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THE C2C ON FOLDING BIKES

Si Trickett and Steve Brindle, both aged 34, commute to work on Brompton folding bicycles with two-speed gears designed for city cycling. For a change of scenery, they decided to unfold their bikes and ride the C2C…

The Brompton is a unique British-manufactured bicycle, mainly used by commuters in combination with trains. Many cyclists consider them to be some sort of a joke bicycle, suitable only for slow riding on very short journeys. In fact, in spite of their small wheels Bromptons have a long wheelbase coupled with rear suspension to give a good ride. They can be used by the tall to the very small, have a range of gearing options from single to a wide-range six speed, and are fitted with an excellent luggage system. They also fold small, so fitting them into cars and onto trains is a doddle, including services where cycles are not permitted (such as the Metro at the end of the C2C in Tynemouth). We both have the Brompton S2L configuration designed for city commuting on fairly level roads, with flat handlebars and two gears – one for getting away from the lights and climbing fairly easy hills and one for zipping along the flat. The ratios are not entirely suited to powering up steep hills in Cumbria and the Pennines!