If your Brompton isn’t light enough, Schmolke has the answer

German lightweight specialist targets weight-focused commuters with folding bike parts range

By Jack Evans

Published: Tuesday, 23 April 2024 at 08:26 AM

Schmolke, the carbon components company, has launched a range of folding bike parts, enabling you to give your Brompton the weight-weenie treatment.

The boutique German brand is known for producing extremely light and expensive finishing kit beloved of hill climbers.

Its folding bike part range is no different – save seconds off your ride to work with 205g rims, a 129g seatpost and a 95g handlebar.

205g rims

The perfect upgrade for the folding bike hill climb championships. – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

If your Brompton is sluggish up the cols of your commute, the 16-inch TLO carbon rim might be the solution.

In Schmolke-speak, TLO stands for ‘the lightest one’ and represents the brand’s highest grade of carbon.

Schmolke 16inch TLO carbon rim — Which spokes will you pick for the feathery rims? – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

Schmolke claims the 16in clincher rims weigh a mere 205g each, without compromising on safety or stiffness. It says the weight limit is 105kg.

The German brand hasn’t made any claims about the TLO carbon rim’s aerodynamic efficiency. But for uphill traffic-light starts, you’d be hard pressed to find a lighter option.

True weight weenies will go for the 20-spoke rim, but 24- and 26-spoke options are also available.

95g folding bike handlebar

TLO Lowriser handlebar for Brompton T Line — Schmolke says its folding bike handlebar weighs less than 100g. – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

The titanium Brompton T Line is already a light bike, with a claimed weight of only 7.45kg.

Now you can make yours even lighter with the TLO Lowriser for Brompton T Line handlebar, which is said to weigh 95g in its narrowest width.

This weight saving will cost you between €289 and €349 depending on spec.

woman riding Brompton with Schmolke parts on city streets — Upgraded with Schmolke parts, your Brompton will fly up urban inclines. – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

Schmolke says the Lowriser TLO will be comfortable to hold in the upright position used on folding bikes.

The “ergonomically designed” bar has a 15mm rise, 6-degree backsweep and middle section with a 280mm diameter.

You can have a choice of 560mm, 580mm and 600mm widths, which keeps steering controlled, according to Schmolke.

You can specify the rider weight limit you require when ordering – the maximum is 110kg.

A 600mm, 159g seatpost

Schmolke Seatpost TLO for folding bike — The Seatpost TLO for folding bikes costs €100 per 100mm of carbon. – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

Last but not least is the extraordinarily pricy Seatpost TLO for folding bike.

Schmolke caters for how folding bikes leave a lot of seatpost exposed, with a choice of lengths from 500mm to 650mm.

Prices range from €550 to €610, or €100 per 100mm of carbon.

Schmolke claims the 31.8mm diameter (the other is 34.9mm) in a 600mm length weighs 159g.

Woman placing folding bike into bike locker — Lifting your Brompton into a locker will be easier than ever. – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

Considering a typical carbon road bike seatpost weighs about 200g in a 350mm length, that’s seriously light.

Schmolke says it achieves this by varying the thickness of the carbon fibres. In areas placed under stress, there are 23 layers and only seven where less stress is placed.

There are three rider weight specifications (from up to 75kg to a maximum of 110kg), so lighter riders can save even more grams.

Woman using pay phone standing next to folded Brompton bike — Please can I extend my overdraft this month, bank manager? – Ben Wiesenfarth / Schmolke

The Seatpost TLO for folding bikes can fit oval and round saddle rails, according to Schmolke.

This will enable you to top off your weight-weenie Brompton with a Schmolke saddle.

How about the €325, 109g SL 199 carbon leather saddle for a little extra padding?