LETTERS

MODEL MAKERS From Alan Terrill, Shrewsbury, UK With reference to the letter in Issue 21 about finding models of bicycles – I’ve been collecting model bikes for several years and although they’re certainly not easy to find, they do exist. There are basically three series you’ll come across – the fi rst has no name but comprises fairly large metal bicycles with rubber tyres,

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working brakes and pedals and the series consists of a penny farthing, a tandem, a unicycle, a rickshaw and several modern variants. You’ll fi nd most of these at www. dutchsouvenirs.com. The second series is made by Maisto under the name ‘Tour de Maisto’ and consists of a dozen or so light plastic bicycles, well detailed, and all modern models, mostly racing bikes. These are occasionally to be found in model shops, and on eBay, but I don’t know of a single source for the whole range. The third range is a new series made in Italy in conjunction with the National Cycle Collection – these are 1:15 scale, in plastic, and include some lovely historical models. I’ve got a grocers delivery bike, a Pedersen, a recumbent and

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an ice-cream tricycle so far. Best place to buy is on eBay with at least four sellers regularly offering them. Do a search for ‘model bicycles’ and several will show up under the name ‘Del Prado’. There must be about 20 so far, and new ones are being added all the time.

Thanks! We’ve passed this information on to our original correspondent. Incidentally a recent search for ‘model bicycle’ on ebay. co.uk also turned up a few of the sort kof hand-made wire bicycles described in Velo Vision Issue 1, in Claude Marthaler’s article about the artists who make them (see pic, left).

Something to add to, dispute,

agree with? Please post, e-mail or fax

your letter – and if you can send a

picture along too, please do.

Please send your letters to: Peter Eland, Velo Vision, The Environmental Community Centre, St Nicholas Fields, York YO10 3EN, UK. Tel/Fax 01904 438 224 Email peter@velovision.co.uk

Website www.velovision.co.uk

From Tony Calvert, by e-mail: I met a Belgian Velovisionary on tour in the Camargue with a truly original bike. The beast has a bath on the front to carry two child seats. No, the bath was not cast iron!

ELUSIVE BIKELIGHTS From Bob Hazell, via e-mail As a recent convert to your excellent magazine I was excited by the article on Bikelights (Issue 22, p. 39). The product sounded absolutely brilliant and I would love to buy one. The trouble is how?! The review says its for sale via an internet only company so I went to their website. They give the address of a single retailer but no phone number which is not exactly as helpful as it could be! When I tried to e-mail Goodbye Batteries the e-mail was bounced back undeliverable. When I tried to use the direct e-mail on their website I was asked for a password which I’m not sure I have – and if I do I’m not sure I should give! I can’t imagine I’m the only internet illiterate around and surely it wouldn’t be too much for the company to take orders by phone or at least to give the retailer’s phone number. I wondered if this was something you could pursue for readers as its proved impossible for me to contact the supplier listed? I would be very grateful for any help or advice. Many thanks.

We´ve emailed Goodbye Batteries, as we have no number for them either, but without reply as we go to press. A little searching found the phone number for the retailer they list (AM News in Gosforth, 0191 285 2225) and they’re expecting to have supplies around late September. But they don’t really do mail order, and advise people to order online at www.goodbyebatteries.com if at all possible. Apparently the chap running Goodbye Batteries has been on holiday recently, perhaps explaining the lack of response. If all else fails you can order direct from the manufacturers in Denmark (see www.reelight.com or Tel +45 4116 6770)

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LETTERS

FRIDAYS SUSPENDED From Paul Bailey, USA Our front hall is our garage so we decided to do what we could to decrease clutter and improve traffi c fl ow. I had the idea of stacking the bikes somehow and the project got underway when I spied a couple of sturdy and presentable towel racks one day at Ikea ($8 each). The inside pedal hangs on a wall hook – bearing part of the load – and this keeps both bikes secure and upright. Very

simple and neat and works like a charm. The Bike Fridays are light and very easy to lift into position. It is also very easy to fl ip the bars sideways on these bikes to create more space. We have used these bikes for touring and even back country trail rides. They have saved us hassles and fees on airplanes, ferries, trains and buses. The Bike Fridays also make great city bikes and use them daily for everything so mudguards and

pannier racks are essential. In fact we have attached the mudguards directly to the rear racks because rear fender stays get in the way of the front axle/release while quickfolding the bike – which we do on occasion to toss the bike in a taxi when we get caught in a deluge or sudden snow storm!

VELO VISION RIDES? From Nicholas Cox, Derbyshire, UK Hi there, great magazine. After 30 years of road bike riding, I have taken to recumbents. I fi nd great diffi culty riding with uprights (CTC), as we live in hilly Derbyshire, and have not seen any other ‘bents around. Last week, solely by chance, I met a Taifun rider and we agreed to ride together when time allows. I am lucky that my work takes me around the country and I take the trike – but otherwise I have met only a single Optima (on the Kent Coast). Is there any way of getting riders of similar interests who would like to ride, together? The Velo Vision ride at the York Cycle Show was excellent, and many of the riders said they had rarely, if at all, ridden with others. Perhaps the way to go might be to do some articles on suitable day rides, for example the Tissington Trail and High Peak trails in Derbyshire, the Kent coast and countryside, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Anglesey or along the North Wales coast for example. I know some folk fi nd clubs a big turn off, but it would be nice to

meet and ride with others. How about some local Velovisionary rides? The picture shows one of my day rides to whet the appetite!

Nicholas Cox suggests day rides for Velo Vision readers – and sends this picture to whet your appetite!

Good idea, and it is something we should consider. However, I do also have to bear in mind that we have readers in 43 countries, so I can’t devote too much space to material which will only be of UK relevance. I also feel that there isn’t really much need for route descriptions – it’s

more a matter of communication and organisation to get riders together at the same place and time. I suspect we’re still rather thinly spread around the country, so it may be hard to get people together. I don’t want to get involved in organising anything myself, as my workload with the magazine is quite suffi cient, and we should also be a bit careful to ensure that Velo Vision doesn’t become involved with any sort of liability for these rides – we couldn’t afford the insurance! But if people would like to organise rides themselves, then I’m happy to give them publicity, and that might inspire others to do the same. So name a date (well in advance!) and a meeting place and I’ll put it up on the website. Then, to reach the people with no internet access I can add a section to the events listing in the magazine giving dates, place, brief details and contact info for any rides arranged at the time.

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