Bromptons in the Second Class Shop
A guide to safe procedures.
The proprietor of a Second Class Shop may repair Bromptons on occasion. This may be as a favour to a regular customer who has one, or from economic necessity.
The most important thing to do is to securely hide the deviant machine when it is not actually being worked on. Securely wrapping it in stout canvas is one method. This prevents it being seen by other customers, who may be offended or, worse, ask if it is for sale.
The test riding of the bike should be left to the customer. If it has a fault that is only apparent when riding, suitable disguise should be worn.
It is not necessary to have a special set of tools for working on Bromptons, simply washing them afterwards is sufficient. The tyre changing procedure suggested by HK Leanthworth of collecting the contaminated air from the Brompton tube and then using it to reinflate the tube after fitting a new tyre is too complicated and impractical.
Second Class shops may repair folding bikes, as long as they don’t make a habit of it. A First Class shop will be immediately downgraded if a folding bike is permitted on the premises. Even having one leant against the window outside is grounds for a verbal warning.
The proprietor of a Second Class Shop may repair Bromptons on occasion. This may be as a favour to a regular customer who has one, or from economic necessity.
The most important thing to do is to securely hide the deviant machine when it is not actually being worked on. Securely wrapping it in stout canvas is one method. This prevents it being seen by other customers, who may be offended or, worse, ask if it is for sale.
The test riding of the bike should be left to the customer. If it has a fault that is only apparent when riding, suitable disguise should be worn.
It is not necessary to have a special set of tools for working on Bromptons, simply washing them afterwards is sufficient. The tyre changing procedure suggested by HK Leanthworth of collecting the contaminated air from the Brompton tube and then using it to reinflate the tube after fitting a new tyre is too complicated and impractical.
Second Class shops may repair folding bikes, as long as they don’t make a habit of it. A First Class shop will be immediately downgraded if a folding bike is permitted on the premises. Even having one leant against the window outside is grounds for a verbal warning.
