If, like many other cyclists, you’ve been impatiently checking back to the Brooks Cambium Countdown page, you will have noticed that the numbers on our clock are dwindling fast. So fast, in fact, that later today there’ll be nothing but zeroes left on it.

What can this mean?

It means that the newest addition to our line of cycling saddles is finally available to buy. The Cambium C17 is released for sale this afternoon. Or this morning, or tonight, depending on which part of the world you live in.

Many of you will recall that we were deluged with thousands of applications for our 100 Saddle Tester vacancies announced in April. In an attempt to placate a few more of the Disappointed, we ultimately pushed the final number out to 150.

Already we have begun hearing back from their (thus far) universally happy occupants.

For those not fortunate enough to have made the cut, our C17 goes out for sale on the website in an initial limited run of 500 pieces. Each saddle has its number etched to the nose rivet. There are a further 500 in this series (numbered #501 to #1000) which will be made available as soon as the first 500 are gone.

And when all one thousand pieces have found homes, the C17 will go on general sale. Initially via the website, and then, distribution permitting, from Brooks Dealers Of Excellence worldwide.

Camb-ing At You? The C17 is go!

Photographer Liz Seabrook kindly joined us at Smithfield Market in London over the weekend for the I.G. Markets Nocturne.

The Nocturne is the only cycle racing event in the world at which Bromptonians, Wheelmen, Criterions(?) and Urban Cyclocrossers ride amicably alongside each other over the course of a single day.

And spectators duly thronged at the bollards from early on Saturday afternoon until dark to witness this unique constellation.

In it to win it. Drops on a folder isn’t something you see every day.

The Nocturne has taken place annually at Smithfield since 2007. The Penny Farthing Race was introduced in 2011 when we came in as its sponsor, and we were again delighted this time around to be of assistance in providing such a spectacular treat for the record crowds of cycling fans.

Richard Thoday took the laurels after five laps and an additional twenty minutes. Readers may recall that Richard was also winner of the Penny Farthing race that took place at the London Bike Show in January. We may have a new Jim Brailsford on our hands…

Lucy Garner of the Argos Team warming up for the Elite Criterium event.

In the Ladies’ Elite Criterium, Leicester’s Lucy Garner was probably unlucky to find herself riding solo against the combined might of the Wiggle Honda team. It was Olympic gold medallist, the ferocious Laura Trott, who emerged as Wiggle’s winner, following Hannah Barnes’ relegation to second place for dangerous riding (celebrating with hands off her bars) in a tight photo finish. But this was all only after Trott had managed jointly with her colleagues Dani King (also an Olympic gold medallist), Laura Kitchen, Jo Rowsell and Charlotte Becker to finally break down Garner’s gritty challenge.*

If she brings some friends with her next year we’re sure the 2012 Junior World Road Race Champion will be there or thereabouts.

The Le Mans style start of the Folding Bike Race gave spectators a taste of the likely mayhem at the Brompton World Championships later this summer. Hordes of City-looking types barreling around, snagging their ties in their derailleurs, their fine linen shirts saddlebagged with sweat. And all this before they’ve even managed to unfold their blasted bike!

And he did! Keith Henderson taking the chequered flag at Smithfield.

As the sun began to set, a field of 55 took to the course for the men’s Elite Criterium. Tom Scully of Team Raleigh was the one who led them all home under cover of darkness, after an intensely aggressive hour of strategics at high speed.

As we mentioned, the attendance numbers set a new record for a Nocturne, and we have little doubt that as the event continues to draw new fans we’ll see big numbers there again next year. See you at Smtihfield!

And once again, thanks to Liz Seabrook for bringing her camera along.

* This result was subsequently amended, with Hannah Barnes reinstated as winner on the 14th June.

We’re taking things North of the Border. Which isn’t to say we’re in the mood for a deep fried Mars bar on the final stretch of a Land’s End to John O’ Groats trip.

No. Rather, the Brooks Dashing Bicycle Show is waving a temporary goodbye to the United States and gunning for Canada. Our next stop is Bikes On Wheels in the beautiful city of Toronto.

Bikes On Wheels has a storied past, beginning from its initial incarnation as workers co-op, through said co-op’s dissolution in the Nineties and then via a couple of changes of hands right up to today, where it enjoys a reputation as one of Toronto’s finest bike shops.

