I can't stand Gregg Wallace, but "Inside The Factory" next week is inside the Brompton factory.
BBC2 Tuesday 16th, 8pm
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Inside The Factory - Bicycles (BBC2 8pm 16/8)
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Posted 8 years ago #
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Thanks for the info, should be interesting despite Gregg Wallace
Posted 8 years ago # -
On at 11.05 tonight.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I enjoyed it. Brompton must be very pleased with the free product placement. Mike Burrows featured, riding something unusual. We saw a Moulton, but luckily they didn't say it was foldable.
Posted 8 years ago # -
It was good, brooks also featured and the history of the bike, was more interesting than the one on breakfast cereal. 100 psi in Brompton must be a bumpy ride with such small wheels
Posted 8 years ago # -
Clashed with the track cycling last night so watched it on catch up. Quite interesting, especially the speed of assembly - the guy fitting tires was quick!
Posted 8 years ago # -
"100 psi in Brompton must be a bumpy ride with such small wheels"
There is basic rear suspension.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I wouldn't call it rear suspension - it is part of the folding mechanism.
I hate riding over setts on my Brompton, but it deals with general road bumps OK and the hard tyre pressure makes for a fast ride when the road is smooth enough! I am not alone in surprising non-Brompton-owners with the speed of the thing.(Didn't see the programme; may try to locate it.)
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Available for 28 days"
Inside the Factory, Series 2: 4. Bicycles: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07pmyd6 via @bbciplayer
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
All About Brompton Folding Bike Suspension
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http://www.nycewheels.com/brompton-folding-bike-suspension.html
Posted 8 years ago # -
The traditional 'M' type front handlebars also provide a bit of suspension I believe.
Posted 8 years ago # -
We watched this last night. It was interesting seeing inside the Brompton factory. I did think it was odd that tubes arrive from Spain to be sent on a lorry to Leicester to be finished, to be sent on a lorry back to London to be brazed, to be sent on a lorry to Cardiff to be cleaned and painted, to be sent on a lorry to London to be assembled. If it weren't for how cheap it was to drive things around the motorway network by diesel power, it might kind of make sense to do the brazing nearer where the tubes are either finished or painted. Or have all 3 operations in the same place?
Posted 8 years ago # -
Paint coming 'in-house'
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Once the metal is shiny to the upmost standards, it gets carried off in a lorry to Wales to be painted. When I ask why Wales, I’m told “we’ve just always used them” – but the painting job is soon to happen in house when a currently unused section of the factory has been developed – to cut down on time, fuel and money.
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Can't understand the 'Leicester process' and am surprised the tubing comes from Spain.
This does seem misleading -
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See how each Brompton is made in our factory in London. From the brazing of the frames to the final assembly and inspection.
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Posted 8 years ago # -
They recently moved to a bigger building so perhaps painting was one reason for that.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Shand use Reynolds and Columbia steel. The latter is maybe Italian? Or. Maybe not. Maybe it comes from Portland Oregon.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I imagine labour rates are rather lower in both Wales and Leicester than West London.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Shand use Reynolds and Columbia steel. The latter is maybe Italian?
Columbus are from Milan, yes. Reynolds are certainly based in the West Midlands, anyone know if that's where they make their tubes?
Posted 8 years ago # -
953 Maraging Stainless Steel in co-operation with Carpenter of Pennsylvania. ($21 million fine for pollution?) but management bought company back from Coyote in 2011.
Very old very mechanical cutting processes apparently and bigger margins of error than Columbus.?...?
The Brompton has similar old mechanical tube bender in the documentary.
They patented butted steel tubes.
I am hoping they are made here.
Posted 8 years ago # -
The companies probably cut tubes, and paint for a number of bike, and other companies.
Perhaps the workflow could be better managed, ie tubes delivered directly to the cutting finishing factory, but it often doesn't make economic sense to 'tool' up and do everything yourself. Or even 'enviromental' sense, would a duplicate Brompton cutting plant generate more CO2 than the diesel to ferry the tubes in a lorry....
Posted 8 years ago # -
From amazing visit to shand, last winter, lot of delay in paint stage. So they do their own painting and also for other companies.
Posted 8 years ago #
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