Welcome to Velo Vision Issue One, March 2001

Buoyed up by bikes

As Velo Vision makes its appearance, the pain of the first print bill is offset by a huge optimism I feel as I contemplate the task ahead. It's hardly a task, really - it's a pure pleasure to report on the activities, dreams and beliefs of people who, like me, feel passionately about cycling. People making their living by riding, defining the urban logistics of the future. People who keep cycle cultures across the world alive. People who push for a cleaner future with the kaleidoscope of human power beyond cycling. All the people who, around the world, are promoting, using, creating, celebrating or just plain enjoying bikes.

It's a fascinating field, and full of promise. I'm confident that, with the help of many of you reading this, I'll never run short of material.

To do this justice, I want Velo Vision to be a good read, with production values to match. It should be a magazine you can give to non-cycling friends. They'll find an interesting article or two, and perhaps come away with a taste of why we believe bikes belong. You should also enjoy the magazine yourself, of course. I'll try to balance the technical and the practical with the inspiring and esoteric. The format and content will evolve as we go, so feedback is very much appreciated.

Velo Vision takes adverts, clustered at the back of the magazine, and limited in number. In this way, the 'calmness' of the editorial section is unaffected. I believe that interesting advertisements from companies themselves passionate about cycling enhance the magazine.

Many readers will have been subscribers to Velo Vision's predecessor, Bike Culture Quarterly, when the company behind it, Open Road, went into liquidation. I was editor of BCQ, and was made redundant shortly before the end. I should make it clear that I was not involved in the management or finances. Also, the former directors of Open Road are not involved in Velo Vision in any way, except possibly as potential advertisers. Although in its time Open Road did create some wonderful publications, Velo Vision will be a very different business.

My guiding philosophy is 'Keep it Simple'. And punctual. I'm concentrating full-time on the magazine and website, and have absolutely no plans to do anything else. I'll also try to keep Velo Vision open and transparent - keep an eye on the website, where you'll find the latest news of progress. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Before I sign off, thanks once again to all of the many people who have encouraged and supported me in getting Velo Vision started. I'll do my very best to make it a magazine to remember.

Peter Eland

Unfortunately, the paper magazine is now sold out. Some of the articles are available for you to download free as PDF - if you don't already have the required (free) Acrobat Reader software for these you can get it here. We've also made the entire magazine available for download as PDF: you can find out more here and order via the Velo Vision online shop.

• 3 Contents and ed's letter. Click to download this article as PDF (44k)
• 4 News: the latest from the website, inventions, and more
• 10 Delivering the workbike message: a day with a PEDEX rider in Berkeley, California. Click to download this article as PDF (110k)
• 12 The Worlds on White Bear Lake: HPV racing on ice
• 14 Reviews: books and videos from around the world
• 18 Dreaming of a Minibago: a mobile home with pedals
• 20 Icons of Africa: Claude Marthaler meets the people who make cycles from wire
  
• 26 Off the wall: the stunning mural on a San Francisco bikeway
  
• 32 Winging it: A reader down under reports on the Hobie Cat pedal canoe
  
• 34 Review: life with the Birdy red.
• 38 The Lightspin dynamo - two Greenspeeders test it out. Click to download this article as PDF (60k)
• 40 Racing for the moon: college teams compete in the shadow of the Shuttle
• 42 The Devil's Dynasty: on the pottery trail in Hungary
• 45 Letters
• 46 How to subscribe
• 47 Advertising - please support these companies, who support this magazine.