BETA FEEDBACK
My daily personal transportation device. I use this bike to get anywhere on asphalt within a 30 km (20 mi) radius. Night and day. Any weather except snow.
It’s customized for speed, urban traffic and small folded size.
Depending on what’s in my backpack, I ride approx 30-35 km/h (19-22 mi/h) on flats, max 60 km/h (37 mi/h) downhill.
The bike folds into a custom backpack and travels with me on trains. Hides under restaurant tables and enjoys minimal techno in nightclubs. Disappears in taxis, flies overseas. Loves shopping and even training. Sleeps inside a wardrobe.
I got a new 2008 Brompton P3L in January 2008. I have then customized the bike to suit my needs and tastes.
Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s unfolded Brompton P3L / See my bikes gallery
Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s folded Brompton P3L / See my bikes gallery
Photo: current Anatoly IVANOV’s folded Brompton P3L with removed seat post / See my bikes gallery
| Main frame: | Brompton custom, folding, steel. |
| Front fork: | Brompton custom, steel. |
| Rear triangle: | Brompton custom, hinged, steel, with elastomer suspension. |
| Stem: | Brompton P-type custom, folding, steel. |
| Headset: | Brompton custom. |
| Handlebars: | Brompton S-type custom, aluminum, 48 cm (19 in) wide, slightly curved flatbar with high-density foam grips. I’ve replaced the original P-type “butterfly” handlebars. As a result, I have achieved the lowest and farthest handlebar position obtainable on a Brompton without sawing and welding. |
| Brake levers: | Brompton custom with angled cable exits. I’ve inverted the cabling so that the right hand controls the front brake and the left hand controls the rear brake. |
| Shift levers: | One Brompton custom shift lever for the 3-speed Sturmey-Archer SRF3 internal gear hub. I’ve slightly improved the positioning. |
| Front brake: | Brompton custom dual pivot caliper. I’ve replaced the ordinary washers by double-sided star washers, as well as the Alhonga HJ 454-11 brake pads by Fibrax pads. |
| Rear brake: | Brompton custom dual pivot caliper. I’ve replaced the ordinary washers by double-sided star washers, as well as the Alhonga HJ 454-11 brake pads by Fibrax pads. |
| Cables: | Low-friction, unknown brand (PTFE coated inner cable, lined outer cable). Cut to fit the P-type stem and S-type handlebars combination. |
| Bottom bracket: | ISO 6695 sealed cartridge, FAG 119 mm. |
| Front sprockets (chainset): |
One Stronglight 50 teeth with plastic chain stain protector. |
| Cranks: | Stronglight aluminum 170 mm. I’ve added a rare-earth neodymium circular 12 x 6 mm magnet inside the pedal hole to use with the Sigma pedaling cadence sensor. |
| Pedals: | Quick-release (similar to a high-pressure compressed-air coupler) MKS AR-2 Ezy with Soma double-prong toe clips (size Large) and Ale leather straps. |
| Chain: | SRAM PC1 (1/8 in), 98 links. |
| Front derailleur: | None. |
| Rear derailleur: | None. A Brompton plastic chain tensioner keeps the chain taut despite the changes in the distance from the bottom bracket to the rear hub when folding. |
| Rear sprockets (cassette): |
One 13 teeth sprocket (ISO 10230) non-derailleur, ½" x 3 mm thick |
| Front wheel: | 16 inch Alex Rim, Chosen hub, 28 spokes with side reflector, additional plastic locknut protector to improve comfort when carrying the folded bike in the backpack. |
| Rear wheel: | 16 inch Alex Rim, 3-speed Sturmey-Archer SRF3 internal gear hub, 28 spokes with side reflector. |
| Tires: | Schwalbe Stelvio HS350 16" x 1 1/8" ETRTO 28-349 slicks and Schwalbe inner tubes with Schrader valves. |
| Gear ratios (inches): |
47 - 61 - 83. |
| Gear ratios (meters): |
3,70 - 4,93 - 6,59. |
| Gear range: | 178% |
| Seatpost: | Brompton custom, steel, “extended seat pillar” (I’m 1 m 80 cm), cut to exact length for easy removal (undo the quick release clamp, pull out). |
| Saddle: | Fi’zi:k Vitesse with Brompton Pentaclip. |
| Front fender (mudguard): |
Brompton custom, plastic, with modified rudder flap (I’ve reduced its size). |
| Rear fender (mudguard): |
Brompton custom, plastic, with rudder flap. |
| Folding-specific features: | Narrow-profile Brompron roller wheels (I wear size 45,5 EUR shoes, so I used to hit my heels against the original Brompton roller wheels). |
| Bottle cage: | None. |
| Rack: | None. |
| Front light: | S-Sun 3-LED (3 AAA batteries). |
| Rear light: | Integrated, Brompton-specific, Spanninga Eclipse (2 AAA batteries) with reflectors. |
| Computer: | Sigma BC 1606L DTS Cadence wireless (display and sensors mounted with rubber rings). |
Photo: Anatoly IVANOV’s unfolded Brompton P3L as bought with options / See my bikes gallery
Photo: Anatoly IVANOV’s folded Brompton P3L as bought with options / See my bikes gallery
| 2008-08-26 | Corrected details and added missing brand information based on input from Greg SMITH, Brompton. |
| 2008-07-08 | Updated specs and photos to current bike configuration. |
| 2008-02-20 | First publication. |
Find out more about my posting and comments policy, as well as publishing frequency and copyright issues.
If you prefer to avoid public comments or if you face a technical problem, write me an
e-mail or give me a call.
TIP: To print images, enable “Print backgrounds” in your browser preferences.