How to unfold and fold the Brompton bike

Despite having folded and unfolded my Brompton hundreds of times, I still sometimes draw a blank how to start or forget an important step. So, I decided to make a video to illustrate all the steps involved, more as a reminder to myself than a tutorial to others.

Folding

Step 1: Stand on the left side of the bike. All folding and unfolding should be done on the left side, for the same reason you mount a bike on the left, to avoid getting chain grease on your clothes or legs.

The catch to release the rear wheel is at the base of the seat post

Release the catch that secures the rear wheel. You’ll find this catch at the bottom of the seat post. Then grab the seat post at the base with your right hand, the back of your hand facing outward. Raise the rear of the bike sharply, which will swing the rear wheel under the frame.

If you don’t raise the rear of the bike sharply, you might find that the wheel stops halfway. Use your foot to push the wheel under the frame.

Step 2: Position the pedals such that the right pedal is to the back and down.

Step 3: Release the frame clamp.

Step 4: Swing the front wheel back. Do this by grabbing the steering column such that the back of your hand is facing outward. You’ll need to slightly raise the front wheel to ensure that the catch on the left side of the front wheel can slide over the chain stay. What takes a little getting used to is making sure the front wheel continues to face forward while being swung around.

Step 5: Lower the handlebars. You’ll release the clamp at the base of the handlebar post/steering column. You can allow the handlebars to simply drop, but make sure to remove any phones or other devices attached to your handlebars beforehand.

Step 6: Lower the seat post. Lowering the post actually locks the bike into the folded position. If you only partially lower the post, the bike might unfold when lifted.

Step 7: If you have a folding left pedal, position the pedal as shown in the photo. Grab the pedal with your right hand and push up with your fingers from the bottom. The pedal should fold over the crank arm. If it doesn’t, rotate the pedal and try again. You’ve got a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

Unfolding

Unfolding the bike is pretty much the same procedure in reverse.

Step 1: UNFOLD THE LEFT PEDAL FIRST. If you don’t, you’ll probably find the pedal catches on the left chain stay, probably scratching the paint.

Step 2: Unfold the handlebars. There is a small plastic ball on the side of the handlebar post that fits into a clamp at the top of the fork of the front wheel. This prevents the handlebars from swinging freely when you pick up the folded bike. It just takes a little tug to free the handlebar post from the clamp. Tighten the clamp that holds the handlebars upright.

Step 3: Raise the seat post. You won’t be able to unfold the front wheel until you raise the seat post.

Step 4: Swing the front wheel forward. Do this by grabbing the handlebar post with your left hand, the back of your facing outward. You’ll make an outward arcing motion with your arm. Try to keep the wheel facing forward while doing this.

Step 5: Unfold the rear wheel. Grab the seat post with your right hand, the back of your hand facing outward. Raise the seat post sharply and the rear wheel will swing away from under the frame.

If you don’t raise the rear of the bike sharply, you might find that the wheel stops halfway. Use your foot to push the wheel away from the frame.

Step 6: Retighten the frame and handlebar clamps before riding.

Easy peasey

Folding and unfolding the bike is actually pretty easy. The first time I unfolded a bike I’d hired in Birmingham (the one in England), it went perfectly. Then I thought I should try it again and with some difficulty managed to fold it. However, it took me another 15 minutes trying to unfold it the second time. Apparently the first time, I’d lifted the saddle fully before trying to unfold, but the second time, I’d only lifted the saddle a few inches. That prevented the bike from unfolding. And, I also didn’t raise the front wheel slightly, preventing the catch from clearing the chain stay. So don’t be downhearted if it takes you a little time before folding and unfolding becomes second nature.

Written by

Jennifer Petkus divides her time between writing Jane Austen-themed mysteries, creating websites for the dead, woodworking, aikido and building model starships. She has few credentials, having failed to graduate from the University of Texas with a journalism degree, but did manage to find employment at the Colorado Springs Sun newspaper as a cop reporter, copy editor and night city editor before the paper died in 1986. She has done little since. Her husband is the night editor at The Denver Post. Her best friend is a cop. She watched Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon live. She is the author of, Good Cop, Dead Cop: A Novel about the AfterNet. She’s writing the sequel, The Background Noise of Souls, and another AfterNet related story, Jane Austen’s Book Tour.

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