The Brompton folding bike I bought this summer, in 2026.
I’d had my eye on one for years. I’d even taken one for a test ride at a shop, always thinking, “Someday.” The Classic Edition released in 2024 was exactly my kind of style. When I spotted one in a shop in 2025, I thought, “If I’m getting a Brompton, that’s the one.”
By the spring of 2026, I was finally ready. I went back to the shop, and of course, it was sold out. Well, that figures.
But then a helpful member of staff said, “Actually—” and told me a 2026 model was on the way. I wasn’t going to miss it this time, so I bought one just after it went on sale. The 2026 colour, Cedar Green, happened to be right up my street, too. In the end, the timing worked out rather nicely.
Cycle there. Take the train home.
Being able to fold it up and take it with me is incredibly handy. It’s already helped me out when the weather changed unexpectedly, and I’ve been making the most of that flexibility around Tokyo. Of course, you need to put it in a bag to take it on the train, so it isn’t completely effortless. Still, there’s something reassuring about knowing that if need be, I can even just take a taxi home.
That freedom to keep my options open feels good. It suits me. Somewhere I used to take the train to, I can cycle to today. And if I suddenly think of somewhere else I want to go afterwards, I don’t have to say, “Ah, but I brought the bike, so that’s going to be difficult…” I really like that.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the convenience has me eyeing the lighter T Line as well.
But that can wait.
The appeal of a Brompton
Above all, it just looks great. That’s really what it comes down to. It’s fun to handle, and riding it gives me a little thrill. It’s hard to put into words, but that hard-to-explain appeal is part of what draws me to it. Some things are just good. You like what you like. That sort of feeling.
Tokyo is a good city to explore by bike. Riding around has made that clear to me. Add the ease of knowing I can take the train home, and the list of places I want to go keeps growing. I bought it with high hopes, and the experience has been even better. A very good purchase.
The only shame is that the weather was so unsettled this summer that I didn’t get to ride it as much as I’d hoped.
Here’s hoping for plenty of clear days in the cooler autumn air.
