SPEZI 2015 - Velo Vision

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CON T E N T S
SEPTEMBER 2015
Velo Vision is published by Howard
Yeomans T/A Velo Vision.
Subscription details and the forum
can be found at www.velovision.com
and regular news and updates on the
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ISSN 1475-4312
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4News
German Special Bikes Show, including all that caught our eye from the
manufacturers and home builders.
tandem now splits in two. Read the
designer’s reasoning and how it works for the riders.
43 Ian Bloys Roulandt: A rust-covered discovery in Australia is returned to better -than-full health and to the continent from which it originated.
46 Lecicle: The wooden velomobile built like a boat to serve the mobility needs of a
city-bound family.
22
Review: 8 Freight
48
We test the esoteric cargo bike. Has a final move to modern manufacture brought out the best of the unusual design or diluted its characteristic appeal?
We test a set of these in-wheel suspension wheels, fully redesigned for recumbent trikes.
27
Short reviews
51
Spin London
RoadRing: the bright, amber indicator you wear on the finger.
Yepp Cargo Cosmo: a large rubber basket with a one-second fold.
Mike Burrows endures a day in a disused underground car park at the capital’s new urban bike show. He says it was so good,
they already demolished the venue.
28
Review: Hase Kettwiesel Evo FS with Steps
52
Dropping in on dealers
Hase, a manufacturer renowned for thinking of everything, appear now
to have built the trike with everything. We test the new Kettweisel with full
suspension and Shimano electric assist.
We visit the Cargo Bike Company, a custom-build manufacturer in Derby to
see how a British builder delivers on cost and performance.
33
Book review: Bicycle Design
34
Bespoked 2015
58
Subscribe to Velo Vision
Another report from the growing Bristol-
based show. While the bikes get no less polished, new entrants on the fringe also shine a path towards more specialisation.
How to subscribe, back issues and details of our distributors worldwide.
40
Readers’ bikes
Sinclair bike, Challenger velomobile relaunch, a striking ‘tinplate’ cargo trike, news, events and more.
10SPEZI
A comprehensive show report from the 40 Separable Circe Helios: The 20-inch
Fresh fields
COVER: Oliver Taylor of London
Recumbents bearing the classic trike
‘grin’ while riding the Hase Kettwiesel
Evo. Read all about it on page 28.
OPPOSITE: The Workhaus Artist’s
Bike on display at the Bespoked 2015
Constructors Challenge, designed and
built by Duncan Henderson for his friend
and artist Sam Hewitt. Read more in the
Bespoked show report on page 37.
Sam Hewitt. samhewittpaintings.com
Review: Loopwheels for trikes
54Letters
A selection of letters, including a reader’s big wheel folding bike, a Noomad quad and surprise birthday wishes.
58Advertisements
The first place to look for specialist
products and services. Please support these advertisers, who support this magazine!
readers at the York Cycle Rally in June.
To complement the news and reports, we also bring you
the essential reviews. In future issues, I aim to maintain the
My first issue is finished and ‘under my belt’. We’ve had
established balance of content, unless you tell me otherwise
some busy months, relocating Velo Vision, virtually and
– your opinion is the one that matters, so please do tell me
literally, to pastures new – note the new contact address!
what you think. Your inventions and designs, too, are always
May I first thank Peter for a great deal of support this year
welcome, so if you want to share anything, small or large,
and, naturally, for his sterling work: first, in setting up this
please write in.
amazing publication and, second, for running the magazine.
Fourteen great years – congratulations, Peter!
Peter and I attended two productive trade shows this
Finally, I’m sorry for the delay in publication. We’re
learning as we go, so we’ll continue publishing at a rate of
two issues per year. I’m working on Issue 50 already!
year – SPEZI and Bespoked – where we gathered much
material. Also, I was delighted to meet so many enthusiastic
Howard Yeomans
PHOTOS: Howard Yeomans.
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELO VISION
S P E Z I 2015
SPEZI 2015
Recumbent Bikes
Peter and I travelled by bicycle, train,
foot and plane to the 20th SPEZI in
Germersheim, Germany. More than
100 exhibitors, including nearly every
major European manufacturer and a
good number from further afield, were
represented. Perhaps more significantly,
a greater number of independent,
small businesses and individuals had
made their own journeys of discovery
and adventure to reach the show and
display their work.
As usual, some of the boldest ideas and
innovation came from the emerging
makers, adding great interest and
variety. To mark 20 years of the show,
an exhibition of material from the
archive was put together, giving a
valuable perspective on how both the
show and the machines have developed.
