The “Derailleur Code’ is a classic tale of good against bad (writing).

Cycling historian Professor Claude B Dawes finds himself hired by Dr Moeller (of the M7 Human and Alternative Powered Vehicle Company) on a mission to hunt down Der Bromptonaut, an agent of the mysterious ‘Brotherhood’. This shady organisation is sworn to the elimination of all bikes that don’t fold and anyone that stands in their way. Dawes now believes that his evil opponent has been able to make a copy of the top secret M7 AM10 36 spoke hub - a bike part so powerful that it has to be kept moving to avoid going ‘critical’.

The M7 party of Dawes, Dr Moeller and top M7 bike designer Lucyna, have just travelled from Amsterdam on board a specially chartered train to arrive in Odense, Denmark, where Der Bromptonaut has been sighted.

Accompanying them on the journey are the elite Swiss Bike Patrol, their motto:‘To pedal, protect and serve’. The party have also recently been joined by Herr Braun, a man who questions everything but says little, and Detective Linda Wallender who is quite well known in fictional crime circles.

In this chapter Herr Braun watches and takes notes.