Brompton’s story began in 1975, when engineer Andrew Ritchie developed a bicycle with a three-part fold in his London flat. He refined the idea in a small workshop, building bicycles to order.
Folded, the bicycle stays together as a compact unit, with dirty parts tucked inside. This makes it easier to bring indoors and store in limited space. The value of the design can be appreciated while the bicycle is not being ridden.
Folding bicycle storage illustration; this is not a specific Brompton model.
This offers an interesting design perspective: stairs, hallways and space beside a desk matter alongside riding qualities. Folding connects a journey to the rest of the day, and that transition helps explain the construction’s purpose.