Ato Bm a g a z i n e

Available from selected outlets,online at www.exacteditions.com or by annual subscription on 01305 259998 or www.atob.org.uk £13.80 (United Kingdom),£19 or US$38 (overseas airmail)

Issue 63 January 2008 A to B 40 Manor Road,Dorchester,Dorset DT1 2AX,England ISSN1460-0587. tel 01305 259998 email atob@atob.org.uk ORatob@onetel.com.webwww.atob.org.uk EditorsDavid & Jane Henshaw IllustrationsTim Pestridge,Helen Whyte. Test RiderKathryn

ContributorsDavid Henshaw,Felicity Jowitt,Anna Semlyen,Alyson France,Richard Peace,Phil Prosser PrintersThe Friary Press Ltd. Next deadline25th January 2008

We’ve decided to go for an early magazine,rather than a late one! A great variety this time,from decidedly kinky folding bike advertising in Japan to car-free life in the UK. Our computer database appears to have suffered a lapse of memory, or possibly it’s a human error... In any event, several subscribers have been cut off without a word of warning, and several others have received demands for payment months after resubscribing.Hopefully,the problem is now sorted, but if you think something has gone wrong with your subscription, please get in touch. On a rather brighter note, new technology allows us to offer free digital subscriptions (including all back numbers from August 2006) to everyone who currently receives the paper magazine.This will begin on the date of your subscription,if it’s new,or the 2007 renewal.If you don’t have a renewal this year, email us and we will press the button on the appropriate day.And remember, we can only activate this if we have youremail address. Happy Xmas!

Contents

Ear to the Ground: The Mole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

A to BLetters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

A to BNews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

The Trial: Kalkhoff Agattu Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Tested: Basil Mirte Panniers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

In Brief: Spares & Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Ten Top Tips: Cutting Your Car Use . . . . . . . . . . .27

Energy: Car-Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Tested: Smart LED Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Travel: Bike/Rail in France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Travel: York to Valencia by Train . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

A to BSmalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

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A to B Magazine is a Low Carbon enterprise!

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A to B 63 January 08