Brooks England: Riding high

In 1866, John Boultbee Brooks arrived in Birmingham with £20 in his pocket and set up JB Brooks & Co, specialising in leather harnesses and tackles for the equestrian market. Who would have guessed that it would be the death of his horse – prompting him to try out the day's latest form of transport, a bicycle – that would transform his business into the long-standing success it is today?

His quest to find a comfortable saddle for his bicycle resulted in the first prototype in 1878 and, two years later, the launch of the Brooks B17. It remains one of the brand's bestsellers and Brooks England is still principally known for its saddles, although it also offers a range of cycling accessories and leather goods.

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Brooks England has enlisted the help of specialists around the world to create 12 limited-edition bicycles for its Dashing Bikes series, each of which will be displayed in the B1866 store in Covent Garden. Every collaborator has been tasked with interpreting the theme "copper", which has been inspired by the rivets used on the saddles.

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The most recent model is from Berlin-based Schindelhauer Bikes, which has overhauled its popular Ludwig VIII for the occasion. The chic all-black frame incorporates subtle copper highlights, with the colour theme continued onto the Brooks England Cambium C15 saddle. The bicycle comes equipped with the high-performance Gates Carbon Drive system and will be available in a limited run of 100.

With more collaborations to be released later this year, there's no doubt Brooks England is making the most of its anniversary.

brooksengland.com