I’ve been commuting via Brompton/train for about a year now and love it. Until recently I’ve been a backpack guy, but found a good deal on the game bag. I’m only a couple of rides in, but here are my initial impressions:
1. Not having a heavy backpack is definitely nice. I also believe that not wearing a pack in the summer will help me keep from overheating.
2. I’m finding it difficult and somewhat awkward to get off the bike and hold while folding.
3. I feel that the bike is not nearly as nimble or responsive.
4. Carrying up and down the stairs is more awkward with the weight imbalance at the front of the bike.
I recognize that I’m carrying a fair amount of weight, and my experience may improve if the pack were lighter, I think I expected to be blown away and instead am stuck in the middle wondering if I should go back to the backpack other than on hot days. Anyone else with my experience or advice? Should I give it a couple of weeks to see if I get used to it?
by tinman3
2 Comments
1. I have an intense disike for backpacks when riding any type of bicycle, except for slim hydration packs.
2. I always take the bag off when folding; pretty sure that is the expectation.
3. You get used to that. I appreciated quite the opposite…having weight over the front wheel acts as a steering damper and calms down the otherwise twitchy steering.
4. I think the idea is you remove the bag and backpack/shoulder it while carrying the unladen bike separately.
I don’t even carry the Brompton when I have a bag on the block: since I have the rack, I fold the bike up, put the bag back on the carrier block, and pull the bike with the bag’s handle like rolling luggage. 🙂
If carrying folded remove the bag and carry it in the opposite hand to the bike, if carrying unfolded hold it by the main frame at the balance point ( with Mrs Pab’s electric conversion the balance point is just behind the fork when using the big batteries in the bag )