The “G” Stands for “Good,” Actually
The “G” Stands for “Good,” Actually
Some thoughts on Brompton’s first off-roader and its new renewed program
Leg Day is a newsletter about pursuing joy as a city cyclist, even when needless high-speed car chases by the NYPD literally kill us. RIP Amanda Servedio.
Last month, Brompton, maker of extremely nice bikes that fold down enough to fit in the overhead bin of a plane, did something that I truly do not understand. It introduced the G Line, an approximately $3,100 gravel bike.1
Well, okay, they don’t actually call it a gravel bike. But the “G” in the “G Line” designation has to stand for something!
The new Bromptons are equipped with wider and gripper tires than the other models the company sells. The G-line bikes also have responsive, reliable disc brakes, important if you end up testing the off-road capabilities of those wheels.
Response to the release has been positive. Commenters on the Brompton subreddit are obviously stoked, pointing out that most people drive their bikes to the trailhead and will probably appreciate that these can just fit more easily in their trunks. The GCN review, which Brompton sponsored, says it rides like a full sized bike, if a little bit less efficient. Writing about the electric version in Wired, Chris Haslam basically says it’s the only Brompton he’s ever actually enjoyed riding.
All due respect Mr. Haslam, what’s your problem?
I’ve been testing a Brompton C Line bike (starting price $1,550, $1,850 for the version I have) for a few months2. It’s plenty fun! I’ve really enjoyed taking it all over town. I’ve ridden it in Prospect Park, over the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, and brought it all the way down to Jacob Riis Beach. I’ve folded it up and brought it into a library and, on the same night, down into a fashion event held at a fake speakeasy. And when I’m back home, it fits underneath my desk, where it cannot be tripped over by my partner or my dog.
Still, it is a compromise. My other bikes are more nimble, capable of steering me just out of the way of a pedestrian that darts out from behind a double parked car. On the Brompton, any movement of the handlebars can lead to a pretty wide turn, which can put you way farther out of your lane than you might want. Plus, all my other bikes are faster than the Brompton. Even my 1970s Schwinn can rip down Bedford more efficiently than the foldable bike.
If I wanted something to truly crush off-road trails, I highly doubt I would buy a Brompton. If I was a car owner, I could probably buy an actual gravel bike, a really nice car rack, and three months of groceries with the money for the price of the G Line. I just have a feeling the type of person who is interested in hitting the trails on a bike is either going to prioritize performance, and look for something that will help them go as fast as possible, or price, and find the cheapest possible wide tire frame they can.
I bring all of this up because Brompton finally announced something this month that I’m actually excited about: Brompton Renewed. This is its new platform for selling refurbished and used Brompton bikes, which will still be backed by the company's 7-year warranty. If you are in need of the perfect bike for urban commuting, I highly suggest bookmarking the page and taking a look regularly through the stock. If your timing is right, you might be able to find a Brompton for less than $1,000.
We can ride our lil fold-y boys out into the sunset together.
Let me know if you’re planning to attend the vigil for Amanda. I’ll be riding over from Brooklyn.
The pre-order for it was UK and EU only. List price was £2,395.
This phrasing makes it clear that Brompton loaned me one to try out right? Well, they did and I’m grateful!