CONTENTS

DECEMBER2005

Velo Vision is published quarterly by Velo Vision Ltd. Daily news and updates can be found on www.velovision.co.uk

ISSN 1475-4312

Velo Vision, The Environmental Community Centre, St Nicholas Fields, York, YO10 3EN, UK Tel/Fax +44 1904 438 224 (from UK, 01904 438 224) Email peter@velovision.co.uk Websitewww.velovision.co.uk

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Peter Eland ART DIRECTOR: Brian Holt WEB PROGRAMMER: Simon Ward PRINTER: Stephens & George Magazines Ltd, Merthyr Tidfil, Wales, UK. Tel 01685 388 888

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE: Issue 21: early March 2006 Issue 22: early June 2006 Issue 23: early September 2006 Issue 24: early December 2006

Velo Vision is a member of INK, trade association of the alternative press in the UK. www.ink.uk.com

VELO VISIONAND VELO-VISIONN We weren’t first with the name. Velo-Vision (note the hyphen) is a progressive HPV-friendly bike shop in Köörten, near Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, who also make their own recumbents. Velo Visionmagazine is working in friendly harmony with Velo-Vision in Germany.

Velo Vision is printed on paper produced from sustainable forests to Nordic Swan standards.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: The Mezzo gets a workout in Northumberland. OPPOSITE: Moonlight over York’s Millennium Bridge, also illuminated by the lights of passing cyclists. Both photos by Peter Eland.

4 News

10 IFMA 2005 Reporting from one of Europe’s largest trade shows in Cologne

14 Testing trailers Three solo child trailers evaluated by our Oxford test team

19 Recycling with Mr Elephant Bikes bring benefi ts in Namibia

20 Meet the Mezzo We test this new folding bike: is a Brompton-killer?

24 Hauling the Hod The Bike-Hod trailer and its new hitch reviewed

26 Short reviews Big Apples, Quickex pump, Rainlegs, Grab-Ons

FIVE YEARS ON

Issue 20 completes our fi rst fi ve years of publication, a milestone of sorts in the Velo Vision road. It’s been quite a ride. Leafi ng back through the fi rst issue, it’s clear that quite a few things have changed. We have more pages, it’s now in full colour, and we’ve clearly learned a thing or two about photography and colour reproduction along the way. But that’s all presentation. What hasn’t changed is how the content is created. Much of it still springs from you, the readers, your enthusiasm and willingness to share. More material comes from the manufacturers whose products and ideas appear in our show and test reports: they may be in business, but almost without exception the people behind

28 The Speed Schlumpf Fitting a Speed Drive to a Catrike recumbent: a reader reports

30 IFMA 2005 Show report continues: workbikes, accessories and more

34 Readers’ Bikes An upright trike, three-wheeling through the years, the Rail Rod and a helicoptering Dahon

40 Cycle 2005 The UK’s major trade show in London – full report

43 Letters A collection of comments, corrections and curious cycles

48 Buyer’s Guide: Recumbent bikes Updated overview of two-wheeled recumbents: how to choose and buy

55 Subscribe to Velo Vision And order back issues, calendars, or gift subscriptions!

56 Adverts The best, most interesting adverts around! Please support these companies who support this magazine.

these bikes are in it for the love, not the money. Others write about how they’re promoting cycling, or using this simple but powerful technology to change others’ lives for the better. As I said in my very fi rst editorial, with such a wellspring of cycling enthusiasm behind us, we could never run short of material. We, and you, will have plenty of ideas for the next fi ve years and more of Velo Vision. On behalf of my colleague Brian and myself, I’d like to thank all who have contributed, supported and sustained the magazine over the years, and who continue to do so. It’s a privilege to steer this publication, and with so many of you to help with the pedalling, it’s also a pleasure.

Peter Eland

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