Cycle Show - London, 6-8 October

The big show in the UK this year will be the Cycle Show from 5th - 8th October, at ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Vicoria Dock, London, E16 1XL. Please note that the 5th is a Trade/Press Day, and they are making dire threats about only people who can PROVE they fall into these categories being allowed in on that day (even a pass is apparently not proof). We plan to go on 5th, so we hope our credentials will be acceptable. Assuming they are, we will have a brief report available late on 5th or early on 6th. For the latest exhibitor list, news updates, how to get there etc, please visit the Cycle Show website at http://www.cycleshow.co.uk.

New Birdy Owner may join Folding Society

Thanks to Velovision again, This post, from Stuart, Scotland, who has bought a new Birdy Tourer. He has thoughts of joining us at the folding society. Can any one offer him suggestions / Advice with his Birdy?. Can we think about a possible "origami ride" in Fife maybe in 2007?

Trice on a Train Solution

There is a post on the Velovision forum giving advice on how to take your Trice on a train. I do like the way the carry bag was sent forward to the end of the ride ready to go home. Look Here

Reorganisation

Many thanks to the team which now runs The Folding Society, and which took over from me about a year ago, for the improvements they have brought about. The web pages were moved to a new server many months ago, and the changeover went very smoothly thanks to the skill and efficiency of Paul Evans. It is possible, though, that there are a few links to event reports etc (perhaps some I have created more recently), which actually point to pages on my own web site, so I should warn readers that I've just done some fairly major reorganisation of my own site. Please accept my apologies if I've broken any links - if you find a broken link which might be the result of this reorganisation (most likely to be an event report), you could check to see if it is accessible from my own web site.

Dahon Flo test report

We have now added a report on the Dahon Flo to the test section. The report was provided by Christos Markou. The Flo is a high-performance 26 inch-wheeled mountain bike - very good at what it is intended for, but of course not so good at some of the other things that people buy folders for (eg commuting!). Christos is obviously very impressed by the Flo.

Folders rated for up to 3 miles

Page 38 of the Cycle programme (Cycle Show Excel London 6-8/10/2006)" Bikes are compared "which bike for what distance" rates folders as "up to 3 miles" for bikes costing "200 - to 1000 gbp" Web site .

Royal folds

It seems that Viscount Linley (nephew of the Queen of England, amongst other countries) regularly uses a folding bike, according to the Mirror. If the typical red-top reporting style isn't your preference, perhaps you may want to read the Anorak's story instead.

Bike talk

The Bike Show is a weekly radio show about cycling from London station Resonance 104.4fm The last show of the current season visited the Brompton factory but podcasts are available. Some interesting subjects have been featured in earlier shows.

Franken Folder

It seems, according to the St Paul Pioneer Press, that Al Franken (American left-wing comedian and radio host) used to commute on a folding bike when working in New York. Apparently his 'real bike' is 'less clownish' though.

In Black and Whyte

Bike Biz reports that Jon Whyte (designer of the Mezzo folder, together with MTB and F1 suspension) is leaving ATB Sales for his own design consultancy. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with next.

Didcot Origami Ride 16th September 2006

Many new riders joined us for the Origami event organised by Chris Eley in Oxfordshire. A total or 21 people enjoyed the excellent level cycle routes, starting from Didcot railway station, through local villages to the lunch stop “The Fox” in Denchworth. Although the sun did not shine it was warm enough to enjoy the garden at the Fox. The Brompton has returned to popularity (may be a southern influence) with 11 in total. Other bikes were as follows: 4 Airnimal Rhinos (matching the Jan 2006 record), 2 Birdy Reds, 1 Dahon, 1 Alu Fold and one large wheel bike.
The return ride was via Sustrans route 44 from Wantage along the Icknield way. This passes through the UK Atomic Research Site at Harwell. We were all glowing after a stop at a nearby garden centre for refreshments. Final leg back to the station went past the interesting wooden sculptures on the trail. Our thanks go to Chris for his excellent organisation and route planning. If you missed this ride join us in 2007 when Chris has offered to choose another route from the many Sustrans routes available in the area. Looking forward to seeing you all at Leamington on the 8th October 2006, Trevor

'A Little Brompton History' and 'Our Fellow Road Users'

TheManufacturer.com has done an interview with Brompton creator, Andrew Ritchie.

It seems that even long-distance truck drivers appreciate folding bikes, according to eTrucker.com.

Folders in American news

The New York Times has a piece about living in the Netherlands with bikes (including folders) featuring prominantly, of course. (Note: now requires signing in, unlike originally)

A Bridgestone folding bike gets a mention in a Crash.net item on injured former racing driver Cristiano da Matta.