10
VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
SCHLITTER ENCORE
A renowned name in recumbent bike
circles, John Schlitter was a guiding
force in the emergence of modern
recumbents to the USA market
from RANS and Bacchetta. With this
knowledge, and his experience of
road endurance recumbent riding, he
formed a team of three designers, who
together completed the Encore.
The attractively flowing frame lines
of the lightweight high-racer frameset
can be combined with standard road
bike components. By leaving the
final specification to the whim and
the wallet of the customer, a good
deal of complication associated with
componentry and stock is taken out
of the product, while allowing the
customer the ultimate freedom to
specify their own groupset and wheels.
If it wasn’t the looks, then it may
have been the specification sheet
that kept a healthy flow of visitors to
the Schlitter stand. The main parts
in the kit are the full carbon fibre
frame, a choice of three forks; and the
lightweight composite seat, which
comes in several sizes and shapes.
Unlike the bare carbon bike shown
S P E Z I 2015
here, the main frame comes in either
red, orange or pink gelcoat finish.
Frames are built to the rider’s x-seam
dimension, so while the boom is not
telescopic, the seat adjusts by ± 8 cm
(3") fore and aft, giving every chance
of accommodating changes in shoes,
crank length, or pedals, for example.
Compatible wheel sizes range from
26" (559) to 700c (622), and up to 42
mm width. With the smallest wheels,
seat height comes down a little, but for
anyone who still finds themselves short
of leg, there is a plan to make a 20" (406)
front fork for an even lower seat height.
On the practical side, the front fork
options cater for caliper or disc brakes
with eyelets for mudguards, and at the
rear end, more eyelets are provided to
fit a rack if needed.
The frameset, including chain idler
pulley and ‘double-J’ handlebars is
€1925. A distributor network is now
being established in Europe and is
already set up for the USA market.
www.schlit ter.bike
CRUZBIKE
BELOW: Cruzbike Vendetta
equipped with typical road
bike components. One
customer has reportedly
built a Vendetta with a total
weight of 8.3 kg.
BELOW: Encore fork options.
Two of these distinctive bikes featured
on the Cruzbike stand, showing
new frames for both Vendetta and
Silvio models. All Cruzbikes have the
signature front fork and transmission
arrangement, where the fork, crankset,
boom and handlebar pivot as one
unit. The front wheel drive setup
allows a larger front wheel, 700c in the
case of these bikes, without the foot
interference issues or very high bottom
bracket with fixed boom designs.
The Cruzbike now has a very wellproven record in race and endurance
events, in particular in the hands of
Maria Parker, showing exceptional
performance over flat and undulating
terrain. A look at the user forums
online shows how well-renowned
Cruzbikes are now with cyclists who
enjoy the occasional ‘hill’.
The frames of both the Vendetta
and the new Silvio are aluminium
and sold as framesets to allow the
customer to complete specification
and assembly with their choice of
road bike components. The Silvio is
a suspended model, with carbon leaf
frame members at the rear, allowing
flex in the vertical plane so shock
can be absorbed and damped by a
small elastomer behind the seat. Rear
suspension travel is 25 mm and, at the
front, an adjustable air shock within
the steerer tube allows 40 mm of travel.
We are hoping for a review of the Silvio
in a future issue. Silvio and Vendetta
framesets are both priced at €2800.
www.cycles-bentoline.com
RIGHT: Cruzbike Silvio
fork steerer suspension
and attractive carbon rear
wheel stays.
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
11
S P E Z I 2015
Velomobiles
CYCLE EN TRANSITION
Thibaut Salloignon has been
developing a design and
manufacturing system for a range
of bicycles for several years. The
idea is to use two or three extruded
aluminium profiles and a minimum
of special parts to be able to construct
a selection of bicycles, using only
basic tools and mechanical skills.
Once assembled, adjustments
to the frame are straightforward,
allowing customisation, or geometry
changes, which sounds ideal for rapid
prototyping. If desired, the whole bike
can be broken down and the parts
reused for another design.
As you might expect, a diverse
selection of radical and conventional
cycle configurations have been tried,
all made from a minimum number of
different parts. Mock-ups of a cycle
trailer, tandem bicycle, recumbent
bike, tall-bike, and a cargo bike have
all been considered, the most fully
developed of which is the utility bike
with the load carrier between split
handlebars. One aim of Cycle en
Transition is to make plans publicly
available, hopefully stimulating a
RÄDER WERK
TWO-SEATER MILAN
I wasn’t expecting to see a tandem
velomobile at the SPEZI and this
machine is not quite what you might
expect from the makers of one of the
fastest solo velomobiles out there.
