Brompton World Champoinship

I was browsing the Brompton site at the weekend when I found the section on racing the sensible little folding bikes. The Brompton World Championship for 2010 takes place at Blenheim Palace in three weeks time.

It’s not your usual sort of bike race - as illustrated by this key race rule, which stipulates the dress code:

5. Dress code All participants, both male and female, must wear a suit jacket, collared shirt and tie. Shorts and three-quarter length trousers may be worn if preferred, though sports attire (e.g. Lycra shorts/leggings, tracksuit pants, etc.) is not permitted. There are no restrictions on shoe-wear. For health and safety reasons, it is an absolute condition of participation that a helmet is to be worn.

That’s what I call civilised racing. Judging from this film of last year’s event, I’d say that it’s also peculiarly British:

Although looking at the results, it seems that Johnny Foreigner is also allowed to enter. And walk off with the first place!

Anyone out there taken part in this garden party of a race? What was it like, and more importantly, what’s it like racing a small-wheeled bike in a crowd, while wearing shirt, jacket & tie?

Filed under: Bike Culture

Tags: Blenhiem Palace, Brompton, Brompton World Championship, chaps on bikes, ladies on bikes