SimonWaldman.net

I’ve been waiting for my new Brompton about as long as I’ve been waiting for my home broadband connection (four months, to be precise).

I ordered it on one of the hottest days of the year, and collected it today in a complete downpour. Still, it survived it’s first ride from the office to Waterloo in the pouring rain.

I never thought I’d be a Brompton rider, but once I started commuting there was no alternative (well, yes, there was..but they were all a little too fiddly or time consuming for my liking).

My first one was bought on eBay. There is nothing wrong with it - except I needed a few more gears to deal with some of the Surrey hills, and a little less heft was only going to help as I hiked it on and off the train every day. So, this one has titanium everywhere, ultralight everything and, if I’m honest - cost more than the car I throw it in the back of.

So why did I have to wait four months for it? Because there was such huge demand during the summer, and I wanted to have normal handlebars on the ultra-light frame - which is basically a custom build (I feel I might as well have ordered a Morgan for the time it took).
My fear is that Brompton (who manufactur everything in the UK) eventually get taken out of the market by japanese imports..rather like our motorbike industry. My tip - if you fancy one for the summer, buy one now (most places have got them in stock).

Oh, and I recommend Bikefix on Lamb’s Conduit Street.