- 2 days ago
The Brompton folding bike is the most famous commuting bike ever and the London based brand says that their Brompton G-Line is their most capable bike ever. To put the folding bike to the test we entered a gravel cycling event to see if the Brompton G-Line and Electric G-Line were up to a 66km gravel bike ride…
This video contains paid promotion on behalf of Brompton Bicycles
This video contains paid promotion on behalf of Brompton Bicycles
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SportsTranscript
00:00There's no backing out now, is there?
00:06Probably not what you normally put on a Brompton handlebar, but there you go.
00:11Where have you left your bike?
00:12Oh no, you left it on the train!
00:16This is a Brompton G-Line, the most capable Brompton ever.
00:20But is it capable enough for this?
00:26Oh yes!
00:27The other day I was on a train commuting and the person next to me said,
00:33how can you ride across the city?
00:35Like I work on the other side, how can you make it that far?
00:38And I said, well, I just cycle across.
00:41It's much quicker than the bus or getting in a car or walking.
00:46And they said, but isn't it more than like six kilometres?
00:49I wouldn't want to ride a Brompton for that.
00:51And I think a Brompton is much more capable than a lot of people think.
00:56So today is all about proving that.
00:58So me and Max, we've got a G-Line and a G-Line electric,
01:02and we're going to use them for a 66 kilometre gravel event.
01:06I've got no idea how this is going to go.
01:14Right, let's do it. Come on. This might be a really bad idea.
01:18Might be.
01:22Come on, let's go.
01:26Now you've got to go back and get your camera.
01:34We are answering the age old question of what do you do if your commute is across one side of
01:39a forest to the other.
01:40I get asked that on a regular basis.
01:42I mean, if we can prove that they're capable of doing genuinely proper gravel, like this is a gravel event.
01:48There's some mountain bikes out there.
01:51And if we can prove it does that, then I think we've proved that these bikes are more than capable
01:56enough to get across any city in the world.
02:00And they are in every city in the world.
02:03Brompton, even though they're all made and produced in London, have been since 1975.
02:09It is a worldwide company and there's many imitators.
02:14There's only one Brompton.
02:15Well, actually, there's quite a few now, isn't there?
02:17There's G-Line, there's G-Line Electric.
02:19There's all sorts.
02:28Right, Jamie, where are we?
02:30Because you phoned me up late last night and said,
02:32do I want to come do a gravel race on Brompton bikes?
02:35And I've never seen you so excited.
02:36So this is Fetford Forest, about 40 minutes away from Cambridge.
02:41It's called the Suffolk Gravel X by Glorious Gravel.
02:45I like the Glorious Gravel events.
02:47They always seem to have quite a mix of people and a mix of bikes.
02:51And today, we are adding to that mix.
02:54Jamie, how far are we going? I know nothing.
02:5766 kilometres, so we're in the medium route today.
03:01There shouldn't be too much climbing.
03:02And I'm told that the majority of it is on fire roads.
03:05But as you can see, the weather isn't actually perfect.
03:11It is February when we're filming this.
03:15And we might find some bogs.
03:18Music to my ears, Jamie.
03:28Shall I tell you a bit about this G Line?
03:30Jamie, I'd love to hear it. We've got four hours to kill.
03:34We'll be flying through. Three hours, I reckon.
03:36So, G Line, I don't know if it's controversial, but Brompton's been expanding its line-up quite a lot recently.
03:45With some electric versions, some gravel versions.
03:48And I was listening to some podcasts from the CEO on the way over here.
03:52And it was really interesting hearing him talk about them.
03:56Because he completely gets that they're not going to be everyone's cups of tea.
04:00But the aim with every new model is just to get someone else, a different demographic, riding a bike rather
04:07than sitting in a two and a half tonne metal box to get across the city.
04:13Which, I don't think it will come as a surprise, isn't really the most efficient mode of transport across the
04:18city.
04:19And so this G Line, they call it the most capable Brompton ever.
04:23And what that means is you get steel frame, that's still hand braised in London.
04:28And then you've got 20 inch wheels, which I've got a feeling are going to come in handy today.
04:32And obviously a bit more tyre clearance.
04:35Aluminium fork.
04:36So this one's 14.1 kilos.
04:39And I don't know if you've had a chance to pick it up, move it around and stuff.
04:43But it's still a genuine option to pick it up, put it on a train.
04:47It packs up about the size of a briefcase.
04:49Well, it is a bike.
04:51We are moving.
04:52I'm riding a briefcase.
04:53Yeah, so we've got saddle over the bottom bracket.
04:55That's excellent for performance.
04:57I've got a 54 tooth chain ring.
05:00That's the same as on my road race bike.
05:02And how many gears?
05:03Eight.
05:04Okay.
