Circe Helios - a versatile tandem
Circe Helios Looking In
Image: Chris Hill • Location: Meadows, Edinburgh
As someone that has often used a tandem as family transport (when not riding a recumbent) I’ve been watching the development of the Circe Helios with interest. The concept is to have a compact machine with an entry weight of 16kg on a low step over height aluminium frame. The result? A high quality bike starting from around £920 with options such as hub gears including Rohloff. The Helios range is modular and all models will accept the custom long carrier that can also carry two childseats - or one childseat and the weeks shopping - or... well with this bike you can decide!

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Unlike traditional tandems this is a very neat and versatile machine designed for daily use by a solo rider. So think of it as your city (or country) run around. Tough 20” wheels fitted with Schwalbe Big Apple tyres take the sting out the urban jungle. The longer wheelbase of a tandem makes this a very comfortable bike and easy to balance.

Circe LogoVV 35 cover
Look in the March 2010 issue of Velo Vision for a reader review. Check out the full range at www.circecycles.com

FOOT NOTE: Why I haven’t got a demo of a recumbent tandem? The answer is really space, cost and weight. Zox do one that comes apart but still long. M5 has one. Altena has one which is very comfortable but not short or light enough to carry up narrow stairs - often found in cities. For touring, the Greenspeed tandem trike is good. For half recumbent / upright there is the Hase Pino.

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