IIRC, the UCI banned small wheel bikes for four reasons. Small wheels allowed paceline riders to ride closer to the rider in front of them, and could be construed as acting like a fairing. Riding closer requires even faster reaction times to avoid a pile-up. That second part is really debatable, given how often pile-ups are from half-wheeling and not having an escape path, as opposed to riding in a slipstream. The third reason, which Moultons mostly avoid, was smaller wheels being easier to stop dead in a pothole that might at worst pop a 700c tire. The suspension coupled with a wider tire, is remarkably good at dealing with potholes, and the smaller wheels are crazy strong, so I don't know how serious that really could be. Lastly, neutral support is already difficult, and adding yet another wheel size (and possibly hub width) would make it a nightmare.
The guy riding the Brompton is one of the best hill climbers in the world. So you cannot take away much from this. Two equal pro riders would have been the only way to do a fair comparison.
You're making a few interesting points, but none that would convince me to take the Moulton over the Brompton. What grinds my gears though is that you choose to compare Moulton stock weight to Brompton cheapest version weight but later argue for a Moulton that has a price point that would allow you to choose lighter options of the Brompton. You forget to mention that Brompton comes with rollers too, so that weight has only to be lifted when accessing a train or going up some stairs. You overlooked the price stability which is better on the Brompton than on Moulton or Birdy just because of its availability. I think the fairing should easily be constructed with the front block of the Brompton. It's actually a very interesting story that I'm going to research. So I'd be grateful for any link or tip you can give me about that. Packaging with clothes and bike is a very good point too. The only thing I wonder is whether the frame would be easy to clean after you used it on a tour or if that would be more work thanks to the lots of tubes. And if so whether there is a trick to then keep the clothes clean. The stiffness is a very interesting point and in fact I'm looking forward to try that out. The Birdy is quite stiff too but that didn't convince me to take it over the Brompton either. I'd love to see a challenge with all small wheel bikes competing in their own categories. Travel, climbing, commuting, shopping etc. And see which does best for which category.
People don't give up Bromptons to get a Moulton. Most Moulton owners have a collection which often includes a Brompton and a Birdy. I will publish a video on fairings and aerodynamics in the future.
I’ve owned both Moulton and Brompton and both have strengths specifically suited to them and shortcomings as well,the one is a folder while the other is not.Comparisons of the two stop at wheel size.
Thank you very much first and foremost 🎉 I must say that what you said regarding the video of the Brompton vs Road bike was misrepresented as I remember the Brompton cyclist was an uphill champion or record holder but I am great full for your content nonetheless.
Of course not. Or they would be riding them. No bike is FAST. There are bikes that are more EFFICIENT than other bikes. How fast they go will depend on the riders fitness and leg power. That said in 1986. Jim Glover propelled a 17inch Moulton race bike up to just over 51mph on an inside track. A record that stands to this day. So for a limited speed run the Moulton is king.
7:30 One interesting characteristic (shown here) of the Moulton vs. most folding bikes is the ability to install drop bars without increasing the depth of the 'compacted' bike. In folders where the handlebars fold to the inside this is completely impossible and for those where they fold to the outside, like the Brompton, it is possible but would dramatically increase the depth to the point it likelyisn't worth it.
Thinking riders road bike that the posers don't know about. On mine, at speed I sit on the step through like a recumbent and feel the air resistance melt away.
10:30 Why a windshield? No peddle bike under ordinary circumstances is going to achieve speeds where air flow is going to negatively effect riding experience.
I had a Moulton with the ZZipper fairing, and it was not worth it for general riding. It is great if there is no wind (as during record attempts), or you are heading directly into the wind, but without a body sock to continue the fairing around you, it was only a small help for $700 in 1990 dollars, mounted. Unless you tuck your body down so that you are no higher than the fairing top, you lose the advantage, and on hot days, keeping your face out of the wind felt stifling, although it reduced wind noise and reduced bugs in the face. You also had to tuck in narrow to stay in the slipstream left-to-right. In a side wind, it was a disaster. For general Moulton riding, I would instead (a) get narrower handlebars, (b) get the best tires and TPU tubes, (c) shorten cranks so you can get a little lower without having to stretch your back and compress your chest/gut so much, (d) get a decaleur and handlebar bag. That last one is totally counterintuitive, BUT... it does have a tiny fairing like effect if you stay low and have it tucked in close to the handlebar curve, and the more you keep everything you need right where your hands are, the less you have to slow down and reach around, or stop outright. In between having to grab things, using the bags that enclose the space frame can help more than a decaleur bag, and also keep the bike cleaner, but it's a lot of fabric for not a lot of cargo space, and there is something to be said for being able to slide all my stuff off the bike in 5 seconds, walk into the store with the only bag I'll need for packaged food, or plop the pastic bag into the handlebar bag and be done.
