Brompton Folding Bike vs Steep Seattle Hills: Will it Climb? 

Have you tried these hills before? How has climbing gone with your Brompton?

First time coming across this channel and I love his personality! Such a genuine, fun and positive spirit and couldn't stop smiling watching him challenge himself. A subscription well deserved!

"Oh hell no!" Lol! I only went up once but cannot remember how......Market from "Freelard" too 55 or so, Phinney Ridge, a great coffee shop and the steep downhill over to Greenlake I think?! There are a couple going downhill, teeth gritted down to Madison Park as well! Good try mate! (And Matt)

You absolute destroyed that hill bro! Respect! I have the same bike as you no way I’m doing that😂

This video was so much fun to watch. You are hilarious :)

Awesome😊, thanks for sharing. You did well, i do struggle with my brompton as well. Safe riding 😊😊

Awesome adventure. That's really steep. I love the color of the Brompton.

When you dropped your front bag I thought it was gonna be a Rock Lee moment 🤣

Fun and great video.

Thanks for this, very illustrative. A couple of steep hills where I live and the I've been hiring a three-speed Brompton and I just die every time

Firstly, well done for climbing those hills. I know many Brommie owners actively avoid hills thinking it's not capable, it actually is more capable at climbing than larger bikes. Secondly, I have found the S-type bar is better at climbing as u can use your arms to counter-pull when on the pedal down strokes. Thirdly, good climbing techniques go a long way. U want to have ur body weighted to the front, it's easier to do that on the S-type bars, and foot position on the pedal should be a bit further forward if ur not clipped in. Lastly, don't be afraid to shift the weight if the bike left and right to get better downstroke mechanical advantage and if hills do get bad, zig zag the bike will help a bit.

no no, YOU are IMPRESSIVE!

I live in San Francisco, with very steep hills. So your video is super helpful!!! Thank you! I may look into tern vektron to help me get up to the top lol.

Fun video 🤣

There are Brompnots that have can come stock with lower gear inches (27 inches compared to Bromptons 33) and with the duochain ring (33/54) can go down to 17 gear inches. Those hills will be no problem at all and for half the price shipped or even 1/4th if you happen to be in Asia to buy it gently used from another owner.

As an owner of the former Topmodel, and now down to 8,5 kilo, with mudguards, a "SuperlightH6LXBrompton" (Flame painted yellow) I have climbed a local and very steep serpentine road on the Danish Island of Bornholm, and the Brompton climbs very fine - sometimes even with me on it, going up!! I once in a while had to - walk with it, because it became too steep even in the lowest gear, of 6, which is very low, and I do like the idea of an extra, smaller chain wheel in front, but it is a Superligth bike, so some of the idea goes away by that! I have changed my seatpost and several other parts into titanium and my crank is a Ceramic ball, Titanium version! I must admit I was a little scared going down again with very high speed, as I often had to fully stop to pass some tubes for cattle protection on foot, but my Brompton never let me down!! Finn, Denmark

I think you did pretty good there. Even though that hill is not rated above 20%, we measured a ten yard section with a level and machinist protractor at 31%. I think that is probably about right because I’ve seen plenty of riders have to stop. I always thought it was steeper than 25th and Roy.

I used to live in that Fremont neighborhood. In my younger days I would pull a bike trailer, with big 4 year old kid, up that hill with my now 25 year old Pine Mountain, with its really small granny gear. You know you can zig-zag up that hill in Queen Anne. You can see the oncoming cars before they are a danger.

I was watching you cruise up Phinney in the first half and was thinking "He should try 4th ave" and sure enough that's what you did! I've never attempted that hill, it's so sketchy!

Makes me want to test my new C Line for more climbs!

Good fun watching that video! What is the rear cassette gearing? Did you think about getting out of the saddle again on that steep hill at the end? Maybe not as confident since you didn't have clipless pedals. I know I would be.

Bro I love cycling videos and also euc 😂

Thanks for all your great videos! Did you find you were missing a lot power without clip less pedals?

Thank you for the experiments! ^^. I wonder would it be possible to ride Chilly Hilly with Brompton C Line.

Is this with a 50T or 44T front chainring? I’m not the hill climber that you are and rarely need the top end speed the Brompton H6L I have is capable of with the stock 50T chainring. I just ordered and received a 44T chain ring & guard spider (Brompton part no. Q00007). I’m planning to install it over the weekend, and hope it will make the hills a little easier to deal with.

have you had any sketchy experiences with potholes, bumps, cracks, uneven pavement, streetcar tracks etc. with the smaller wheels? that's my biggest reservation about getting a Brompton - the climbing can be helped by a smaller chainring as the other commenter mentioned

I guess yours has the default 50T chain ring. Looks like in that area you really need the 44T chain ring for more powerful climbing. I would.

If you want better hill climbing performance you could get the 44T crank, though it will reduce your top end performance.

Think I'll stick with my electric pedal assist bike.id be taken away in an ambulance after that hill.stayvsafe mate.

I walk mine up all inclines 😁

I live in Queen Anne and I take steep hills on my brompton every day

You are running out of climbing challenges!? I wonder if the smaller wheels on the bike made it easier to turn?

Say, did you find it cheaper to get a Brompton in HK or in US.

What is your body and leg length (cm)? I guess you are using M type handlebar?

You should tried ride up as Z direction at the slope. Not straight up.

What is "Normal" for you on this 6 speed? 44T , 50T, 54T? There Worlds between 44 and 54 in how Easy you take % of Steeps. For Example I got a 33 + 54 Combo from H&H, Steeps are Easy with the Bike on 33T.

spin that wheel like a hamster ... 😁

avec mon brompton de 6 vitesses j'ai installe un plateau ovale de 46 absolute black.c'est le pied pour grimper les cols.

Bromptons don’t have disk brakes? 😱

Curious how well an electric Brompton would climb those hills.

Any brompton rider here? I been looking for brompton fans in Seattle.