In recent years it has been a repeat winner of Now Magazine readers’ polls for the… you’ve guessed it, Best Bike Shop category.

Best Mechanic, too.

Certainly there’s hardly a shop on the entire North American Continent with more rivets in the Brooks Dealer Of Excellence programme.

Robin, Seán, Liam and the rest of the Bikes On Wheel team are on hand this Saturday to raise the curtain. Our display of fine machines, excellent accoutrements, and premium Brooks perches must surely be reason enough for most cycling enthusiasts to pay a visit.

With that said, anyone who needs further inducement is advised that our good friends at Hendrick’s have set by a cask or two of their most junipery gin to help grease the Bike-Talk wheels.

An hermetically sealed Brooks Dashing Bike Haulage Container pictured in Canada yesterday.

And as part of our Dashing Bike Photo Contest, the rides on show are all going to be given away as prizes when our tour finishes. A Pelago, a Cooper, a Tout Terrain and a B-ant are the four up for grabs. Entry is not exclusive to Dashing Bike Show visitors, so get clicking.

But if you’re thinking about dropping by this Saturday from 7p.m. be aware that there are two Bikes On Wheels shops in Toronto, and that the Brooks show is taking place at their Kensington Market branch.

The services of a Disc Jockey have also been engaged for the night, and we understand he has lots of Canadian music in all sorts of formats, from Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young LP’s to cassetes with Bryan Adams’ and Alanis Morrisette’s most popular hits on both sides.

He might even have some Bieber mp3s on a stick, who knows?

The Brooks Dashing Bike Show Part 4 at…

Bikes On Wheels
(Kensington Market)
309 Augusta Ave, Toronto

Opening Night-
Saturday, 8th June.
7p.m.

In the spring of 2013 I will be departing from California and cycling to mainland China. This will not be an unaccompanied journey as I will be traveling with the ashes of my father, Karming Wong. Last year before he passed away he informed me that he wanted his ashes returned to the place of his birth in Southern China, where they can be placed with his ancestors’ remains.

Born in a small farming village in the province of Guangdong, he was the eldest child with 3 younger sisters. When Mao Zedong’s “Great Leap Forward” was set in motion, it left my father’s family and thousands of others without enough food and money to survive.

At 18, leaving his family and friends, my father walked for three days to Hong Kong where he hoped he could earn enough money to support his family. Working any job that he could find he sometimes slept in abandoned buildings and worked late shifts so that he could send home enough money. He eventually found work as a fireman and was introduced to Buddhism on the then isolated LanTau island. After a few years he saved enough money to quit his job and travel to Thailand where he ordained as a Buddhist monk.

Last time round it was Julian in the passenger seat and Baba in the saddle.

He lived in Thailand for over a year, following the Thai Buddhist practice of eating one meal a day and meditating in the forest. He then decided to learn more about eastern Buddhism and traveled Korea, Japan and then Nepal all the time practicing Buddhism, and seeking out famous teachers. Once while in Nepal he met a counter culture “Beat Generation” Dharma practitioner who lived near Los Angeles.  They quickly became friends and my father had the opportunity to come to America.

In America he continued to practice Buddhism and eventually met my mother at a Buddhist monastery in San Francisco. They had a family of four and remained together till his death last year.

While growing up, my father took me on many trips to China to visit family as well as to travel throughout Asia. During my childhood and throughout college, I would accompany him at least once a year on a trip to Asia, or another part of the world. My most memorable trip with him was in 1992, when he took the family on a six month pilgrimage throughout India, Nepal, Sikkim and Thailand.

Julian, centre, on his ride through the Yukon, Canada in 2012.

In the last few years of his life I started cycle touring. My first trip was in the summer of 2010, where I went on a 4000 km tour of the Pacific Northwest; cycling through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alberta, and British Columbia. In 2011 I did a 2000km tour of Oregon and Northern California, and this last summer I completed a 4200km tour of Alaska and Yukon Territory.

Early this year I came up with the plan to carry his ashes back to China by bicycle. I figured that if I saved up enough money I could depart with the ashes from my hometown in Southern California and head east until I got to the Atlantic coast, then fly to Western Europe and continue heading east until I got to China. I plan to have a continuous route that leads me from my home town of Murrieta to Dongxing, Guangxi. This is going to be the last trip with Baba.

