[ contents ] MARCH 2003

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 +44 1904 438 224 (from UK, 01904 438 224) Fax +44 1904 438 236 (from UK, 01904 438 236) Email peter@velovision.co.uk Website www.velovision.co.uk

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Peter Eland DESIGN: Brian Holt WEBMASTER: Simon Ward PRINTER: Stephens & George Magazines Ltd, Merthyr Tidfil, Wales, UK. Tel 01685 388 888 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Jason Patient Photography Tel 01890 883408

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE: Issue 10: 4 June 2003 Issue 11: 3 September 2003 Issue 12: 4 December 2003 Issue 13: 5 March 2004

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 Köörten, near Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, who also make their own recumbents. Velo Vision magazine is working in friendly harmony with Velo-Vision in Germany. Contact them on www.velo-vision.de

Cover photograph:Peter Eland.

4 News Shaft-drive Tyne bike, Dutch Double Rider, new Sturmey

hub and more...

10The human-powered move

Moving house by pedal power through an Ottawa winter

14The sky’s the limit Pedicabs provide passenger transport in Ontario

16The land of bikes Reality-check for all who think Holland is a cycling paradise

22The perfect tandem?

The folding Bernds tandem family-tested

26The fast freighter How does Burrows’ new load-carrier cope with hard

courier service?

30A little extra

We test the high-end Estelle/Heinzmann electric-assist bike

34Double take Ingenious invention from Argentina – is this the bike of

the future?

38Cycle taxis take off London pensioners made mobile, thanks to a new

pedicab service

40Letters

Your feedback, ideas and more

44Short reviews A quick look at hubs, pumps, books and more...

46The amazing APAX A remarkable trike from Canada revealed

50Vive le véélo

Imaginative French campaigning ideas with Strasbourg’s

FUBicy

54Buyer’s Guide: recumbent trikes

Our overview of the best recumbent trikes available today

60Subscribe – and win cleaning kits Finesse cleaning kits up for grabs in our competition

62Adverts

The best, most interesting advertising around! Please support

these companies, who support this magazine.

IN 24" GEAR

A nasty slip on some ice at the beginning of January put me off my bike for a month with a bashed elbow. So for a while, I saw urban life from the pedestrian side of the street. The arm’s now healed and I’m back on two wheels, but this non-cycling interlude was an interesting reminder of just how good cycling is as urban transport. First, of course, is the speed. A tenminute journey by bike is over half an hour on foot. I enjoyed my slower journeys at first – walking along, it’s easy to mull things over and just enjoy the journey. Unlike on a bike, you don’t need to be sharply alert and concentrated at all times. But after a while, and as deadlines approached, the novelty had definitely worn off. In comparison to the alternatives, cycling is also enormously convenient. Just jump on one end, and off at the other, door to door. If I’d not been able or willing to walk the few miles home, I’d have been messing around calling and waiting for taxis, or walking to and waiting at bus stops – and maybe even changing buses. Or, if I had a car and could drive, I’d have been sitting in jams, looking for parking and then walking the last bit anyway. None of those is convenient compared to cycling. And anyway, cycling’s fun! It was the first incident I’ve had serious enough to put me off my bike in almost 15 years of daily cycling. That’s not a bad record for any form of transport. But it’s also a reminder that nobody should take health and fitness for granted. Ride safe, and enjoy every moment that you’re on your bike!

Peter Eland

PS If you were wondering about the title of this column, it’s an old pre-metrification joke.24 inches is two feet...

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