Brompton Ergon GC2 grips and bar ends

Note: Since writing this post I have fitted some GR2 grips and bar-ends which overall I prefer to the GC2s.

The thing I probably missed most when moving over from my larger bike were bar ends. I find them really helpful for going up hills, and also more comfortable than holding the main handle bars in general.

Looking at how the Brompton folds it seems that bar-end choice is limited by the clearance between the folded handlebar and the front wheel. So I started researching what other people had managed to fit onto their Bromptons. The most popular choice seemed to be the Ergon GC2 grips with integrated stubby bar ends, so decided to try them out. They come in three different lengths; normal, short for use with grip shifters, and one short one long for use with a Rohlhoff shifter. The grip shift version would have been too short so I went for the normal length knowing that I'd have to cut them down a little.

Fitting them was fairly easy, firstly I removed the original grips. These are made of foam and a glued on to the handle bar so I had to cut them to get them off. The glue used to stick them in place wasn't too hard to scrape off using an old plastic store card.

I then moved the gear shifters and brake levers as far inboard as I could (as I have an M type Brompton that wasn't very far) and used a pen knife to cut the grips around the brake levers. (Note, if you plan to change your brake levers you should do so before cutting up your new grips. The replacement brake levers I got [that's another post] require far less cutting of the grips so I now need to get a second pair!)

The grips and bar ends are both secured by a 4mm allan bolt in the underside of the bar end. I recommend tightening it so that you can just about move the grips and then sitting on the bike to adjust the grip and bar end positions. Even then I'd also recommend carrying an allan key with you for a week or two to tweak the positions as you ride.

I pushed my handlebars as far forward as the fold allows and the bar ends don't interfere with the fold, although the lefthand one does scrape on the ground sometimes when the bike is folded.

The new grips are nice, and definitely better than the Brompton ones. Although, for me at least, they are not the revelation that they are for some. The bar ends are just about long enough to provide a second hand position when combined with the hand grip. As far as providing extra leverage goes, the bar ends are usable over short distances but I wouldn't want to use them on a long hill. Also being combined with the grips, the bar ends take up minimal space on the handlebar, which is useful given the very limited space on the M-type handlebars.

So, overall I'm happy with them, and as I indicated above I'm planning to get a replacement pair. Although I've now pushed the handlebars back a bit so I'm going to try some longer bar ends next time.

Brompton Cable Oilers

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the (few) disappointments with my Brompton is the brake performance. After a bit of research one thing I saw recommended was fitting cable oilers to allow easy lubrication of the brake cables. However I couldn't find any information on how to fit them or what the different sizes meant - although it seemed that one size was for brakes and one was for gears. So, I ordered a packet of each and resolved to work it out when they arrived. The other thing I ordered was a packet of cable endcaps.

As it turned out the measurement relates to the outer diameter of the cable, the 5mm ones fitted the brake cables and the 4mm ones fitted the gear cables.

To fit an oiler you need to disconnect the relevant cable and remove the inner cable from the outer (which means removing the existing cable end cap). Then you need to cut the cable outer somewhere in the middle. You can (and probably should) use proper cable cutters, but as I didn't know about them I just used a hacksaw. If you do use a hacksaw make sure that there are no sharp edges left to rub against the cable. Once the outer is cut it's fairly straightforward to fit the oiler.

First reinsert the cable.

Secondly thread the cable oiler onto the cable and push it on to the cable outer.

Finally insert the cable back into the other part of the outer and push that into the oiler.

Once re-assembled the cable can be re-attached and re-capped, and then it's ready to oil. Just push the rubber ring to one side, insert the tube from a can of WD40 or similar and squirt until lubricant comes out of the ends of the cable.

As the Brompton front brake cable is already in two sections I used two oilers on it, and one on the rear cable. I also fitted one to the hub gear cable. However, the derailleur cable was rather frayed at the end (I think probably inevitably due to the way it's attached to the lever) so I left it. It would have been impossible to reinsert the cable into the outer if I removed it - it was difficult enough to re-attach it to the gear lever. I still have spare oilers and if I ever need to fit a replacement derailleur cable I put an oiler on it first.

After oiling the cables I noticed a definite improvement in the brakes, and I hope that lubricating the cables this way will increase their lifespan and also push out any grit or dirt that might have got into the ends of the cables.

So overall they're a little fiddly to fit, but cheap and I think, worth it.

Brompton Handlebar Brace

Brompton manufacture an optional handle bar strengthener for the M type handlebars. As I was planning to install some bar-ends on the bike I thought the strengthener would be a very good idea to help counteract the extra bending force I'd be applying when I used the bar-ends. Aside from stiffening the handlebars the strengthener also has a couple of other things going for it:

• It lengthens the lifespan of the handlebars - they are aluminium and will eventually fail. Brompton tell you to replace them at least every 5000 miles without the strengthener although they appear to be silent on how long they will last with the strengthener (reading literally you may never have to replace the handlebars).
• It provides extra space to mount lights, cycle computers, etc (although it has quite a small diameter, so make sure the clamps for your equipment will fit).
• It's cheap - about £10

Anyway, fitting the strengthener was straightforward and required only one 3mm allan key and two 17mm spanners.

The instructions are clear and well written, but it's worth emphasising a couple of points:

1. The strengthener is not symmetrical - it has a back and a front. So make sure you get it the right way around
2. The strengthener should not apply any force (pulling in or pushing out) on the handlebars. It should just be a snug fit.