I've just received the March edition of the quarterly cycle magazine
Velo Vision, with a cover note drawing my eye to their review of
Barring Mechanicals.
For those without images, the text reads as follows:
Andy Allsopp had overcome a degenerative spinal condition and surgery, and was averaging 10 miles a week commuting on his HPV Streetmachine GTe recumbent, when he and a friend decided to sign up for the 2009 London-Edinburgh-London audax ride - appoximately 1400 km with a maximum time limit of just under five days. Although his friend had to drop out aftern an accident, Andy continued training with help from fellow www.cyclechat.co.uk forum members, swapped to a Challenge Furai SL-II, and made it to the start.
This book, originally posted in episodes on Cyclechat, charts those next five days - the literal ups and downs, as well as the metaphorical ones. Weather, exhaustion and cable ties all play important parts in the story, and the author weaves practical detail, philosophical musings and humour together in an amazing inspiring account. Beware - several people who've read this book have closed it and thought "Hmm, maybe I could do that..."
I must acknowledge a connection - I was one of those who waited for each installment and urged the author to publish. I heartily recommend it!
ISBN 978-1-4452-5510-1, self-published via www.lulu.com. £5.99. Soft cover, 140 pages, around A5 format.
Velo Vision covers cycling as a fun and effective transport solution. Published quarterly since 2000, it’s a unique forum for new cycling ideas and innovations from around the world. Discover folding bikes which fit easily onto public transport, recumbents which go faster in comfort, family bikes to carry children safely, workbikes and trailers to haul loads for car-free living or business, adapted cycles offering true mobility for the disabled, and streamlined velomobiles for all-weather comfort. Showcasing positive examples of cycling pioneers, designers and cultures, Velo Vision is a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.
