Basket. For Brompton

What a nice basket idea using the frame from Brompton. Available from Dutch Bike Bits 

Screen grab from David Hembrow website

Brompton hinge Tip by Wei Shuan

Wei Shuan is a master Tinkerer and he has a brompton. This is his simple, effective tip on the hinge... I think it is brilliant! 
More details by Wei Shuan... "For those who often commute with Brompton will know how irritating to fold the bike. The clamp rotates when you loosen the lever so you must hold the clamp in place when you tighten back the lever. My simple DIY will solve your problem. All you need is just stick a small piece of aluminium sheet (I got from Daiso) onto the clamp and add a spring (which I dismantled from hand soap dispenser). With this modification, I can now easily fold/unfold my Brompton while keeping the clamps in position at all time."

CHANGING BROMPTON STOCK PEDALS TO SHIMANO M324S

An article contributed by Darren Siow 

A few months after I got my Brompton, the right side pedal began creaking. I tightened the screws but the creaking didn’t go away. A quick check around showed that this was a common issue. Recently, my left folding pedal began creaking too! As I had been used to riding with clipless pedals for many years, I took this opportunity to change the stock pedals to clipless ones. For the Brompton, I was going to use it as a commuting bike as well as for short rides around the neighbourhood to dao bao lunch, run errands etc. I wanted a pedal that would allow me to do all the activities. Searching online, I found few pedals that offered this functionality. I chanced upon the Shimano M324 and immediately bought it along with a pair of shoes which I could use on and off the bike. I like the Shimano M324 for its versatility; one side offers mountain bike style SPD cleat entry whilst the other side is a standard platform. Just right for me! (Weight weenie warning: they are about 530 grams per pair!)

The challenge I faced in replacing the pedals was the removal of the left stock Brompton pedal. The bolt that holds things in place is massive and I didn’t have any tools to match this bolt. During one of the LCSG gatherings, I spoke to someone who had also changed the stock pedals. I found out that he had used an unorthodox method to remove the pedal. So I followed suit.

 Removing the stock left Brompton pedal

I used a standard size adjustable spanner and a plier. The typical way to use a spanner is to fit the spanner at right angles to the bolt shaft. I made the adjustable spanner ‘bite’ onto the head of the bolt, parallel to the bolt instead of the correct orientation. This allowed only very little grip on the bolt. I tightened the jaws around the bolt head as much as I could. Consulting Google, I double-checked that the correct way to remove a left pedal is to rotate the bolt clockwise. With that confirmed, I gave the spanner a good swift tap with the pliers. The bolt seemed to turn but I wasn’t sure. So I gave it another tap. This time I could see the bolt turning! I was very happy and relieved that this unorthodox method worked! It helped that the stock pedal wasn’t very tight.

The picture below gives you an idea how the spanner gripped onto the bolt head.  

Left Folding Pedal, Washer, Big Bolt & Right Pedal 

Here's how the pedals looked after removed from Brompton

new left pedal

looking down from the saddle

Pearl izumi Mens' X-Alp seek IV cycling shoe 

I bought the shoes from Amazon and if you do decide to get shoes online, read the reviews first! For this model, many buyers advised that you need to order the next bigger size. I followed the advice and I’m glad to say that they were very accurate. I typically wear size US9.5 shoes, so for this pair I ordered US10, and it’s perfect!

I chose this pair of shoes because I can use them on my commute to work and then still wear them during the office day. I’m lucky that my work doesn’t require me to wear formal leather shoes. J The cleat (the metal piece that connects to the pedal) is bolted on in a recess of the shoe. This clever design was why I bought the shoes. The only thing that bugs me about walking around with this is that on certain uneven surfaces, I can feel and hear the cleat grinding against the road. On pavements and tiled surfaces, it works well.

The downside of having a non-folding left pedal is the increased size when the bike is folded. However, I know that I hardly need to transport or store my Brompton in the folded state, so I bit the bullet and switched to the clipless.

Today (18Mar2012), I went on my first ride with the clipless pedals and I have to say I love them! It makes me feel like I’m riding a real bike! :-P

Photo credits - Darren Siow

Rider profile - Wei Shuan

Wei Shuan with wifey Hai Tang and daughter for a LCSG ride 

Mods by Wei Shuan

Master tinkerer... check this out!

ready to ride? Come join me!

