The one with Brompton, Radio 1 and the Red Arrows
August 21, 2018 - by Adam Tranter
Adam founded Fusion Media in 2007 from a passion for cycling and the media. Over the last ten years, he has successfully grown the company to lead the way in communicating cycling and endurance sport to the mainstream. Adam was a former racing cyclist and has also worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to cycling and national publications, including BBC News during London 2012. He is passionate about getting more people on bikes.
I’d love to pretend it was just a normal Monday morning at Fusion. Weekly catch ups, coverage checking, few phone chasers and collaborating with the Red Arrows and BBC Radio 1 at the launch of the new Greg James Breakfast show.
In reality, it was all a bit mad, even by our standards. It wasn’t a normal Monday for Greg James either as he held the reigns as the new Breakfast host of the iconic Radio 1 slot for the first time, arguably the biggest job in radio. Nor for The Red Arrows who swapped their usual BAE Systems’ Hawk T1 for a custom Brompton Bicycle; “It was probably our toughest display yet,” they joked.
When you’re dead set on booking the Red Arrows for your first Breakfast Show… but you can’t afford the planes ?✈️ pic.twitter.com/GKeYWV7pmg
— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) August 20, 2018
“The Red Arrows did a… cyclepast,” wrote BBC News. “Greg wanted the Red Arrows to perform but said he couldn’t afford to pay for their planes – so he arranged for the pilots to ride bikes instead.”
The real reason was that the planes were in for routine service but the Red Arrows team seemed to be enjoying a break from the usual.
Fusion worked with Brompton to supply six of their folding machines to the Red Arrows crew members, who performed a flawless display outside BBC Radio 1 headquarters, complete with iconic trailing smoke, which sort of worked.
I thought #RAF100 was the highlight of the season thus far but riding @BromptonBicycle on the Inaugural @gregjames show, with the good @joelycett commentating on @BBCR1 comes a damn close second. pic.twitter.com/u1MYg23soU
— Martin Pert – Red 1 (@RAFRed1) August 20, 2018
Comedian Joe Lycett commentated on the display from outside the BBC’s New Broadcasting House. “There’s a real sense of occasion,” he said. “What an amazing event for British history.”
For the Red Arrows, Brompton was the ideal choice. Like their jets, Bromptons are also made in the UK – and like the Red Arrows – Brompton is a British icon recognised the world over.
“Monday’s show included the Red Arrows (whose pilots performed a fly-past on bicycles – better radio than you might imagine),” wrote The Guardian, adding “in a programme that refused to underestimate the intelligence or humour of its audience.”
?⚪️? @rafredarrows finishing off the first @gregjames @BBCR1 Breakfast Show in style. pic.twitter.com/LCXFMXOmLp
— Brompton Bicycle (@BromptonBicycle) August 20, 2018
It was amazing to be part of radio history and have a bit of fun with the Brompton brand, something that’s very easy to do. And as much as I try to play it cool, I’m not ashamed to say that working with the Red Arrows was a dream come true.
