Brompton Racing

  1. Save the Date! Brompton Racing Goes to Washington this July

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with his Brompton

    That's right, Bromptoneers! The 2014 Brompton US Championship will take place in our nation's capital on the weekend of July 11 through 13, 2014. After two great years of Brompton Racing in Minneapolis, Perennial Cycle is honored to pass the torch that is the Brompton US Championship to BicycleSPACE in Washington, D.C.

    We remain grateful to Mike McGettigan at Trophy Bikes in Philadelphia for the aid he lent us when we were handed the race in early 2012 and hope to be able to help in any way we can to the staff at Bicycle Space.

    Bicycle Space D.C.

    (Photo by Bicycle Space)

    If you're thinking of making the trek to Washington for the race, know that you're in good hands. BicycleSPACE is run by a great group of people committed to fostering a welcoming environment for everyone from beginner cyclists to hard-core daily commuters. The shop's interior is gorgeous and many of the same great brands you'll find at Perennial Cycle are at home at BicycleSPACE—including Brompton (of course), Brooks, and Linus. When it comes to planning the details of this year's Brompton race, manager Jordan Mittelman is on familiar turf. Take a look at BicycleSPACE's event calendar and you'll quickly see that the staff is busy every week with yoga classes, in-house maintenance clinics, and group rides.

    Looking for further details? The date is set, but many of the specifics surrounding the event are still in the planning stages. To be the first to know once registration opens, watch for news at bromptonuschampionship.com, join the mailing list, and follow Bicycle Space on Twitter and Facebook. As you begin making your plans for race-day, get inspiration for your race kit by checking out photos from the 2013 race on Flickr. While we won't be hosting the event this year, you can be sure we'll be re-tweeting any big news from BicycleSPACE and keeping you up to speed on the Perennial Cycle Facebook page as well. And, with any luck, you may just see a member of team Perennial at the starting line!

    The Brompton US Championship goes to Washington, D.C. in 2014
  2. Brompton Movie Screening + Travel Clinic, March 6

    The History of Brompton

    Join us Thursday, March 6 for a three-pronged event (did someone say Brompton Treble?) at Perennial Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Ave S in Minneapolis. We'll start with happy hour at the shop beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a travel maintenance clinic from 6-7 p.m. Sample a bottle from a selection of ginger beers or dream of summer nights with a lime tonic. Get inspiration for future travels as you chat with fellow Brompton owners and fans, including some experienced travelers who've road-tripped, flown, and toured with their Brommies. To cap off the evening, we'll be screening the The History of Brompton [71 minutes] promptly at 7:15.

    Beginning at 6 o'clock we'll have time slots available for a maintenance clinic with the Perennial Cycle service team. Register in advance to by calling 612-827-8000 and let us know if you'd like to sit in on Flat Fixing on the Road, Wheel Removal Basics, or both. If you have a preference for a session closer to 6 p.m. or closer to 7 p.m., please let us know when you call and we'll do our best to accommodate your request. Day-of registration will be available only as space allows.

    Each session will take place in a small group led by an experienced staffer. We'll focus on the ins-and-outs of removing your Brompton's rear wheel (plus quickly demonstrate front-wheel removal), talk through the basics of flat-tire trouble-shooting, and introduce you to the tools required for each. As a bonus, participants may choose to receive a follow-up email with video tips from Brompton & Perennial Cycle on the basics of servicing your Brompton.

    As we approach showtime the popcorn will be... well, popping. The film will begin at 7:15 sharp. Please arrive in time to grab a seat and a bucket of popcorn!

    Produced by British Local Histories, The History of Brompton is a polished and insightful film charting the Brompton's development from its beginnings to the present day. Featuring interviews with inventor Andrew Ritchie, footage of the bikes being made in the company's West London factory, and even action from a past Brompton World Championship. Brompton calls the film, "...an honest, compelling documentary that brings new insights to even the longest-standing members of [the Brompton] staff. There is much in here that will delight and surprise [Brompton owners]."

    The shop will remain open through the end of the film. While you're here, enjoy March's 1st-Thursday specials including 10% off in-stock Brompton accessories, buy-one-get-one 1/2-off tubes, and save $10 on all tune-ups for any bicycle(s) dropped off for service on 3/6/14.

    P.S. It's hard to talk about traveling with your Brompton without touching on the question of where the Brompton US Championship is headed in 2014. Many of you have asked, but while the official announcement has yet to be made, we are excited to share with you that we'll be sending one lucky Minnesotan to this year's race. By attending the March movie screening, you'll have a chance to be among the first to enter to win a round-trip ticket to the Brompton US Championship 2014's host-city.

    No purchase necessary to enter. Perennial Cycle will announce the winner in spring 2014. For complete rules, see a member of the Perennial Cycle staff.

