Velo Vision links page

Here you'll find links to interesting sites and organisations: please do email with suggestions, or to report dead links. In roughly alphabectical order within each section.

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  • Online news

    • Bentrideronline: Online recumbent mag - mostly US-oriented but that may change now one of their editors has moved to Germany.
    • Byke Kultuur Never: Seamus King's spoof cycling mag which outlasted many of its victims.
    • Folding Society: Lots of resources for folding bike owners.
    • Ligfiets: The main news site for the Dutch HPV scene - regular news, and some articles get translated into English.
    • Raging Bike: The place to go to rant about nasty things that happen to you on the road - also UK-oriented campaign and environment-type news.
    • Singletrackworld: The best of the MTB magazine sites.
    • Velorution: hard-edged blog from workbike.org creater Andrea Casalotti. Well worth a look.

  • Web resources

    • BikeBiz: The UK cycle trade website. Public 'Infozone' has many useful resources, including a 'situations vacant' page - rest of the site is trade-only.
    • Cycling and Your Child: Useful website with information for parents. Excellently produced leaflet suitable as a hand-out for schools etc is available as a free PDF download. Also plenty of good advice for family cycling, aimed at the newcomer to the field.
    • Harriscyclery: The late Sheldon Brown's famous internet site: if you have a technical question, chances are the answer's here somewhere. The humour page is particularly fine.
    • Icebike: All (and more) you might ever want to know about riding when it's cold. Great resource.
    • Messengers.org: The internet centre for courier culture worldwide. Includes details of courier companies all over. Check their What's New page for updates.
    • Mini_Bents: Recumbents for children page run by Mark Stonich. Lots of homebuilt kids' recumbents, and a few commercial ones too.
    • Sturmey Archer Heritage: Website dedicated to a mainly pictoral history of the Sturmey Archer hub gear, with advertisments, magazine articles and exploded and sectioned views of the various hub models.
    • Once Ridden: A free ad site, for selling your bike or browsing for something new. Pretty much all types of bike catered for, including recumbents, folders, etc.
    • Whycycle: Impartial advice site for new cyclists. Good site to refer beginners to.

  • Forums. Many of the websites mentioned here have forums or discussion boards, but here are a few more specific cycling forums:

    • Another Cycling Forum: Independent forum providing knowledge exchange, reviews, discussion and banter.
    • Bike Radar: This forum brings together the readers of Cycling Plus, Procycling, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Bike UK. Masses of sections, mainly covering Mountain Biking and Racing but there are Commuting, Family and Special Interest sections.
    • Cyclechat: Independent discussion board billed as "A friendly place for everyone with an interest in cycling". Beginners, technical knowhow and general socialising.
    • Cycle Social: Billed as "The UK cyclists' social network", with a forum, photos, links to blogs and more. A sort of Facebook for UK cycling...
    • Folding World: A discussion board specifically for those with an interest in folding bikes and trikes.
    • Tandem Club: The Tandem Club discussion board, the place for all tandem related queries and messages.

  • Organisations:

    • British Human Power Club: The place to go for UK HPV racing, and some good build-your-own HPV advice too.
    • British Pedalcar Championship: For those who prefer exciting HPV racing on four wheels.
    • Company of Cyclists: Info on their local authority roadshows, commuting support scheme, holidays, and ex-Open Road stocks of BCQ, Encycleopedia and other books.
    • Cyclemagic: A Leicester based not-for-profit organisation running projects including training, cycle promotion events, bike recycling and special needs cycling.
    • Cyclescheme: A UK based tax saving scheme aimed at getting more people to cycle, which allows the purchase of bikes at a discount through an employer.
    • Edinburgh Cycle Campaign: Regular news updates and plenty of good resources.
    • IHPVA: Huge site of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. Vast collection of links, images etc - and sign up from here for many interesting (and free) mailing lists. I strongly recommend joining the HPVA :-)
    • Netherlands Pedersen Fellowship: An active club with regular meetings for fans of the ingenious Pedersen Bicycle.
    • Safe Routes to Schools: Very worthwhile UK organisation getting more kids onto bikes for the school run. Check the website for ways to help or get involved.

