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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 36. The next issue is out in March 2010.
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Copyright © 2000-2009 |
RIP Chris HammUPDATED: Sad news about cycle advocate, serial entrepreneur and Velo Vision contributor Chris Hamm, who recently passed away... I am sorry to inform you that Chris Hamm passed away a few days ago. There is to be a private funeral on Tuesday, followed by a wake at the Marcia pub in Bishopthorpe, near York, from 4PM, at which all are welcome. The family are keen that as many as possible arrive by bike, and a convoy will set off from the Millennium bridge at around 3:40 (meet 3:30 at the bridge). Back when I first started Velo Vision, I shared an office with York's then newly-formed cycle courier company, Wheel Alternatives, and its two founding members, Chris Hamm and Mick Thomas. They were full of new ideas: local paper deliveries by load-carrying trike, taking vans out of York's pedestrianised city centre by transferring courier company loads on the edge of town and using pedal power for the final leg, and more. We wrote about their work in Issue 4 of Velo Vision - click on the picture below to read the full article. The business grew fast and is still going to this day (now called Green-Link York). PDF of Wheel Alternatives article My first impression of Chris was that he was a wiry bundle of energy: he hardly stood still. Not a bad quality for a cycle courier of course. Another first impression was his American accent: his family hailed from Salt Lake City in Utah, and he sent us back a superb report on the Airnimal Chameleon when he travelled home in 2002: PDF of Chris's Airnimal article Chris and Mick and their growing band of employees were ever enthusiastic office-mates, always upbeat, keen to check out the latest arrivals for review and generous with their time when it came to modelling for the magazine and sharing their experience. With the courier operation up and running, Chris increasingly took on work for Company of Cyclists, who provided cycle promotion services and roadshows for local authorities and businesses across the UK. His energy, attention to detail and sheer capability soon made him indispensible, and after a recent management buy-out he became Managing Director of the new community interest company running the operation, Get Cycling. They had just run the very successful York Festival of Cycling when news emerged of Chris's untimely death. Chris Hamm was a remarkable man, about which much more should, and will, be said and written. He is survived by four children and our sincere condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues. A Facebook page has now been set up for tributes and memories: Chris Hamm RIP on Facebook and there's also a tribute to Chris on the Get Cycling homepage. Posted on 24 August 2009 Your comments ...
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