Utility bike (above
and below) and ‘T’
trailer chassis, left.
growing community of builders and
developers. The project is currently
gathering followers, prior to launching
an online funding campaign.
www.cycleentransition.fr
AURILION DESIGN
EARTHGLIDER
This new German builder had just
finished two very similar prototype
machines in time for the show. Playing
it safe in design, a conventional
frame of cut and welded main tubes
lead down to a slender double stay
swingarm. The rear shock bears onto
an adjustable aluminium seat mount,
supporting the combined seat and
waterproof boot.
12
VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
An elastomer shock in the steerer
provides extra compliance at the front,
where the single-sided mono fork
allows the chain to pass the front wheel
without drama. A vacuum-formed
front fairing is also in development.
The Earthglider lowracer and a slightly
higher version (not shown) share a
20/26" wheel configuration. Both
models are going into production, but
prices are not yet available.
www.aurilion.de
LEFT and BELOW:
Earthglider fairings will
combine aerodynamics
and practicality while
the front wheelguard
may also stop chain/tyre
interference.
The Milan 4.2 certainly has the fast
looks, but it may not have the speedpotential, because only the front rider
has cranks, so the rear seat is a space
for cargo or a passenger. There is an
option to specify ‘Hybrid Drive’, which
would give a boost from a hub motor
with regenerative braking. Rated at
either 250 or 500 W, I am not sure of
its place in the European (or USA)
electric bike legislation, so limitations
on top assisted speed may apply.
The motor also has a convenient
reversing mode – a great help when
turning the 2.9 m-long machine. With
an extended wheelbase and the same
steering lock to the solo Milan, the
turning circle is approximately 12 m.
The tandem shares many
similarities in design and specification
with the Mk 2 solo machine:
monocoque construction with glass
or optional carbon fibre composite
body and a floorpan with composite
‘sandwich’ layers in critical areas.
Price not yet announced.
www.milan-velomobil.de
S P E Z I 2015
INTERCITY BIKE DF
MOSQUITO
The ‘all-carbon’ DF has been in
production now for one year and already
62 DFs have rolled out of the facility
in Dronten, the Netherlands. Because
poking your head inside a velomobile
can be uncomfortable and often fails to
fully enlighten, parts of the chassis were
‘exploded’ onto the table for people to
handle and examine closely.
www.intercit ybike.nl
We have closely followed the
story of the unique Mosquito
project for two years. Five
versions of the design have
now been built, extensively
tested in extremes of terrain
and environment for speed
and endurance. Oliver
Chambon rode this latest and
final prototype 1130 km from
Brittany to Germersheim in 5
days, proving both his own dedication
and the capability of the machine.
In this version, some of the mid
frame has been redesigned to lower the
seat, which is still made of that beautiful
lattice work. More significantly,
the total machine weight has been
dropped further, to less than 21 kg – an
astonishing figure for any fully-faired
machine. Most of the weight reduction
can be attributed to the newly
lacquered bamboo bodyshell, which
has minimal fibreglass reinforcement.
The bamboo shell is said to be
remarkably strong and tough enough
so as not to worry about it being
accidentally damaged.
After years of development, the
design is said to be frozen and Mosquito
are now accepting orders. Prices are
BELOW: Extensive use
of composites in the ‘full
carbon’ DF and DF XL.
The Q4W test rig.
VELOMOBIEL.NL Q4W
The Quattrovelo or Q4W was on
show in two parts: 1) the rolling test
rig chassis was on the move, up and
down the main SPEZI drag, showing
off its mechanical workings and 2) the
characterful body made an attractive
static display.
The advantages of adding an
extra wheel are numerous, including
a significant affect on traction and
stability, plus more practical luggage
space. Allert Jacobs indicated this is the
“way to go”, referring to the four-wheel
concept as a potential equal, or perhaps
superior velomobile, to the original
Quest. He explains a lot of the detail and
his thinking on his blog at Velomobiel.nl.
CYCLESJV-FENIOUX
A small team at the French recumbent
and velomobile retailer has been
developing its own range of faired
in the region of €6300 for an unfaired
trike, plus €2000 for the shell.
