Brompton World Championship 2026: Our Day at Lee Valley
Newlane was among the sponsors at the 2026 Brompton World Championship, held on Saturday 5 September at Lee Valley VeloPark in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Last year we were there when the race came to King's Cross. Here are our reflections on what turned out to be an inspirational and very productive day in East London.
The day at Lee Valley
This was so much more than just a race. Brompton's annual gathering has the feel of a convention, a rally for people who've come to commune at the altar of the world's best-loved and most iconic space-saving bike. Held at Lee Valley VeloPark, part of London's 2012 Olympics complex, the sun shone on several thousand Brompton owners for the latest edition of the World Championship.
They mingled and showed off their souped-up rides, enjoying that feeling we all get from being among like-minded people. The vibe was happy and relaxed, with just a hint of tension for the hundreds of riders competing. Heats gave way to finals, then a relay event over laps around the track, coming thick and fast across the day, before champions were crowned in the early evening, the fastest male and female riders walking away with a shiny new limited edition Brompton.
Who turns up
While the crowd was united in a love of the bike, there was a surprisingly good mix of ages, genders and ethnicities, a much broader audience than most bike-centric events of this kind in the UK.
These are people who have little interest in lycra or carbon frames. For them, a bike is simply about getting from A to B hassle-free, and seeing the world as you go.
What riders told us
For us it was a life-affirming day and a lesson in how a business should look after its customers. It was also a chance to showcase our product to an audience that understood exactly what we're doing: making it convenient to get around safely on two wheels. These committed urban riders needed no persuading of the benefits of space-saving design. Many bought our foldable helmet with Mips on the spot; others who already owned one told us they're now spreading the word about folding helmets, just as they do about folding bikes.
The championship is a brilliant way for Brompton to keep the community they've built close, and to give people another reason to keep talking about the product they love. Under CEO Will Butler-Adams, Brompton has built a genuinely global brand, and days like this show exactly why.
The retailers we met
We also met retailers and dealers from around the world who work with Brompton, travelling in from Berlin, Dublin, Paris and Rome, as well as Shanghai and Tokyo. Off the back of some great conversations, we're now talking to retailers in all of these cities.
We left with the glow of a day well spent. If you run a bike shop and would like to stock Newlane, get in touch.