Macride Photo's

Rob Gullen has posted some photographs on the Macride Website Click on link above "A Big Thank You" on the web page.

Marie Curie Cancer Care Ride - Bristol to Bath

If you missed the Mac Ride at Stratford upon Avon described below, you might like to know that there is a sponsored ride on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care on Sunday 24th September, which takes place along the Bristol to Bath cycle route. Riders can either do the full 28 mile return trip, or just ride in the one direction. More details are available from Clair or Helen on 0117 924 7275, email clair.cusack@mariecurie.org.uk.

Stratford upon Avon Mac Ride 2006

After the ride at Rosliston (see below), where 2 Trices took part, we were able to make an even more impressive showing at the Mac Ride (Macmillan Cancer Relief) at Stratford upon Avon on 10th September. Not only was I joined by Nick Cox, who had ridden with me at Rosliston on his older (Peter Ross era) Trice, but Trevor and Irene were also there on their new Trice QNTs. Trevor and Irene arrived in a large Volvo estate, which holds both Trices without any folding, so I was the only one who folded! We did the 50 mile version of the ride (there was also a 25 mile version), and cruised round very comfortably, even though it was the longest ride that Trevor and Irene had done on the Trices so far. The weather was magnificent, the route and organisation excellent, and the route was well chosen and well signposted.The Trices created a lot of interest - not just by being unusual, but by the spectacle they created as we rode round as a group. Many thanks to the organisers for the work they did to create the event - the turn out seemed very good, and I hope that they were successful in raising lots of money for a worthwhile cause.

100Km on a Trice QNT at Rosliston

My Trice QNT was the only folder that I saw at the 100Km Brevet Populaire at Rosliston on 3rd September, but not the only machine of interest. No sooner had I parked the Smart and started removing the Trice than another car pulled up alongside - and the driver proceeded to unload another Trice! After this remarkable coincidence (we had never even met before), we decided to ride round together. Apart from these 2 recumbent trikes, there was a conventional trike and a Moulton fx8, plus a good collection of conventional tandems in the very large entry. This was a most enjoyable ride, well organised and well supported, though it was quite windy.

Piece from Over the Pond

USA Today has an article on things to take for a weekend getaway in the back of a hatchback with a Breezer folding bike making the list of various folding items.

CTC funded for climate change awareness campaign

CTC has been awarded £296,000 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to run a campaign increasing awareness and understanding of climate change amongst cyclists. One of the biggest recipients from Defra’s Climate Challenge Fund, CTC was one of 70 organisations to receive funding out of 500 who applied. At the centre of the campaign will be a short ad, to be shown in cinemas and elsewhere starting next summer. You can read more about the project HERE

New UK Training Scheme Launched

Bikeability is here!

(Source CTC email news letter 08/09/06)

CTC is delighted to welcome the arrival of Bikeability, Cycle Proficiency for the 21st century, which was officially in launched Merseyside today. Bikeability is the new award scheme for National Standard cycle training and will provide a high quality consumer product which will help drive uptake of training amongst both adults and children and go a significant way to achieving the aims of ‘more people cycling, more safely, more often’. Learn More
Could Stage 4 be "how to integrate your bike with your transport needs"?

News Flash Free DVD Belleville Rendez-Vous

Saturday 9th September 2006 - Check the news stands in the UK. Buy a copy of the Times newspaper and get a free copy of the excellent cycling animation film Belleville Rendez-Vous on DVD. We cannot guarantee availabilty at this stage. Non UK folder riders this may the time to find a UK folder "buddy" to buy the paper for you.

Brompton Mentioned in the Sunday Times

There is a brief comment on the great benefits of the Brompton Folding Bike Here
Source Times on Line 06/08/2006 by Hugh Pearman states "A Design Classic"

A-Bike Central

The A-Bike now has its own website, complete with forum. Interestingly, one forum entry mentions riding 30 km on a modified A-Bike (a standard saddle on a longer seatpost) and links to a blog.

The Cycling Plus forum recently had its first posting from an A-Bike owner also [Edit: it appears that the thread has been deleted].

Chinese Takeaway

We can't come up with a better title for this Guardian article by Paul Kelso, regarding the British sailing team currently racing in Beijing (Note: scroll down to 3rd item for folding bike content).

Eurobike Teasers

VeloVision have photos of several new or revamped folding bikes (from Dahon, Oribikes, Challenge and others) on their website with more details in an upcoming edition (a worthwhile subscription by the way).

September 16th Origami ride - Didcot

Details for the September 16th Origami ride are here. All welcome on this sociable ride through Oxfordshire, starting at Didcot.

Bike Friday a model business

According to the Entrepreneur, Bike Friday is a model of marketing with a combination of publicity, customer interaction and evangelical zeal.