  • Other Publications:

    • A to B magazine: Useful publication focussing on folding and electric bikes and transport issues. Site has useful run-downs of available electric bikes and folders.
    • Australian cyclist: Site of Australian Cyclist, an excellent publication which has been doing a subscription exchange with Velo Vision for some years now. Website content includes various product reviews, tour reports and much more. Well worth a visit, and an especially useful resource if you're planning a visit.
    • Bicycle Quarterly: US based magazine, with reviews, road tests, history and technical matters.
    • Carbusters: Published by the World Carfree Network to challenge a prevailing car culture and explore alternatives.
    • Encycleopedia: Latest incarnation of Open Road's Encycleopedia yearbook of alternative cycling recently revived to mixed reviews. Rarely updated.
    • Momentum: Magazine from Canada. Great free-distribution mag (you can also subscribe) which is radical and cool - loadsa fun and makes bikes sexy too. Lots of velolove in this one - even if you're not local, worth a read.
    • New Orleans Bicycles: Website of the New Orleans Bicycles photobook project, with plenty of pictures and links to various cycling resource sites.
    • Outyourbackdoor: Publishers of the English-language version of The Recumbent Bicycle and many other interesting niche, DIY and hobby books - and more, including the adaptable Five Way Bag - rucksack, pannier, bar bag, saddlebag and shoulderbag all in one.
    • The Unicycle Magazine: The title speaks for itself - a magazine devoted to unicycling!

  • Manufacturers. By no means an exhaustive list:

    • Workbikes/load carrying/trailers/uprights with a difference:

      • Cycles Maximus: Modern high-performance load-trike available as flatbed, box, pedicab and electric-assisted versions. Definitely among the best around for performance and reliability - see many features in Velo Vision for companies using these trikes.
      • Pedersen: Modern incarnation of a classic built for comfort with a hammock saddle.
      • Wandertec: Manufacturer of the Cello kit which makes a flight case out of a BOB trailer. See our story here and also the review in Issue 18.
      • Xtracycle: Wheelbase-extending kit that boosts load capacity of a bike. They now also have a European distributor: Xtracycle Europe.
      • Zerocycles: Bikes equipped with a chain-free shaft-drive system.

    • Recumbents:

      • Aerorider: Velomobile from the Netherlands, often electric-assisted, with lovely styling and fully enclosed fairing.
      • Altena Bike: Dutch recumbent manufacturer whose range includes the Double Dutch tandem and the child's Estrellita model.
      • Burrows Engineering. Maker of recumbents such as the Ratcatcher, and the load carrying upright 8-Freight. No website. Phone: 01603 721700.
      • Catrike: US recumbent trike maunfacturer, dealers in various other countries worldwide.
      • Challenge recumbents: Sporty bikes and trikes.
      • Cruzbikes: US maunfacturer of front wheel drive recumbent bikes. Buy direct, or check for local dealers.
      • Dutchbikes: An online supplier of complete velomobile kits and parts for recumbent homebuilders, including seats, foam and chain tubes.
      • Flevobike: Dutch recumbent bike manufacturer, producer of the Green Machine. Dealers across Europe.
      • Greenspeed: One of the world's largest and best respected manufacturers of recumbent trikes, also AU distributors for Velo Vision and Brompton.
      • Hase bikes: German producer of the Kettwiesel and Lepus tadpole trikes, the Tagun recumbent bike, Pino tandem and more.
      • Inspired Cycle Engineering: British manufacturers of the Trice range.
      • KMX Karts: UK manufacturer of recumbent trikes, with models aimed at the off-road fun and kids' market as well as road cycling.
      • Nazca: Dutch manufacturer of recumbent bikes from the more upright Cruiser to the racy Fuego.

    • Folding Bikes:

      • Airnimal: High performance folding bikes.
      • Bike Friday: Producer of folding bikes and tandems, for touring on and off road.
      • Downtube: US budget folding bike, reviewed in VV31. UK distributor is Velocholocate.
      • Moulton: Not strictly a folder, but separable and small wheeled, this is a compact British classic.
      • Riese und Mueller: Manufacturer of the Birdy folder, the latest model of which was reviewed in Issue 24
      • Strida: Iconic 'triangular' folding bike - now in a Mark 5 version with much improved stiffness while losing none of its unique style...

