Dressed in whimsical costumes and perched atop colourful customised bikes, hundreds of cycling enthusiasts converge in Beijing at an event organised by British folding bike company Brompton. Attendees show off their quirky small-wheeled rides and race to win a limited edition vehicle, representing a growing subculture of trend-conscious urban cyclists, many of whom spend thousands of dollars on a Brompton bike and a host of custom accessories. "Riding… is a good way for us to reduce stress," Guo Hualong, an IT salesperson dressed as a kettle, says. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES