All the latest press releases will be posted here. To receive regular event updates sign up for our newsletter using the sign up form on the right.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOLDING BIKE RACING TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE ROW

12 June 2008

 

The phenomenal success of the Halfords Cycle2Work folding bike race has brought some unforeseen headaches for organisers, Face Partnership.

Competitive commuters battled it out in the Le Mans-style race as part of the Smithfield Nocturne cycling event in Central London last weekend.

Dressed for business in a mixture of City suits and cycling shorts, riders ran 10m from a standing start to collect their folded bikes before assembling their rides as fast as they could and setting off on a 5 lap dash of the 1km closed circuit around London’s famous meat market.

In true commuter spirit it was a case of winner takes all – there are no second chances when it comes to catching your train! There was fierce competition, barging and even a little cheating as almost 100 commuters battled it out in qualification heats to secure one of 30 spots in the grand final and a shot at winning the first prize of a top of the range Dahon folding bike worth £850. So popular was the event that teams from as far away as Spain and Slovenia travelled to take part.

But now a debate about the rules governing this new style of commuter competition threatens to tear the fledgling sport apart. Echoing recent technical disputes about the design of F1 racing cars and the keels of Americas Cup yachts, the world of cycling looks set to be plunged into a controversy the like of which has not been witnessed in the sport since the UCI attempted to outlaw the Superman position of Graham Obree.

“The folding bike race was always designed to be a bit of fun before the elite criterium race later in the evening,” explained race organiser James Pope of Face Partnership.

“But now a debate has blown up about the rules relating to the unfolding of competitors’ bikes during the Le Mans-style start.

“After the first heats a few competitors objected to the advantage of certain bikes whose design meant that they unfolded faster.

“We took the decision to level the playing field for the grand final and make the riders run a little further but have their bikes already assembled” he continued.

 

“But this caused more objections as certain riders had gone to great lengths modifying their equipment and fine tuning their unfolding techniques to give them that race advantage.”

 

The debate is neatly reflected in the differing views held by the 2007 and 2008 winners.

 

This year’s champion, Keith Henderson, believes there should be some means of creating a fair system of unfolding between the different models to ensure riders are not at a disadvantage,

 

“I spoke to the man on the Moulton who'd miraculously made it to the final despite his very prolonged assembly session in heat 1” he commented.  “I suggested to him before the final that he have a word with the organisers to see if he might be allowed to leave the frame assembled or, he'd suffer the same fate in the final. 

 

“The Bromptons were fairly quick to unfold, but the Airnimal which can be dismantled, rather than folded, was left almost completely assembled in heat 2.  The rider was by far quickest off the mark.  Perhaps the final race was the fairest way to run the race by leaving all bikes assembled, and I don't feel that it tainted the experience for the spectators.”

 

Meanwhile the winner in 2007, who also placed third in this year’s race, has a different viewpoint. Richard Bailey had specifically worked on his technique and even had his bike modified to provide him with an advantage.

 

“I think it is important to keep in the unfolding aspect, and in doing so accept that some bikes unfold faster than others” said Bailey. “That is the whole part of the event - what are the most suitable bikes for the job. Some of the bikes that fold quickly don't ride so fast, and the fastest folders to ride take a lot longer to fold. Otherwise there's no point in doing the unfolding.

 

“The difference in folding speeds from one brand to another adds a sort of handicap element to the race. You shouldn't try and level the playing field and try and get everyone to take the same time over the fold.”

 

The success of the event has not gone unnoticed by folding bike manufacturers keen to cash in on the growth in commuters cycling to work. The race is a chance for potential buyers of folding bikes to see which makes are the most popular – and the most speedy.

 

“Standard production line Bromptons are undoubtedly the most popular choice of bike among racers,” explained Pope, “although all three podium places in this year’s race were taken by lesser known factory-special models from smaller racing manufacturers: the grand final was won by Keith Henderson on a Dahon, closely followed by Nigel Foskett on an Airnimal Chameleon and Richard Bailey on a Xootr Swift.

“The Halfords Cycle2Work Le Mans-style folding bike race looks set to become as important as its motor racing counterpart for testing and demonstrating products and it can only be a matter of time before fully professional racing teams are established as part of manufacturers research and development programmes,”  explained Pope.

“That’s why it’s essential that we establish an agreed set of rules with which to govern competition so that success is not simply a case of which team has the biggest budget and latest technology or the best riders. Already we know of a number of Tour de France riders who’ve been approached to move into the sport, including Mark Cavendish and David Millar.”

With so many folding bikes on the market and with ease of unfolding and bike speed now major selling points the question of how to ensure a level race track and fair competition is now a pressing one.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

• 
• 
• 
•