How much is that Brompton in the browser window?

Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - 20:40

I recently ordered a Brompton folding bicycle. If you don't know what that means, but you'd like to either (a) take a bicycle with you when you go places (b) have one you can easily store in a house or apartment or (c) simply own a beautiful piece of UK-built engineering, then these two videos might convince you why a Brompton is a good choice on all three counts:

I'll admit that they're not cheap; I've been wondering for years now whether or not I should invest in one. Because - unless you're buying them for the hipster caché (not a sin in itself) - that's what it is, an investment; and you get what you paid for: beautifully designed components, robustly engineered steel (and optionally titanium) frames, and sixteen or so staff-hours go into the assembly of each bicycle; for all these reasons, I was told I might have to wait up to six weeks for mine!

Part of what finally convinced me was actually working out the cost. Because they have so many "B-spoke" components, each one designed for compactness and low weight, Bromptons come in a slightly bewildering array of configurations. And while you can download PDFs and price lists (and it's best to go to your local Brompton dealer sooner or later anyway), I couldn't find any simple online calculator that would work out exactly how much my personal choice would cost: some online dealers have "bike builder" applications, but they mostly felt a bit clunky.

So I built a Google spreadsheet to help me: witness the Unofficial Brompton B-spoke estimator (UK 2013 prices) in all of its glory. This was initially just a project for myself; but when my post-ordering calculating highlighted that I'd forgot to ask the dealer for a particular component (the price they quoted was £20 lower), it occurred to me that other people might find it of some use.

Make your own copy of the Brompton estimator spreadsheet! Put some numbers in! Get a beautiful free print catalogue from your local dealer, sit down with a cup of tea, play with different combinations of components, and see if you too could afford to buy a Brompton. After all, while you might not use it to get to Muckle Flugga by inflatable raft and two wheels alone, you could still find yourself at the seaside with it sooner than you think.

Comments

Dave H (not verified)

Wed, 05/06/2013 - 06:41

As an option to try before you buy a £10 punt on casual membership of Brompton Dock will get you access to a fully serviced 3-speed dynamo equipped Brompton for £5/day. For some commuters the high user subscription, with the £2.50/day hire rate, used roughly 250 days/year gets you the convenience of ownership without servicing costs and cost of renewal every 3-4 years for £670/year, and enlightened employers seeking to cut the cost of providing car park spaces (at least £5K /year for many parts of Greater London), will pay the membership , and possibly the hire charges (GSK and University of Greenwich are already providing 'private' Brompton Dock systems for staff and student use, because they save (more) money on car parking and private inter-site bus services)

Go and check-out the Brompton Dock website. There is a growing portfolio of corporate deals (on membership and staff hire rates) and salary sacrifice purchase of the equivalent of a 'season ticket' for individual users. Because of the synergy between car sharing and folding bike hire City Car Club and Brompton Dock have a special reciprocal membership rate - join one and get discounted membership of the other - both offer 24/7 hire of cars, vans, bikes on a pay as you go basis. Typically a household can gain around £2000/year in disposable income (without asking for a pay rise) by switching from car ownership to using a Brompton and Car Club vehicles, along with taxis, buses, trains and other public transport. Multiply this up by a few hundred households in an area and suddenly we've solved the problem of a stagnated local economy, by unlocking a few hundred thousand pounds of spending power without having an increased wages bill, and cleared the roads of the private cars that sit idle on average 95% of the time with gullible owners pouring money in to keeping them on the road.

A'braham Barakhyahu (not verified)

Mon, 15/07/2013 - 16:39

The song reference to "Doggy in the window song" led me to click on this. Nicely done. :) Interesting bike as well.