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The current issue is Issue 35. The next issue is out in December 2009.

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Design and product catch-up

Sue Archer writes:

Velomobile wisdom
A final reminder that the Velomobile Design Seminar, 2009 runs on Friday 16th and Saturday the 17th of October, in Christiania, Copenhagen. Presentations will include talks on design, materials, electric assistance, safety and public acceptance. If it's too late to get to Copenhagen in time, the proceedings will be published in digital form after the seminar.

Sturmey revivals for a modern age
Sturmey Archer have revived some classic hub gear technology, as seen on road.cc. The S3X hub (which we've mentioned before) is a three speed fixed gear, allowing fans of fixed gear riding the option of gearing as well. Whether fixie fans are keen enough to have those gears remains to be seen, but it might save some knees in hilly areas.

One of the advantages of a fixed gear bike often stated is the cleanliness of the lines, with less cabling and so on. The other revival from Sturmey adresses this, with the S2C seen fitted to a Moulton. This two speed hub is a revival of the Sachs Duomatic concept, and shifts by means of a brief back pedal action, and also includes a coaster brake so no cable connection with the handlebars is needed. This makes it ideal for a separable machine like the Moulton, or for the style conscious urban rider anxious not to spoil their bike's clean lines, but who still wants a couple of gears and the ability to freewheel.

Strida designer achievement recognised
News from Mark Saunders, designer of the Strida folding bike, that he has been awarded Design Engineer of the Year at the first British Engineering Excellence Awards. Congratulations Mark! The judges were looking for innovation within commercial limits, and transferable technology. They were also impressed by Mark's involvement in the education of the next generation of engineers. Some of Mark's other designs include a folding chopping board to allow the easy pouring of chopped food, and a device to help open stubborn jars. We've featured Mark's work in several issues, including a review of the Strida in Issue 27.

Uncoil a Cobra
Want a folding recumbent bike? There are a few models on the market now, but our attention was recently drawn to the Cobra on Ebay UK. This SWB bike from Taiwanese company TW-Bents appears to fold usefully small, without having to remove any parts like the seat, and it uses a front wheel drive system very reminiscent of the Raptobike's, as reviewed in VV35. Be aware, though, that backup and spares, not to mention set-up and pre-ride checking, are much less certain via any Ebay seller than when you buy through a bricks-and-mortar dealer...

Posted on 15 October 2009