cpg

This morning as part of a weekend cycling festival in Nottingham there was folding bike race. I came 3rd on the Mezzo There were mostly Bromptons with 3 or 4 Dahons, and one Mezzo. The format was, bikes line up on the start line folded, riders start 20m back and run to the bikes, unfold them and race for 2 laps. I can now confirm that the Mezzo unfolds faster than a Brompton as I was in second place off the start line just behind one the Dahons. I was trying to pace myself until 3 riders overtook me at a serious speed. I pushed on the second lap and overtook a few but there was no way I could catch the the 2 leaders. The engine was weakest link, the Mezzo performed beautifully. Turns out the winner had come from Germany to compete, is a regularly competitor in road cycling and his Brompton was very modified, but then so is my Mezzo. All good fun and very tiring.

Human_Amplifier

Well done !
Know that feeling

cpg

Thanks Human_Amplifier. I don't know how the professional cyclists do it, I have a new respect for them.

bhkyte

I used to go out with road cyclist off season and do ok. As I was a squash player who had raced bikes and used cycling for fittness training for squash. Other times I just got dropped on the way back from where ever, and felt sick all thew way home.
Did you have the low gearing on still? Clippless peadals? And 1 3/8 tyres. If so you still did well against a custom built brommie as a non roadie.

cpg

Thanks bhkyte, yes low gearing, repaired folding pedals (which I discovered this afternoon is worn again), standard Mezzo fat tyres and a rucksack on my back. Perhaps I need to build a lightweight special racing Mezzo for next year.

bhkyte

Clipless would have made a big difference.
I have some stevios you couldmay be borrow next year. Cepsro wheel set would be quickest or single speed. Not sure about cespro as atb say chain would catch rear stays. Matt52 claimed to have built a cespro mezzo,but has stopped posting.

cpg

Thanks for the offer but I am not sure I will bother next year. It was fun but the organisation was lacking and the winner didn't even get a prise. I didn't know that I came third, the organisers didn't have a list of the finishing order, it was one of the spectators that told me I was third.
Winner's Brompton was single speed, huge chain ring ring attached to a very nice Shimano crank, it wasn't carbon so couldn't have been that good

Still Pedaling

That would be a nice idea for where I live. A modified Brompton. Which leads me to believe that perhaps the guy who had competed in the Tour de Tucson a few years back might have had his Brompton tricked out. Apparently his was the only folding bike in the tour. No idea how he placed or even finished for that matter.