wheel diameter whereas metres of development uses wheel circumference. So, in other words, just divide metres-development by pi and convert to inches. If Paul's metres-development is 2.05 metres, that gives 25.7 gear-inches. A good tourer with, as you say, 1.5metres development, would equate to 18.6 inches. I'm amazed he got up that hill!

[@oe59]

​@@cliveelsmore Indeed, and amazing indeed.

[@NevilleStyke]

Vale Paul!

[@mythcrab6047]

I've got 15% outside my front door which has dashed my dreams of building a fixed gear.

[@veloworks9266]

Haha 😂 it would!

[@Bob-sd8ns]

What dry lube do you use?

[@veloworks9266]

Finish Line 👍

[@Bob-sd8ns]

@@veloworks9266 I use that Finish Line with Teflon and when it rains it washed off and got all over my wheels and brake pads and they squeal terribly 😔

[@veloworks9266]

@@Bob-sd8ns yep dry lube isn’t good in the rain better to use a wet lube.

[@TheLakeClinic]

At age 70 I am still game for a hill challenge, but I find that my Garmin starts turning red, vibrating and telling me that I'm going to die. I'm going to make the change.

[@veloworks9266]

😂😂😂 oh dear!

[@samuraiS30v]

I’ve got a 54/33 just kick the chain off when you see a steep hill.

[@veloworks9266]

👍

[@wink0214]

Here is where Banksy's paint is?

[@veloworks9266]

In Bristol yes. Not this street as far as I know though

[@thecoffeeblog]

A flat bar would allow you to pull harder and better grip going uphill

[@veloworks9266]

The p-bar is flat 👍

[@LongRideAdventures888]

I agree, will have an advantage to it. Knees almost touching the handlebars

[@thecoffeeblog]

@@veloworks9266 but it flexes like crazy

[@The_Ballo]

I'm surprised they don't have an ordinance to turn your wheels in (parked cars) like they do in San Fransisco.

[@veloworks9266]

Is that a mechanism on the car or the street? Most cars are manual so they’ll just leave in gear I presume and they park sideways. In winter if it’s icy apparently they tie their cars to the lampposts 😂

[@The_Ballo]

@@veloworks9266 Turn your wheels in, i.e. steer into the curb so if the brakes fail the car doesn't roll down the street.

[@alanhamford2538]

Do those handlebars have a name & model no.?

[@veloworks9266]

Hi Alan, these are the P bars which came with my Brompton but are sadly no longer made 😭

[@richmck007]

You’re as good as your legs will let you I have a P Line with 4 speeds ( 9,9 kilos so they say ) and a Black Edition 6 speed ( 11,5 k… ) and I find the P Line does hill like yours and more! 6 speed is for racing, not hills. Of course the idea here is to put the thrill between your legs… With a Brompton, indeed.

[@bobgoossens201]

But what about the brakes when you come back..?

[@veloworks9266]

They were on most of the way back down the hill!

[@johnbeaver3911]

Is Brompton single speed?

[@veloworks9266]

No, it’s a 6 speed 👍

[@jeffyoung60]

Is wearing a bicycle helmet mandatory by law in Scotland? I don't know about England and Wales. In the United States it differs by individual states. In California wearing a bicycle helmet is mandatory under the age of 16. Most adults riding a bicycle on city streets don't wear bicycle helmets. But riders on mountain and hiking trails or anywhere else in rural areas do wear bicycle helmets for their own safety.

[@veloworks9266]

Hi! It’s not mandatory in the UK at all - in any of the 4 countries. However it is very odd when you see someone without one as I would say over 95% of people wear them whatever discipline they are riding. And especially in the city / commuters etc.

[@peterwillson1355]

Think of the poor horses who had to haul up the materials to build those old houses.

[@BadByte]

H&H Makes a 40T chainring with chain guard

[@veloworks9266]

Yep we knew that. Check our previous video why we picked this one 👍

[@bryanmcelmurray2399]

He’s got a set has he?!

[@peterwillson1355]

What you are saying about it being easier on a brompton because of the small wheels is simply not true. Gear ratios= gear ratios. How many gear inches does a 39 give you?

[@bernesepuppy]

I’m inspired to give that a try tomorrow on my Brompton…..I’ll let you know how humiliating it was🤓

[@veloworks9266]

Sorry for the late reply we’ve been on holiday. Did you do it???

[@bernesepuppy]

@@veloworks9266 oh my goodness yes but total failure😂 - too old too fat!

[@veloworks9266]

@@bernesepuppy oh no 🙈 Worth another try?! 😂

[@bernesepuppy]

@@veloworks9266 I think if I’m allowed to do it on my wife’s electric bike, I might😅

[@bernesepuppy]

Or a horse perhaps?

[@djbrushie]

Wheres the banksy gone from the blue house? Didn't they know it was a banksy?

[@veloworks9266]

Haha no idea!

[@fender1000100]

Thats not a steep hill. Come to Parkside in Dollis Hill northwest London. If you want to see a steep hill.

[@veloworks9266]

It’s the steepest residential st in the UK so it’s pretty steep. Even GCN had to ride it with a run up on road bikes!

[@fender1000100]

My Tern Verge X11 will take that hill easy. Brompton are awful on steep hills. The gear range is poor.