A bicycle born and bred in England. Why the Brompton is favored by city riders. | feature

A bicycle born and bred in England. Why Brompton is favored by city riders.

It can be folded compactly for easy transportation. They are also extremely maneuverable. Brompton bicycles are quite excellent. And because they were born and raised in England, their form is somewhat classic. That's why they match any fashion," says Keiji Kaneko, who is also a well-known member of the Finamu team. He has been using it for three years now, and it has become an indispensable tool in his daily life. He is so passionate about it that he even went across the ocean to inspect the factory. In that case, let him tell us all about his love for it. Mr. Kaneko, please tell us about the appeal of the Brompton!

Photo_Masayuki Nakaya and Keiji Kaneko (London)

Text_Tsuji

Edit_Yosuke Ishii

Brompton is the final destination for bicycle lovers.

Are there people around you who also ride?

Kaneko: There are several people who say they ended up buying one after being asked various questions by their acquaintances. My work colleague also bought one before I knew it, and I noticed that more and more people are riding them. It seems that the fact that they don't interfere with fashion is a big factor. One of my acquaintances said, "There are many cool old bicycles, but it's hard to actually ride one," and now he rides a "Brompton. This bike fits any style and has good performance as a bicycle. So I feel that this is the end point for people like us who like to ride bicycles.

What other ways do you think it would be fun to ride?

Kaneko: This would be fun to carry in a wheeled vehicle. Special bags are also available. It is easy to carry on the Shinkansen, and I recommend taking it with you not only on a trip but also on a business trip in Japan to travel around the country.

It is also very maneuverable, so it can be used for a weekend touring trip. It is compact when folded, but it is surprisingly large when unfolded, making it easy to pedal even for large people. So I would recommend it to people who want to use it for everyday transportation and also want to do a little touring on the weekends as a hobby. You can do just about anything with this one machine.