Building A Brompton Touring Bike - July 2023 update.

[@NottinghamshireMadness]

Wow, thanks for the mention, very humbling! Mid-rise handle bars are a good modification for the S bar Brompton

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Andrew, Thanks for dropping by, my pleasure in the mention, I have learnt a lot from your channel about the Brompton. Also, thanks for your thoughts on the handlebars. Take care. Paul,,

[@andyml1]

I’ve been very impressed with Continental Contact Urban tyres after many years of devotion to Schwalbe Marathon plus heavyweights. I enjoyed your video - thanks for posting. (Another pensioner Bromptoneer).

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Andy, Sorry for the slowness to reply... Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment on my video. I have not purchased the tyres yet but have fitted the double chainset last week so will push on now. I am keen to get the bike going before the end of the year. Good to hear you're getting out and about on your Brompton. Take care. Paul,,

[@andyml1]

@@ThePensionerAdventurer thanks for your reply too Paul. Im looking forward to your next uploads. If you have a spare moment you might like to check out my channel which includes quite a few Brompton rides. Stay safe! 👍

[@tdgdbs1]

I have Marathon Plus with tube liner in the rear, no flat in 4000 miles; the treads look like it will last 2000 more miles. I have a P line 4 speed and never felt the lack of gear, I've been all over Mexico and making my way to Guatamala. I have knees problem so 50 miles day is about my limit; and I take the bus if the roads are bad. H type handle bar works well for me, mount my phone with the added cross bar.

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello, Everyone says the Marathon Plus are the most reliable and I feel they are most likely the best way to go. Sorry to hear about your knee problem but nevertheless 50 mile a day is still good. I am quite shorts which is why I am going to start with the straight handlebars first. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@euanmaclean2633]

Good man. A worthwhile project. May I suggest the channel 2 bikes for adventure for their take on the best touring tool kit with their Bromptons and possibly another of their posts about lugggage. I am lacking in stamina for touring and sray local with my Brompton which is fitted with the old C bag and Carradice rack bag from my first T5 Brompton. I have a hub dynamo fitted and it is far better that Sturmey Archer 's GH offering of my youth but the 3watts it produces is at a cost though it is permanently switched on. An eminent cycle tourist of days gone by, Albert Winstanley, took to a Brompton in his later years - well pre 2017, the ones with AW3 rear hub, and wrote of his intemtion to install a double chain set and I think he succeeded but cannot recall the details. I think I read it in the defunct publication Cycle World about 40 years ago. Enjoy your Brompton and best wishes for a successful op.

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Euan, Thanks for the tip regarding "2 Bike for Adventure", I'll check them out... I have not worked out the gearing on the double chainset yet, I feel there will be some duplication of gears but I will let everyone know in the next update. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Take care. Paul,,

[@MrFactotum]

hi Paul Thanks for the update, some good ideas coming through👍👍🚲🚲🚲🚲, don't know how you juggle 2 channels😰😰 atb Kev

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Kev, I am pleased with the progress with the bike... once back in the workshop I should be able to progress it further. Having the two channels is a little bit challenging but I guess I will keep going until I stop - lol. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@stushikesandrides]

Btw, thanks for introducing me to Stephen Graham’s writing. What an unexpected surprise this fascinating little gem of a book has turned out to be.

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Stu, I first found out about the book from Alistair Humphreys... one of my favorites for sure. Take care. Paul,,

[@stushikesandrides]

Coming on a treat, I think you’ll have a lovely time tinkering with various iterations of the tourer until you’re happy you’ve nailed it. For my money I would leave the seatpost standard and go with a simple rack bag. You will have ample carrying capacity with the front block and the rear rack for even an extended tour. Good luck with the build. 👍

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Stu, It has been fun thinking about what I would like and I feel it is slowly coming together. I think the rack bag may well suit my needs. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@HaxbyShed]

👍 thanks Paul, looks like it's coming along nicely. Cheers

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Paul, Making slow progress... I should be able to get back in the workshop this coming weekend... I have been going a bit stir crazy here at home. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Keeping the touch points the same seems like a great idea and I really like your idea about building a tool kit.

