Brompton and Crackerswamp

Brompton B75

Some time ago I was looking at a Brompton to make travel easier, but I just couldn't justify the nearly $2000 price tag. This year they released the Brompton B75 which uses some older components (probably left over after they upgraded) to bring down the cost to $995. You give up a few things to get this low price, but if you don't care about those things this is a great deal.

• Only one color is available - a kind of blue/green
• Only three speeds are available, no six speed option
• The gear ratio is -12% - suitable for hills but you lose top speed. You can upgrade the chain ring to a bigger one for $40.
• Non-integrated gear shifters.
• Old style M handlebars with more pronounced curves. Gives you more flat places to mount lights, computers, bells etc.
• No rack or mudguards but they can be added
• No front luggage block but it can be added
• Different grips - firmer and push on. Easy to upgrade.
• Cheaper saddle - most riders replace the saddle immediately anyway
• Platform, non-folding pedals - most riders replace the pedals immediately anyway
• Schwalbe Marathon tires - these are great tires

What you get is a real Brompton that folds and rides the same as the regular Bromptons. I suspect once they run out of the old components this model will be retired. A side-by-side comparison of the B75 against a regular Brompton with the same specs shows the B75 is $450 cheaper.

Crackerswamp 2020

Paul has announced he is running the Crackerswamp in November 2020. I rode this in 2016 and we just missed a big hurricane. He's moving it to November to reduce the chance of that happening again. He's also moving the start hotel and tweaking the course a bit. My biggest concern in 2016 was the abysmal hotel he used as ride headquarters. Although it kept the price low, it was awful.

It would be well worth an extra $100 or more on the fee to stay the five nights in a decent hotel.

I'm hoping I can persuade Amber and some other friends to come too.