    • Special Needs Equipment:

      • Mission Cycles: Good range of good value machines including upright trikes, trailerbikes and trikes, electric bikes, folders, even pedalcars too! Do a nice stylish Chopper Trike, plus various load-carrying trailers.

    • Components, Accessories and Services:

      • Bike-Eye: Frame mounted rear view mirror.
      • Cycleguard: Theft or public liability insurance for all types of bikes and cycling, plus an optional roadside recovery policy.
      • Lumicycle: High performance lighting systems.
      • Moonsaddle: As the name suggests, a saddle shaped like a crescent moon - the noseless shape helps to relieve pressure on delicate parts. Reviewed in Issue 28.
      • Radical Design: Specialist bags and panniers for recumbents, the Cyclone trailer and Brompton accessories.
      • Schlumpf: Mountain and Speed Drives for bikes and trikes, and geared hubs for unicycles.
      • Schwalbe: Tyres of all sorts and sizes.
      • Spiderflex saddles: A 'unique patented' two-swivelling-pads type of saddle.
      • Ventisit: Makers of ventilated recumbent seat pads.
      • Zwei bags: from Riese and Mueller. Multi-function bags to carry on the bike or your back.

  • Specialist dealers

    • Specialist dealers - UK

      • Amba Marketing: UK distributers of a large range of components, accessories and bikes.
      • Bicycle Doctor: Based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Repair and spares services for all sorts of bikes, plus bike hire and a cycling books library.
      • Bigfoot Bikes: Kent-based shop who do folding and electric bikes amongst other nice things. Go to their site via this link and Velo Vision gets 5% of anything you spend there.
      • Bikes and Trailers: Sussex again and a huge range of cycle trailers of all sorts.
      • Bikefix: London store, with informative webpages about their wide range - recumbents to folders to workbikes and more.
      • Cyclecentric: Importer of Mobiky, Bacchetta, Bernds, Hase and Optima machines.
      • Cycle Sorted: Cycle repair service, based in Birmingham, who aim to get people back on their bikes as quickly and cheaply as possible. Individual repairs or servicing. See their website, or call 07950 580 606 for details and prices.
      • D.Tek. Recumbent specialist dealer based in Cambridgeshire. New and second hand stock. No website. Phone: 01353 648177 or email [email protected]
      • Foldingbikes.co.uk: Online folding-bike store, an arm of Avon Valley Cyclery, Bath.
      • Futurecycles: In East Sussex, with a wide range of UK and European HPVs to hire or buy.
      • Kinetics: Glasgow dealer - recumbents, electric-assist specialists and importers of lots of interesting stuff. Also worth a try if you need something custom built.
      • Laid Back Bikes: David Gardiner's enthusiast dealership in Edinburgh, specialising in try-out and tours on recumbents. Bikes include machines from Bevo, Challenge, Nazca, and Laidback are also a contact for Altena Bike.
      • London Recumbents: Sale and hire of recumbents, particularly the Dutch Challenge range, in London's Dulwich Park.
      • Norman Fay Cycles: North East England's specialist bike shop - folders, recumbents, trailers, bags and more.
      • The Old Bicycle Company: Specialist website for vintage cycle enthusiasts. That's 'enthusiasts of vintage cycles', not just cycle enthusiasts who happen to be vintage, although if you are vintage yourself, have a look anyway... All sorts of parts and accessories for sale, and a forum for discussions on all vintage bike topics.
      • Really Useful Bikes: Based near Bristol, a dealer specialising in utility bikes like the Yuba Mundo, Xtra Cycle, Bakfiets and more.
      • Trikes and Stuff: Importers of the Catrike recumbent trike range from the USA, based in Gillingham, Kent.
      • Westcountry Recumbents: Greenspeed and Stein distributors, makers of the Trikes CD-ROM and more.
      • 50cycles: UK distributor of electric bikes and accessories.
      • Onbike: UK electric bike specialist dealers in Kidderminster and Presteigne.