See mosquito-velomobiles.com where it
is also the intention to make public
some of the build plans as open
source material.
trikes for a few years now. The
Mulsanne is their second velomobile
model, named after an area of Le
Mans where they are based. The
Mulsanne is presented as a practical
velomobile whereas the Le Mans,
their first build, is the wheels-out
racing model.
David Massot, one of the three
members of staff, raced the Le Mans
at the HPV world championships at
Besançon in 2014, finishing strongly,
despite losing a wheel in a crash,
something that was, he says, entirely
due to riding into a concrete post!
In fact the bike was repaired and
continued to compete. First Mulsanne
models will be available in June 2015
and are priced around €7900.
www.cyclesjv.com
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
13
S P E Z I 2015
Recumbent Trikes
VELOMO HITRIKE
BAMBUK
This GTI version of the HiTrike
impressed the crowds by claiming to
be the lightest series production trike
at 10.96 kg. The full suspension frame,
including carbon leaf springs at the
front, did not appear, on the surface,
to have undergone changes since last
year, so a 3 kg weight reduction may
be the result of careful component
selection and modification. The
handlebar, steering stem, and the front
hubs all looked to have been revised.
However, to my eye, the generously
wide carbon fibre seat looked
unchanged. The HiTrike GTI is priced
at €5500.
Velomo also sell their Pinion front
boom installation compatible with
their own and third party recumbents,
including HPVelotechnik.
w w w.velomo.eu
These two full suspension trikes –
one solo, one tandem – show some
ambitious engineering and fresh
thinking on what a recumbent trike
can look like. Important features
include: double leaf composite
springs; enclosed shaft drive, on
the solo trike, connecting to a chain
final drive; intermediate electric
assist motor; and 26"/700c (559/622)
wheels.
GOBIIDAE FIRE
A return to SPEZI for the trike builders
from Barcelona, Spain, they displayed
an all-new model, one example of
which has full suspension. Both trikes
share the same frame, 20/26" (406/559)
wheels and component fit, the only
difference being the enclosed front
suspension. Seen protruding above
The tandem is specified with a
Rohloff rear hub, the solo with only
rear derailleur gears. On the tandem,
the gear control is offered in three set
ups: front control, rear control, or dual
control (two shifters to one hub). The
high seating position and chainless
front end, of both trikes, should make
getting seated easy and clean. These
first two are pre-production models
ABOVE: The folding full
suspension Fire has an
integral rear rack.
the headset, each suspension kingpin
contains an elastomer and bushings.
Safely protected from water and
contamination, the mechanism has the
potential to be very low maintenance.
All trikes are quick-foldable by an
under-seat hinge in the large diameter
main tube. The XC suspension model
is priced at €3690.
www.gobiidaetrikes.com
14
VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
FAR LEFT: Telescopic
suspension inside the
kingpin.
LEFT: A flat fold brings
the 26" rear wheel to rest
between front wheels.
and orders are now being taken for the
tandem model. Prices are from €4900,
up to €6200 with electric assist.
www.bambuk.de
S P E Z I 2015
MATIX TRIKE
From Poland, this pre-production
model of the Matix, a full-suspension
steel frame trike, looked impressively
rugged and ready for action. The allterrain geometry is intended for off
road use: 26" (559) wheels maximise
ground clearance and the wide track
allows extreme steering lock. Playing
on the ‘go-anywhere’ theme, online
videos show the trike riding over
various surfaces and obstacles. The
electric assist motor shown is an
optional accessory. The intention is to
sell directly to customers. See Matix on
Facebook, and www.gosal-shop.de.
STEINTRIKES WILD ONE
Thomas Seide almost broke free of
the Bike Revolution enclosure during
a dramatic demonstration of the full
suspension Wild One. By standing on
the seat, he showed, to good effect, the
100 mm of travel on all wheels, and
later the folding boom, which when
set up for taller riders, shortens the
machine considerably. I imagine riding
with that much suspension to be a lot
of fun, whether it be off-road or in the
‘urban jungle’.
All Steintrikes are very customisable
at the point of sale and built to the
requirements of each customer. BionX
D electric assist and preferred wheel
sizes can be specified. By keeping much
of the production in-house, including
the powder-coating, Steintrikes can
hand finish each machine and colourcoordinate luggage rack, wheel rims,
and each frame member – particularly
impressive on the full suspension
models.
www.steintrikes.de and
www.bike-revolution.at
ABOVE and LEFT:
The Matix has striking
paintwork and
dimensions – a heavily
engineered steel frame
should ride over obstacles
with ease.
