this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2025
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I've always thought these look silly but the high step bike I currently use is getting harder to get on every year and the foldies have been looking more appealing. I thought because the wheels are small the ratio ends up being easier for hills though. Is the addititonal gearing range for higher speed?
Wheel size will give you a smaller effectibe ratio (less distance travelled for every full rotation of the wheel). For the Brompton this is great for getting moving faster but the overall speed will be lower Vs an equivalent 700c wheel.
The gearing is going to be similar to other 'mobility' cycles - but in my experience the gear ratios are probably more for smoothing out hills and bumps over generating speed efficiently but I can't say that's their intention.
If you want an easier access bike there are loads of better lowstep options that won't cost you Brompton money and are easier and cheaper to repair.
I would hesitate to recommend a Brompton for anything other than urban mobility where space is at a premium. I say this as an enthusiast.
They ride nicely but they take a little getting used to and for some mechanical issues they rely on having a dealer - I've known mechanics turn them away. Not to mention that the frames can and do wear out and the hinges are only designed to wear so much - at a certain point they will recommend a new frame as part of regular maintenance. It'll take a while to get to that point but it will happen eventually.