05:05Which to be fair, I mean, we haven't hit anything steep yet, but so far so good.
05:09I have all the components you've just told me about.
05:12Yeah.
05:13Plus the power of electricity.
05:15Fair enough.
05:16I'm not sure electric Bromptons should be a thing.
05:19In a city, 15 mile an hour.
05:21Get the exercise.
05:23Come on.
05:23Here's the thing, Jamie.
05:24I could do this in a suit, get to the end and not have broken a sweat.
05:30To be fair, sweaty...
05:31So if you are commuting...
05:32Yeah.
05:33Sweaty commutes aren't the one.
05:37Look at this.
05:40Oh, that's nice of them to be fair.
05:42They've got the ambulances ready.
05:45Oh, our first descent.
05:46Oh, yeah.
05:54I do think that Brompton is probably the least intimidating bike on the market.
05:59And the funny thing is, everyone I know who has one...
06:03Yeah.
06:04Loves them.
06:05Yeah, 100%.
06:06And I think it comes down to Brompton aren't trying to sell multiple bikes to one person.
06:12Once you have one, people love them.
06:15They cherish them.
06:16People seem to hold onto them for like absolutely years.
06:20Designed as a tool, often used as a toy.
06:23Yeah.
06:24Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
06:25What a Swiss army knife of bikes though.
06:28And they're built to last as well.
06:30Like there's no planned obsolescence.
06:33Like so much tech.
06:35Oh, you missed that sign, didn't you?
06:36Jamie, you're on the maps, my friend.
06:39There's some big pink signs.
06:41But so many things that we use these days have planned obsolescence.
06:45Like a phone, for example.
06:47I bought a phone last year and the battery's already knackered.
06:51And I can't replace the battery.
06:53Whereas a Brompton, you can go on to the Brompton website.
06:57You can still pick up parts for Bromptons that they made 25 years ago.
07:00Do you know what the funny thing is about Bromptons?
07:03Is that you see them on your commute.
07:05Yeah.
07:06But I've also seen them doing the Mallorca 312.
07:08Yeah.
07:09London to Brighton.
07:10Yeah.
07:11People doing triathlons on them.
07:13And then now there's us.
07:15Doing a gravel.
07:15Travel riding.
07:16Yeah.
07:17For whatever reason, people trust their bike enough to take it absolutely everywhere.
07:23We're going right here, James.
07:24We're going right.
07:25Right turn.
07:27I think Brompton, like, they really did focus on product first.
07:32And then I think the whole, like, Brompton being cool, being like, I think that's an accident,
07:41to be honest.
07:41I think they're just concerned making a great product.
07:44Yeah.
07:45And then letting all of us lot do the stupid stuff on them.
07:49No, I agree.
07:50When I say about product first as well.
07:52Did you know that in that, so in the London factory, every single bolt that is done up,
07:57is obviously done up with a torque meter.
08:00There's a Raspberry PI on every workstation.
08:02They can tell you the tightness that every bolt was done up to on every single bike they produce.
08:07It's all logged.
08:09How crazy is that?
08:10Well, I think they set a standard and they've not dropped it since creating the company.
08:16Which just makes like a faultless product that stood the test of time.
08:21But can it stand the test of Glorious Gravel Suffolk X?
08:27We'll find out.
08:34Here comes the client, Jamie, and I think it might be time for a little bit of electric.
08:37Oh, no.
08:38I'm not ashamed to say that I might have to play my trump card early.
08:45Oh, Jamie.
08:46Oh, Jamie.
08:47Oh, Jamie.
08:47Oh, no.
08:49Oh, it's just a tiny whir and you've turned into Pogaccia.
08:58I think we're going to play it tactically today.
09:01And every time there's a hill, I think I might just nudge it on for a little bit.
09:07I'm going to be cooked, aren't I?
09:08I'm going to wear you down.
09:10Any idea how many extra watts the electric on this gives me?
09:13Because it kicks in nicely like I'm cruising along.
09:17I will.
09:17Let's cut to some VO and I'll tell you all the stats.
09:21The chassis of the G-Line Electric is very similar to my orange G-Line.
09:25However, at the rear, you'll find a hub motor which can provide a generous 250 watts of assistance
09:31and is powered by a 345 watt-hour battery located at the front.
09:36That will take four hours to charge fully and the predicted range is displayed on the LED display on the
09:42handlebar.
09:43Brompton claims up to 50 miles of range with the G-Line Electric.
09:46Although with Max darting off on every end line, would it last until the end of our gravel event?
09:56Gravel! Gravel! Gravel!
09:59What would you say about someone coming to do a gravel ride on a Brompton?
10:03On a Brompton, I would say well done.
10:06That's a good going night.
10:08Hey, that's 35k done.
