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A to B 141
A bit of everything as usual
* Cytronex v Swytch
Clash of two very different power-assist kits. Is one clearly better? Is one cleary cheaper?
* Network Rail’s Bridges
The Equality Act changed everything. Foot crossing are dangerous, and steps are out. ALL new bridges have to be accessible to all
* Multi-Mode
Can any pedal machine work equally well on the sea and the road? Not quite, but it’s the technology of the moment
* The Aceoffix Tyre
It’s light, fast, effective and half the price of the rest.Is it really any good? We’ve done a few thousand miles now
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A to B 140
Ooh crikey. Radical politics, climate change and much more of a stimulating nature
* Bromptonhenge
We wish Brompton well, but is Ashford really the best home for our premier cycle manufacturer?
* Worcester’s Bridges
For centuries Worcester had one road bridge and bicycles and pedestrians were ignored. That’s all changed today. We follow the story
* Climate Change
The influential Climate Change Committee says the UK Government has missed targets
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A to B 139:
Download Now!
A bit long in the preparation, but A to B 139 is finally here and stuffed with many good things
* Swapfiets
It’s a great way to start cycle commuting, and a great way to buy a Dutch Fiets in London. And you might just get your employer to take on a pool of company bikes
* Buying Brompton Second-hand
A second-hand Brompton can be a really good investment, and it can also be a disappointment. We point buyers towards the best buys after nearly 35 years of production
* The Wheel
Ever thought about where it came from and where it’s going? A few answers, and almost as many questions on the incredible wheel story
* Lean-Steer
They’re the best trikes, but hard to find and not always trouble-free
* Pivot Points
Natural Hydrogen, Super-efficient Electric Heaters, Quadricycles
A to B 138:
* eCar Battery Swap:
It sounds scary, but Diana Powell bought a battery in Northern Ireland, had it fitted in Cheltenham and ended up with three times the range and a much more valuable car
* The London to Brighton eVehicle Rally
See how we did with a Brompton-Cytronex T-type and a Kalkhoff Integrale
*Palm Oil
Is it really as evil as we like to think? It’s a very productive crop, but otherwise it’s all bad news
* Cargo Bikes
Adrian Bending is an orchestral musician who travels to gigs in London on a tricycle… are we talking a flute here? No, we’re talking timpani (and that’s the plural).
* eVehicle Fires
Dangerous things aren’t they? Er no… the evidence so far suggests eCars are significantly less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars
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A to B 137
* eScooters
A look at the latest reports and findings, unearthing some good facts, and some bad ones. True, they have reduced motorised traffic, but they’ve reduced walking too. True, they’re safer than you might expect, but they’re 14 times more dangerous mile-for-mile than riding in a car, and four times more dangerous than a bicycle
* Cargo Bikes
A quick whizz round the market… what’s available and does it work?
* Steamers & Pressure Cookers
Some interesting stats, and what cooks the crunchiest and healthiest veg?
* Raleigh Hoppa
Even Granny thought twice in the 1960s. Now, says Raleigh, it’s the chillest ride ever!
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A to B 136:
A to B 136
* Brompton-Cytronex T-Line
A to B EXCLUSIVE REVIEW!
Back in A to B 135 we were absolutely delighted with the all-titanium T-Line Brompton. Now we’re back with the powered version. What do you get if you put the lightest power-assist kit on the lightest folding bike? We’re besotted. It weighs less than 12kg, with a range of more than 30 miles, and it costs the arm and a leg you might expect, but it really works
* Tap2Go
Smartcards instead of rail tickets. First Oyster around Greater London, and now the world. Well, not quite, but you can get to Exeter without a ticket, or even an image of a ticket. We want to see it go national, and an end to the franchising morass
* To Bovington with Beryl
Multi-user bike hire is heading into the countryside. We try the latest scheme in rural Dorset. The bikes are much better than you might think, and it’s cheaper than the taxi
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A to B 135
A to B 135
* Brompton DIY derailleur
How to turn a Brompton 2-spd derailleur into a 3-spd, 4-spd, or 4×2-spd. Interesting stuff
* Are we hydrogen-ready?
The general view from A to B and most subscribers is that hydrogen is never going to become an everyday fuel for cars or heating our homes. The figures just don’t add up
* Electric Myths Exposed
They’re all untrue, except the shortage of charging stations. We think the UK needs another million
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In A to B 134
* Vincita Pannier Clips
They’re inexpensive, easy to fit, and can transform any bag into a rack-hung pannier in a few minutes
* The Walker Wingsail
The fuel saving on cargo ships was impressive, but it was put out of business in the 1980s by cheap oil prices. It is perfect for today and we’re backing a come-back!
