BUSC 2011

Brompton US Championship 2011

It was two in a row for Aaron Ritz at the Brompton U.S. Championships, held Saturday, 19th March, in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Ritz whipped his Brompton S2E-X around the hilly 6.2 mile course in 18 minutes and 23 seconds to earn another trip to the Brompton World Championship on 21st August, at Blenheim Palace, England. Ritz welcomed another go; he was about a minute behind the leaders at last year’s BWC when a puncture took him out of contention.

Beth Greene, last year’s Woman’s Champion, was kept from this year’s race by her coaching duties. Top woman was Julie Secor of Brooklyn, N.Y., who finished in 22 minutes and 46 seconds aboard a Flamingo Pink M6L-X. Secor, an insurance consultant, is no stranger to Brompton racing, having taken part in the Brompton World Championship each year since 2008, earning 5th, 8th and 10th place, respectively. “I am really looking forward to this year’s BWC and representing the United States,” says Secor, a triathlete who commutes daily by Brompton, noting, “I have to say that adds a bit of pressure!”

Peter Yuskauskas of NYCE Wheels, a New York Brompton dealer, took 2nd place in his first bike race ever, with a time of 18:32. Yuskauskas recently rode his Brompton from New York to Philadelphia, some 125 miles.

The Best Dressed Male category also saw a repeat, thanks to the bold antics of Vinod Vijayakumar, Giri Krishnamoorthy, and Michael d’Amato. Vijayakumar and company came to the start line attired as “disco dandies”, but concealed a change of wardrobe along the course. They crossed the finish line with Vijayakumar and Krishnamoorthy in warrior garb, pursuing d’Amato, clad in a “Redcoat” soldier’s uniform, in a rolling reenactment of India’s battle for independence. The trio will now battle over ownership of a Brooks Barbican courier bag.

Best-Dressed woman was Stephanie Gross of New York City, who also won a Brooks Barbican Bag.

Most dramatic entrance goes to Mr. Matthew Reed; track repairs delayed his train for more than an hour; he rode directly to the race, reaching the start long after the riders were out of sight. Undaunted, Reed snatched his number, blasted off after the pack, and finished in the middle of the main group!

The folder race was part of the Philly Phlyer, the largest collegiate cycling weekend in the country, now in its 5th year.

The weather, and the spirited competition, made for a great 2nd Brompton U.S. Championship, and Michael McGettigan of Trophy Bikes, a Philadelphia Brompton dealer and hosts of the event, announced that this was the last year for the race in Philadelphia—for a while, at least.

“We are very happy to have worked together with the Philly Phlyer, and grateful for the very real support from Brompton Bicycle that helped make this an exciting lead-in to the Brompton World’s in England,” said McGettigan. “We look forward to racing Bromptons in another city,” he added, noting that the competition to host the 2012 Brompton U.S. Championships is expected to be fierce.

Images from the event can be reviewed and purchased.