Old Dahon before Wei Shuan restored it... 

Taaadaaa!!! Amazing work by Wei Shuan

I can't place exactly when we met, but I always remember Wei Shuan to be a very nice, mild manner gentle man. Together with his wife Hai Tang, they would ride along side and enjoy the rides together. And at times, their daugher would join us too. A principal engineer at an American MMC he uses his engineering skills to very good effect, restoring old items like calculators, cameras and of course bicycles.... Read more of his life story! 

Tell me about yourself 

I have many varied interests and hobbies, such as trekking, jogging, paper craft, photography, building electronic projects, science toys, collecting and restoring junks like old cameras, telephones, clocks, radios, toys etc. And because I am usually occupied by these enjoyable activities during my leisure times, I never get bored.  I love machinery and like constructing all kinds of fun toys and machines.  Check out his cool restorations

How did you started cycling 

I’m a nature-lover. When I was younger, I used to trek along jungle trails and explore historical sites that are little known to people in Singapore.  However, these quiet places I once recognised eventually diminished along with Singapore's rapid development and industrialisation. Some of these places were also turned into military training grounds. Thus, I ventured into other outdoor activities that appealed to my interest. When the Eastern Coastal PCN was opened in 2007, I went on my first long-distance bike ride on a market foldie with my colleague, Wilson Lim.  I enjoyed it very much and since then, cycling became a hobby which brought me to invest in a better bike.  I bought my first foldable bike that cost me nearly $500 (which was considered rather expensive for a newbie!) and took the initiative to organise rides with colleagues on various park connectors since I didn’t have much confidence to cycle on roads yet. 

However, I got bored of the park connectors quickly.  I surfed the net for local cycling groups but at that time, there had been only about 2 to 3 regular groups that were restricted to specific bike types or brands, and I was not keen confine my interests to adapt to others.  Early last year, I bumped into a video of this group cycling in the Punggol area.  From their fun conversations and chap pa lang bicycles, I knew this must be the group I have long been searching for.  So I ‘sent’ my friend Wilson to ‘recce’ and subsequently joined my first ride with LCSG. 

Why do you like cycling 

Just like any sport or hobby, cycling is a good way to distress.  Cycling also causes less damage on my knees and is less monotonous compared to frequent running.  More importantly, I’m able to build friendships with different people with a similar interest.  It’s also very delightful to have my family participating in LCSG rides.  Only with their support, can I then justify reasons as to why I should buy more bikes.  (Although they nag at me for my high expenditure, especially my daughter who would very much prefer to have me buy her a Double Bass or let her learn the Cello, which would probably cost less than the total amount of money spent on all my bikes.)

Your steel horses- names and more details.  

Dahon Easy6.  My white horse, my first love. 

Dahon Speed P8.   My faithful greyhound that gives me speed. 

GT Marathon Elite MTB.  My knight horse that I ride to Ketam trail. 

Brompton S6R.  My little pony that takes me to city rides. 

Dahon III.  I just adopted this 25-year-old red puppy, and I’m overhauling it to give it a new life. 

Your  favorite cycling kakis 
All the brothers and sisters of LCSG!!

Your favorite cycling route and LCSG ride 

Eastern Coastal PCN, Kranji ride. 

Your role at LCSG 

I do not have a specific role but I can be an impromptu mechanic, marker or photographer when I’m needed. 

Tips to share with fellow riders 

I know many people may be reading our facebook updates but feel shy to join our rides. However, the fact is that LCSG is welcome to bikes of any kind and cyclist of all ages. 

No one will laugh if you ride a cheap market bike.  

I won’t be the last cyclist as I know the sweeper is always behind me. 

When my bike breaks down, there are always helping hands to assist me. 

If I fall, someone will care for me, and comfort me by saying: “Don't worry your bike is okay!” 

Whenever I ask bike related questions, I often receive great advices.  But I know I need to be strong if I refused to be poisoned.  It’s all up to me! 

People are nice here so there is no need to be shy.  Please come and join us! ­­