I will be cycling through many of the countries that he talked about traveling to; He had very fond memories of New Orleans really enjoyed seeing the Alps in Switzerland. He always wanted to go to Russia, and I plan riding through Russia to avoid the Caspian Sea. I have outlined a general route on my website, pilgrimsandashes.com, and will be open to any recommendations or input. Thanks to Bregan and Brooks for helping me out, I am looking forward to continue using the new saddle even after the 12,000km tour!

Aficionados of the lugged steel frame game know that it’s not just among serious Lord Of The Rings fans that the name Rivendell can conjure an eye-twinkle, followed by the immediate desire on the part of those within earshot to start feverishly exchanging trivia on the subject.

Since establishing his company twenty years ago, Rivendell‘s commander-in-chief Grant Petersen has continually produced bicycles with which their eventual owners tend to develop a rare type of bond, one that goes far beyond the conventional attachment most other riders have towards their machines.

So naturally, when a pair of Rivendell owners get together, there’s going to be some Bike Talk.

There may also be Book Talk. Grant released his first bicycle book, “Just Ride”, last year to enthusiastic reviews. He kindly gave us a piece for this year’s Brooks Bugle with the background story of its publication.

And let’s not forget that the still-available back issues of his Rivendell Reader can, as ever, be mined both for good advice and sheer pleasure by anyone with even a remote interest in bikes, honesty or fine sentences.

Brooks saddles and Rivendell frames have plenty of shared history on the road.

Of course, none of this is breaking news by any means, but we do have some information this morning that in a couple of years’ time could figure in a Rivendell Trivia Quiz.

When and where did the first ever Rivendell Pop-Up store take place?

From June 1st to June 9th, Grant and his team are temporarily setting up shop at a location in the Mission District of San Francisco. Depending on how things work out, they might even stay a bit longer.

Apart from being able to see first hand some of the most thoughtfully designed lugged steel frames available anywhere, visitors to the Rivendell Pop-Up will also be able to get their hands on special coupons, limited run Rivendell posters, and maybe even a cup of coffee.

Plans for a couple of giveaways and some secret (oops) super-deals are also in the pipeline. But don’t tell anyone you heard it from us…

And if you’re lucky, one of Rivendell’s premiere wheel builders Rick Lesnik might be on hand when you drop in, to show you how it’s really done.

The superb Hunqapillar poster, left, and right, 2012′s Rivendell-Goines “collabo”.

These won’t be the only Wheels of Steel instore, though. We’ve been given to understand that a soothing soundtrack of the finest lugged Swedish jazz will serve as musical accompaniment to guests for at least a portion of the shop’s opening hours.

You have been warned.

Rivendell Bicycle Works SF
June 1st through 9th
12pm – 7pm
3156 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94110 ‎

Riders on the European continent are spoilt for choice these days when it comes to paying homage to simpler (yet probably more difficult) times.

L’Eroica in Gaiole, Italy has of course long since ceased to be an insider tip, while The Anjou Vélo Vintage in the west of France is gradually snapping at its heels in terms of popularity.

Further north, however, it’s the historic roads of Flanders, Belgium that await passionate Cycling Throwbacks over the coming weekend. The Retro Ronde kicks off this Friday through Sunday, with a roster of events so jam-packed with items of interest to “Flemish Hardman” cultists that it could reasonably be spread out over a fortnight.

Hardness is a prerequisite for those considering the 100km route.

The highly irresponsible-sounding “Beer Cycling Contest” gets the ball rolling on Friday.

Riders on stationary bikes are seemingly connected to some kind of hydraulic system which causes a beer glass to tip helpfully in the direction of the riders’ mouths, but only if they’re turning the cranks fast enough.

That’s what it looks like, at least, from one photo that was smuggled out of the highly secret event last year. If anybody has a more plausible explanation, please fire away in our Comments Box.

The collective noun for Flemish Hardmen? A… suggestions welcome over on Facebook.

Other than that, Saturday and Sunday see the region’s hallowed roads shut for Criterium racing, as well as a trio of route options available for the main event.

The organizers this year have a magnificent section on their site which spells out in black and white what sort of machinery and attire is and isn’t toelaatbar. As if we needed telling.

Equally magnificently, when they roll over the start line it will be 100 years to the day since the first ever running of that most venerable of the Spring Classics, The Tour Of Flanders. So if riders feel a slight chill, it’s probably the Hand of History on their shoulders.

