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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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Spokesfest final callHere's the pre-event press release describing all sorts of exciting things happening at Leicester's cycling festival next weekend... Velo Vision will be there Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday - see you there! PRESS RELEASE Spokesfest 2003 Spokesfest, the world’s most eclectic celebration of cycling, with its most diverse range of bikes and pedal powered machines will again descend upon Leicester from 24th – 27th July. Spokesfest kicks off at the Abbey Pumping Station on Thursday 24th July from 7.00 pm – 10pm. An evening of cycling with modern and old bicycle including Penny Farthings, recumbent cycles and some unusual modern cycles. Additional to the cycles the Massive Gimson beam engines will be in steam, train rides (at the beginning of the evening) on the museum's narrow gauge railway will be available as will a barbeque for all tastes with a licensed bar serving traditional cask-conditioned beers. Admission to the event is free. In addition to the usual veteran bikes, exotic recumbents, family bikes, and rickshaws, the festival will host three unique cycling events in the city's picturesque Abbey Park on Sunday 27th July. One of these unique events is the largest gathering of Penny Farthings in the world since the 1880s. Over 120 Penny Farthings are expected to take part in an attempt to regain the Guinness World Record for a 'Penny Stack' formation. A Penny Stack is a stationary freestanding line of Penny Farthings. The skill and nerves of each rider hold up the line – if one falls they all fall! Currently the Wheelmen of the USA who set a stack of 83 Penny Farthings in 2002 holds the record. This will be the British Ordinary Enthusiasts attempt to return the official record to the UK. During the day there will also be the British One Mile Ordinary Championship race (an ordinary is the correct name for a Penny Farthing). This race has been held for the past 120 years and will feature around 20 of the fastest Penny Farthing riders in the country. The race will be on the Oval and the sight of a penny farthing banking around a corner whilst travelling at upwards of 25 mph has to be seen to be believed! Other racing on the day includes The British Human Power Club who are expecting a large entry for their series of races on the oval; some of the fully enclosed streamlined recumbent machines are expected to reach speeds of almost 40mph. Together with BikeAbility, Leicester based cycling organisation Cyclemagic will host the UK’s largest ‘Come-and-Try’ day with specialist and adapted bikes for people with special needs. Visitors will also be able to try out XnTrick Cycles’ seemingly impossible to ride circus bikes, multi-seater machines, cargo bikes, pedal powered Scalextric racing and a chance to watch some of the action on a pedal powered TV. This exciting annual cycling event attracts enthusiasts, inventors and curious public from around the UK, Europe and beyond. As a finale to the event, adventure cyclist Joff Summerfield will leave the festival to cycle around the world – on a Penny Farthing! Get a taste of human powered wonders at Spokesfest from 24th – 27th July, with events at various venues and the grand finale at Abbey Park, Leicester on Sunday 27th July 2003. For further details on the festival, go to: www.spokesfest.org.uk. ENDS Posted on 16 July 2003 Your comments ...
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