I made a New Years resolution to be less dependent on a car, especially while traveling for work. Going without a rental car for the past 3 weeks in both Rhode Island and Arizona, however, has been torture. With my fear of locking up Belle, my travel-intensive job, and my general aversion uncoupling Belle’s S&S couplers, owning a Brompton folding bicycle has been brewing in my mind for quite some time now. That is why, today, I finally made the purchase at Portapedal Bike, in Tempe, Arizona.
Say hello to my new bicycle, a Brompton M6L, in Claret:
- M = upright handlebars
- 6 = six speed gearing
- L = with fenders
- Claret refers to the color
Although I did not opt for the hot pink variety, as owning two fuchsia bikes would be too redundant, I do believe that color I chose is consistent with my brand. Claret is just a little more sophisticated, refined, and work-appropriate version of pink.
Portapedal Bike is completely dedicated to folding bikes, and the nice couple who owns the shop actually kept the shop open past normal operating hours for me. I will be posting more about the bike purchase experience in follow-up posts. In the meantime, I would like to recruit your help on naming the new bicycle.
Contrary to my dude’s approach to bicycle naming (Red Savina, ’nuff said), I prefer not to name a bicycle after the color of the frame. This is because the frame color could change during the life of the bicycle. Bromptons, however, are an exception to this rule, as it is easier and more cost-effective to sell the one you own and buy another in your preferred color.
When I saw the bicycle, my immediate inclination was to name it after a red wine (ex. Merlot, Syrah, or just plain Vino), but the color Claret already specifies a certain type of red wine. From Wikipedia:
Claret derives from the French clairet,[1] a now uncommon dark rosé and the most common wine exported from Bordeaux until the 18th century.
Naming a burgundy frame after a red wine varietal does seem a bit cliché. I am now contemplating, perhaps, a derivation of Claret… Clarice. What do you think? Additional suggestions are most welcome…
Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks for your kind words! As a name for your new little Brommie, how about Sorella. It means sister in italian, and like a good sister she’ll always be there for you.
You’re most welcome
Sorella… that does sound pretty, and I like the symbolism.
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Why not name it after someone you admire. Mine is called Capability Brown, after the landscape gardener. I also felt the bike has a retro look as opted for Turkish green with a brown leather brooks saddle. CB (his cool abbreviation) in addition makes me more capable around the streets of London Town, which also rhymes.
Clarice=Hannibal as in from the film?
Moulin as in moulin rouge?
Hope you come up with something nice and I’m glad to know I’m not the only adult who continues to name objects!
Capability Brown… I like that!
Someone I admire — maybe Audrey after Audrey Hepburn?
I never associated Clarice to Hannibal, so now I’m rethinking that option.
Thanks for the guidance! And, don’t worry, you certainly aren’t the only adult that personifies inanimate objects…
Hello little bike
Clarice it’s a beautiful name.
I also called my brompton referring to its color,
I choose “Dama Bianca” (White Lady)
she was the lover of an italian world famous cyclist: Fausto Coppi.
ciao
Marco
Nice – I like the dual symbolism behind Dama Bianca. Well done on that front!
And, I was waiting for someone to comment “Hello little bike”
Thank you for fulfilling my strange desires.
“Eau de Thames” was Rumpole’s name for the claret he consumed at the local pub.
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