![ว้าว!ลุงบีมแบกทองมารับขวัญหลานกันยกบ้าน [cc] แดนแพทตี้ SS2 | EP.49 |](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Osihq1OAs-4/mqdefault.jpg)
IIRC, the UCI banned small wheel bikes for four reasons. Small wheels allowed paceline riders to ride closer to the rider in front of them, and could be construed as acting like a fairing. Riding closer requires even faster reaction times to avoid a pile-up. That second part is really debatable, given how often pile-ups are from half-wheeling and not having an escape path, as opposed to riding in a slipstream. The third reason, which Moultons mostly avoid, was smaller wheels being easier to stop dead in a pothole that might at worst pop a 700c tire. The suspension coupled with a wider tire, is remarkably good at dealing with potholes, and the smaller wheels are crazy strong, so I don't know how serious that really could be. Lastly, neutral support is already difficult, and adding yet another wheel size (and possibly hub width) would make it a nightmare.
The guy riding the Brompton is one of the best hill climbers in the world. So you cannot take away much from this. Two equal pro riders would have been the only way to do a fair comparison.
You're making a few interesting points, but none that would convince me to take the Moulton over the Brompton.
What grinds my gears though is that you choose to compare Moulton stock weight to Brompton cheapest version weight but later argue for a Moulton that has a price point that would allow you to choose lighter options of the Brompton.
You forget to mention that Brompton comes with rollers too, so that weight has only to be lifted when accessing a train or going up some stairs.
You overlooked the price stability which is better on the Brompton than on Moulton or Birdy just because of its availability.
I think the fairing should easily be constructed with the front block of the Brompton. It's actually a very interesting story that I'm going to research. So I'd be grateful for any link or tip you can give me about that.
Packaging with clothes and bike is a very good point too. The only thing I wonder is whether the frame would be easy to clean after you used it on a tour or if that would be more work thanks to the lots of tubes. And if so whether there is a trick to then keep the clothes clean.
The stiffness is a very interesting point and in fact I'm looking forward to try that out. The Birdy is quite stiff too but that didn't convince me to take it over the Brompton either.
I'd love to see a challenge with all small wheel bikes competing in their own categories. Travel, climbing, commuting, shopping etc. And see which does best for which category.
People don't give up Bromptons to get a Moulton. Most Moulton owners have a collection which often includes a Brompton and a Birdy. I will publish a video on fairings and aerodynamics in the future.
I’ve owned both Moulton and Brompton and both have strengths specifically suited to them and shortcomings as well,the one is a folder while the other is not.Comparisons of the two stop at wheel size.
I would like to see more reviews of Brompton clones. Better value, more gears, and made with titanium too, like the Leggero T7C from JackbikeSG.
Thank you very much first and foremost 🎉
I must say that what you said regarding the video of the Brompton vs Road bike was misrepresented as I remember the Brompton cyclist was an uphill champion or record holder but I am great full for your content nonetheless.
I have both and the Moulton is the best for riding and the Brompton for folding. As quoted by Dr. Alex Moulton. Which I agree with. Best Dave
The Moulton is the fastest upright bike. It is no match to recumbents, which will be covered in another video.
Is the Moulton really faster than the bikes in the Tour de France peloton? This claim is amazing!
Of course not. Or they would be riding them. No bike is FAST. There are bikes that are more EFFICIENT than other bikes. How fast they go will depend on the riders fitness and leg power. That said in 1986. Jim Glover propelled a 17inch Moulton race bike up to just over 51mph on an inside track. A record that stands to this day. So for a limited speed run the Moulton is king.
7:30 One interesting characteristic (shown here) of the Moulton vs. most folding bikes is the ability to install drop bars without increasing the depth of the 'compacted' bike. In folders where the handlebars fold to the inside this is completely impossible and for those where they fold to the outside, like the Brompton, it is possible but would dramatically increase the depth to the point it likelyisn't worth it.
Good point.
Thinking riders road bike that the posers don't know about.
On mine, at speed I sit on the step through like a recumbent and feel the air resistance melt away.
That cheat will not get you a speed record.
8:44 wtf 😭🤣
😅😉😜
7:53 as well.
10:30 Why a windshield? No peddle bike under ordinary circumstances is going to achieve speeds where air flow is going to negatively effect riding experience.
Not true, but more on that in a future video.
The single biggest determination of top speed of a bicycle is the wind resistance, followed by final drive ratio
I had a Moulton with the ZZipper fairing, and it was not worth it for general riding. It is great if there is no wind (as during record attempts), or you are heading directly into the wind, but without a body sock to continue the fairing around you, it was only a small help for $700 in 1990 dollars, mounted. Unless you tuck your body down so that you are no higher than the fairing top, you lose the advantage, and on hot days, keeping your face out of the wind felt stifling, although it reduced wind noise and reduced bugs in the face. You also had to tuck in narrow to stay in the slipstream left-to-right. In a side wind, it was a disaster. For general Moulton riding, I would instead (a) get narrower handlebars, (b) get the best tires and TPU tubes, (c) shorten cranks so you can get a little lower without having to stretch your back and compress your chest/gut so much, (d) get a decaleur and handlebar bag. That last one is totally counterintuitive, BUT... it does have a tiny fairing like effect if you stay low and have it tucked in close to the handlebar curve, and the more you keep everything you need right where your hands are, the less you have to slow down and reach around, or stop outright. In between having to grab things, using the bags that enclose the space frame can help more than a decaleur bag, and also keep the bike cleaner, but it's a lot of fabric for not a lot of cargo space, and there is something to be said for being able to slide all my stuff off the bike in 5 seconds, walk into the store with the only bag I'll need for packaged food, or plop the pastic bag into the handlebar bag and be done.