September 2010

Below is the recent BBC documentary on Robert Penn's quest for the perfect bike, well worth a watch!

Early this year I wrote a column from Zimbabwe that focused on five orphans who moved in together and survive alone in a hut.

The eldest, Abel, a scrawny and malnourished 17-year-old, would rise at 4 o’clock each morning and set off barefoot on a three-hour hike to high school. At nightfall, Abel would return to function as surrogate father: cajoling the younger orphans to finish their homework by firelight, comforting them when sick and spanking them when naughty.

On Friday 17th September, as part of European Mobility Week 2010, Dublin City Council will be hosting an event to showcase a type of electrically-assisted bicycle called a ‘Pedelec’. Combining pedal and battery power, Pedelecs open new possibilities to commuters, particularly those with a long or hilly commute. With pedal-assist technology, the electric motor boosts your pedal input so that you can ascend hills with ease and travel further while cutting your fuel costs as well as your impact on the environment. The top assistance speed is typically about 25km/h with a range of about 50km; the battery can be recharged overnight (4-6 hours required). Pedelecs are also eligible for the bike-to-work scheme.