News

With the arrival of our first 2013 Brompton models to the shop, copies of the all-new Brompton catalog have begun to trickle in to the store. If you've been considering a Brompton for a while now, why not take the leap this year? An extended demo ride is a great way to learn how this little folder from across the pond would fit into your life, and our demo fleet is better than ever. Call the shop at 612-827-8000 to find out more about checking out a demonstrator bike for a 24-hour period. Three demonstrators are available including a superlight M6LX in Apple Green, an H6L in Pink and White, and a brand-new S2LX equipped with a Brooks B17 Special and Eazy wheels, also with Titanium extremities. All three bikes are spec'd with Telescopic Seatposts to allow for the maximum range of fit for riders of all heights.

Below are just a few of the improvements you can expect on a 2013 Brompton bicycle. And, for those of you who've already put in a number of miles on a now well-loved Brommie, we're pleased to say that 2013 replacement parts are beginning to arrive at the shop as well. For those looking to catch a deal, select pre-2013 parts are on sale while supplies last in store and at PerennialCycle.com.

All 2013 bikes will be built with a new double-wall Brompton rim

Brompton's Kevlar tires (I mean tyres...) have changed from black and grey to all-black

A newly designed aluminum brake lever with improved ergonomics, materials, and finishing

Updated, more consistent finishes on a number of parts

An improved Busch and Müller LED headlamp makes for an upgraded Shimano dynamo package

For more information about how these changes add to the Brompton experience, stop in to the shop for a test ride or give us a ring.

p.s. We're excited for 2013 for another great reason: the Brompton US Championship will return to Minneapolis this summer and we are once again the grateful hosts of the event. As for details? Hold tight. We've set the date along with Open Streets Minneapolis—Sunday, June 23 is the date to remember. Shopcast readers, Facebook fans, Twitter followers, and newsletter subscribers will be the first to know when registration opens. Spring is almost here, so in the mean time... get on that Brompton and ride! And, while you're resting from your training regimen, read up on race strategy at the newly launched bromptonuschampionship.com.

We ended the weekend with coat-tails flying at the Brompton US Championship • 2012. Thank you to all who helped make this event a race to remember: Open Streets Minneapolis, Brompton Bicycles Ltd, Best-dressed judge John Meegan and everyone at Top Shelf, Aaron from Minneapolis Musette for his scintillating play-by-play commentary, Mayor RT Rybak, Brooks, Twin Six, Schwalbe, Banjo Brothers, and Nutcase.

Most of all, thank you to this year's participants and to those who helped cheer the racers on as we kicked-off Open Streets 2012 in style. Read on for the race results and links to the coverage of the race around the web.

Women's Division:

• 1st Place — Susan Todzy
• 2nd Place — Megan Turak
• 3rd Place — Sophie Breen
• Best-Dressed — Susan Todzy

Men's Division:

• 1st Place — Wallace Alexander
• 2nd Place — Pedro Becquer
• 3rd Place — Spencer Morse
• Best-Dressed — Spencer Morse

Championship coverage around the web:

• Top finishers Wallace and Pedro neck-and-neck in the Pioneer Press
• Participant Mark Skoine in his homemade Union-Jack helmet in the Pioneer Press 
• Chris Eidem shares a break-down of the race from the rider's perspective on his blog "Fat Boy Biking"
• Read *near* all-around-champion Spencer Morse's race recap at his blog "Why I Ride"
• Cycle Twin Cities put together a great recap of the event earlier this week, including video and photos
• Urban Velo's Scott Klocksin sums up the race with a video of the starting sprint and brief commentary
• See more pictures and add your own in the shop's BUSC2012 Flickr group
• Watch the shop staff's pre-race Brompton alley cat here

Photos by Perennial Cycle staff Martha Garcés & Kat McCarthy © Perennial Cycle, 2012

The DETAILS:

Date:  June 10th, 2012

Time: Registration 8:30 - 9:40am, Race at 10am
Dress Code: All participants must wear a jacket, collared shirt and tie.
Helmets are a must and lycra is banned (or at least all lycra must be covered up)

Where:  34th and Lyndale in Minneapolis, MN

Prizes: Win a trip to England to the Brompton World Championship!
More Prizes: There will be special awards given for a Best Dressed man and Best Dressed Woman as well as for the fastest fold.

Pre-registration Party: Saturday night (June 9th) with Fabulous Food and entertainment. Pre-registration begins at 5pm and food/Party is from 6-8. Then a fun urban ride to Merlin's Rest for a pint and a couple Pig-in-a-Jars.

Perennial Cycle is sponsoring the Brompton US Championship Race! This is definitely one of the funnest races ever and for that reason this race is growing in popularity in a big way.

Brompton Bicycle and Perennial Cycle have teamed up with Open Streets Minneapolis to bring even more bikie-ness to an already great day of cycling culture in the city that is ranked #1 for its cycle friendly atmosphere.

Brompton Folding Competition Fun:

Urban Cycling is an online book written and designed by Katie King Rumford. The design is very pleasing and the content is inspiring.
Definitely worth checking out.

This from the webpage:

"Urban Cycling is a book dedicated to addressing the problems of biking in urban areas by suggesting alternatives and solutions to problems. Urban Cycling is a final student project for a graduate level graphic design program. Photography and copy have been cited."

Read the book here:  Urban Cycling