10:1035k, that's not bad.
10:11So, we're over halfway.
10:13Few flapjacks.
10:15We're going to have it done by lunchtime.
10:16Hour 33.
10:27You've got your electric power on again.
10:28I've got the electric on.
10:30Jesus.
10:30What gave it away, Jamie?
10:34No.
10:35I saw that hill coming a mile off.
10:38Bye, Jamie.
10:39Oh, no.
10:40This electric spec, I've only been using it on the hills, but you can see it makes a difference
10:46because I'm casually talking as Jamie is probably shedding a tear back there.
10:54Quite rightfully so.
10:56See you later, sucker.
10:58So, this electric version has a battery mounted at the front that clips in,
11:03and then at the end of the day, you can unclip it,
11:06take it to your kitchen bedroom, charge it up.
11:11Next day, it comes back and also acts as like a front mounted duffle, which is quite handy
11:19because Bromptons don't typically have water cages, although Jamie's has a nifty feature to carry a water bottle.
11:29And mine today is in my front duffle.
11:33Don't want to call it a bar bag because it sits on the effective top tube, or the steerer tube,
11:39if anything.
11:41So, it's quite nice.
11:42It is quite big, but obviously the power of the electric, as you have just seen, outperforms the weight gain
11:49of having a battery.
11:50Don't worry. He's back.
11:52Hello, buddy.
11:54Aero tuck on a Brompton.
12:12We found some tarmac.
12:14There was a lot of commotion when Brompton released the G line.
12:18Like, do you remember how, like, controversial it was?
12:21Like, oh, why do I need a gravel Brompton?
12:25But, we're on the road now. They're rolling along very nicely.
12:28We're doing 18 mile an hour.
12:30And there must have been so many people thinking, oh, I really want a Brompton,
12:33but the road's really crap by me.
12:35Or, I live up a lane.
12:37Or, ah, there's a bit of a towpath to get me into work through a tunnel to avoid that hill,
12:43or whatever it is.
12:45And now, if you don't need a G line, fine, don't go and buy a G line.
12:48Yeah.
12:49But, Brompton have opened up Bromptons to a whole new demographic.
12:54Or even just if you like commuting all year round.
12:58And you just want a slightly bigger tyre that can handle some of the stuff that ends up on the
13:04road.
13:04Yeah, it's slightly heavier than, like, the non-G line Brompton.
13:09Especially, like, the, ah, speaking of weight, have you seen the T line?
13:15Titanium Brompton.
13:16Yeah, I did.
13:17Oh, my word.
13:18Seven point something kilos.
13:21I might have to save up.
13:22They're not cheap, but, my God, is that a nice bit of craftsmanship.
13:32Ah, they're on their e-bikes!
13:34Why is everyone on e-bikes?
13:36Hello, sir.
13:37I don't mind if I do.
13:39Ah.
13:42Here we go.
13:43Proper gravel.
13:51We have some pretty bad roads, but I'm pretty confident that this is worse.
13:55We have some pretty bad roads, but I'm pretty confident that this is worse.
13:55We have some pretty bad roads, but I'm pretty confident that this is worse.
14:05Proof that I can get gravel, tarmac, now even sand.
14:16Despite hitting the most technical terrain of the day in the final third, we powered
14:20on and even started to catch some riders who had set off earlier in the day.
14:24Like the people we met during the event, I had doubted whether it was even possible to
14:29finish a fully fledged gravel ride on a Brompton.
14:32In truth we hadn't just survived, we'd had a genuinely good time.
14:36The bikes may not have been as capable as some of the dedicated gravel bikes and mountain
14:40bikes, but neither had we found anything that the bikes couldn't handle, despite pushing
14:45the limits of what you'd expect to come across on a folding bike.
14:48And what's more, Max still had enough battery charge left to get him home.
15:00Ah, thank you very much, ah, I've got a medal, I've got a finishing medal, I'm giving that
15:08to the Brompton.
15:10There we go.
15:11Well, I certainly have a new found respect of the capability of a Brompton, and I think
15:17quite a few of the marshals and people that we met out on the course do as well.
15:21And this obviously isn't the ideal bike for riding on gravel, like no one's trying to pretend
15:28that it is.
15:29But if it can do this, then it can definitely get you across any city in the world.
15:35And be a weekend slash leisure bike for parks and towpaths for those that want a Brompton
15:39and all the portability benefits that come with that, but still want a bike that feels a bit
15:44more like a standard size.
15:46If you want to find anything else about this G-Line or the G-Line electric that Max has
15:51been riding, head to Brompton.com where you can book a test ride at your local dealer and
15:56try one for yourself.
15:57If you like this type of content, then please give it a like and subscribe to the Cycling
16:01Weekly channel and we'll see you next time.
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