* Cycling at 95 – what’s the secret?
John Baylis discovered power-assisted folding bikes
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In A to B 133:
• All-new, all-titanium Brompton T-line
A to B EXCLUSIVE REVIEW!
Forty years after the launch of the Brompton folding bicycle, there’s a new design out. Superficially similar to other Bromptons, but upgraded and revamped throughout.
• Efneo GTRO
A crank-based epicyclic. Think hub gearbox, but mounted in the crank rather than the back wheel. A great replacement for a front derailleur and perfect for those ‘special’ projects.
• Heat Pumps – ground-source and air-source
Real-world experience of our own air-source pump, and an even earlier adopter of a ground-source system.
• Plus…
Three fascinating book reviews, and masses of letters from our wonderful subscribers.
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A to B 132
In A to B 132:
• Cytronex e-Brompton
We’ve always liked the Cytronex power-assist kits because they’re so user-friendly… You don’t need to take your gloves off to work the buttons or a degree in engineering to understand the codes. This latest variant is lighter, quieter, easier and generally more helpful.
• Wind-power at Sea
After 200 years in the doldrums, it’s back says Prof Pivot.
• The British phone-box
And a plea to re-purpose these iconic ‘buildings’ into 21st Century information hubs.
• Going Green
Plus our ‘real world’ experience of cutting out the CO2. Some things are easy… others less so.
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In A to B 131:
• Islabikes e-Janice
A few years ago, Islabikes created the Icons range – superb bikes for older people that were light, fast and easy to ride. They’ve now created electric variants, and they are just as good, with the bonus of ‘get-you-home’ power.
• Swytch power-assist kit
This 2021 ‘Mark Two’ version is claimed to be a great advance… not in our opinion, but the battery is, and that improves the whole machine.
• Origins of the Rickshaw
Ever thought about where they came from? How they developed? And where they can be found today? It’s all here in the first part of our story!
• Professor Pivot
Two exciting technologies this time: ‘green’ gases and Magnetic Resonance wireless couplings. We are going to hear a lot more about both in the months and years to come
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In A to B 130:
A to B 130
• Octopus Agile
A new domestic electricity tariff that bases the real-time price on wholesale prices. Use it right and you can save the planet AND save money. We explain how it works.
• Cycling in Old-Age
Some good advice from an octogenarian couple determined to stay in the saddle for as long as possible.
• Brose 11g e-bike
We thought we’d like it, but it’s over-weight, over-priced, poorly equipped and an all-round disappointment. Sorry, you’ll have to raid the piggy-bank for £1.29 and read on!
• Basle’s Cross-border Commuters
Every day, thousands commute across the Swiss city of Basle by train and tram. The difference here is that most of them are crossing at least one international border on their way home.
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In A to B 129:
A to B 129
• Air-to-Air Heat Pumps
We’re quite good at selecting THE topic of the year, or decade, although we say it ourselves. A to B takes a characteristically fresh look (naive might be more apt) at heat-pumps. Can it be done cheaply? (Yes), do they work? (Without a doubt), know what to look for? (No! In that case, read on)
• Practical Low-cost Hydro Power
Much the same issues come up here. Not everyone has the right sort of stream and head for hydro, but if you can do it, your power issues are largely solved. And as with air-to-air heat-pumps, you probably weren’t aware of just how cheap and effective hydro can be.
• ARCC Electric Brompton conversion
They’re an innovative crowd up in Cambridge, and after much research, they’ve got round to electrifying the Brompton. It’s good, but is it better than the Cytronex? Sorry, you’ll have to raid the piggy-bank for £1.29 and read on!
• Transport in Chile
All a bit academic right now, but one day very soon, we’ll all be traveling again, so no harm in being prepared. We seriously learnt a LOT about Chile putting this article in. Did you know this rather anti-rail country will soon have South America’s first high-speed line? And Santiago is big on cycle paths? Exactly.
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In A to B 128:
A to B 128
• Continental Contact Urban
We don’t often deal with big tyre companies, but here’s one that’s developed our sort of tyre. Continental’s new 35-349mm tyre is aimed at Brompton users, and we think it’s a winner
• Suntech eFOLDi
A mobility scooter with a difference – it folds, and it folds pretty small. But by the end of the test, we’ve decided in favour of a pedal solution instead
• Shop Local
We’ve been working to increase the local content of our shopping panniers for years, but the CORVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process. We now buy the majority of our local fruit, fish, milk, vegetables, meat and beer locally… find out how
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In A to B 127:
A to B issue 127
• Cytronex-Brompton
Superlative Power Assist
We like it! Cytronex has been making power-assist kits for some time, but the Brompton kit needed a special narrow motor and complete revision of the other hardware and software. The good news is it works well
• Cooper E-Disc
Unusual single-speed, Power-assisted bike
A clean and unusual bicycle from the son and grandson of the Mini-Cooper designer
• Electric Car Special!
