Brompton Urban Challenge comes to Melbourne

Melbourne’s inaugural Brompton Urban Challenge (#BUCMEL) lived up to all expectations for the day – and given the level of (slightly nervous) excitement leading up to the event, it was a thrill to participate in the adventure.

Lan’s expression (and her t-shirt) says it all – via @baudman

Brompton Urban Challenges are scavenger hunts through a city with the aim of having fun and taking creative photos that meet the cryptic description of each challenge. Over the last month the organisers of BUCMEL – Nick Boyakovsky from Brompton Australia, and Cory Boardman from Velo Electric & Folding – worked hard to come up with our 13 challenges. How well would you have done guessing what to do for these?

#BUCMEL Challenges

I suspect I wouldn’t have done very well if left to my own devices, but fortunately Urban Challenges are team events. As we arrived at Federation Square and registered with Nick, we were advised who our team members were – if we hadn’t already nominated our own team of three.

Registration for #BUCMEL at Federation Square – via @stanleytankh

Nick checking us off and handing out Brompton Australia musettes w instructions – via @baudman

Puzzling it out – where would we be without smartphones? – via @baudman

One thumbs up… not sure what John’s thinking… – via @baudman

Stephen and I were teamed up with Andy from Brisbane. As well as being great company, Andy is the champ behind the Brisbane Brompton Club Facebook group – so if you’re a Bromptonaut (or aspiring to be one) why not check out his page, too?

As it so happened, Stanley and Elsie ended up as a team of 2, so we decided to tag along with each other. You know what they say; five is company, six is a crowd…

(L-R) Stanley, Andy, Elsie, Stephen, Dayna – via @stanleytankh

Naturally there was a line-up for a group photo before everyone departed – too late for at least one group, and too soon for another – but this is almost everyone who participated:

via @baudman

Set loose (so to speak), we had until 3pm to post to Instagram or email to Nick our team’s submission for each challenge. We then had a extra hour (to 4pm) to make it back to Alexandra Gardens (on the opposite side of the Yarra River to Federation Square) for the folding time trial and to see who would come away with some of the great prizes that were on offer.

In the order they appear on our challenge sheet, here are some of the submissions for each challenge:

1. It’s A Long Way To The Top

It’s A Long Way To The Top via @stanleytankh

2. Bike Sharing Is Caring

Bike Sharing Is Caring via @mr_spowell

3. Taking The Laneway

Taking The Laneway via @8dsta8

4. Big Wheels And Little Wheels

Big Wheels And Little Wheels via @stanleytankh

5. Made In London

Made In London via @randytamayo

6. Space Oditty

Space Oditty via @stanleytankh

7. Pedal Or Portage?

Pedal Or Portage? via @randytamayo

8. Not Just Black

Not Just Black via @8dsta8

9. Wanna Play Kick To Kick?

Wanna Play Kick To Kick? via @randytamayo

10. Just For Fun

Just For Fun via @stanleytankh

11. Off And Racing

Off And Racing via @randytamayo

12. Made For Tea

Made For Tea via @mr_spowell

13. Housewife Megastars And Singing Budgies

Housewife Megastars And Singing Budgies via @randytamayo

You can also browse through the other entries on the Brompton Bicycle Australia Facebook page.

Photos uploaded, we assembled at the Brompton Australia / Velo Electric & Folding tent set up at Alexandra Gardens. Why there? Why a tent? Nick and Cory had very cleverly (and conveniently) arranged our Urban Challenge to coincide with the Go Bike Expo in these gardens, which attracts riders participating in the Around the Bay event the following day (Sunday) organised by Bicycle Network Victoria.

Kid checking out Nick’s exploded Brompton

Brompton Bags and saddles for sale

Bromptons and Ortlieb bags for sale

Gathering for the fastest fold comp and prizes!

Soon enough, out came the chalk board and timer. Cory went first to set a time for us all to aim for and we went for it!

Elsie starting her folding challenge

Stephen getting the job done

The final fold times

No records, I’m afraid, but we all had fun and that’s the main thing. Congratulations to Ed with the fastest time on the day of 11.51sec! (Nick, as organiser, opted out of the comp, but also did a very good time.)

Then to prizes – what we were all not-so-secretly waiting for. I can’t remember all of them now (apologies to those I miss – no slight intended) but here are a few:

The fastest fold – well done Ed!

Ed’s prize – a Union Jack platform donated by @standupforbrompton

The furtherest travelled and best dressed

Prize for the Furtherest Travelled – Brompton chocolates #MadeForYou!

Overall winners (most points awarded for creative photos)

What a day it had been! I can’t wait for the next one 🙂

Sharing Brompton love 🙂