There’s nothing I like better than a good eccentric race, and there’s nothing quite as eccentric as the Brompton World Championships at Blenheim Palace: race regulations require a collar, tie and jacket and a Le Mans style start. This year I opted for a dickie bow, hoping it would be a little more aerodynamic than a tie
Did it work? Well, in spite of appalling conditions, I finished 63rd IN THE WORLD! (Moving me five places up in the world ranking from last year.) So I am well pleased to say the least. And there were over 750 entrants, before you’re tempted to ask in the comments “how many competitors were there – 63?”
The official video gives a good idea of the spirit of the event…
Last night, the Duke of Edinburgh’s design prize was awarded to Andrew Ritchie, the man who invented the Brompton folding bike. He thoroughly deserves his prize, and I think Phil should have got the missus to knight him too. Unlike James Dyson who made a big fuss about British ingenuity and then moved his manufacturing abroad, Andrew Ritchie manufactures these splendid little bikes here in London. Good for him!
After a recent triathlon I said that “I guess commuting on a Brompton isn’t
great training for a tri bike leg”. Well it turns out that it is good training for the Brompton World Championships – I am no longer a fat, middle of the pack cyclist who really ought to train more, I am now one of the top 75 Brompton riders in the world. That’s right – ONE OF THE TOP 75 BROMPTON RIDERS IN THE WORLD! Well 71st actually, 68th man, and 63rd in my class. It was against top class opposition too – Roberto Heras, three time Vuelta winner just pipped Michael Hutchinson (apparently Britain’s best time trialist) to first place.
The race was very hard work, two undulating laps around Blenheim Palace’s grounds, but it was all very good-natured competition, if you wanted to pass someone, you just rang your bicycle bell – an extremely civilised way of racing that I think should be introduced into triathlons immediately. Along with the attire – I for one look much better racing in a shirt, tie and jacket than I do in lycra.
