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Welcome to Velo Vision magazine, covering specialised bikes, cycling as transport and human power. It's a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.The current issue is Issue 12. The next issue is out early March 2004.
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German HPV club mourns chairman's deathThe suicide of Ralf Wellmann, chairman of the German HPV Club, has shocked all who knew him. Christian Meyer writes: "I have to inform you that German HPV chairman Ralf Wellmann died last weekend at the age of 33. On December 8th Ralf sent his paperwork to vice chairman Hanns-Georg Schweitzer, took a train to a highway bridge between Karlsruhe and Horb and committed suicide by jumping from the bridge at night. His family and friends say there was no warning. You may send your condolences to Ralf's sister: Ute Heger, Friedrichshafener Str. 2, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany. Email [email protected]. Fax: +49 7545 1249 We are all shocked and confused." A webpage in memory of Ralf has been set up on the German HPV Club website. A farewell letter to Ralf from his friend and colleague Til Sauerwein is prefaced as follows (in translation): "We were completely surprised by the death of our chairman and his decision leaves us bewildered and shocked. Ralf was always a reliable, friendly and ever-helpful friend. He took his office as Chairman very seriously and even when differences of opinion emerged, he mediated evenly and calmly. All of us would have been very willing to help him, just as he had worked so hard for us. We will miss Ralf greatly, and our organisation will now be very different without his integrating influence and organisational talent." Ralf led the German HPV movement since 1998, and was a pivotal contributor to the impressive popularity and professionalism of the European HPV scene. As Til Sauerwein put it (in translation): "Ralf, in recent years you were the HPV Club to a great extent. You pulled all of the threads together. You ruled us wisely in your diplomatic, open and enthusiastic manner. You delegated well, but weren't shy of doing any job yourself. There was the struggle with the railways [over transport of HPVs], the cooperation with the ADFC [Germany's national cycling organisation], the preparation and organisation of meetings for HPV club members and committees, the organisation of our presence at trade shows, and creation of our new trade show stand, and the HPV Centre in Troisdorf. You also took on coordination and cooperation with many HPV partner organisations. Your work for the HPV Club took in 1001 things. Now, it remains for us to complete your final great project, organising the 2003 HPV World Championships. Ralf was a Velo Vision reader and occasional correspondent. In all of my dealings with him (and in meeting him occasionally at trade shows) I was struck by his genuine enthusiasm and committment for HPVs, and his energy and skill in using that enthusiasm to really make things happen. He will be sorely missed. The funeral took place yesterday in Friedrichshafen. Our condolences go to family and friends. Posted on 17 December 2002 Your comments ...
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