Latest news with #Brompton
South China Morning Post
13 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
1 Chinese auntie, 5 apps, 60 first dates
Just before the pandemic hit, I emerged from a 10-year relationship – newly single and stuck with half a mortgage, a Brompton bike bought on an impulse and a high-maintenance ginkgo tree. After giving myself four months to recover, I bounced back into the dating world, not necessarily looking for a husband (yeah, right) but to conduct what I told myself was an anthropological experiment. So yes, this is about dating. On Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, all while donning the armour of a Chinese diasporic auntie in sensible shoes and with 40-something hang-ups. Too old for bars, I launched a three-pronged plan: swing dance classes (fun, but everyone was already coupled up from primary school), community centre craft sessions (mudslinging with lovely people – all born before 1955), and the intervention of meddlesome friends. 'Divorce market is hot right now,' said meddlesome friend E. 'Asian women are ageless! Just redefine 'relationship'.' Her bold new suggestion? An agricultural economist who did Aikido. We met – I soon ran out of Aikido-related small talk. So I turned to dating apps. Five of them. Because I am nothing if not a pragmatic auntie maximising outcomes.
Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Wheelies and waistcoats at the Brompton world championship
It was a balmy weekend morning in north London and two men in floral shirts were being pursued by a butterfly. Not far behind came a giant bee on two wheels. Such was the intensity of the heat — and I don't mean the sun had got to me. These specimens of the natural world were taking part in cycling's most eccentric world championship. Some 500 competitors from 25 countries had come to King's Cross to race five times round a 900-metre circuit on a Brompton. The contest had been going in various countries since 2006 but it had come home to mark the 50th anniversary of this folding bicycle's invention. 'The event started in Barcelona, slightly as a joke,' said Will Butler-Adams, the chief executive of Brompton. 'To be fair, it still is a bit of a joke.' That doesn't mean there weren't some serious athletes — the men's champion, Alec Briggs, runs the Tekkerz professional cycling team and also took the world title in 2019 — but the field didn't take themselves too seriously. Lycra was strictly banned; fancy dress encouraged. 'Some people might train, but it's mostly about taking part,' said Butler-Adams, who raced in a Union Jack blazer. I counted lots of bright socks, a few kilts and some in suit and tie, which was a nod to the bicycle's heritage as a commuter vehicle but must have been sweltering in the 31C heat. It was bad enough for me wearing a Newlane folding helmet, shorts and polo shirt. And then there were the real oddballs: a man in a top hat and ruff; someone in gold leotard and tinsel wig; a couple of marshmallows; a bloke wearing fishnet stockings with the hull of a ship around his waist as a kind of tutu; another chap all in yellow with a head-dress of plastic bananas, peppers and corns on the cob. It matched the eccentricity of the bicycle's brand. Andrew Ritchie created the lightweight collapsible bicycle in the bedroom of his flat overlooking the Brompton Oratory in Kensington in 1975. After endless rejection letters from investors, his invention took off when it won the best product award at the Cyclex bike show in 1987. From producing 60 bikes a month under the railway arches in Brentford, the company now makes 100,000 a year, all at its factory in Greenford, west London, and sold in almost 50 countries. • I joined vigilantes on the trail of my stolen £5,000 bike Butler-Adams, who has been with the company for 23 years, said his customers bought the bike because it 'makes them happy'. With 20,000 bicycles reported stolen a year in London, there is an obvious attraction to one you can take indoors, though it is not cheap. They start from £950 and go up to £5,699 for the ultra-light (7.95kg) 12-speed 'T-line' model. Ritchie was not the first to invent a folding bike but Butler-Adams said the difference was that, as well as looking elegant, it 'rode bloody well'. Proving that this was a serious machine was the motivation for creating a world championship. There are also several national championships in America, Japan, France and elsewhere. Among those taking part was Sarah Ruggins, who in her youth represented Canada at running before contracting an autoimmune condition that left her unable to walk. After four operations, she took up cycling as a lower-impact activity and has excelled. In 2023 she took part in an unsupported race across Europe and this year she cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats and back — 1,700 miles in five days and eleven hours — taking seven hours off James MacDonald's record. She rode a Brompton for the first time last week, though, and her biggest concern was over a unique aspect of the race: it begins with a 'Le Mans' start, in which competitors must run to and unfold their bike. 'I've got it down to ten seconds,' she said. 'The first time was about four and half minutes. But for the first time in my cycling career, I'm seeing that you can ride a bike for fun.' • I've found the ideal cycling adventure ahead of the Tour de France It was the unfolding that did for me. Never mind my lack of fitness, trying to remember what I had been shown half an hour earlier in the heat of battle (and battling the heat) proved impossible. Was I meant to pull this first or twiddle that? Why are the handlebars the wrong way round? Why doesn't the back wheel just pop out with a shake like it does for others? I felt like Ian Fletcher, the hapless Brompton-owning BBC boss in W1A. Butler-Adams had warned me about this. While the really nerdy riders measure and log their unfolding time in thousandths of a second, when the knack goes it goes: last year one of the finalists took more than a minute to unfold his. I was comfortably the last one to get away and was lapped after a couple of bends by Briggs. Kidd sprints hard for the finishing