A to B m a g a z i n e

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Issue 58 February 2007 A to B 40 Manor Road,Dorchester,Dorset DT1 2AX,England ISSN 1460-0587 . tel 01305 259998 email atob@onetel.com .web www.atob.org.uk Editors David & Jane Henshaw Illustrations Diana Powell,Helen Whyte,John McNaught,Tim Pestridge Contributors David Henshaw,Peter Henshaw Printers The Friary Press Ltd . Next deadline 30th March 2007

Some hasty revisions to the magazine this time, because with ten days to go, we were given an exclusive preview of the new Giant Twist.This bike has to follow the Giant Lafree - a really class act. It’s already selling well in The Netherlands, we’re told, but will it succeed here? That test led to a ‘farewell to the Lafree’ item, and two days later, a call out of the blue - would we like to try the Sparta Ion.This electric bike is alsoclaimed to be selling well in The Netherlands. They’re the same price, but which will win in the UK? For folding enthusiasts, we have the first part of a fascinating interview with Doctor Moulton, and we ride the Bridgestone Moulton, the latest incarnation of the ‘classic’ Moulton small-wheeled bike. Finally, an apology we didn’t expect to make, but if you also read Miniature Railway, you’ll already have seen a review of the DrainBrain from a slightly different perspective. Surely, there can’t be many bicycle accessories suitable for small railway locomotives?

Contents

Industry Gossip: The Mole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Professor Pivot: Small Tyres Off-Road . . . . . . . . . 6

A to B Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

A to B News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Tested: Dahon Biologic Joule Dynohub . . . . . . . . . 13

Transport Icons: Giant Lafree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Trial: 2007 Giant Twist 1.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

The Trial: Sparta Ion M-Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

The Trial: Bridgestone Moulton Custom Separable . 35

History: Moulton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Tested: DrainBrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

A to B Smalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

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A to B 58 Feb 07