TRIDENT TRIKES
Situating themselves squarely at the
high-value end of the recumbent trike
market, Trident Trikes have a range
of folding and non-folding models,
including this new very compact
folding model. Called the Odyssey, it
folds first by two hinges which allow
the cruciform to fold back, then two
hinges along the main spine which
shorten the package to 840 mm long
x 490 x 330 mm. All 18" (355) wheels
stay on during the fold and no tools
are required. The Odyssey will be
released in September, priced around
€3000.
www.trident trikes.com
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
15
S P E Z I 2015
Cargo Trikes
and Quads
Uprights and
Cargo Bikes
FLEXIPORTER
SWINGTRIKE
Appearing at first to be a very generous
cargo trike, it was later we realised
that the front half of the chassis shares
a lot of its components with a large
hand cart for street maintenance.
Hektor Steinhilber who designed the
Swingtrike, a folding three-wheeler,
was exhibiting an electric assist bicycle
with a central load bed. Keeping the
cargo low down in the frame will
minimise any adverse handling with
heavy loads and the rider can keep a
close watch on their cargo.
VELOVE ARMADILLO
This heavy-hauling cargo quad with
full suspension and electric assist was
brought to the SPEZI by Flevobike,
who are development partners in the
project. Visually, I didn’t find it half as
large as I expected; for scale, the cargo
area is the same as a Euro pallet. This
model is now under test with DHL
in Almere in the Netherlands. One
feature, not previously mentioned, is
how the storage box slides onto the
chassis with rails, allowing potentially
very rapid turnaround and minimum
idle time. The model in use by Pling in
Sweden has a two-wheel trailer with
an even larger load bed, which has
recently been tested to 400 kg.
See www.velove.se and www.flevobike.nl
RADKUTSCHE
MUSKETIER
Once again entering the cargo race,
this German heavyweight had a
flexible canvas roof over the load bed.
Predictably perhaps, the heavy rain
threatening to strike day one of SPEZI
failed to materialise until an hour
after the race. With the efficiency and
care of all removals companies, the
Radkutsche team made swift work of
the simulated house-move, swallowing
the mattress, plant pots and furniture
with ease.
www.radkutsche.de
16
VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
ABOVE: A Euro pallet
size container slides
onto the DHL dubbed
‘Cubicycle’ (Armadillo).
The cycling part did not appear
to be separable from the front
section; rather, this is something of a
divergence for a company that works
in sheet metal and tool making. The
roof on the show model appears to be
primarily for sun and rain protection.
www.flexiporter.de
The swooping top frame member
gives a low step-through height, but
appears to slightly compromise the
space that would otherwise have been
available for cargo. Nevertheless, a
number of everyday items could easily
attach to the load bed, including
crates, panniers, boxes, or even a
small suitcase – anything up to a
maximum size of 27 cm long x 45 cm
wide x 65 cm high. I am also assured
that a small child seat can be situated
in the space, facing backwards.
The Continental eBike mid drive,
an alternative to the very similar
looking Bosch and Shimano systems,
will give a welcome boost, delivering
power through the Shimano Alfine 11
speed hub. All together, I think this
looks like a very useful utility bike –
perfect perhaps, for the less athletic
rider. This model is priced at €2999,
and a version without electric assist
and with a SRAM Automatix rear hub
at €1099.
www.swingtrike.com
S P E Z I 2015
PATRIA PICKUP
BIKE 43
Patria is an established manufacturer
of a wide range of everyday practical
cycles, so this new folding cargo bike
represents a new diversion for the
company. To collapse the load bed:
first, remove the steering rod, which
is stored on board; next, simply
draw the front end backwards, as the
central frame member slides under
the rear section; finally, re-connect
the steering. The unique scissor
action reduces the length of the bike
by about 50 cm, an obvious storage
advantage. The bike remains perfectly
rideable in its folded state.
The orange bike shown is equipped
with 10 speed derailleur gear and
GO SwissDrive electric assist. Rated
to carry 120 kg of cargo, the folding
design competes with equivalent nonfolding cargo bikes. The adjustable
stem is also worth a mention,
incorporating a quick and easy reachadjustment mechanism, secured by
a pair of QR levers. Price is yet to be
published.
w w w.p at ria.net
This interesting electric assist
longbike, capable of carrying two
children, was featured in the 2013
SPEZI report when the prototype was
first unveiled. Now the bike appears
to be fully evolved, with a completely
new frame – much stiffer looking
around the head tube, larger diameter
tubing, more frame bracing, and with
disc brakes too.
