Anyone ride a Brompton and regular bikes?

What's getting uncomfortable Al?
Have you measured it up beside one of your other bikes?

I am borrowing one from a friend next month to do some exploring while using trains and buses.I plan to set it up as close to my tourer as I can get.

Can't help, I've never had any issues with mine on the few longer rides I've done it. HOWEVER use this as an excuse to have a look at what Vincent van Eerd is doing with Bromptons, it's very cool - Dutch Brompton Coolness

@fasthaggis it's a while since I've ridden it longer than 5 miles. I just remember it feeling quite the slog. I already have my saddle as far back as possible and low bars (MTB risers on an M stem). Not compared with other but is must be shorter and lower (I'm 6')

@Dirtylyle Ben (Kinetics) does similar in Glasgow

I find mine unpleasant on hard, bumpy surfaces but it's fine riding it for extended periods if the surface is smooth.

Hi m bars on mine (195cm). K is 165

There’s something about the ride position that’s clearly compromised as both of us find them uncomfortable for long distances. But the convenience and size means they’re still the best tool for a lot of trips.

I’ve been thinking about adding a birdy to out fleet for us both to use when we’ve further to go.

I find the same, my commute is only 5-10 miles depending where I go from but roads are quite rough surfaced and I think the smaller wheels not rolling over the roughness, even if there is the elastomer shock block, does create a bit more agitation.

Still love it though - perfect tool for the job it does.

As we're also trading Brompton tales, and speaking of tools for the job, hope this makes you smile a bit.

https://twitter.com/SurreyRoadCops/status/1562902496229888003

There's a few similar posts on that account.

Yeah, I often commute the 13 miles into town on my Brompton and have done the occasional fnrttc (usually 100ish kms) on it too

I do find I get different pressure points, but it’s not unbearable.

I do need to be careful with any seatposts slippage as that can affect my knee issues.

My Brompton is as near my MTB position as I can get. It's still short though. I've spun the seat clamp and bought a bar with about half the rise that's tipped as far forward as possible without compromising folding. It rattles and joggles along and yes, it's more tiring. A heavy bag on the front reduces the vibrations. I've done 1400km in three weeks touring on it and sometimes cursed it. The Sturmy hub absorbs a lot of energy and the tyres don't roll very well. All that said when you're sitting in a high-speed train home it's easy to forgive it its failings.

I am not convinced its a great idea to push the saddle back too far on a Brompton. The seat tube is already offset backwards of the BB so with the saddle clamp in the layback position and the saddle pushed back all the way, you will end up with a super slack effective seat angle. If you are riding a modern MTB (with a steep seat tube angle) its going to quite a change switching between the two. I have the saddle clamp in the forward position and the saddle midway along the rails, still feels like more layback than on my mountain bike. Also the extreme backwards saddle position puts all your weight over the rear wheel, which makes it more difficult to load the front end in turns etc.

Compared with my other bikes the Brompton saddle is roughly the same distance behind the BB as my touring and race bikes. It's a bit further back than my XC mtb and quite a lot further back than my Zesty AM - as you predict. I don't feel the differences in saddle position, what I do feel is the lack of reach which means my shoulders and upper arms get sore quicker. With the lower bar I can load the front wheel no problem. I'd just like a bit more reach so my arms are nearer to 90° to my torso so the shoulder and arm muscles don't have to work as hard.

Can’t help, ridden Bromptons for years commuting in London, but I do try and limit the distance I ride on it, max 3-8 miles, for that it’s been perfect.

My neighbour does ride from where we live to central London regularly, about 17 miles or so. He has customised the hell out of his and spent a considerable wedge of cash on it. IIRC he fitted the super expensive rohloff upgrade and other stuff, last time I chatted Brompton with him, he had no issues doing high miles on it, but he’s the only one I know who does.

I suspect if I did more miles on mine in a single ride, the 2x3 would be painful and make me more tired and uncomfortable.

Yep - XL Bird and to Brompton - both very different!

For my Brompton (had a few) as I'm tall to improve comfort i have always:

Flipped the saddle clip to the behind the seat post

Always use an S stem as they are taller *and* have more forward reach than H or M

Use a riser bar

Decent grips  - currently using Ergons

Using Brompton front bag instead of a back pack improves the ride / reduces twitchyness

I did Lejog mine 10 years back in 7.5 days

For many people using the S stem with a better bar (std S bar is two straight for me) would help.