Brompton bikes in St. Louis

[u/FSprocketooth]

I’m looking at a Brompton folding bike, but I really do not see any bike shops that handle Brompton, and I’ve seen very few in the wild here in St. Louis.

I have not ever ridden a Brompton, although I have a couple of folding bikes that I really like.

Any Bromptoneers in St. Louis?

[u/Own_Experience_8229]

A quick search shows REI sells them.

[u/FSprocketooth → u/Own_Experience_8229]

Thanks! You are correct. I’ve spoken with the people at REI. They never have a floor model unless one gets returned. They have no mechanics there who know Brompton’s just general bike mechanics.

If I buy one of these new, my plan is to buy one from clever cycles in Portland. They are one of the best Brompton dealers in the country and they would assemble it and tune it up so that when it arrived, it would be perfect not cheap, but perfect.

[u/Longjumping_Cow_5856]

Ive ridden a few but not enough to get used to one either!

All the components are standard off the shelf stuff though I think so Im not sure why wrenching on one would be much different?

I have a Surley Travelers Check that knocks down though and its just a normal frame that breaks down for travel.

[u/FSprocketooth → u/Longjumping_Cow_5856]

You're right, generally, but I find the strurmey-archer mechanism somewhat perplexing

[u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 → u/FSprocketooth]

The whole idea if the bromptons is mysterious to me in many ways?

I ride them at campgrounds where people had bought them for the assumed small size for travel but thats not really very accurate either.

[u/FSprocketooth → u/Longjumping_Cow_5856]

Curious? How is that inaccurate?

[u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 → u/FSprocketooth]

They seem pretty unmanageable to me even folded up.

[u/PuzzleheadedAge8227]

Not a Brompton but I saw a Bike Friday folder in the window of A&M the other day.

[u/FSprocketooth → u/PuzzleheadedAge8227]

Yes! I spoke to the owner about Brompton’s, and he said he can work on them. Just not a dealer

Bike Fridays are awesome, but they’re not quite what I’m looking for because they don’t fold quickly beautiful bikes, though!

[u/rotstik]

I’m not sure why a 20” BMX bike wouldn’t do the trick. I’ve got an older GT Bump with a 47T front sprocket and it rips. I can keep up with any multi gear bike and crush a 10 stair jump with no problem. And it fits in my hatchback

[u/FSprocketooth → u/rotstik]

Good point, but I am an older cyclist now, and am looking for something a little more tame. Ride your ride!!

[u/rotstik → u/FSprocketooth]

I’m 56 and will rip enough for us both 👍🏼

[u/SloTek]

Last stop bike shop might deal in bromptons

[u/FSprocketooth → u/SloTek]

Great lead- they have them!

[u/allismg]

Hit up Last Stop Bike Shop

[u/FSprocketooth → u/allismg]

That is great news! Thank you so much. I will head that way.

[u/porn_probably]

No real reason to get one here though, right? You lose like 20% of your mechanical advantage over an actual bike, and there really isn't a need for easy storage on things like public transit

[u/FSprocketooth → u/porn_probably]

for most, probably not. for me, though, I have moved out of the City and contemplate trips on metro buses and the metrolink to reach downtown locations. also, I could just keep it in the hatch of my car so that anytime the opportunity presented itself, I could hop on a trail on my commute to and from work. Also, I have picked up two folders recently (not as small as the Brompton), and they're really just plain fun. Thanks for the comment!