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. For anyone that’s new to the story then a quick look through the previous chapters may help. Then again it may not.

“I know for certain that your M7 friend, Lucyna Langlijne will be around here. When I gave the instruction for you to be alone that always guarantees an audience.... you people are all so obvious. Professor just accept that Der Bromptonaut is ten stages ahead of everyone.”

Dawes wasn’t sure if he was bluffing - could he have known that he was being followed? “Mr Bromptonaut, if you do not tell us the location of the M7 hub then you realise that you, me and hundreds of people are going to die. And for what?! Just so you can continue your pointless quest to eliminate ordinary bikes. Is that what you want?”

Der Bromptonaut laughed and unfolded what appeared to be a semi-automatic air gun. “You see Professor, I want so much more than that. Firstly I want to prove to the world just how fast a folding bike can go on the track here at Zandvoort. Oh... and if you wonder where the M7 hub is then you’re sitting on it! Look carefully and you’ll see that I’ve wired the bottle dynamo back to the hub to keep it powered and stable whilst moving. But of course it has been not moved now for two minutes, twenty three seconds. If we stay here talking the hub will detonate and create a shockwave that will be felt across a wide swathe of Holland. We have around nine more minutes to get moving. I see your legs are shaking Professor.”