It certainly isn’t a double shot of wheatgrass juice anyway. Flemish Hardmen don’t go in for that.

Actually, if riders feel a slight chill it’s probably the weather. In recent years the event has been plagued by warm and sunny skies. But not this time out. Retro Ronde racers are virtually guaranteed a bona fide Flemish Hardman Experience on Saturday and Sunday, with icy downpours likely to contribute to more mayhem than usual on the Koppenberg.

We are sure it will all only serve to enrich the quaity of time to be had by participants. And with an unrivaled Retro Bike Parts Swap Meet, and our ever-hard-fought Best Dressed prize up for grabs, any self respecting Brooks owners in the vicinity owe it to themselves to get by for a look.

At any rate, we’ll be back after the weekend with a first hand account of the action from our Hardest Brooks People, who have been trusted with the task of upholding the family honour, and grabbing some film footage while they’re at it.

Wish ‘em luck!

We posted the big news here one month ago that Brooks is releasing a new saddle this year.

The Cambium C17‘s top is made of vulcanized natural rubber and a specially treated cotton canvas, and thus represents a rather fresh departure for us.

Guess what’s nestling in that box, obscured by this year’s Brooks Bugle… a Cambium!

We said at the time that 100 saddles would be sent out as test pieces.

The response from Brooks fans worldwide was so enthusiastic, however, that not only did our extremely robust server fold under the weight of applicants; it also caused us to rethink our rather arbitrary sounding number of testers.

What we’re trying to get at is this – we’ve more or less reached a decision on our first hundred testers. Indeed, as you read this, several Brooks Cambiums are already in transit to their lucky new owners. If you’re among the happy group, you’ll most likely have heard from us, or will be hearing from us very soon.

But if you aren’t, haven’t or don’t, fear not!

We’re going through the applications again to find 50 more riders. For 50 more saddles, obviously. Hooray! So there’s still hope…

We’re also still welcoming applications from people who have not yet filled out our Cambium questionnaire. Our tentative plan is to release a couple of other Cambium models somewhere down the line, so even if you haven’t made the cut for our hundred first testers, and you don’t get picked as one of the extra fifty, you could still find yourself road-testing another Cambium in the future.

And remember – should you find yourself never picked by Brooks as a Cambium tester, please try to take solace from the rolling 10% discount in the Brooks online shop that all applicants receive for their time and trouble.

The Brooks Dashing Bicycle Show rolled into Washington D.C. on Saturday, April 20th amidst the splendour of spring to find the capital city’s bicycle culture thriving. Bicycle Space, the show’s host, is at the forefront of the urban cycling boom currently in full swing.

Harry Styles of boyband One Direction poses with Joaquin Phoenix and Matthew Perry.

Voted Best Bike Shop in 2012 by the Washington City Paper Reader’s Poll, and named a top 100 retailer by Bicycle Retailer and Industry news, Bicycle Space was the perfect venue for highlighting the style and quality of the Dashing Show partners.

The social side of the shop was on full display even before the event on Saturday. We had a chance to join the legion of Bicycle Space faithful on their weekly Thursday night Seventh Street Social group ride. Leaving the shop at dusk and led by their custom built cargo bike pulling an impressive sound system.

The Monkey Wagon provides musical accompaniment on Bicycle Space’s Thursday group ride.

Shop manager Jordan Mittelman pilots the 150+ pound rig (known affectionately as the Monkey Wagon after its circus-themed side panels,) usually with the aid of an electric-assist motor. On this particular occasion the motor couldn’t be bothered to assist, but the malfunction didn’t stop Jordan from cruising at the head of the pack, DJ-ing from an onboard iPod, and smiling all the while.

We’re giving our Showpieces away as prizes when the tour ends, you know. Click here for details.

The overall jovial atmosphere of the ride gave us a preview of those who would be in attendance at Saturday’s event. Sure enough there were many familiar faces mixed into the burgeoning crowd outside the doors waiting to get in on Saturday evening.

News of the attendance of special guest Eben Weiss (better known as the Bike Snob NYC) drew an even broader group of cycling addicts to the evening’s festivities. Mr. Weiss is currently promoting the release of his third book, Bike Snob Abroad, and fans of his work had the chance to get their freshly printed copies signed between trips to the Hendrick’s Gin Bar.

Vince Vaughan had a great idea for a new film at Dashing Bike and didn’t want to forget it.