    P.P.S. If the weather cooperates, keep your evening open  post-show for a possible group ride to Merlin's rest with members of the Perennial Cycle staff.

    WHO: Brompton owners + friends

    WHAT: Movie Screening + Travel Clinic

    WHEN: Thursday, March 6 from 5 p.m. to close

    WHERE: Perennial Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

    CONTACT: Call with your questions, 612-827-8000

  3. Mapping out the Competition for this year's Brompton US Championship, hosted by Perennial Cycle in Minneapolis

    Registration for the Brompton US Championship • 2013 has been open almost a month now, and—as you can see above—the competition is all over the map. We are glad to see that many of the Minnesota-based competitors who took part in last year's race have chosen to return and that so many others from across the country have decided to make the trip to join us here in Minneapolis.

    Many of you have told us you've already begun your training programs: ranging from getting out on your Brompton to practicing your Windsor.

    If you don't yet see your home city city on the map, we have good news for you... there are still a handful of FREE T-shirts remaining when you use the special coupon code available at bromptonuschampionship.com.

    We can't wait to see all of you at the starting line on June 23!

    p.s. If you're not yet a Brompton owner, you might be interested to know that the wait time for special orders is just 5 weeks as of April 29, 2013. So, not only will your Brommie be here in time for race day, you'll even have time to get a bit of training in ahead of time.

  4. Brompton World Championship • 2012 — A Smashing Success!

    The BWC Kicks off to a great start!

    There's been a whiff of fall in the air this week! Here at the Shopcast, we've been talking Back to School; tomorrow marks the start of the Minnesota State Fair; and the Brompton World Championship (BWC) came to a close on Sunday—capping off Summer 2012, which began for us in earnest with the Brompton US Championship & Open Streets here in Minneapolis on June 10. We were proud to send two Minnesota-based US Champions to the BWC, and we were ecstatic to learn how well both Susan and Wallace did at Blenheim Palace this past Sunday. We hope you'll enjoy these photos from the Brompton World Championship 2012 and stories of the event, as told by Susan and Wallace themselves.

    Riders at the Brompton World Championship
    Riders of all Stripes & Colors at the Brompton World Championship
    Native Minneapolitan cum US Brompton Rep. John leads the "Hoopla" tube toss at the Bropmton World Championship
    Native Minneapolitan cum US Brompton Rep. John watches over the "Hoopla" tube toss at the Brompton World Championship
    Campeónes de México (left) & U.S. Champions Susan and Wallace (right) at the Brompton World Championship
    Campeónes de México (left) & U.S. Champions Susan and Wallace (right)
    Wallace & his 2-speed with other World Champions at the Brompton World Championship
    Wallace & his 2-speed in Turkish Green & Black meet other World Champions

    It was a magical day at Blenheim Palace on Sunday. We got there early and the place was buzzing. Tons of people and a big expo all set up and everybody jazzed. There was a small photo shoot with various Nat'l Champs — it was fun to chat and meet Japanese, Korean, Austrian, Mexican and Swedish racers. We were in and out of London a few times on the train during rush hour and and the number of Bromptons was amazing! —Wallace

    Susan clad in Top Shelf's finest at the Brompton World Championship
    Susan clad in Top Shelf's finest at the Brompton World Championship

    I ended up wearing the linen US flag handkerchief that [Best-Dressed Judge] John Meegan from Top Shelf gave to me on my helmet instead of in the pocket and people cheered for "The American." That was Fun! —Susan

    Wallace at the BWC
    Wallace among the top-riding men at the Brompton World Championship

    The day was so hot and sunny that they made a special ruling that jackets were not required. I had a good race [Wallace is being modest here, he came in 15th WOW! out of hundreds of racers]! There were 700+ racers in 6 waves, 2 laps on narrow roads, 22 minutes flat out. It was a combination of a sprint, time trial and road race on narrow, winding, rolling course around a 300 year old palace. —Wallace

    Riders wave before the start of the Brompton World Championship
    Riders wave before the start of the Brompton World Championship

    England was fantastic. As for the race results, here's how I did: I won 1st place female for the Sprint and I also got 1st place female for the "Brompton Treble"!  The Brompton Treble means having the best average time out of those who participated in all 3 events: biking the Marathon's 26.2 miles, the World Championship's 9 miles, and the Sprint's 300 meters. The prize for the "Brompton Treble" was a trophy of a Brompton crankset and pedals; it looks quite solid and it's super cute. I also got a free night at Stokes Place (which looks like a palace!)... We'll have to use it when we return for the Brompton Race next year! I can't wait! —Susan

    Way to go, Susan & Wallace! We can't wait for next year, either! You can read more about the Brompton World Championship 2012 on in Brompton's BWC recap and see the full results here. Don't miss the full album of photos on Brompton's Facebook page.

    All images © Anna Batchelor for Brompton Bicycle Ltd.

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