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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 16. The next issue is out early March 2005.
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History callingAustralia conference calls for papers, while the V-CC look at recreating a famous UK train ride from 50 years ago... Australasian Cycle History Conference 2nd-4th April 2005 They write: The conference will be in the conference rooms of the Dickson Quality Hotel, Cape St Dickson, Canberra. This is also the home of the Canberra Bicycle Museum. The theme of the conference is "The History of the Early Australian Cycle Manufacturers". The conference will attract cycle historians from Australia and New Zealand who are invited to present papers on their favourite cycle manufacturer/s. Australia has had many hundreds of cycle manufacturers since the late 1800s and while some like 'Malvern Star' have been researched, most have not. This is your opportunity to research your favourite or local bike builder and then share your discoveries with us. One aim of the conference is to encourage further research into our vast array of past and present local cycle manufacturers and will allow that gleaned information to be accessible to the public. Another aim is to give cycle historians and other cycle buffs the opportunity to get together and discuss their interests in congenial surroundings. In 2003, Canberra hosted the 14th International Cycle History Conference which was very successful and there was a clear enthusiasm demonstrated for a regular Australian conference to be established. The venue will be the Conference Centre of the Dickson Quality Inn which is in the same complex as the Canberra Bicycle Museum and is close to the Cycle History Resource Centre. Accommodation will be available at the venue at attractive rates. For more information contact us by email at: [email protected] or write to: Canberra Bicycle Museum, PO Box 498 Dickson ACT 2602 Australia or see teh website: http://www.canberrabicyclemuseum.com.au/HistoryConference.htm. *************** Cyclists' Special - 50 years on Meanwhile, in the UK, Dave Holladay writes (kindly fwded by John Jermy): On 8th May 1955 the CTC with BR Midland Region and BTC train charter, organised a 200+ place train from Willesden and Watford Junction stations, to Rugby. The whole event was filmed by BT Films, and is a 15 minute classic "Cyclists Special". 8th May 2005 is also a Sunday, and Veteran-Cycle Club members (VCC is also celebrating 50 years in 2005) have mooted re-riding the event, which is gathering momentum as ideally we re-run the whole thing. A train-load of cyclists (up to 400 on one train is possible) from London to Rugby and a series of day-rides around Warwickshire. The 1955 filming would be re-shot at the same locations, showing some dramatic changes, and equally some things almost exactly the same 50 years later. The original ride organiser (John Stanton is still active and living in Coventry as is ride leader Gordon Mead (who is still riding distances) and several others who were on the trains (in 1955,56,57) are up to do the event again. John S incidentaly looks exactly like his photo in the 1956 Gazette. How will it work? Well a heritage (steam) train creates all sorts of additional costs, and the idea of making a contemporary version - showing all the changes seems a better bet. For the train spotters out there the use of unusual locomotives, and a train of BG vans and SO coaches should attract rail enthusiasts to fill spare seats. The cost is likely to be between £25 and £30 which compares favourably with the 1955 prices. A souvenir/Jubilee pack can be produced subject to demand, and obviously tracing historic detail like the original timetable, train crew and rolling stock, can enhance this. The 1956 event (to Coventry and back from Leamington Spa) is available as a BBC Newsreel report from the BBC archive, and we believe there is a similar report for the 1955 one, wrongly catalogued. We have located the owner of rights to reproduce VHS and DVD copies of the film, along with the 1956 CTC tour of Austria (also issued by BT Films but largely filmed by Reg Shaw the CTC Secretary, who carried the 80lb of filming gear on his bike!) Cost per copy, with the report from the Gazette on the day out, is likely to be around £6 plus carriage. Offers of sponsorship/underwriting the train hire, would be welcomed! If this works OK we could offer return from Brighton to London in just under an hour with such trains running as specials, for around 400 cyclists at a time, at a cost roughly the same as the standard single fare. The Downhill World Cup (Fort William) also presents an interesting opportunity, especially if the exterior of the vans can be sold as advertising. Interested people e-mail me directly on [email protected] and [email protected] making it clear whether you would book a ticket on the train for an individual, co-ordinate a group booking, or want a DVD or VHS copy of the film. Posted on 18 January 2005 Your comments ...
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