line AKIRA SUEMORI FOR THE TIMES Still, it was fun once I got going: round by the canal, up a hill, past the gasholders, dog-legging through Granary Square, down a ramp and then a 200-metre sprint(ish) down the straight. By my second lap I had even begun to pass a few at the back. It should be noted for the record that The Times was the second cyclist home. Admittedly this was with a lap to go, having just been passed for a second time by Briggs during his victory lap. The man with the flag was anxious to clear the track. In the final Briggs won a trip to Luxembourg, a limited-edition bike and a bottle of fizz, as did the women's champion, Honor Elliott. I was just glad to be given a bottle of cold water. Still, to come in after a world champion, even two laps behind, was not bad for a fat, middle-aged man who hadn't cycled properly in years and had never before unfolded or ridden a Brompton. I later discovered that Briggs, once victory in our heat was assured, had been showboating and performed a wheelie on his final lap. Otherwise, perhaps he would have passed me three times.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brompton Funds Declares Distributions
TORONTO, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: BAAA, BAAA.U) Brompton Funds announces distributions for Brompton Wellington Square AAA CLO ETF payable on July 15, 2025 to unitholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2025 as follows: Ticker Amount Per Unit BAAA Cdn$0.086 BAAA.U US$0.08722 About Brompton FundsFounded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including TSX traded closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton's investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@ or visit our website at About Wellington SquareWellington Square Advisors Inc. ('Wellington Square') is a Toronto-based independent investment advisory led by portfolio managers Jeff Sujitno and Amar Dhanoya. Wellington Square has invested in CLOs for over 10 years with certain staff having specialized expertise gained from working for CLO managers. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this press release and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the fund, to the future outlook of the fund and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the fund. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as 'may', 'will', 'should', 'expect', 'plan', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'intend', 'estimate', 'predict', 'potential', 'continue' or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Say GOODBYE to sweaty commutes! Score up to 60% off electric bikes this summer - plus $100 off your first order
Say bye-bye to sweaty bus ride for good! Summer is here and instead of settling for your average dreary commute why not try something a bit more exciting? Trade in public transport for your very own E-Bike that is as useful as it is fun. Upway Switch up your commuting routine with an electric bike from Upway! Shop for the perfect fit from mountain to commuter and even foldable options. With too many deals to count you can find a new ride for up to sixty percent off! Plus, save $100 with code UPWAYFAN at checkout. Up to 60% off Electric bikes (or E-Bikes) have become a popular mode of transportation for city dwellers, with more and more people making the switch. The innovative bikes combine the traditional bike design with added electric horsepower, making the ride easier and faster than ever before. Upway is our favorite destination for finding affordable electric bikes with a massive catalog to shop from and up to 60 percent off deals. Plus, for new shoppers they offer $100 off their first purchase of $1,000+ with code UPWAYFAN. Gazelle Medeo T10 Mid Step Sorry shorties this bike is only for the 5'6 ft riders and up! This pre-owned bike is made for city living with its longe range battery. It is perfect for city streets with its powerful electric system and wide tire design. Save $100 more with code UPWAYFAN at checkout. 50% off Shop Brompton P Line Electric 4 Speed - Mid What if we told you this bike actually folds in half...? This space-saving bike folds for storage and makes taking it with you from home to work and beyond easy. Engineered with supercharged technology and perfect for long rides. Save $100 more with code UPWAYFAN at checkout. 47% off Shop
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Brompton Funds Declares Distribution
TORONTO, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: BAAA, BAAA.U) Brompton Funds announces distributions for Brompton Wellington Square AAA CLO ETF payable on June 13, 2025 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 30, 2025 as follows: About Brompton Funds Founded in 2000, Brompton is an experienced investment fund manager with income and growth focused investment solutions including TSX traded closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds. For further information, please contact your investment advisor, call Brompton's investor relations line at 416-642-6000 (toll-free at 1-866-642-6001), email info@ or visit our website at . About Wellington Square Wellington Square Advisors Inc. ('Wellington Square') is a Toronto-based independent investment advisory led by portfolio managers Jeff Sujitno and Amar Dhanoya. Wellington Square has invested in CLOs for over 10 years with certain staff having specialized expertise gained from working for CLO managers. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with exchange-traded fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to matters disclosed in this press release and to other matters identified in public filings relating to the fund, to the future outlook of the fund and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the future financial performance of the fund. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as 'may', 'will', 'should', 'expect', 'plan', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'intend', 'estimate', 'predict', 'potential', 'continue' or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Actual results may vary from such forward-looking information. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
