Hey guys! Ryan Castillo did a nice little story on things to do in Indianapolis, the home of ISWE. We contributed the N.I.T.E. Ride, which is an ISWE must! Check out Ryan's article here: ​https://www.redfin.com/blog/things-to-do-in-indianapolis-in/

One of the most satisfying things to do with Brommie is... SHOP!
There are few things more satisfying than making a store run on your own Brompton, under your own power, with your own bag.
Cashier: Paper or Plastic?
Me and Brommie: No thanks, we're good.
People: Oh man, that's a cool bike. Wow, that's cool. Nice bike! How much does one of those cost?
​Frequent questions below the pics...

Bags? We have two front bags, C-Bag and Borough shopping bag (I think). The handle on the C-Bag is better for pulling the bike/basket. But, it's usually mostly full of commuter stuff, so room for a good bit of purchases but not a haul. Advantage of the C-Bag is I can shop when it's raining. With the flap closed and rain cover on, even the most sensitive purchases will stay warm and dry. The C-Bag has lots of pockets and stuff. Once you commute for a while, you can get things out of it without looking. That's a big plus. The shopping bag is much better for a shopping haul tho. Lots more room, and it's open at the top so people will clearly see you're just shopping like everyone else. We took off the shoulder strap on the C-Bag cause it tends to get in the way. The straps on the shopping bag are better. They help to hold things in (there are also two compression straps on the side that help as well). They can also be used as a shoulder strap when carrying stuff into the house or office. There's also a little zipper pocket on the inside for cards, keys, etc.

1. Do shops etc. let you in? Yes! Most businesses are actually really happy to have you enter in shopping cart mode. Never been turned down. We've even been given special treatment at a restaurant when they put Brommie in the coat check room to keep him safe. It's basically like taking a stroller or wheeled brief case around with you.
2. Wheels? The larger Brompton Easy Wheels are actually pretty good. 1) You will need to replace the "tires" at some point and Brompton makes that easy to do. 2) They are designed to break before you would damage the bike. Jet is equipped with larger wheels which provide more ground clearance, which is good, but they also raise the center of gravity, which makes Jet a bit more tippy than Brommie. Still looking for an ideal wheel. Swivel on the front would be good. Must be narrow to avoid heel strikes. A bit larger than the Brompton wheels would be good for ground clearance. Should roll smooth and quiet.
3. My Brompton falls over in shopping cart mode. The more weight you add to the bag in shopping cart mode, the more likely it is that Brommie is gonna fall over to the right ( We have had that happen and hit a shelf breaking a giant jar of spaghetti sauce on the floor. Yikes!). There are a couple ways to prevent this: 1) I usually put my toe on Brommie or Jet's rack when stopped in shopping cart mode (see pics). 2) Put heavy things in the left side of the bag in shopping cart mode, which will be in the right side of the bag in riding mode. 3) Stop with the right side of the bag against something like a shelf or chair, etc. 4) Buy a wheel extender. We haven't tried this yet. We just adjust. Comment with your experience if you have.

Note: It is possible to fold with the bag attached. We didn't realize this for a long time. We'd take the bag of, fold, and clip it back on. Unnecessary. The key is to fold the handlebar down last and open it first. The wheel and bag will pivot closed and open together. But... the more weight you have in the bag does make this a bit more difficult.

Tip: It's a bid harder to release a heavily loaded bag. To make it easier, add a block loop (see pics). This is just a small loop of paracord that goes through the hole in the carrier block latch and over the top tube. Instead of reaching under the bag to pull the latch, you can just pull back on the loop. Plus it's a good accessory. Jet's is a nice contrasting red :)
 
Overall, shopping cart mode is one of the things that separates Brommies from all other bikes. Periodt. Shopping cart mode, even if you're not using the bag for shopping, is the best way to move Brommies around when folded. My work desk (parking garage for Brommie or Jet) is a good ways away from the door to my building. Do I carry Brommie and a 15-20lb bag full of clothes and laptop all that way? No way! I effortlessly pull through. I also use shopping cart as a valet while changing into more suitable business attire. Imagine carrying a 26lb bike all the way to the back of Target... barbaric. Also not leaving your Brommie locked up to a rack outside... also barbaric lol. Keep your best friend with you, shop together in shopping mode, make other customers happy happy happy. Enjoy!