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The current issue is Issue 29. The next issue is out in June 2008.

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Questions about Open Road

Velo Vision's predecessor was a magazine called Bike Culture Quarterly, an ads-free magazine published (irregularly) by a company called Open Road. They also published Encycleopedia and Bycycle. This company went into liquidation in mid-2000. Many Velo Vision readers will be former subscribers with Open Road, and this section addresses some issues relating to this.

What's the connection between Velo Vision and Bike Culture/Open Road?

There is no legal or business connection. Open Road Ltd is now dissolved as an entity, after it went into liquidation having become insolvent. Velo Vision's editor, Peter Eland, was made redundant by Open Road a month or so before it went into liquidation. He was employed by them as editor, but had no significant input in management or publishing matters.

I subscribed to BCQ or other Open Road publications and am wondering if I'll ever get my magazines - can you help?

Unfortunately, I can't be of much help. Open Road is no more - so there's no prospect of any more magazines from them.

At the Creditor's Meeting, part of the dissolution process, the liquidator explained that Open Road's debts so far outweighed its assets that there was no prospect of any 'ordinary' creditors being repaid anything. The sale of assets will first pay the liquidator's fees and then will go towards 'preferential debts' (to staff and tax authorities).

For reference, the liquidator of Open Road Ltd was:

Tel +44 1904 640600
Fax +44 1904 640700
email rs5@smith.williamson.co.uk
www.smith.williamson.co.uk

The last issues printed were Bike Culture 20, Bycycle 12 and Encycleopedia 2001 (called Encycleopedia 2000 in the USA). No Encycleopedia 2001 CD or video was ever published. Mike Burrows' book Bicycle Design was also printed.

Can I get hold of the old Open Road publications anywhere?

Jim McGurn, one of Open Road's former directors, bought all the assets of Open Road after its liquidation, including the back issues. Most are still available, along with various books. Details are on the website of his new company: www.companyofcyclists.com.

Larry Black of Mt Airy Bicycle also tells me he has many BCQ and Encycleopedias.

Various ex-Open Road agents, such as KGB in Germany and Zephyr Ligfietsen in Holland, also have limited stocks of some issues.