    • Specialist dealers - outside the UK

      • Antbikemike: Alternative Needs Transportation. Mike Flanagan's utility/commuting cycling oriented shop in Holliston, Massachusetts, USA. Makes some interesting workbikes and carrier racks/baskets. Check out the neat headbadge art on their homepage!
      • Calhoun Cycle: Minneapolis, USA. US Velo Vision distributor and much more.
      • Pacific Cycles: Distributor of various brands, including Birdy, Reach, Carry Me and Handy, covering folders, special needs and more.
      • Trikespecialist: Amsterdam shop dedicated to recumbent trikes, with the opportunity to rent various models to try out.
      • Wallingford Bicycle Parts: Dealer based in New Orleans, USA, selling Brooks saddles, Orlieb, Berthoud and Carradice Bags, and much more.
      • Workcycles: Amsterdam. A wide selection of workbikes and passenger carrying bikes, the solution to almost every utility cycling need.

  • Holidays and travel. A small selection of the many companies offering cycling holidays, and websites with useful local information:

    • Bicycle Beano: Long established cycle holiday company. They say "Sociable cycling holidays on the idyllic lanes of Wales and England, with delicious organic vegetarian cuisine."
    • Bolero Holidays: UK company specialising in holidays at the Union Lido Holiday Park on the Venetian coast, Italy. Bike hire is available for those wishing to explore the area on two wheels.
    • Cyclebreaks: A company offering touring holidays, predominantly in Norfolk and Suffolk, but also across Europe.
    • Cyclefeast and Bike Right: Friendly, informal gatherings organised annually in Northumberland.
    • Cycling Sideways: Useful resource pages for cycling in Wales and the Welsh Borders. Travel and tourist info, train timetable links, etc.
    • Digngo: High end tour company organising tours in France, concentrating on culture, gastronomy and wine.
    • European Bike Express: Very useful service to transport bikes (even unusual ones) to various continental destinations. They've had a link up for ages so glad to return the favour at last.
    • German Cycling Tours: They say: "Based in Germany, the company offers guided cycling tours with an English speaking local guide in the most scenic areas of Germany such as Bavaria, Rhine Valley, Saxon Switzerland or Elbe Valley."

  • Other interesting stuff

    • Atomic Zombie: Great do-it-yourself site about building fun and crazy machines, including a builders' support forum.
    • Cycling Films: Seamus King's guide to films and TV shows about or featuring cycling - there's more than you might think. Well over 150 as I write this...
    • Cyc-o-vision: This website is dedicated to a cyclist's eye view of bad driving. Contributions are welcome, and with helmet and bike mounted camera technology getting better and more popular, this site should grow.
    • www.eland.org.uk: Velo Vision editor Peter Eland's (rarely updated) personal website. Includes details of his home-built tandem recumbent trike, tricycle steering geometry design spreadsheets and also cheap and free CAD software reviews.
    • Outdoor Industry Jobs: Mainly US and Canada based job opportunities in all sorts of outdoor activities, including cycling.
    • patentpending.blogs.com: Bicycle technology blog from a patent attorney - inventions, patents etc, mostly historical.
    • Pedal Express: Cycle couriers in Berkeley, California. Don't miss their 'Hauling Really Big Things' page!
    • Projection3: "Impressions from bicycle travels": a non-commercial tour photo site by Paul Jeurissen and Grace Johnson, with some lovely images, mainly of America and Asia. Available in Dutch, too.
    • Ripon Loiterers: They say: "Ripon Loiterers arrange cycle rides in the beautiful local countryside. We are a small friendly club that caters for all abilities."
    • We Ride Bikes: Site featuring cycling videos, including helmet cam footage - mainly dowhill mountain biking at the moment. Join up to add your videos.
    • Hilldodger's Cycling History Site: Roger Lovell's cycling history blog, with snippets of history, photos and more.
    • Paul Batty Photography: York area cycling photographer - for weddings and more - and plenty of experience taking pictures of bikes!
    • Asgard: Bradford-based supplier of secure bike storage sheds, for homes, schools and more...

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