If you are going to be a part of BWC 2019, need more speed. The best way is to train yourself, of course. However, you can get more speed for money. TK868TBT is a JIS square taper bottom bracket, one of the lightest bottom brackets on the market with hollow axle made of titanium and with TOKEN ceramic TBT bearings. It is suitable for Brompton and a good investment for BWC2019.
It weighs 160 grams. It saves 120 grams over the original FAG square taper bottom bracket.
This BB is design to offer a worry free direct replacement to the original BB.
Today May 26, Bromptons joined a Tweed Ride held in the town of Ballarat, Victoria of Australia. Tweed Ride was a part of the Ballarat Heritage Week event.
As you may know, a Tweed Ride is a bike ride where a group of cyclists dress in historic and vintage attire. It is told that the tradition began in London in the 90s with riders dressing in classic British winter attire and riding through the streets of London. Similar events are now held all around the world.
We assembled at the cannons beside Restaurant Piper's on Wendouree Lake.
Despite forecast, it was a glorious autumnal climate with sunshine but suitable temperature for tweed clothes in the morning.
Six Bromptons made the lineup and a Penny Farthing joined.
The ride began at 11:15 am after a short safety briefing.
It was a big ride!
A ride finished at City Hall. They are award winners for best dressed.
Please enjoy the movie. (equipment: Gopro Hero 7 Black)
Last weekend Brompton travelers enjoyed Melbourne.
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is a suitable travel destination for Brompton riders because of its friendliness to every cyclist with a variety of nice bike paths. In addition there are choices of day trips including a visit to Winery Restaurants in Yarra Valley, Penguin Parade at Philip Island, and sightseeing of dramatic coastline and limestone cliffs in the Great Ocean Road.
Upon arrival, I brought them to Beach Trail where sunshine and breeze were poured onto runners and bikers.
Looking over lovely beach line.
Famous Brighton Beach.
Second day, we went to the Great Ocean Road with Bromptons.
We reached the Broken Head. The stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming sheer cliffs of hundreds miles.
We became witnesses of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean.
Third day, my guest Brompton travelers went to Yarra Valley to enjoy lovely food and wine.
We returned to CBD after lunch to unfold Bromptons. The last ride in Melbourne was on Capital City Trail.
While it was a busy three-day stay in Melbourne, they were able to visit all of the three major tourist destinations in Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Yara Valley, in addition to lovely Brompton rides along beach and river.
Brompton ran at Albert Park Circuit where Australian Grand Prix was held last week.
I enjoyed Australian Grand Prix last week, overlooking the start line from the Fangio Grandstand.
I supposed that there was still the same F1 course setting today and that it was open to every cyclist for a while. Let's go to Albert Park Circuit to experience an F1 ride with my Brompton S2E.
It was exciting! The following video is for the 2nd LAP. The speed looks like Formula One, using Gopro Hero 7's "TimeWarp" in which HyperSmooth applied to TimeLapse Video.
[Ride Data]
Equipment: S2E
Route: Albert Park Circuit
Distance: 5.2km (x3)
Average Speed: 27.4 km/h (2nd LAP)
Max. Speed: 43.9 km/h (2nd LAP)
Last weekend I was a part of the Cycling Shimanami 2018, an international cycling event over Setouchi Shimanami Kaido (West Seto Expressway) .
(click to view the movie.)
Shimanami Kaido is a 60-kilometer-long road and bridge network running between Japan's Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures.
The route connects across seven islands, offering sublime scenery of the Seto Inland Sea National Park and artificial beauty of the seven bridges. Bike riders can run across the Seto Inland Sea running along the bicycle pedestrian road attached to the bridge of the motorway. The road was selected as one of the seven most beautiful cycling roads in the world by CNN.
International Cycling Event "Cycling Shinami 2018", in which riders are allowed to run through the motor vehicle expressway connecting 7 bridges between Onomichi (Hiroshima prefecture) and Imabari (Ehime prefecture), was held on October 28, 2018. There are seven courses offered in the event. The variety of courses includes a round trip course of maximum 140 kilometers long. I am one to run the most popular Course D, 70-km One-way course over the Seto Inland Sea from Imabari to Onomichi.
This cycle event started in 2014 and is scheduled every four years. There are exceptions of a preliminary dry run in 2013 and intermediate event with small scale in 2016. As I enrolled the event in 2013 dry run and the first one in 2014, it is the third one for me.
The ride event is one of the largest in Japan. It is told that 7200 riders will run in the event. (I suppose that Mt. Fuji Hill Climb Race is over 10 thousand and the largest.) Nearly 10% of the participants are from abroad. I saw a lot of Taiwanese, several Americans/Canadians and a couple of Australians in the same batch.
Motor vehicle traffic is closed on the road during the event. The riders run main vehicular lane on the highway where a bicycle normally cannot get in so that this event is very special and attractive.
The event is well organized and schedule goes on time. Following Course A, B, C riders to start, 1,500 of Course D riders assembled at Imabari Interchange. First group of Course D riders started at 8:13 am and the second batch, including me, began to ride at 8:17 am.
[data]
Equipment: Brompton S2E Raw
Distance: 67.22 km (highway 44 km)
Lap: 2 hours 57 min. 40 sec.
Average Speed: 22.7km/h
The sky is blue and wind is calm. (Wind is one of the important factors in Shimanami. Once windy, it becomes hell.)
Passing the first bridge, Kurushima Strait Bridge, with total length of 4,015 meters (13,173 ft).
When landed on the first island Oshima after Kurushima Strait Bridge, we go straight into the tunnel.
(click to view the above movie.)
Because the highway penetrates island hills and mountains through tunnels, we can enjoy luxury of level riding through out the route.
After passing 4 bridges and three islands (Oshima, Hakata-jima, Omishima) to reach Ikuchi-island, the fourth island, riders take first rest at the 33.4 km point. Drink and light meal are offered.
After a short break, Course D riders start again toward Onomichi.
(click to view the above movie.)
Just before reaching Onomihi City, riders need to get on the boat to get across the tiny strait.
(click to view the above movie.)
Cheer leaders, a costume mascot (hassa-kun), and local spectators awaited riders at the goal.
Delicious local food is generously served to refill riders.
It was really a nice ride and priceless experience on a day of the beautiful autumn in Japan. I express a maximum gratitude to the people who worked and promoted the event, volunteers who supported for the event, and local spectators who gave full cheers for the participating riders.
Brompton 2019 model is now disclosed. New colors are released while there is no big change in specification.
(photo source: Brompton Bicycle Official Twitter) There are 4 new color released for 2019 model. Hot pink comes back to the regular color lineup.
Flame Lacquer
Our popular Lacquer finish, this time with a brighter twist. Flame Lacquer is sure to grab attention. The clear, burnt Orange hue still showcases the quality craftsmanship of the braze.
Papyrus White
If you're looking for something more subtle, Papyrus White is a classic neutral tone. If you'd like to add some colour, Papyrus White compliments well with other colours within the range.
Hot Pink
The public have spoken, Hot Pink is back by popular demand. This vibrant finish is sure to turn heads when you're out and about.
Purple Metallic
Add a little sparkle to your bike. The Purple Metallic is a new finish from the Brompton paint plant. We've introduced Purple into the range with the addition of metallic flakes that glisten in the sunlight.
(photo and text source: Brompton Bicycle Official page https://www.brompton.com/news/Posts/2018/new-colours) Other than new colors, it is announced that brake calipers return to original cartridge type in 2019 model. It is supposed to be running change.
