CONTENTS

JUNE 2006

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 Website www.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 23: early September 2006 Issue 24: early December 2006 Issue 25: early March 2007 Issue 26: early June 2007

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

VELO VISION AND VELO-VISION We weren’t first with the name. Velo-Vision (note the hyphen) is a progressive HPV-friendly bike shop in Körten, near Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, who also make their own recumbents. Velo Vision magazine 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: Meet the breadmen of Cairo in our report from cyclist, traveller and

photographer Claude Marthaler.

OPPOSITE: Playing on the Paseo... Photo by Peter Eland.

4 News Velomobile prices tumble, the French MTB quad, updated events listings and more

10 Riding with the breadmen Claude Marthaler meets the bicycle Claude Marthaler meets the bicycle bbread-carriers of Egypt

13 SPEZI 2006 Innovations galore at the Special Bikes Innovations galore at the Special Bikes SShow in Germany

20 Islabikes bounce back Testing two simple, light and affordable Testing two simple, light and affordable cchildren’s bikes

23 Recumbent bikes: three way test Three laid-back bicycles wheel to wheel. We review the affordable Bacchetta Café, the plush Nazca Paseo and the designer Burrows Ratcatcher 18/20.

32 Sitting on a Scorpion HP Velotechnik’s new recumbent trike

SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS

FIVE YEARS ON

Regular readers will know thatVelo Vision’s content isn’t exactly planned and ‘themed’ several issues in advance. Instead each magazine seems to sort of self-assemble just in time, from whatever eclectic articles end up being ready on deadline. That does keep the magazine fresh, but it also runs the risk that it can swing off balance. Issue 22 is rather a recumbent-heavy issue, with three bikes and a trike tested, plus more recumbent content elsewhere in the magazine. I do try to bear in mind the different ‘constituencies’ amongst the readership, and I know that some are most interested in folding bikes, some want more velomobiles, others like ‘normal’ city bikes, and many also like the more non-technical content. I do hope that the majority enjoy reading about all sorts of innovative bike,

is a smooth performer – can it sting the competition? Find out in our thorough test.

36 Short reviews The amazing Down Low Glow neon lights for bikes, HPV playing cards, magnetic induction lights and the Mission Low Loader one-wheel trailer

40 Readers’ Bikes Boiling a kettle by pedal power, and the Bristol students’ solar trike

42 China goes electric Reporting on the electric bike phenomenon in Chengdu, China

44 Letters Comments, questions and answers

50 Buyer’s Guide: brakes We start a new series covering components with a look at braking: from the science to the nuts and bolts

56 Subscribe to Velo Vision And order back issues, recommend a friend and more

57 Advertisements The best specialised advertising around! Please support the companies who support this magazine

whether directly relevant to a personal interest or not. In any case, recumbent non-enthusiasts need not despair. The pendulum will swing the other way next issue as we have mostly upright reviews planned, with a Landescape tandem, Kronan town bike and a child-carrying triplet lined up so far. I don’t think I should be too apologetic anyway. Recumbents are fun, and if you haven’t yet tried a few modern bikes and trikes, maybe this issue will inspire you to give it a go!

Peter Eland

PS: With 22 issues now taking up space in theVelo Vision stores, we’re becoming seriously short of space. Visit the York Cycle Show (see events listing, page 9) if you’d like to pick up some back issues at extremely low clearance prices!

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