Engineering for change

Suppose you, like me, picked up cycling during the pandemic. In that case, you might have seen groups of overzealous Brompton owners ploughing the PCN (Park Connector Network) in their cute little bikes identifiable by their long stems, curved frame, and tiny 16-inch wheels. My first thought was, how can something so tiny carry nine times its weight and still move as fast as a road bike, and where can I get one?

Brompton Bicycles is the brainchild of Andrew Ritchie, a British engineer who believed in a better way to move around the city. In 1975, in the bedroom of his flat overlooking the Brompton Oratory, he invented a compact bike with an ingenious three-part fold that collapses into a tiny square you can neatly tuck into a car boot, push around in train stations, and even carry in a backpack. My favourite feature is when the back wheel flips inward to become a cool kickstand.