40T cranksets for Brompton
A parts delivery arrived from TillerCycles recently, even though I’m still not entirely sure what I’ll be doing with them. The items are a 40 tooth crankset to suit the one-piece crank Bromptons & a 40T crankring for the latest “spider” crank model (both with chainguards).
Both Robinson & Ralph use the old model crankset; currently 44T with a 6-speed setup for Robinson & 50T for Ralph’s Alfine 11-speed hub. My desire is to lower the gearing range for Ralph & so now I’ll have to decide whether to use the 40T or whether to swap Robinson’s 44T into Ralph & use the 40T in Robinson – some work with a hub gear calculator coming up & then probably some testing?
My wife’s Peregrine is a stock 50T 6-speed Brompton & so far, she’s been coping well with the 50T (having been using Robinson & the 44T setup previously). I had fully expected that my offer to fit a 44T crankring would be taken up but so far…
Ordering the 40T spider crankring from TillerCycles was really just a case of getting it while I was obtaining the one-piece 40T crankset & having it available “in case” (& decide between 44T & 40T when the time comes?). However, some news…
Brompton colour changes
Brompton has recently been teasing some new colours for 2015. From what I’ve seen, my favourite is still the Claret colour but horrifyingly, I’d also been seeing various comments that in fact, the Claret colour is one of 8 to cease?! (refer pic of the expected colours to be withdrawn)
Being an “extra cost” colour option, I’ve never expected the Claret colour Brompton to be a stock bike anywhere & so far less likely to come into my possession. (Yes, I know about B-spoke Brompton orders but I’ve never personally been happy with that system for this part of the world.) A chance meetup with Lincoln from Kobie International (the Australian Brompton Distributor) led to a decent discussion on various Brompton matters & revealed that in fact, a Claret 6-speed was on the way in the next shipment!! Some emails later & a Claret S6L will be coming my way in about a month!? Guess where the 40T crankring will be going…
Aussie on a Brompton 
Yeah, I don’t get it either. I think that Claret colour is beautiful
Adam at Cheeky
Thanks for that comment Adam. Maybe I can stop playing with Brompton’s “Bike Builder” now?
Your skill at Brompton-tinkering never ceases to amaze me, Ian!
Very happy to hear that you’ve snagged a claret B — it’s a beautiful color, and even more so in person. If high visibility hadn’t been a top priority in my world, I’d been most tempted to go with that shade. I can’t say that most of the new ones do much for me, and I think the new pink is awful, whereas the hot pink was smashing with black.
Will there be some re-shuffling of the family now that a newcomer is on the way? Or perhaps you’re aiming eventually for one in every color? (If so, here’s to success!)
Thanks Brommie. I will blog later but a preview for you is that Ralph now has the 44T crankset with Robinson getting the 40T crank.
As for the new Brompton, it’s nearly here. (ie It’s in the country, paid for & being prepped (& converted – but more about that later!)
Surely you’re not suggesting that a Brompton will depart? That would be tough but whilst I will probably cope with the four, I suspect justifying another would be tougher?
[…] my recent “New decisions” post I mentioned that a Claret Brompton (one of the colour choices that have just been replaced in […]