Recumbent-gallery.eu

In last year one could see many velomobiles to change from only pedal powered to electric assisted. Well, if you look at it from the “eco” point of view,  it is a good step and the vision of greener transportation is even nicer with such velomobiles in use. Pannonrider is a new and much longer step ahead because it is a velomobile with integrated solar panels in its body and from what I know it is the first velomobile with such advantage.

It is obviously designed to be used in cities and in the traffic so it has pretty big ground clearance, most probably very good turning circle, full cover etc.The solar panels are integrated in the roof and on the rear side which gives it a very special look. Maybe not so aerodynamic, but this velomobile is not supposed to be a racing machine but more to be a practical vehicle for everyday use.

I was pretty much surprised by their modern web page, unfornatenuly only in Hungarian. It seems that Hungary starts to be pretty important part of the recumbent world because they have shown quite some interesting machines in last months.

More pictures can be fund on http://picasaweb.google.com/pannonrider.II/PannonriderIIMegvalosulas#

Official web on: www.pannonrider.com

Greetings Dear Steppers:

We’ve just uploaded another 4 newsletters (only the first 3 show up on the homepage, so you’ll have to read the 4th in the archives). On a sad note, we have lamentably had to come to the end of our trip now,due to some unforeseen financial difficulties, but have vowed to return to complete the rest of our journey when we have managed to secure some more funding.

The director of the Eco museum here has kindly offered to hang Quikey up as a display in the museum (hung from the roof, out of reach of fiddling hands) like a large dinosaur skeleton, already preassembled for when we return back for part 2 of the journey. Right now we’re knuckling down to work on our documentary, book and CD of Central Asian Music, trying to raise funds and equipment for our schools project, and trying to raise some more money to return for part 2 of our journey.

Do let us know if you can help with any of these! (the documentary, book, or funding). Anyway though part 1 of the trip is over, we’ll still keep in touch, continue to write updates, and look forward to sharing part 2 of our journey with all of you when the time comes

Though this part of the Journey has come to an end, do not worry, we will return to complete the last leg in due course!

Best Wishes

- The Steppe by Steppe Team

More info at www.steppebysteppe.com.au

Honza Galla and his wife Eliška have travelled many thousands kilometers with recumbents. They did many  tours  with prototype of AZUB recumbent tandem. They have visited most of the european countries but they really love the eastern part like Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo or Greece. Their old web pafe is not working already, but the new one at www.galla.cz informs very well about all their journeys. Good pictures shorter and sometimes also longer stories posted. Worth your visit.

Thanks to the reason that Velomobiel.nl produce the shell for Strada in Slovakia now, they need to transport big amount of shells from there to Netherland. Because of that they have built a special trailer for 18 Stradas plus they can put two of them on the roof of their car. I think that it must be a real surprise for all those drivers on european highways who pass this super long set up.

Every time I got message from Megan and Roger from their epic journey over central Asia, I read it with big interest. They ride a quad which was built by Greenspeed and they ride it in pretty difficult conditions of China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazachstan etc. Read their next newslatter and look at their web page at www.steppebysteppe.com.au/ where they have great pictures.

“Well its time again for another issue of Quikey’s travelogue. These past few weeks we have visited more schools in extremely remote villages, been stranded for a week due to huge winds and snow dumps, eaten horse intestine stuffed with horse fat, been questioned by the KNB (KGB), seen butter made in a sheeps stomach, seen instruments made from horses hooves, seen a Lenin submerged in snow, and seen many ancient rock carvings (Balbal’s) and petrogylphs. Our travels have brought us to Kyzlarai and Shabanbaibi, some of the most remote schools we have seen yet. As a result our primary goal now is to install GSM repeaters in each of these villages in order to provide them with some basic telephone contact with the outside world, and then from this, to provide them with USB modems to connect them to the internet. If anyone has any futher advice/suggestions on this, please let us know – we’re all ears. It seems that today, no matter how far away from cities you are, education always has a way of reaching, which is a heart warming thought. We have also been kindly donated numerous English learning resources from groups and companies in Australia, which we’re sure the children (and teachers) here will greatly appreciate. Anyway we’re still recovering from the week long blizzard, and have Nauvryz to prepare for in a few days time, so we’d best get some sleep! Thanks again to all the people who have kindly donated on our website, your contributions are greatly appreciated.

From Quikey, Roger, Megan, and all the Schools in Kazakhstan, happy Nauvryz”

Tripod looks as a new velomobile on the velomobile scene. At least I have not seen it yet. The producer is Columbia Cycle Works and here is what they have written on their web page:

“Columbia Cycle Works, LLC is the manufacturer and seller of the Tripod, a fully enclosed commuter tricycle. The Tripod was developed as a sporty, economical and ecologically sustainable alternative to fossil fuel based commuter vehicles. Columbia Cycle Works is located in Portland, Oregon. We invite you to explore our website and learn more about an exciting new way to commute to work or just get around town.”