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Joseph, I have always tried to keep the touch points as far as possible the same, it really helps when switching bikes for whatever you are doing. Thanks for your support. Take care. Paul,,

[@nobbysworkshop]

Fascinating stuff Paul. I'm learning a lot about bikes from you. I didn't realise there was so much to them. I did have a cheap folding bike in my 20's but I was never a confident cyclist. Keep happy Cheers Nobby

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Nobby, Thank you. I have been messing around with bike since I was a kid... I am pleased to hear it is interesting. Next weekend I am allowed to get back in the workshop which will be great. Thanks for your support. Take care. Paul,,

[@wayneriley7557]

P.S. I hope the Op goes well. My wife has had both done, and it's a longer recovery than we thought, although still worth it for the pain relief. Another suggestion for the bike - being an older person myself with a brompton S-bar, I would like to raise the handlebar height, possibly with a riser bar, but the Brompton original cables are very specific to get the right fold. Just something to consider before committing to the S-Bar.

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello, From the various people I have spoken to the recovery time seems to be quite variable... So far my recovery is going well. I am not very tall and the S-Bars do seem quite high compared to a racing bike... I think once I have ridden the tourer a bit I will get a feel if I need to raise them. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@Mick_Holland]

This is a very interesting video, thanks for posting. I wonder if you've considered changing the suspension block at the back? I know there is a range available (possibly 3rd party only now) that give a range from soft to quite firm rides. You may need to think about this during your recovery. Cheers 👍🏼

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello Mick, That is a very good point regarding the suspension block... I will done some research and see if there is one that would give me a more comfortable ride... Thanks for the suggestion. Take care. Paul,,

[@trollforge]

So, Paul, the purple tool caddy, means you are building a Quality Street Bike? ;)

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hiya, I have not thought of the "Quality Street Bike" - lol... It has been fun building what I have done so far... Hopefully I should start to progress it some more next week when I am back in the workshop. Thanks for watching. Take care. Paul,,

[@117000000]

Can the brompton chain handle the more twisting for front chain rings ? You might be able to mount or fabricate a mount for the front derailliur thogh. But what about making it derailliur at the back as well then , like some of the asian bromoton clones ? But if it is for ease and dependability I would just mount what the factory intended and just find the front chainring size I like with it. And then maybe instead of derailliur gears, look into a swytch kit or the one Andy Kirby is working on , it might help a speedy recovery after surgery as well,but consult your doctor. I love the cosy no hurry pensioner vibe here , new sub and best wishes from Denmark

[@117000000]

Brompton, not bromoton...

[@117000000]

And thoUgh... there might be more... My phone thinks I am trying to write in danish 😅

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello, That is a good point about the Brompton chain which I had not considered, if is struggles I am sure a modern road bike chain will be fine. I will try and see what the Brompton derailleur can handle first and then adapt is needed. Now I have retired I am trying to get away from the HURRY, HURRY world so slowly experimenting and adapting is working very well for me. Many thanks for subscribing. Take care. Paul,,

[@tdgdbs1]

On a 16 inch wheel bike; 3 to 6 wide gears are sufficient. Frankly, I walked the bike quite often on hills. On a proper full size touring bike, definitely add as many gear as you can afford. I do not find my 4 speed Brompton lacking in any way, I am touring extensively on folding bike; 12000 miles on a Brompton, 7000 miles on a Bike Friday, countless local miles on Tern and Dahon. 40 years experience with pedal power.

[@lifesahobby]

Lots of work to do

[@ThePensionerAdventurer]

Hello, Today was my first real day back in my workshop and I made a list of things to purchase and do on this project... Since retiring I am not in a rush to do things but it would be nice to have the whole thing done before the end of the year. Thanks for dropping by. Take care. Paul,,

[@lifesahobby]

@@ThePensionerAdventurer I was thinking to myself , before the summer is over ... But didn't want to say . 😀. Then I watched your film about your op . So it's a good project to keep the dreams at least live . Looking forward to watching your progress . Regards Owen - Dublin - Ireland