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Welcome to Velo Vision, the practical cycling magazine.Print edition: Subscribe and/or order sample copies, back issues, PDFs, T-shirts etc...here! Digital edition: details or subscribe! The current issue is Issue 38. The next issue is out in late Sept 2010.
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Copyright © 2000-2009 |
Post-move round-up (part 1)A custom carbon low racer from France, high speed handcycle geometry, the International Bicycle Design Competition, an adaptable trailer and another revolutionary saddle... Sue Archer writes: Custom Carbon speed French carbon recumbent manufacturers Zockra have a new prototype under development, the very sleek looking Kouign Amann Special. There are no technical details on the the website, but you can see it in action here in the video section. It looks impressively stable when ridden hands-free. The bike's unusual name apparently comes from a Breton gastronomic speciality, a rich buttered cake which seems a little at odds with the skinny appearance of the bike! Handcycle handling: geometry basics From the builder of the One-Off Handcycle, comes this video explaining the three basic elements of steering geometry to be considered when building a trike. The prone position of the rider, and the tadpole (two wheels at the front) layout apparently give the One-Off better braking, turning and traction than many other handcycles. [Peter Eland adds: The rule of thumb shown in the video for Ackermann steering is usually near enough correct, but if you want to work it out accurately you can use the free trike steering design spreadsheets on my personal website www.eland.org.uk.] International Bicycle Design Awards call for entries The 14th International Bicycle Design Awards are looking for entries. Registration is open now, with the deadline for entries the 10th August. Detailed guidelines as to what is required can be found here. The 'Bicycle' part of the specification restricts designs to two wheels, although auxillary wheels are allowed for "children, the aged, or the handicapped." The trailer that thinks it's a trolley Taiwanese company Freeparable Design have produced a smart little trailer that converts into a trolley for handluggage. The T1 hitches to any suitable rear hub (quick release or standard 10mm axle) on any size wheel. The postion of the wheels is adjusted for trailer or trolley use and allows different ride heights for varying degrees of clearance or stability. The trailer weighs 6.5kg and takes a maximum load of 30kg - which makes it heavier than the similar Carryfreedom trailer (reviewed in Issue 15) but with less capacity. Still, it's a nice looking design, and perhaps looks a little more like normal wheeled luggage than the Carryfreedom when in trolley mode. The latest way to avoid saddlesoreness... New and innovative saddles seem to be coming up with increasing regularity, and here's another. The ECD Seat is another noseless version, designed to ensure the riders weight is taken on their 'sit-bones' and that perineal pressure is avoided. As with other saddles we've mentioned, such as the Mantasaddle and the MoonSaddle (reviewed in Issue 28) the ECD (Ergonomic Comfort Design) seat has positive backing from doctors and users but it's shame that the designers of these saddles often feel the need to highlight the health risks of a regular saddle, since those risks must surely be outweighed by the positive health benefits of cycling. However, with prices starting at just under forty pounds it's cheaper than many alternatives, and probably worth a try if you suffer unduly on a normal saddle. Posted on 4 June 2009
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