So winter finally arrived in Michigan.  We got what looks like a foot or more overnight but I might be exaggerating.  It will take a couple of days for the roads to be useful

so I did what any reasonable person would do, 

stay inside, don't be part of the problem and 

give one of my bikes a bath.  

Winter had been so late coming 

I hadn't bothered to put studded tires on the Brompton.

Since it was ridiculously cold in the garage I brought it inside where I could bear to work on it.  Like most bikes it's easiest to flop it over on it's back 

 and it's pretty straight forward despite looking strange.

The challenging part about Brompton maintenance is removing the rear wheel.  I'm not belaboring the details, but disconnecting the shift cable from the hub, removing the chain tensioner, getting the wheel off and reassembling the whole thing is harder than origami.  Anybody who accomplishes this without profuse swearing in several languages deserves a degree in engineering or something..from somewhere. I flunk the swear test every time.

Afterwards, the frame pump fits back in it's little spot

The handy dandy toolkit that accomplishes all things Brompton

goes back inside the frame where it hides for next time.

and it's a cute little rubics cube  with spiky shoes, 

 ready for a few weeks of crusty roads.