Bromptons are still rare enough in continental Europe to be noticeable (except the Netherlands, where there seem to be quite a lot), so when I parked my Brommie outside a shop in central Paris one morning, I was quite surprised when I came out to find another couple parked outside the shop next door. I was even more surprised, after parking my bike in Heilbronn, Germany, which is almost nobody’s idea of a tourist hub, to turn round and find two Bromptons (a different two) sailing past.
The Brompton folded nicely and Eurostar was happy to accept it as luggage, as were all the other trains in France, Germany, Austria and Belgium. It was useful to potter from station to hotel/youth hostel / house(s) of friend(s) but also enjoyed itself on a 70km jaunt from Schwabisch Hall to Heilbronn on a mixture of quiet roads, forest and farm tracks, and an old railway line. There were a few steepish hills, but only one where I had to walk, and that was more because it was very hot and humid than because it would have been too hard.
Pedalling alongside Lake Constance from Lindau to Uberlingen was just fine, and of course no problem on the train back, even for my daughter’s hired conventional bike, because German local trains have such generous accommodation for bikes. Much better than the niggardly provision in the UK. This was well illustrated when we turned up at Lindau station for the train to Wangen, only to find a cycle club of about a dozen middle aged gents waiting for it too. But it accommodated the club, my daughter’s bike, and another couple we picked up on the way, perfectly adequately.
Then a lovely ride from Wangen back to Lindau — beautiful countryside, excellent cycle path, a good lunch, and almost all downhill.
The Brompton / train/ bus combination is just ideal.
