Review: Vincita’s B203B "Office Bag City"

Another Brompton Bag Vincita sent me for review was the B203B Office Bag City for the Brompton.

Vincita’s B203B "Office Bag City"

Features

• Padded compartment for laptop
• Organizer compartment
• Two large safety reflective spots on both sides
• Removable shoulder strap
• Quick release mounting
• Raincover include

Dimension

• Width 36 cm
• Depth 14 cm
• Height 33 cm
• Volume 16 L
• Weight 2.1 kg

Pretty tough wearing material in person and feels it could handle just about anything thrown at it.

Removable shoulder strap

Big chunky shoulder strap so it can be  carried over your shoulder without any problems at all & is pretty comfy even with a load.

I do like the way the mounting plate can be covered with same material and the velcro sticks pretty well in place once in place. When not in use it hides away inside the zip compartment just above it.

Metal mounting plate

Mounting plate covered

Not the only way to be carried with this handy handle.

On the inside there are lots of little compartments to store all your office type items as well as a laptop.

My 15" Wide screen laptop doesn't fit inside the designed laptop compartment of the bag unfortunately. Maybe a non widescreen version would fit though. So bare that in mind if your needing to carry a widescreen laptop.

Wide screen laptop too wide

But does fit inside the main compartment though.

Wide screen laptop will fit in main compartment

Real World Testing:

Used the "Office Bag" at the Brompton World Championships 2015 back in August which managed to carry all my cameras, water-bottle & my now infamous black and yellow jacket.

Vincita B203B @ BWC2015

One thing I did find when the bag was heavy is that it touched the top of my SON Edelux II LED. Same problem I had with the Vincita Mini Front Bag I reviewed earlier in this blog.

Mounting plate

Overall its a good bag, well constructed & an alternative to the Brompton O Bag. Price is much less than an O Bag too which could be an issue with some. Plenty of space for your paperwork as well your laptop so long its not a widescreen.

Can order  from  South Downs Distribution for UK/European Distribution

Direct link: Vincita B203B Office Bag City for £139.99  (at time of posting)

till the next ride, bee safe.....

Review: Sigma Brake Stop Light

I heard about this brake light though the London Brompton Club and thought I’d give it a go.

The tiny efficient BRAKELIGHT is suitable for all mechanical cable operated brakes. The product is equipped with a Good visible Red LED and is operated by the brake lever on the handlebar.Mounting of the BRAKELIGHT is done by an Hex screw clamping onto the inner cable of the rear brake.Fitment is possible to almost all cable operated brakes. 

The Sigma Brakelight illuminates when the bike's brake calipers close together, alerting anyone nearby that your bike is about to brake.

Unlike my rear dynamo light that only lights up when the front wheel slows down. This could be a good thing especially if you have other riders behind you and want to give them a little more warning that you are slowing down and the rear dynamo may not register the braking til its too late.

Sigma Brake Stop Light

It’s actually quiet small.

The light is water-resistant and is attached using an Allen key to the rear brake cable between the two brake calipers. It is compatible with any cable-activated mechanical rear brake. When the calipers are squeezed together while braking, the device acts like a switch completing a circuit which turns on the LED.

The Brompton brake calipers are a different design to most other bicycle brake systems as the cable doesn't enter from the top of the caliper but from the bottom. So to fit on a Brompton you have to install the Sigma Brakelight upside down to the instructions given.
I am unsure if the water resistance accounts for this so I may put some tape over what is now the top of the light to ensure water doesn't get in and causes a short circuit.

Installed and ready for action

Here is a short video of the brake light in action.

Link here: E Bikes Direct on eBay
Also comes in green, blue & black (£9.99) with 1 X CR2032 battery.

til the next ride, bee safe…..

Review: B017B Mini Front Bag for Brompton from Vincita

Vincita send me some of their bags to review for the Brompton.

First up is the B017B Mini Front Bag for the Brompton

Vincita B017B "Mini Front Bag"

"A stylish and fun bag designed especially for the Brompton. The main compartment is an ideal size for you to get around town. It comes with a concealable bracket (for Brompton front carrier block) and a removable shoulder strap for using when off bike. Rain cover is also included.
Available in 5 colours, red with white polka dot, black&white check, black spring, red spring and chocolate spring."

Dimensions

• Width 280 mm 

• Height 250 mm 

• Depth 125 mm

• Volume 8 L

This small front bag is good for short day rides where you won't be needing alot of items to carry. I could get my spare set of cycling glasses, charger pack, a few energy bars, wallet, keys etc.

It clips in with ease into the Brompton front block just like any other Brompton specific bag.
This bag isn't fully waterproof on its own but it comes with its waterproof/showerproof cover. I personally don't think this cover would be up to the job of a heavy down pour but should be enough for light showers. Also comes with a easy removable shoulder strap.

Waterproof/showerproof cover

There is a small inside pocket to put keys, money or credit cards with a nice zip to keep everything together.

Inner pocket

It also has a small outside pocket with a zip

Outer pocket

The mounting bracket on this front bag is made out of metal which means its not as bulky as the plastic ones on the Mini O Bag.

Luckily Vincita have thought about this & built in cover for the mount with this cool little flap which tucks into its own pocket.

Flap designed to cover metal mounting plate

This is useful for when you use the shoulder strap so you don't hurt yourself with the metal edges, even though they are not sharp they could still do some damage.

Mounting plated covered

The biggest differences I found when comparing to the Brompton "Mini O" Bag is that this opens at the front not like the Mini O Bag that opens from the rear. I found this a little tricky at first but didn't take long to get used to it and its snap buckle.

Felt smaller to me than the Brompton Mini  O bag but it could be the dimensions are slightly different.
Vincita B017B Dimension - 280w x 250h x 125d (weights in at 958grams)
Brompton Mini O Bag Dimensions – 280w x 270h x 180d (weights 776grams)

Took me awhile to get used to it opening this way, I've had my Mini O Bag so long it seems second nature for it to open towards me.

Real World Test:

Mounted when B folded

On a recent ride it seemed to cope quiet well. Only problem I found was that the bottom of the bag would rest on top of my SON Edelux II LED Headlight and actually turn the switch. I could adjust my headlight so it doesn't rest on the light or bend the metal mounting plate of the bag but something to look out for. So if you have a headlight mounted under the Brompton block do check to make sure the bag is not going to rub on it which would make steering difficult.

Resting on the SON Edelux II LED Headlight 

Where the headlight rubbed :(

Overall it's a decent front bag for your Brompton. Not fully waterproof like Brompton's Mini O Bag & comes in different colors and patterns.

Can order  from  South Downs Distribution for UK/European Distribution

Direct link: Vincita B017B Mini Front Bag for the Brompton for £100 (at time of posting)

till the next ride, bee safe.....