Aussie on a Brompton

Some QR pedals seem more prone to self-releasing than others – possibly due to the pedal platform shape? While my lightweight Aceoffix pedals have never budged, a TiParts Mini-Q pedal surprised me recently by falling off while I was stepping off. Did I fail to snap it on properly or did I nudge the release mech while pedaling?

Time to start using the yellow nylon retainer clip, even if my old style retainers are fiddly to remove? With newer retainers having a small protusion/handle, maybe I could match them?

Voila! A small cable tie around the clip (& the head of another tie as a grip handle) seems very workable?

However, tinkering is essential so I ordered a new types clip pack of 10, in case my modded clips proved fragile or ineffective. A comparison showed the new type to be made of a stiffer nylon, harder to insert (unless you aligned them with the “spanner flat” on the adapter) & quite hard to remove. No doubt some practice may help to develop “the knack” but for now my “hack” of the old type clip is great. I even tried doubling up the cable tie “heads” but the grip handle feel is similar.

As for storage of the clip when the pedal is removed, there a few options: insert the clip back on the QR adapter, slip it on the rear frame lower tube or on the pedal storage adapter (if you use one) – eg on the adapter stub near the lock ring or on the axle of the pedal?

Time provides new ideas. The current status here is three 5speed Brommies but from different starts.

BromTi has a Silverock 7speed wheel, running 5 cogs (11/13/16/20/24T) with varying spacers to match a Shimano XT shifter. (Works well; couldn’t get consistency with the XT with 6 or 7 cogs – & the chainline with 5 cogs isn’t so extreme?) Now with a Kinlin XR 18C wheel rim fitted (wheel initially came via eBay with Kinlin NBR 13C) & good spokes & nipples.

BB has a BrommiePlus custom build lightweight Hubsmith 2/3speed hub & fitted with a 5speed MiniMods UniBody cassette (11/13/17/21/25T).

Clarence has a Brompton 2speed wheel & a BrommiePlus 5speed freehub & fitted with a 3speed MiniMods UniBody cassette (11/14/17T) & additional cogs (21/26T).

The shifters for Clarence & BB are Sram GX 11speed.

I think the accurate machining of the UniBody cassettes is better for shifting than using separate Shimano 11/13T shouldered cogs (with seeming spacing inconsistencies?).

BromTi has a Thx4Ride parallelogram derailleur while the other two use similar H&H units.

So, there they are; all setup at different times with what seemed ideal (& available) then. At present, BB gets the favourite vote for simplicity & lightness – although for effectiveness, it’s a 3-way tie.

Lightish wheels with good gearing range & minimal hub drag.

With all the mods & tweaks to BB (my S6L-X super lightweight black Brompton), I realized that the only component original & unmodified was now the steel mainframe! Also, that meant my parts bin contained almost enough to build a complete Brompton – what I needed was an extra mainframe! Time to try a Ti mainframe? – & to resurrect Ralph for resale? (Ralph being my original S11E Alfine 11spd device that I’d decided really didn’t suit my current medical state & became the basis for the rebuild into the 8kg 6spd BB.)

So, an order was made for a Ti mainframe (from Ti39) & it was a simple & quick job to transfer everything onto the new frame. A glossy black 2mm tube affair, it seemed an impressive piece of art? Onto the scales & the complete Brompton weight is 7.4kg. As for a name, I thought it time to retire BB & go for BromTi (after all, some would say it’s not a “real Brompton” anymore?).

Once I’d stripped the steel mainframe for Ralph, the rebuild commenced; a slower affair, as every single component had to be installed (unlike the many whole assemblies transferred to the new frame). As I didn’t expect to be using Ralph, I decided to stick with an all-steel setup & with a Brooks saddle, Ergon grips, Marathon tyres & a new set of mudguards. All up, Ralph now weighs 13.1kg.

PS: An unexpected outcome has been the claiming of Ralph by Mrs Aussie – sheesh! another Brompton around the place!?

Some recent changes to my side of the Brompton fleet so here’s the status…

All are now running “minimal rain-guards” (yes, Sydney has been rather wet – for far too long).

Rudolph (10.6kg)

Chpt3 S9R-X with 38T chainring & 13/15/18T cogs (GIs 76-22)

After lowering Rudolph’s 6speed cog setup to the lowest feasible (15/18T, GIs 66-22), installing a 3speed shift conversion has given/restored some upper range flexibility (you never know when a tailwind will come along).

Clarence (9.15kg)

S4R-X with 46T chainring & 11/13/16/20T cogs (GIs 69-38)

BB (8.05kg)

S6L-X with 42T chainring & 11/13/16/19/22/25T cogs (GIs 62-27)

Even though BB’s 4speed setup was running well, I decided to make use of the 7speed freehub for some differentiation to Clarence. Tried a SunCord tensioner but disastrous, waste of time (wrecked the pusher due to excessive drag/friction in jockey wheel movement, maxxed the dogleg (start to contact with frame) as 5speed-capable only).

Obtained the new Thx4Ride derailleur & shifter & it’s running really well – although the Thx4Ride shifter steps didn’t mate with the 7speed cassette setup, so I’ve resorted to a 6speed cassette (I had to use mostly 9speed spacers, with thicker spacing for the first & last cogs – & a thin spacer to fill up the freehub).

The shifter benefits are that it’s very light (52g), mounts behind the bar (no fold clearance issues) & has a light action – all superior to the SunRace shifter in use with the 4speed setup. It would be nice if it is a trigger shifter but as a thumb shifter I’ve positioned it on the bar for thumb down-shifts & index finger (under the bar grip) up-shifts.

BB’s operation is delightful. Rudolph may have my lowest gearing option but the lightness of BB seems to put the two on a par?

Next tweaks? Maybe/probably finished?