BACK-TO-BACK
TREADLE TANDEM
Unfortunately, I didn’t collect the
name of the builder of this yellow
tandem with the fitted parasol. It
made many speedy trips up and
down the main road, which served
as an informal test track, both riders
always appearing equally thrilled
by the sensation. Both sets of
‘pedals’ were connected by cables to
freewheels under the rear seat, these
connecting to a conventional drive to
the hub gear.
It’s worth adding that the treadle
levers overlap the wheels in a way not
possible with a conventional crank set
(without passing the spindle through
the wheel hub). The arrangement
combines larger wheels (boosting
comfort), a shorter wheelbase and
lower pedal height.
The Bike43 can be configured
to carry cargo front and rear, in
combination with its role as child
transporter. Able to carry two children
in the size range of roughly 6 – 10
years of age, the seating is arranged
so at least one pair of rear panniers
will also fit. With fewer or smaller
passengers, two pairs of rear panniers
can be fitted, plus the frame mounted
Brompton luggage block at the front
adds even more cargo capacity.
This show model was fitted with
Nuvinci N360 rear hub and electric
assistance from a Heinzmann front
hub motor. The ebike version is priced
at €3400, the non-assisted at €2150.
www.bike43.com
LEFT: A relaxed-looking
duo. A one-off treadle
propelled back-to-back.
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
17
S P E Z I 2015
CUDDLEBIKE
HAND-ASSISTED BIKE
This compact bike can’t fail to catch
the imagination and “Beim cruisen
schmusen” sounds better in German,
so I won’t translate. The obvious
advantage of this compact tandem is
the shortness of the bike, which, with
its 20" wheels, is only 1.8 m, bringing it
down to solo bike dimensions.
Both riders are seated centrally
between the two wheels, so handling
should be much improved in
comparison to short wheelbase
tandems, which frequently situate
the ‘stoker’ above the back wheel.
The Cuddlebike looks ideal for short
pick-up and drop-off urban journeys,
which is when the 28 kg weight and
short wheelbase should make for an
agreeable solo ride, too. The threespeed unassisted model retails at
€1199 from German dealers.
www.cuddlebike.de
Markus Bauer built this arm and leg
power bicycle. He emphasised the
cross-trainer aspect, considering
it the principal advantage over a
conventional bicycle, adding that using
both arms and legs is also great fun.
The pedals and the arm propulsion
levers are set up so when the pedals
are at the ‘deadspot’ with minimum
power (12 o’clock position), the arms
are able to provide their maximum
output, effectively smoothing the
power transfer.
www.handassistedbike.jimdo.com
ABOVE: Harmony
BERNDS
on the Cuddlebike.
This German maker of a fleet of folding
and separable tandem and solo cycles
was showing a relatively new tricycle
called the Pickup. All the Bernds
models, including this trike, have a rear
suspension, fold in one way or other, and
can be ordered with electric assist.
RIGHT: Bernds
tricycle stripped of
standard accessories
shows its unusual
workings.
JUNIK-MODIFIED
WEEHOO
Junik is the big name in small bikes
and Juliane Neuß, the proprietor,
prides herself on offering a personal
approach to matching children and
adults with limited growth to carefully
proportioned bikes.
With her extensive knowledge of
bicycle ergonomics she has applied
what she knows about uprights to the
recumbent, starting with the Weehoo
recumbent tag along. The changes to
the standard model include shortened
cranks, a more forwards seat, and extra
seat padding, making it suitable for
children between 85 cm and 1.40 m.
An optional five-speed Shimano Nexus
hub gear is a recommended option, as
it keeps the rider active at all speeds to
more easily maintain their own body
temperature. The Weehoo, with short
cranks and five-speed gear, is priced
at €869. Junik also sell a recumbent
conversion kit for the Brompton.
www.junik-hpv.de
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VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
LEFT: Modified
Weehoo for very
small riders who
wish to pedal or
as as child-seat,
shown here.
VELEON
ABOVE: Adaptable
Veleon gains electric
assist.