Reader Feedback and Latest News
Lots of useful feedback from our early adopters, plus the latest on our Peugeot Partner
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In A to B 126:
• Electric Car Special!
The Car:
How and why we chose the Peugeot Partner
Deciding which electric car to buy can be a complex decision, based on cost, battery guarantee, battery capacity, charging system, and a dozen other factors. This is how we made our choice
• Electric Car Special!
The Charger:
3.7kW or 7kW home charge point? Domestic plug back-up? Is it worth signing up for fast charging? Getting the car is only half the battle
• Electric Car Special!
Generating the Energy:
We couldn’t get an electric car without generating the power to run it, could we? How and why you might also want to build your own DIY solar PV array. It’s now cheaper and easier than ever before
• Electric Car Special!
Siticars Me:
An exclusive road-test of this very car-like quadricycle. Could this make a viable alternative to a ‘normal’ electric car?
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For paper subscribers, the overflow Letters Pages are here
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In A to B 125:
• Islabikes Janice Review:
We try Islabikes new ‘Oldie’ machines – lightweight, low-geared and designed specifically for the more mature customer.
• Derek’s 6kg Brompton:
EXCLUSIVE REVIEW!
We’re pretty sure Derek’s new aluminium alloy, carbon fibre and titanium creation is the lightest Brompton EVER produced
• Sturmey Archer A2:
EXCLUSIVE REVIEW!
An automatic 2-speed hub gear, and this is an experimental version fine-tuned to suit 16-inch wheels. We like it
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In A to B 124:
A to B 124, May 2019
• Hummingbird folding bike review:
Full background story to this groundbreaking lightweight carbon fibre folding bike, and reviews of the Hummingbird Single-speed and Hummingbird Electric
• Xiaomi M365:
Full review of this fabulous little electric scooter that does pretty well everything it’s claimed to do: decent range, fast, effective and good value for money
• Garmin Varia:
RDU & RD510 bicycle rear radar system
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In A to B 123:
• Brompton Electric review: Living with the bike – news from our Brompton user panel
• New Brompton Tyres: You wait and wait, then three come at once – Schwalbe One, Greenspeed Scorcher, Joseph Kuosac Strozzapreti. Two are absolute crackers, the third is possibly the worst tyre we’ve ever tested
• Pivot’s Corner: Exploring tribal digestion and the exercise paradox, plus Birmingham University’s advanced gas turbine range extender
• Poundbury: Back in Prince Charles’ Dorset development. What worked and what failed?
• Cycloc Solo: Aunt Diana says it looks like a urinal, and bless me, but it does, although it’s actually a bicycle hanger. And a lovely bit of British design too
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Download the FREE Poundbury digital map
In A to B 122:
• Review: Brompton Electric Retest of the production bike
• Review: Brompton Derek’s Superlight bike goes Electric
• Burley: The World’s Most Efficent Wood Stove
• Whippet: Is the folder destined for fame or flop?
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In A to B 121:
• Review: Crosshead 20-inch folding bike
• Review: Trailabout Monocoque Trailer
• Pivot’s Corner: Maglev, CeramicSpeed Driven
• Record Breaking: Our World 12-hour recumbent record
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In the 120th edition of A to B magazine:
• Review: Swytch Electric Brompton
• Pivot’s Corner: Hydrogen Trains, e-Bike Safety
• Public Transport: PlusBus integrated tickets
• Energy: Lithium-ion Grid Storage
• Fitness: Running, Weight & Health
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In the 119th edition of A to B magazine:
• Workshop: Lightweight Brompton
• Review: Brompton’s new Schwalbe Race tyre
• Review: The amazing Super-power Gulas
• Energy: Our 2018 Energy Audit
• Infrastructure: A New Breed of Coastal Ferry
• Technology: The Rise & Fall of the Rare Earths
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In the 118th edition of A to B magazine:
• Review: Exclusive review of the Cytronex C1
• Fitness: Parkrun
• Cycling after a Stroke
• Crash: The True Cost
• Infrastructure: Brompton-friendly Road Gratings
The A to B back catalogue runs to well over two million words. The easiest way to search this vast database of fact (and fiction) is through our two PDF indexes:
A to B master index issues 1-99
A to B master index issues 100 on
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