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The current issue is Issue 15. The next issue is out early Dec 2004.
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News roundup
ICE website temporarily off air, the recumbent minibike, Belleville Rendez-Vous, history links, Pedalcar news, a paper velomobile and last but not least, PBP on a scooter!
Here's a collection of stories which have been mounting up in my in-tray...
- This just in from recumbent trike makers ICE:
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We are having some trouble with our website and e-mail provider. Both have been down since last Friday 3rd Oct. The problems have been sorted out but it takes them a while to get it all going again. Would you mind putting a note up on your news sections if you are OK with it, just to let people know that we are still here, we have not gone out of business or changed any site or e-mail details. It should be back up soon but in the mean time if anyone needs to contact us, we are on our normal phone number of 01326 378848 and I have an alternative e-mail address of [email protected]
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They also note that a webpage about the 'concept' trike they had on display at Cycle 2003 is now (or will be, as soon as the site is back up) available at: http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trikes_monster_light.htm.
- In case you missed it in the comments to an earlier story, Seamus King provides this link to an impressive recumbent mini-bike image:
http://www.villagephotos.com/viewpubimage.asp?id_=5167664
- Belatedly I can report many words of praise from various readers for the animated film 'Belleville Rendez-Vous'. It's a charming story involving the Tour de France and has many lovingly-detailed cycling scenes and themes, plus plenty of humour and a good story. I've seen it too and enjoyed it a lot. It may still be showing at some UK cinemas - or wait for the DVD! The www.bellevillerendezvous.com website gives a flavour and also the chance to win a bike...
- John Stegmann writes:
Have you seen this story on the Wright Brothers?
http://www.inventionandtechnology.com/2003/02/wright.shtml
This Dutch site has 20 carefully prepared illustrations with captions describing some of the earliest cycles. No recumbents! I wondered if Heidelberg Museum has such website and if it includes our history-making recumbents?
http://www.velorama.nl/engels/museum/diashow.html
- Jeremy Featherstone of the British Pedal Car Championship informs me that the solo class in the championship was won by a 15 year old driving a Karbyk. "As we try very hard to boost the achievements of our younger drivers I thought it worthy of as much exposure as possible!" he says. Also, a 2004 BPCC calendar is expected to be out shortly.
- Stuart from Bikefix reminds me that I've not mentioned the paper cutout kits which let you build your own Mango velomobile (unfortunately not quite full size!). There are all the details and PDF files to download free at http://www.velomobiel.nl/uk/mango_body_uk.htm#bouwplaat.
- Simon Ward sent this snippet from Kickbike.com (they make scooters, with big front wheels) which I can rather belatedly report (in some amazement):
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KUUSISTO COMPLETES COURSE!
In what was one of the toughest Kickbike challenges to date, Alpo Kuusisto has taken on 4000 registered (and many more unofficial) cyclists in this year's 1225 Kilometer (761 Mile) historic Paris-Brest-Paris event and beaten the cutoff time by several hours, completing the course in 85 hours, 3 minutes. He was the first scooter rider ever allowed in the race and has proven once again that an elite Kickbiker can keep up with and even surpass many well trained, elite cyclists."
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Simon adds:
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The cutoff time mentioned above is 90hrs, the guy in question is Finnish. The only bit of the above that is incorrect is the statement that PBP is a race - it isn't, even if people often treat it as such.
A couple of people I know who were doing PBP were passed by him, and apparently he was going like a train. His time for his 400km qualifier was 25hrs, but it included a 5hr kip, and the first 100km was done at an average speed of 26kph (upper limit for Audaxes is usually 30kph) so the last paragraph does have a grain of truth in it!
FWIW, the first riders back took 42h10, with Gethin Butler being the fastest Brit (49h16)
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Posted on 09 October 2003
Your comments ...| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 09 October 2003 |
| Well, well, who'd have thought it. Maybe its time to take another look at that yellow kickbike outside your office door, Peter. The importers were at last years York Rally, and loaned one to me, to be tried out by Cyclone Couriers (i was working with them at the time), but nobody would ride it. The kids all had a great time on it though, and I must confess to being tempted myself! Maybe I should make an offer for it. |
| From: Seamus ([email protected]) on 09 October 2003 |
| I visited Velorama in Nijmegan during the summer. The link mentioned above brings back happy memories. I'd strongly recomemmend a visit to anyone who has the chance. |
| From: Peter Eland ([email protected]) on 09 October 2003 |
Dave Minter writes;
http://www.iksaworld.com/news/newspages-2003/23.html is Alpo's PBP story.
It seemed that Alpo's machine was parked near the door every time I left a checkpoint (I obviously need to ride faster). There are plenty of PBP pictures and stories on the web where he shows up. |
| From: Andy Scafe ([email protected]) on 10 October 2003 |
| But Dave, I reckon you're something of a hero as well, wasn't that a 2-speed Moulton Stowaway you were riding? A mate of mine climbed the Galibier on a Stowaway as well. Mad...all mad... |
| From: Dave Minter ([email protected]) on 10 October 2003 |
I'm a legend only in my own mind. The fixed wheel boys thought I was a wimp (I agree, twice as many gears as needed and I didn't pedal downhill ;-).
PBP is one of the few events where any machine (that someone is willing to ride 1200 km) is allowed to ride together, standard bike, upright trike, recumbent, tandem, triplet, doesn't matter. Odd bikes are even encouraged (the film crews like wierd machines). Alpo is the first bloke to attempt PBP (and to qualify for it) on a scooter. I'm waiting for the first skateboarder to finish next time.
In '99 an American qualified and started PBP (but DNFed) on an arm-powered machine. There was a brave man!
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| From: sg (:() on 11 October 2003 |
| ICE website is back on line |
| From: Carlton Reid ([email protected]) on 12 October 2003 |
| That mag has done a nice, detailed piece on the Wright Bros but didn't dwell on their bike business. This piece of mine does...http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/infozone/article.php?id=2965 |
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