Saturday, August 29, 2009

Georgi


He's a trained sculptor turned bicycle designer. His handcycles allow people with disabilities to enjoy the freedom of self-propelled locomotion. His HPVs (human powered vehicles) are the fastest in the world. Meet Georgi Georgiev, yet another extraordinary Gabriolan.

He named his company, Varna Cycles, after his hometown in Bulgaria, and he's on a mission to raise awareness for the bicycle in all its many incarnations. Click around on the website, there's some amazing stuff to be discovered there, including video of Team Varna clocking an entry into the Guinness book. Pictured here is the Tempest HPV, which set two new world records just last month at the Michigan Speed Challenge.

Georgi is a genius. I'm just a photographer. But we have one thing in common: The belief that the bicycle is a much-needed antidote for global addiction to petroleum-based transportation.

Thanks to my pal Bruce Mason for making the introduction.

5 comments:

Leif Hagen said...

Zoom, zoom, zoom! I wonder who the lucky new owner of VARNA will be? Maybe we'll see a picture of the person riding VARNA in the future...

Virginia said...

Nice to meetcha Georgi! We have a marvelous place here in BHM- Lakeshore Rehab where athletes with disabilities from all over the world come to compete in every sport. Georgi , come visit us!
V

Victor said...

V, I betcha some of Georgi's bikes have already been to Lakeshore. They do get around.

John said...

I've seen some of these 'cycles', maybe not by him; they look frightening to ride in traffic.

Stefan Jansson said...

Very true. He reminds me a lot of the tricycle guy I met last year. I will have to check out that video!