Folding Bikes - 2008 Brompton World Championships

from the Telegraph 12 July 08: "Brompton World Championships: it's always a tie" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/07/12/hbikes112.xml)

Coming to Blenheim Palace on Sept 28. This is in the style of the races organized in Barcelona in 06 and 07. Jacket and tie required, no lycra, please.

Also, the Smithfield Nocturne series of cycling races in central London held a folding race at their last meet a couple of days ago -- videos and details at Smithfield Nocturne website (http://www.smithfieldnocturne.co.uk/).

:)

Go get yourself a Bromtpon guys!

I feel obliged to suggest (tongue in cheek) that the idea of a 'Brompton World Championships' is both discriminatory and deliberately anticompetitive (reminds me of the baseball World Series...in that case North Americans only). What about other folders? Oh, I forget....they'd kick Brompton ass :) Top Brompton at the Smithfield Nocturne...fifth. Scaredy cats.......!!!

Sorry, StuAffbut I think yo made a mistake.

even in the Tour de France it is not possible to join with any bike you like...

But in this case it's the fact that there are folders and Bromptons, maybe not the fastest bike, maybe not the most modern bike, but a Brompton.
(see it this way, one can buy a BMW Z4, -maybe faster, etc.- but it will never be an MG...)
So a race for Bromptons is not equal to a race of folders.
But if you want to join, why not buy a Brompton ;)) I'm sure you won't regret it...

Sorry Brownie but the Tour of France is a not called the world championship.

Ah, a "Brompton world championship" nothing wrong with that. It would be very funny to see all kinds of people with their brommis racing in suits and tie :roflmao2:
I might even join it...are tuned Heinzmanns allowed? :innocent:

StuAff, I am curious what where the first 4 bikes in Smithfield nocturne?

Sorry Brownie but the Tour of France is a not called the world championship.

OK, let's try it this way. You can't compete in the UCI sanctioned "World Championships" (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/worlds07/?id=default) with just any bike, particularly not a Brompton, a recumbent, or a Moulton.

The Sunfish Class world championships (http://sunfish2009.nassauyachtclub.org/Welcome.html) is a legitimate world championships. The America's Cup is not.

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Mr Pedantic has left the building.

stuaff, theres probably dahon or other folding bike world championships so dont worry about it :)

It would be more fun if a Merc, disguised as a Brommie, won the race. LOL

yeah lol

I did say 'tongue in cheek' but people still managed to take my comments a bit too seriously.....IMHO, the Nocturne folding races could be considered an unofficial world championship series (next one's Salford- that's next to Manchester for the non-UK residents- on August 30, further events planned for next year).
Perhaps I could try sneaking my Jetstream into the Blenheim event, put a Brommie sticker on it :) Good point about the Merc...and what about 'non-standard' ones like LittlePixel's fixie...let alone the UFB. Now that's a fast little Brompton!!!
Somnatash, winner of this year's Smithfield race was on a Mu SL, runner up was on an Airnimal Chameleon, third was defending champ Richard Bailey (user rickybails) on his Xootr Swift, and another Dahon- think it was a Jetstream P8 if memory serves, in fourth.
I've got nothing against Brompton per se- talked to one of their guys at the Nocturne, had an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of various bike design- and though the fold is genius, the best bet for getting on crowded trains, I don't agree with some of the component choices they make (eg the 6 speed with 2 speed derailleur & 3 speed hub). Never ridden one, so nothing to say about actually using one. But I'm very happy with my XP, and I wouldn't swap it for a Brommie.....Now a UFB or a Steve Parry special, that's a different matter!

hmm... ok :), i wouldnt mind a brommie tho :D

Littlepixel has a beautifully modded Merc disguised as a Brommie. If it could win now that would be fun lol!

I don't understand, but if you like your bike why give it a disguise. Maybe after all what you really want is the "real thing"? :thumb:
And what's the fun in spoiling the game?
It's just some people with a jacket and a tie on small bikes who have fun...:lol:

Well, I wouldn't call Littlepixels bike a disguised Merc. Its more like a naughty little mongrel or a clever half breede (which we all know, often have the best genes):D

I don't understand, but if you like your bike why give it a disguise. Maybe after all what you really want is the "real thing"? :thumb:
And what's the fun in spoiling the game?
It's just some people with a jacket and a tie on small bikes who have fun...:lol:

To me it's like those dragsters with VW beetle bodys - even though you know it's got a Glas fibre shell, small-block V8 on a custom chassis it's only polite to have a nice chrome VW roundel on the bonnet. I guess that's what I was doing applying my silver Brompton sticker - a nod to the heritage ;)

http://www.race-inn.ch/file/VW_Drac.jpg

Also - the rear triangle, stempost, forks, folding clip, brake caliper, seatpost, seatpost clip are all gen-u-aynnne Brompton parts so I don't find my conscience wrestling at night about it's ringer stickering. I did consider a 'Straight outta' Compton' sticker in the style of same as well as other lame B puns (Trumpton, Mercton etc) but have never been brave enought to take my designs down to the vinyl cutting sticker shop.

http://www.littlepixel.info/b3ta/straight_outta_brompton.jpg


Edit: PS - I could have got a Steel Brompton frame for this bike but opted for the Aluminium Merc frame as it's pupported to be lighter. It wasn't about thrift :)

I concede that I could fold my previous Brompton much faster than my current Dahon Speed TR. Brompton wins in the fold.

But when cranking the pedals, my Dahon is much more efficient and faster.