This pod-front tilting trike was
reviewed for Velo Vision by Eric
Poscher in Issue 46. The specification
is unchanged, but it is now available
with electric assist from a Heinzmann
rear hub. Prices start at €2369, and
increase according to specification,
up to €4499 for this Heinzmann
equipped model, not including the
cargo pod.
www.veleon.de
The Pickup has an unusual rear
axle that includes a differential made
possible using a Sturmey Archer brake
hub on each wheel. A preset brake
effort in the hubs only allows the
brakes to slip whenever the tricycle
turns a corner; when cycling in a
straight line, the hubs do not waste
any energy by rubbing. The result
is a machine that wants to ride in a
straight line – ideal for people with
coordination and balance issues. There
is, of course, a centrally mounted rear
disc brake and a front disc brake too.
This particular model was fitted with
Nuvinci N360 and is not in the current
price list, but the base model, a twospeed Pickup, is €2550.
www.bernds.de
S P E Z I 2015
Home-Built
BEE TRYTRIKE
This electrically-assisted full-suspension
tricycle is the work of Robert Lajda of
Slovakia, who developed the machine
to fulfil his own transport needs and
to demonstrate what he believes is a
universal urban transport solution.
The version shown includes all of
the key features he hopes to include in
subsequent builds. A removable roof
panel, including solar photo-voltaic
elements, naturally serves as rain
protection and incorporates the motor
for the windscreen wiper. The rear rack
is especially customised: the battery
box on the top moves rearward on
DAS KLEINE SCHWARZE
A very friendly member of the Munich
recumbent club called Harald Winkler,
better known as Meufl, described one
of his latest creations, a speed trike for
rider Nici Walde, who is attempting
its own parallelogram linkage to give
more cargo space, then a small seat
folds down onto the rack to provide a
passenger seat. There is a storage space
in the nose after opening a small door,
and the designer has also modified a
shopping cart to hitch onto the front.
Another lockable storage space for a
secondary additional battery and small
items is under the seat and within the
central tunnel.
Clearly the aesthetics have received
as much thought as the mechanical
details, and the Bee looks to provide fun
and practicality in equal measure. Now,
with the help of crowd funders, Robert
wants to start small batch production.
www.trytrike.com
the 12-hour female record. The
frame is made of steel and the track
is especially narrow with the wheels
inside the narrow fairing.
The most interesting aspect is the
rear wheel steering, which normally
results in an inherently unstable
machine. But, according to Meufl, a
1 kg mass in the nose of the machine
makes it steady. When the steering
moves left or right, the mass also shifts
accordingly on a hinge, providing a
kind of mechanical control system
stabilising the steering response. He
said something like this has been tried
in aircraft for rudder control.
Another machine is being designed
for Nici by Daniel Fenn (of Inter City
Bike) and the two will be tried out
separately to see which one she will
use for the record attempt. If you have
time, check liegeradstammtisch.
falt-freunde.de to see Meufl’s amphibious
velomobile!
PEDAL PARKING LOCK
The owner of this Pacy had made a pair
of parking locks from his MKS quickrelease pedals. A small padlock that fits
around the collar on the pedal stops
it from being released from its locked
position between the wheel spokes.
TRAILER-TENT
ABOVE: Bee Trytrike
cargo and child-carrying
adaptions.
Just after we arrived at the show, this
trike and trailer joined us, having
journeyed from the nearby town
of Karlsruhe, some 20 miles from
Germersheim. Franz Herold, the
builder, explained how, with the use of
a tent, a sleeping arrangement can be
set up which contains both the trailer
and an airbed.
The trailer uses wheelchair hubs and
its empty weight is only 22 kg, but the
owner has a hefty electric motor fitted
to the trike. Karlsruhe happens to be the
birthplace of Karl Drais, inventor of the
Draising walking bicycle.
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
19
S P E Z I 2015
Trailers
ALEX MEZEY FORKS
This ‘long john’ cargo bike, with its distinctive leading link elastomer
block front suspension, was first spotted at the SPEZI last year. Alex
Mezey again rode the bike in the cargo race, carrying loads in excess
of 120 kg, judging by the crates of water on board. The bike showed
signs of heavy use since last year, proving the durability of the design
somewhat. On the website, a similar fork is shown for a 26" wheel;
both models can be built to order.
www.reiseradgabel.de
HINTERHER
These diminutive two-wheel trailers
are made in Munich. Using Weber
hitches and quick-release parts, the
trailers quickly connect into a train
and, when not in use, separate easily
into their main parts: wheels, load bed
and drawbar.
In storage, the compact dimensions
HOLLOW WHEEL
RECUMBENT
Pierre Fristot, a recumbent enthusiast,
has built a rear wheel drive low racer
with the ‘head tube’ effectively inside
the wheel hub. This is not a new idea,
but its application to a recumbent
cycle is unusual. The wheel is carried
by a large industrial bearing—large
enough to provide space to pass the
cranks through the hub.
