Xootr Designer Thinking Again

Industrial design website Core77 note that Karl Ulrich, designer of the Xootr and current producer of Swift folding bicycles will be the keynote speaker at an invitation-only COFES think tank in Arizona in April.

Dahon Seatpost Recall

Bikebiz note that Dahon has recalled the 27.2 mm diameter BioLogic Postpumps for 2007 Matrix, Jack, Espresso, Cadenza, Tournado and Smooth Hound bicycles. A replacement seatpost bolt will be provided by Dahon and can be fitted by consumers or dealers.

Austrian Bicycle Collection

Rudolf Jenner (via Velo Vision) pointed out the Embacher bike collection website at http://www.sammlung-embacher.at/ with an excellent range of folding bike photos, along with many other machines. There are several folders shown in the klapprader section that we've never seen before.

Nitpickers might note the photographer and possibly the owner is a little unfamiliar with some of the more esoteric machines and that some older bikes have accumulated equipment from a range of eras but overall it is a website well deserving of some time. A book of the collection is available at http://www.smart-move.at/

Barcelona Brompton Tours

With the annual Brompton World Championships, great architecture and worthwhile food, Barcelona is certainly worth a visit. Jaume Saladrigas Cussons points out that Cussons-Hansmann have run Barcelona cultural tours for several years, via walking, minibus and Brompton. The photogallery brings back memories of a happy trip (sans folding bikes unfortunately) a few years ago.

Christmas Origami Ride

Heavy rain and a bad weather forecast discouraged some people from attending the December ride, but we still managed 11 riders. As is usual for our December rides, the theme was unusual cycles. Those taken out on the ride included a conventional upright tricycle, a Strida and a BikeE. After a short, very damp ride, we lunched and socialised at the Bull's Head at Meriden before adjourning to the car park to give people a chance to try the more unusual machines, plus some additional ones brought by Paul Evans and Phil Wray. Almost everyone was surprised by how difficult it was to ride the trike - in fact I think most of us almost completely failed, as it feels completely unnatural for a bike rider (though recumbent trikes are quite easy to ride). The BikeE proved great fun, and, as the photo shows, we enjoyed zooming round the car park on it - many thanks to Paul for bringing it, and to Karl Wooldridge for this photo.
All in all a most enjoyable day, and thanks to Paul for arranging everything (except the weather!) so well.

A Dahon Speed TR in Cameroon

Eric Mathurin recently completed a two week cycling trip in Cameroon with a Speed TR (2006 version). You can read his report on his blog HERE. The Dahon seems to have acquitted itself well on quite an arduous outing.

More Volz

Moritz Volz has a piece in the Times Online about winning a Monopoly Race on a folding bike to raise money for his local Prince's Trust. I understand he also occasionally plays soccer.

Pantomime Horse on tandem supports Connect2

It is alleged that the pantomime horse on a tandem shown here contains a member of the Folding Society.
UK readers may be aware that Sustrans is bidding for £50 million of lottery money, and needs supporting votes before December 10th (details here). The pantomime horse has been touring Warwickshire in support of Sustrans' bid.