Shopcast

It's been a while since our last Brompton Gift Guide and we have a few more things to share that pair well with any Brompton Folding Bike. Treat the Brompton lover in your life, or treat yourself to one of these accessories for your favorite folder.

1. Brompfication's Hinge Clamp Set is more than just an aesthetic upgrade to your Brompton. These spring-loaded clamps stay just where you need them with every fold and every unfold.
2. Introduced earlier this year, the Game Bag will brighten any Brompton owner's ride.
3. The Nitto BMR3 Rack for Brompton is one of our newest additions to the shop and we are smitten.
4. Abus's Bordo Lite folding lock is the perfect pair for any Brompton. It's easy to carry even if you don't have a bag with you as the included sheath attaches easily to the Brompton frame.
5. Minneapolis designer Erin Smith designed this brightly colored keyfob, a perfect home for your Bordo lock's key. It is available through Smith's shop Ship & Shape.
6. We brought in the Giro New Road line this year and are loving their wool tops, like the Merino Polo, and their men's and women's shorts.
7. If you bought your Brompton prior to 2013, consider upgrading to the new Aluminum Brake Levers, you'll be glad you did!
8. A pair of Grip King EZY Superior pedals are the perfect upgrade for anyone who commutes regularly by Brompton or enjoys long distance rides on their folder.
9. The Brompton Leather Handle has been a big hit this year. We still have plenty of Brown and Black handles in stock. Order yours now!
10. B&M's newest and tiniest headlight Eyc (sounds like bike) is just the right scale of headlight for the Brompton. Don't have a dynamo front wheel? Make it a complete package and retrofit your Brompton with a dynamo front wheel from Shimano or SON, the light of your choice, a wiring loom, a light bracket, and a taillight.
11. Why stop at a leather handle for your Brompton when you can wrap up a Minnesota-made leather coffee sleeve from the Walker Shop's MN Artists Marketplace, too?
12. Not everyone is a Brompton racer, but Folding Kojaks make a great gift for the bike tourist who wants to bring a spare tire along for the long haul... just in case.
13. And speaking of just in case, a tube in any Brompton lover's stocking can't hurt.

NEW IN THE SHOP: An alternative rear rack option for Brompton folding bicycles made by Nitto Japan. Specializing in original designs ranging from handlebars to stems and seat posts, Nitto is known best for their hand-made, fillet-brazed tubular chromoly steel bike racks. Nitto racks are nickel-plated for extra durability with a lovely silver satin finish. The Nitto BM-R3 for Brompton folding bikes is no exception. The BM-R3 is a lovely rack to look at, and we know it will hold up to years of use.

We've fit the Nitto Rack for Brompton bikes onto all versions of Bromptons:

-For the fender-less Brompton (E version) the included hardware will mount up the rack perfectly.

-For the Brompton with fenders and no rear rack (L version) you can mount the rack with the optional bolt and washer kit (keeping your existing fender).

-If you are getting the Nitto Rack to replace your existing Brompton rack (R version) the included hardware is perfect and you will be able keep the R version fender.

Note: If you are buying a fender specifically to use with the Nitto Rack, you have 2 options:

- the R fender  works very well as long as you plan to keep the rack on the bike at all times (this fender requires the rack for support)

the L Fender along with a Stay set  is a great option that allows the versatility of being able to be used with or without the rack

One of the big benefits of a rack on a Brompton is that the folded bike sits on 4 points instead of 3, making for a much more stable and smoother rolling package. While the Nitto rack comes with casters, adding Brompton Eazy Wheels make it possible to effortlessly roll the folded bike. This is as true for the Nitto rack as it is for the Brompton rack.

The Eazy Wheel kit for the Brompton rack are not the same as what you'll need to mount Eazy Wheels to the Nitto rack for Brompton. To simplify things, we have put together the kits necessary to add Eazy Wheels to a Nitto Rack no matter your current set up. See them HERE.

