I participated in last weekend’s Brompton U.S. Championship in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park. The race was only six miles long, but it was brutally hilly and unseasonably warm.
In a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Brompton as a commuter bike, all participants are required to wear business attire during the ride (coat, tie, collared shirt, and helmet). The event begins with a Le Mans Start where each racer runs to his/her bike, unfolds it, and pedals across the start line. My buddy Ted was first out of the gate and I was four riders behind him much of the time. He finished 10th overall and I came in 12th (in a field of approximately 60).
Tons of photos are available here.
If you own a Brompton and this event is offered in 2011, it comes highly recommended. The event went smoothly and was a lot of fun.
The 2011 Brompton Championship returns to Philadelphia on Sat., March 19, at noon in Fairmount Park.
Do note that the fastest man and woman will get flown to England for the Brompton World Championships in August.
Full details at http://www.brompton.co.uk/busc/2011/