Friday, 19 August 2011

Open letter to Brompton Cycles

Dear Brompton,

ever since buying one of your fantastically designed folding bicycles more than two years ago, I have become a total convert. I have recommended your products to anyone who would listen, despite them being a bit on the pricey side.

I have, however, criticised the build quality of your smaller accessories on occasion, e.g. your flimsy plastic chainring guard which interferes with the folding mechanism and breaks every 4-6 weeks as a result, and your totally non-waterproof rear light which stopped working after the the first two rainy days.

It is this rear light I want to talk to you about today.

As it stopped working ages ago, I was not worried when I lost it while going round a bent this morning (no idea how it came lose in the first place, but I guess we'll never know).

Imagine my surprise when I found that this flimsy excuse for bicycle lighting doubled as an essential spacer for parts of the folding mechanism, meaning that without it, the bike does not stay folded.

Really? A folding mechanism on a state-of-the-art bicycle depends on the presence and exact positioning of a crappy, overpriced rear light?

Get real, seriously. Back to the drawing board for you.

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