The advantages of this particular
through-wheel crank arrangement,
said Pierre, are that, by locating the axis
of the crank spindle above the virtual
wheel axle, foot to ground clearance
can be optimised for the wheel size.
Also, the size of any nose fairing can
more easily be reduced. One final
detail on the bike I found both simple
and effective is the front derailleur,
which works by simply pushing the
chain tube with a lever arm.
A very lightweight 3D-printed
model of a nose-cone was also on
display, from which he hopes to
make a usable shell by laying on fibre
directly. See mega3d.fr and videos by
“pf26” on vimeo.com.
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VELOVISION ISSU E 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
are an advantage, but it's no lightweight,
rated to 150 kg, (45 kg as a bicycle trailer
or 80 kg when set up as a hand cart).
The tray is made from 4 mm aluminium
sheet, which is CNC machined and
precisely curved and joined with no
welding. The Hinterher is also available
as an e-trailer. Prices are from €498.
www.munich-biketrailers.com
AIDOO
The Aidoo is a modular trailer system
with suspension, available in different
widths and lengths specifically for
carrying longer items like a boat or
kayak. The lockable waterproof chest,
called the ‘Alubox’, has very neat quickrelease strapping loops fitted to metal
rails along the top, allowing them to be
located to suit.
Also on display was an e-trailer
and bike combination. A good quality
electrical connector between the bike
and the trailer connects the twistgrip
control with the remainder of the
system on the trailer. Additionally, a
hydraulic brake line from the bike’s rear
brake system connects to a disc brake
on the trailer—a setup made possible
with a releasable mechanical coupling.
Like many compact trailers, all the
models can be quickly dismantled
without tools. Prices start around
€1210 for the basic trailer frame
without box or wooden base. The
assisted trailer and kit required to fit to
a bicycle is priced around €3500.
www.aidoo-tec.com
S P E Z I 2015
CARLA CARGO
This ‘low-loader’ trailer was brought
to the show by Markus Bergmann,
one of the team of six who have been
developing this and other heavy-duty
trailers for the past two years. The idea
for the tricycle trailer came from a
need to transport increasing amounts
of produce for a food growing cooperative in Freiberg, Germany. Using
a crowd-funding initiative, the team
established sufficient resources to
design and build two trailers, one with
and one without electric assist.
This red version has twin disc
brakes and electric assist and is the
most developed of the examples. In the
SPEZI cargo race, it was towed behind
a Strida folding bike, giving ample
proof that the trailer is rideable with
almost any upright bicycle.
When uncoupled, looking a little
like a riderless tricycle, it appears
very easy to manoeuvre the loaded
trailer by hand, something that may
be useful for deliveries where bicycles
are prohibited. Once hitched to the
bicycle by the Hebie tow ball, no further
connections are necessary because the
draw bar incorporates a unique sliding
mechanism to actuate the trailer’s disc
brakes when the force of the following
trailer pushes into the bicycle — a
necessity when loads approach 250 kg.
As mentioned, the electrical
assistance is separate from the bicycle,
controlled by a box of electronics that
detect changes of inertia and applies
assistance accordingly via a downrated 2kW elfKW front hub motor.
This aspect was not in operation at
TOP: Generous load bed
with low centre of mass.
ABOVE: Free plans online.
LEFT: Sized-to-fit stackable
Euro containers, Carla
Cargo is a heavyweight
SPEZI, but the video online shows
some impressive acceleration followed
by demonstrations of very effective
braking. The drawbar incorporates a
shutoff switch as part of the braking
mechanism. Markus says that, with
some more tuning, he will achieve the
ultimate aim: to make riding the bicycle
feel natural and easy, almost as if the
trailer were not connected.
The final stage of the project will be
to pass through a sort of roadworthiness
certification process for electric assist
cycles and trailers. Currently there
is no formal route in Germany for a
trailer of this type, but Markus hopes
to work with TÜV, the German testing
establishment, to find a way.
Design documentation and many
plans for the trailer are already freely
available online, and the remaining
documentation for the motor control
electronics will be completed soon.
The information is being made public,
without restriction, according to a
patent-free arrangement called open
source hardware.
www.carlacargo.de
but places minimal strain
on the bicycle.
Howard Yeomans
ISSUE 49 SEPTEMBER 2015
VELOVISION
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