SECTION B: FOLDING AND UNFOLDING.
If you have not had the Brompton demonstrated or explained to you, read this section before
trying to unfold or fold the bike. For those who are already familiar with the Brompton, part 3 may
be a useful source of tips.
Part 1: ORDER OF UNFOLDING & FOLDING - OVERVIEW.
a) UNFOLDING:
Stage 1: raise saddle & handlebar and (if a folding pedal is fitted) unfold pedal: these items can
be dealt with in any order, but they must be unfolded before moving on to stage 2.
Stage 2: unfold front wheel. The bicycle is now in its "parked" position and ready for use.
b) FOLDING:
Always "park" the bike by swinging the rear wheel under before folding:
Stage 1: fold back front wheel (right hand pedal should be moved out of the way if necessary).
Stage 2: lower handlebar & saddle and, if fitted, stow folding pedal; again, these items can be
dealt with in any order once the front wheel has been folded back and latched onto the rear frame.
Part 2: OTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER.
1. The seat pillar, when folded, is what locks the folded package together: it projects down from
the main frame, so preventing the rear frame from rotating. So, if the seat pillar is projecting
below the main frame, DON'T try to park or unpark the Brompton: also DON'T try to latch or
unlatch the front wheel from the rear frame, as this requires that the rear frame rotates relative the
main frame. Also if the saddle is not fully down, the folded package may fall apart when you pick
the bike up.
2. The folded bicycle can be carried by the main tube. Alternatively grip the front of the saddle,
but to do this a) re-clamp the seat pillar after folding (best with the saddle pointing slightly
rightwards, over the centre of gravity), and b) avoid pulling the padding away from the saddle
frame.
3. Turning the cranks/pedals when the bicycle is parked:
a) the left hand pedal should not be folded when turning the cranks, as it can catch on parts of the
rear frame;
b) during folding, the right hand pedal may have to be moved: to do this, the cranks can be
rotated forwards or backwards. However, when new, particularly in top gear, turning the cranks
quickly backwards can cause the chain to go slack or even come off. If this happens, turn the
pedals forward instead, or alternatively keep the bike in middle gear when folding.