Guests were welcomed into an adjacent theatre space by musical guests the Sligo Creek Stompers. The Washington area stringband delighted the audience with its youthful energy and raucous blend of Appalachian & Midwestern old time and bluegrass, New Orleans traditional, Jazz, honky-tonk and gypsy swing. Perhaps the band traded the traditional bottle of whisky for a few delicious gin cocktails in this particular venue, but the flame of American roots music was certainly burning bright.

The inimitable, unmistakable Sligo Creek Stompers.

The music gave way for an entertaining and hilarious reprieve from The Bike Snob. Armed with a multi-media presentation and his razor wit, Mr. Weiss regaled the audience with his impressions of cycling abroad, particularly focused on the ease and elegance of Europeans traveling by bicycle with their children in tow.

The crux of Bike Snob Abroad focuses on this particular issue and as a relatively new father, The Bike Snob was in fine form addressing the crowd on all matters of towing small humans around with two wheels. As the Q & A wrapped up, the easy, toe-tapping sounds of the Sligo Creek Stompers once again filled the room as the evening wound down.

Over this way! The notoriously publicity shy Christian Bale astutely ducked our lens throughout.

Many thanks from Brooks to all of the Dashing Show partners, the wonderful staff at Bicycle Space (with a special thanks to Jordan Mittelman for his long hours and tireless effort in making it all come together,) The Bike Snob Eben Weiss, and the Sligo Street Stompers for making the evening a success.

“58-13, my young friend. Locked. Cog. Next!”. Spielberg was insufferable by last orders.

The Morgan Motor Company is the last of the old band of independent British car makers still in existence. Famous in the earlier part of the 20th century for their distinctive three-wheelers, Morgan are still based in Malvern in the West Midlands, just down the road from our Smethwick works.

In recent years they have been beneficiaries of the resurgence in popularity of smaller, fuel efficient, lightweight runabouts and currently can’t build their Morgan 3 fast enough to meet demand.

The name is also loved enough by armchair fans for the company to run an entire line of merchandise on the side.

But happily, Charles Morgan managed to make the time recently to sit with Nick Trotman of the excellent Malvern Cycles C.I.C. to discuss possibilities for the commemoration of last year’s British cycling successes at the Olympic Games.

The Morgan Two is the result of these discussions. It pulls together some of the best names in British bicycle engineering and design and puts it all up on top of a pair of slick German tyres.

Gratifyingly yet unsurprisingly, the Morgan Two features our saddles and grips at the all important points of contact, while Sturmey Archer hubs shoulder the Roundness Burden. The crankset that puts it all in motion is Sturmey Archer too.

And Foffa of London have overseen the frame welding.

For Morgan’s part, they have endeavoured to “bring the noise”, as it were. The clacking purr of a classic motor has been recreated to a degree by an intentional ticking effect when you pedal in the higher gear of the two speed rear hub.

Production of this special Limited Edition was capped at 50, and there are about a dozen Morgan Twos still available to buy.

We’re still doing our special deal on a bar tape, toolbag and B17 combo in the online shop.

One of the Dashing Bicycle Show partners currently with us on our tour of North America is Finnland’s Pelago. And while it’s perhaps lazy to draw inferences from broad national stereotypes, it’s none the less tempting to reflect that countless meditative sauna visits and gallons of black coffee must surely have played a leading role in the conception and execution of these sleek, sturdy, understated steel framed bikes.

The Pelago team have made a name for themselves in recent years for, among other things, the responsive geometry of their machines. Their guiding light is “Firmitas. Utilitas. Venustas.”

That’s not Finnish for “Let’s see if we can’t get bought out by one of the Big Guns”, but rather Latin for “Strength. Utility. Beauty.”

They took a road trip earlier this year to the German capital for 2013′s Berliner Fahrradschau, and liked the surroundings so much that they decided to stay a while.

They’re still there, certainly until the end of May at least, on Brunnenstrasse in the central district of Mitte.

The Pelago San Sebastian with a Brooks B17 on top.

If you find yourself in the vicinity, be sure to drop by and marvel at the fine range of bikes and sundries, from their bestselling Stavanger to their selection of Pelago multi-tools. They even have a few packs of their very own brand of Pelago coffee. But just about everything with wheels happily has a Brooks bolted to its seat post.

The Pelago Pop-Up
Brunnenstrasse 156,
Berlin Mitte.
Until the end of May.