Perennial Cycle

Join us Thursday, March 6 for a three-pronged event (did someone say Brompton Treble?) at Perennial Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Ave S in Minneapolis. We'll start with happy hour at the shop beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a travel maintenance clinic from 6-7 p.m. Sample a bottle from a selection of ginger beers or dream of summer nights with a lime tonic. Get inspiration for future travels as you chat with fellow Brompton owners and fans, including some experienced travelers who've road-tripped, flown, and toured with their Brommies. To cap off the evening, we'll be screening the The History of Brompton [71 minutes] promptly at 7:15.

Beginning at 6 o'clock we'll have time slots available for a maintenance clinic with the Perennial Cycle service team. Register in advance to by calling 612-827-8000 and let us know if you'd like to sit in on Flat Fixing on the Road, Wheel Removal Basics, or both. If you have a preference for a session closer to 6 p.m. or closer to 7 p.m., please let us know when you call and we'll do our best to accommodate your request. Day-of registration will be available only as space allows.

Each session will take place in a small group led by an experienced staffer. We'll focus on the ins-and-outs of removing your Brompton's rear wheel (plus quickly demonstrate front-wheel removal), talk through the basics of flat-tire trouble-shooting, and introduce you to the tools required for each. As a bonus, participants may choose to receive a follow-up email with video tips from Brompton & Perennial Cycle on the basics of servicing your Brompton.

As we approach showtime the popcorn will be... well, popping. The film will begin at 7:15 sharp. Please arrive in time to grab a seat and a bucket of popcorn!

Produced by British Local Histories, The History of Brompton is a polished and insightful film charting the Brompton's development from its beginnings to the present day. Featuring interviews with inventor Andrew Ritchie, footage of the bikes being made in the company's West London factory, and even action from a past Brompton World Championship. Brompton calls the film, "...an honest, compelling documentary that brings new insights to even the longest-standing members of [the Brompton] staff. There is much in here that will delight and surprise [Brompton owners]."

The shop will remain open through the end of the film. While you're here, enjoy March's 1st-Thursday specials including 10% off in-stock Brompton accessories, buy-one-get-one 1/2-off tubes, and save $10 on all tune-ups for any bicycle(s) dropped off for service on 3/6/14.

P.S. It's hard to talk about traveling with your Brompton without touching on the question of where the Brompton US Championship is headed in 2014. Many of you have asked, but while the official announcement has yet to be made, we are excited to share with you that we'll be sending one lucky Minnesotan to this year's race. By attending the March movie screening, you'll have a chance to be among the first to enter to win a round-trip ticket to the Brompton US Championship 2014's host-city.

No purchase necessary to enter. Perennial Cycle will announce the winner in spring 2014. For complete rules, see a member of the Perennial Cycle staff.

P.P.S. If the weather cooperates, keep your evening open  post-show for a possible group ride to Merlin's rest with members of the Perennial Cycle staff.

WHO: Brompton owners + friends

WHAT: Movie Screening + Travel Clinic

WHEN: Thursday, March 6 from 5 p.m. to close

WHERE: Perennial Cycle, 3342 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408

CONTACT: Call with your questions, 612-827-8000

                                                                 Busch & Müller Luxos U Dynamo Light

Commuting at -25º always has people questioning your sanity. Every day this week has been a sanity test (I failed) and today was the big warm up to above zero (it was 1º above). I've been thinking about what I'd consider the most valuable piece of equipment when commuting in those temps... While I love my long johns, choppers, and wide-ranging wool, poly, fleece and wind shell layers, it's really all about lights. Face it, getting run over by a bus at 6am at -25º would be pretty disastrous and Mom is not going to ask the ambulance driver if my toes were cold.

Dynamo lighting is a big focus here at the shop and one of the reasons for that is that commuters rely upon their lights to survive. With dynamo lighting you don't need to wonder if your batteries are at full strength — spinning the front wheel is what powers the light. Good stuff!

Be sure and check out our dynamo display bike the next time you're in the shop:

This weekend is the Brompton World Championship (BWC) and Minnesota will be well represented:

Spencer Morse: Spencer for 2 years has been the pace setter for the US Championship. Spencer took 2nd place this year (3rd last year) and is going in place of Stephen Reginold

Beckie Alexander: Women's 1st place at the US Championship. Beckie's husband Wallace was the 2012 Men's Champion and Beckie was at the 2012 BWC, though was not a competitor

Susan Todzy: Susan was the 2012 US Women's Champion and is going back the the BWC to defend her title as the winner of the BWC Treble Competition

Sophie Breen: Women's 2012 US 3rd place winner and 2013 top 10 racer

Luke Breen: I am the owner of Perennial Cycle and am extremely excited to compete in the BWC along with the group.

As the organizer of the Brompton US Championship (BUSC) 2012 & 2013 I can tell you that Brompton Riders and racers are extremely good natured individuals able to go with the flow.

This year's event was truly spectacular in every way. The representation of participants created a map with dots from throughout the country. Thanks for that!

Multi-Modal Ride: Saturdays 30 mile spin led us through a wide variety of obstacles due to a major storm, but we all wore smiles throughout the cyclo-cross-like obstacles. Lunch alongside the great Mississippi with a group of Brompton riders was a lovely experience followed by a ride to the Northstar commuter train that easily held out folded Brommies and brought us back to Minneapolis just in time for the next ride.

Urban Explorer Ride: This 10 mile urban loop was designed to give the out-of-towners a chance to ride a wide variety of paths and shared roads with a few sights fit into the mix. Thanks to being shut out at the Guthrie (touristy stop) due to an anniversary party we had enough time to ride to one of Beez Kneez urban hive's and being that Kristy (the Queen Bee @ Beez Kneez) was on our ride she gave a tour of the hive and had some Q & A about bees.

We headed back to the shop for a powerless party (power got knocked out for the entire weekend due to Friday's storm) and being that the sandwiches were to arrive from a place that also was without power, we had to come up with a plan B. Pizza is the answer!

Dewi Sant is a fabulous band that we had scheduled for a show. Being that they knew we were without power, Michael Morris (the lead of the band) decided to come up alone and give an unplugged performance for us. Without light in the shop, we had the entire party and Michael's performance out back. He put on an awesome acoustic show for us.

Thank You Michael!

Sunday's Race Day was filled with huge smiles, great looking people wearing their very best, fast folds and an amazingly spirited bike race. The competition was fiercely battled and in the end there were no fewer smiles than at the start.

This event and all of the BUSC participants have touched my heart in a very special way and I am sure to never forget BUSC • 2013! Thank You fabulous employees, sponsors and especially to those of you who came out and participated in this wonderful event.
Here are a few pics of the events: