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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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A Cyclefest to end all Cyclefests...Just back from the final 'Fest in Lancaster, a quite splendid event. Report contains many images... I arrived at Cyclefest on Friday afternoon - the site was already busy, with early arrivals having turned up on Wednesday and enjoyed social rides on Thursday and Friday, along with a talk by Eco-Trip organiser Ken Davison. There were a good few Eco-Trip participants present at Cyclefest among the perhaps 300 registered, with some interesting tales to tell about the journey. We hope for a proper write-up next issue... As usual the event was based about the campus of St Martin's College in Lancaster, and camping and student room accommodation was available. I arrived just in time for a splendid barbeque at the 'Social Bar' followed by much mingling and greeting old friends and readers. This was followed by an interesting talk from Bob Tennant of MICWIC Recumbents, maker of the Delta back-to-back two-wheeler and the 'Commuter 7' LWB bikes. He explained amongst much else about how (running) marathon organisers were very interested in using the back-to-back bikes as platforms for camera crews to film runners underway - avoiding the problems of fumes and noise which the current motorbike filming rigs bring with them. Saturday morning was baking hot and sunny. A vast mass of bikes and riders gathered: before several rides departed from the front of the college: first off was a folder ride, incorporating a train journey. The conductor must have been a little bemused as 38 folded bicycles were crammed into the carriages... I rode on the 10:30 ride to Knott End - a big beach/resort sort of place, and about 20 miles each way. A HUGE group of riders was underway - I'd guess over 100 - and it wasn't always easy for traffic to pass. On the way back, though, we split into smaller groups and had a pleasant ride home, taking in a section of off-road cycleway too. Among the riders was Alan Smith of KMX Karts who was riding one of their adult-sized 'K Class' pre-production prototypes, fitted with road tyres and panniers. I had a brief ride myself, and it was really quite impressive. As trikes go these days it's relatively high and narrow - perhaps a more 'touring-like' position than one might have expected. They tell me there are still just a few left of the first 50 which are available at a pre-order price of £595. Production machines are expected to arrive in a couple of months. Hillclimbs up the college drive were underway as we got back: And after that and some food, the evening talk was from Chris Parker of ICE. He explained the history of the Trice and a fascinating biography of Peter Ross, its original inventor. He went on to explain how he and Neil Selwood teamed up to take over the Trice business and came to develop the wide range of machines they make today, before introducing their latest models - the 'more affordable' ICE T and ICE Q. Here Chris shows Mike Burrows the 'T' model. We should have a review of this machine in Velo Vision 15, out early September. Mike Burrows was at Cyclefest with his latest machine - inspired by a clipping sent in by a reader and printed in the Letters page of our own Velo Vision Issue 13 (page 45): To steer, the front wheel swivels on cunningly constructed bearings in the front hub, through which also runs the crank axle. Steering lock is somewhat limited by the frame members, but it's fine for racing. The drive is to a conventional rear wheel derailleur. I had a brief ride on the Sunday and once you get going it's really quite easy to ride. Next day dawned hot and sunny again, and the whole mass of Cyclefesters rode down to Morecambe Prom over Lancaster's Millennium cycle bridge: After cups of tea and general promenading on the prom... ... it was back to the Salt Ayre cycle track to watch BHPC races, fun races, and just to generally laze around: As I was on my Go-Bike, and there were plenty of other folders around, we took the opportunity to do a little side-by-side line-up: It's Frog, Brompton, Birdy and GoBike. The pic is a little unfair to the GoBike - remove some of the light brackets etc from the seatpost and it would go down a fair bit further. After this, many Cyclefesters went back to the College for cream teas - I was kindly transported home by the nice people at Westcountry Recumbents. As ever, thanks to organisers Pat and John, all volunteer helpers and indeed everyone who took part. As the last Cyclefest it was a very special event, and went out with a real flourish - a most enjoyable gathering all round. And as usual, there were a LOTs of interesting bikes and people there. We'll report on some of these with more and better pictures in the next thrilling issue of Velo Vision Magazine, out early September :-) Although this was the last Cyclefest for the forseeable future, the good news is that UK special bike enthusiasts won't be entirely bereft of events to attend next year. Well-known cycling photographer Jason Patient is organising 'Bike Feast 2005' in Northumberland. He says: "A new alternative cycling festival based in north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, aiming to attract an eclectic mixture of international cyclists. Based around the weekend of 6th and 7th of August 2005. Email address for info [email protected]". Be there! Posted on 13 August 2004 Your comments ...
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