The story so far. Cycling historian Claude B Dawes has been summoned by the mysterious Dr. Rudolph Moeller of the M7 Human and Alternative Powered Vehicle Company after a very important (and dangerous) bike part goes missing. Dawes and M7’s top bike designer, Lucyna Langlijne head for CycleQuest The World’s Largest Bike Fair where the component is believed to be hidden. ‘The Brotherhood’ is the secretive organisation behind further unlikely events in their relentless drive to promote their warped vision of cycling. Now Dawes has been issued with a conundrum. Should he risk following the trail set out by Die Bromptonaut? Or should he send someone else? For anyone that’s new to the story then a quick look through the previous chapters may help. Then again it may not.

Dawes quickly read the message again.

<<Bike shed grid ref Q16. Note hidden on an unmarked Batavus Cantate. Follow instruction. Go alone. Go on foot. No mobile phone. No cycling accessories. Die Bromptonaut.>>

There were over one hundred bikes neatly parked in rows. To the untrained eye they would have all looked the same but Dawes’ brain was already working quickly, categorising them into ancient and modern first. 3 speed, 5 speed and 7 speed. Then he identified bikes made by the Batavus company. Whether marked or not the modern paintwork of this company was generally two tone. One of these was usually a metallic silver or gold. Quickly his choice was narrowing down. The Cantate had a precision fitted totally enclosed chaincase.

Imagine if all bikes were made like this? Chains would last for ever - and cycle clips would be confined to the recycling bin of history.

There it was! In the middle of the third row. Now where would the note be hidden? More importantly who had hidden it? Could Die Bromptonaut have slipped into Zandvoort unseen? Or did he have an agent already here? He fumbled in the bar end grips. Nothing. Under the saddle? No. The chaincase - of course! Neatly folded was another message.