The Brompton Recumbent Conversion Kit

No matter how many recumbents you own, long or short wheelbase, tricycles, faired or nonfaired, there is always one bike in your shed that remains ,,normal'': the folder. So when going by train every recumbentrider inevitably experience the inconvinience of an upright riding position which may be a drawback in performance too. But there is a solution coming up to bridge this gap.

We took the most versatile and most widespread folder, the Brompton, and developed a kit to convert it into a recumbent. It is one of its main features that no parts need to get weld or brazed to the frame: not even drill holes into it. Every part is only clamped to the frame, leaving the basic Brompton totally unhurt. For this reason, it can be re-converted without any trace and the customer does not need to make a ,,one way decision'' wether his Brompton shall be normal or a recumbent.

Another very important point is that absolutly none of the folding movements is hampered by additional parts. One of the main advantages of the Brompton is kept up, the really small package while being folded. The whole thing can still be pulled along on its carrier-rack trolleys as usual. We have to admit that the original case lacks two additional centimeters to hold the Brompton with the conversion kit :-(

The conversion Kit consists of the following elements:

• A horizontal seat carrier tube , inserted into the saddle tube, instead of the saddle stem
• A foldable seat, adjustable in seat angle, clamped on the seat carrier tube. The seat remains on the bike when folded, as to make sure there is always just on package to carry.
• A bottom bracket arm, clamped to the steering tube. When folded it hinges down on the front wheel and it swings sideways with the front part of the main frame. Leg length adjustment is done by shifting the seat.
• A lengthende handlebar stem to provide enough knee and leg clearence
• A toothed-belt drive on the right side of the frame for power-transmision from the new ,,bottom'' bracket at the front to the normal one.

Because of practical and aesthetical reasons, the whole conversion kit is manufactured of alloy and stainless steel parts. This is done to show everybody that the whole construction is not a new bike, but an addition to a normal folder. The Brompton frame can be of every color but the distinction of the materials will always be evident.

The converted bike is very easy to drive (not the feature of all recumbents ... ) and it keeps the good handling characteristics and the tight cornering of the original Brompton.

We are about to finish the prototype stage and expect the kit to be on sale in late spring 1997. The price is expected to be in a range of about 700 US $ which makes the Brompton (i.e. the bike plus kit) one of the most low-priced products on the market compared to any other recumbent. Additionaly it offers bonus of full foldability, a rack, lighting and mudgards.

It will be manufactured and distributed by