The Brompton Rack Sack works nicely with the Nitto rack, though other racktop bags will also work well. A shop favorite is the Arkel Tailrider, as the velcro mounting straps are quick and secure and the bag is loaded with nice features. The Banjo Brothers Rack Top Bag also fits nicely. Keep in mind that when you have a racktop bag attached to the rack, you will not be able to flip the rear wheel under the the bike to put the bike in kickstand-mode.

A Few Details:

• Nitto has not produced a bracket for a reflector or light. The bracket that we sell as an optional add-on is produced here in Minneapolis for Perennial Cycle. This bracket is not sold as a separate item, but is an option when buying the rack. It will work with the Brompton reflector, battery light or a dynamo light.
• We like using the Highland Fat (and flat) adjustable bungee with the Nitto. Fits nicely on the rack, but can be removed if you want to keep things minimal.
• The Nitto rack, like the Brompton rack, does not increase the folded package dimensions so packing the bike away in your B & W hard case, or your Brompton B-Bag will not be hindered by adding the rack.

If you're wondering why the caster wheels are offset to the drive side (this is true of the Nitto Rack and the Brompton Rack) it's because the FOLDED Brompton is weighted to the drive side. The off-set wheels provide additional stability to the folded Brompton.

While a hand-made rack from Japan is not an inexpensive option, Nitto has proven itself a very good value in the market of premium bicycle racks. The versatility and high-quality construction make this rack a sure recommendation at Perennial Cycle.

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-Naturally Flexible

-Immediately Comfortable

-Waterproofed with Numac

-Maintenance Free

-Built for Life

-Ready to Ride

Several of our staffers took the Cambium out for a weekend test-ride when the saddles first arrived at the shop last fall. Here are our first impressions:

Kat, test riding with a Surly Long Haul Trucker:

The Cambium was comfortable right out of the box. The women’s model has a longer nose than [Brooks's] traditional leather B17S, and I personally prefer the shape of the Cambium to my leather saddle. It has a bit of natural flex, but is stiff enough for long rides. While it is touted as waterproof, the cotton tends to absorb water, rather than shed it, so I still opt to cover the saddle in wet conditions. In the long run I may switch over to [the Cambium] and give my leather B17S to a good home."

Luke, test riding with a Rawland Dakkar:

The slight suspension of the slung rubber saddle is a huge benefit when doing a hard gravel grind. The saddle I rode in the past was a typical slightly padded road saddle and I found that I didn't miss the padding at all."

Martha, test riding with a Brompton M6L:

Kat mentioned her preference for the C17S' longer nose, but I found myself missing my B17S Special's shape and length. While I found the C17S rideable, I will continue to ride the B17S and Flyer S, despite the break-in time required to reach these saddles' optimum comfort levels. If you love your leather Brooks saddle, stick with it!"

For local customers, we allow free 24-hour test rides of the Cambium C17 and Cambium C17S. Stop in to our location at Hennepin and 34th in Uptown Minneapolis for a chance to try the Cambium risk-free on your own bike.

The complete Brooks Cambium line is available in-store and at PerennialCycle.com, including the C17, the C17 S, and the C15 in a full range of colors. Look for the C17 Cambium Carved — with cut-out — later this fall(/winter?) and early next spring.

As a follow-up to our earlier post about Brompton's new color palette, we'd like you to be the first to know that we're now accepting 2015 B-Spoke Orders. Orders placed this week will begin shipping from England the week of December 12, just in time for the holidays. Per usual, Brompton will be closed from 27 December through 2 January. Orders taken after the first of the year will resume shipping the week of January 9, 2015.

A 20% deposit is all that's required to get your B-Spoke order in the queue. What are you waiting for? Start building your dream Brompton with the newly updated Brompton Bike Builder!

Clock-wise from top left: Berry Crush, Cherry Blossom, Tempest Blue, Lime Green, Lagoon Blue

Ivory