Imagine organizing a party.
You rent the setting, you buy the decorations, you invest in food and drinks, you choose the music and then, you send out the invitations...
... and on the night of the party, you wait, and you hope. But you'll never be sure you're doing things right, until the first people turn up. Even when they do, you have to ensure they are the right people, with the right attitude, and the right approach.
Why do I write this now? Because this is how we see the 360ways project, born from a dream, and pumped into reality. Like any party, it will not become a reality until people start turning up. Of course, we can boast that there is interest, we can point at the guestbook and at its +100 answers, we can point at the +3000 hits to this web site (and that before our departure), but only when the sponsors start turning up, can the party really begin!
It all started with an e-mail back from Henk and Monique (founders and owners) of Nazca Recumbents.The e-mail, and what it entailed, brought music to my ears:
"Dear Christopher,
We went through the description of the project and we do like the ideas behind it. The way you have presented it so far looks promising enough to support it."
Neither is it a coincidence that Nazca have chosen us. There is a real bridge between Henk's past experience in renewable energy, and 360ways' partnerships with renewable energy organisations:
"We also like the project because my wife and I have been on major parts of the proposed trip ourselves, quitting our jobs at that time and leaving to see the world and meet the people. Our first trip lasted 18 months in which we went overland to India and further on through Asia to Australia. Our second trip seven years later (with 2 children of 3 and 5) lasted 12 months and brought us through North, Central and South America. On other occasions some other countries in Africa and Asia were visited. Needless to say that it formed us in many ways....
After the last trip I had two ideas for starting my own bussiness, solar energy and renewable energy in general (I worked for many years as an engineer and later as a project manager in the field of power generating projects, including renewable energy projects) and recumbent bicycles. It became recumbents, mainly because of the type of people that ride recumbents."
Nazca's offer was a serious one. Well adapted to our needs, and their advice will be precious to us...
"The choice for recumbents as the way to travel is probably not the easiest way, but certainly interesting and in my opinion absolutely possible. It will assure you of a lot of good attention too!
We would therefore like to propose the following: two recumbents type Pioneer (in my opinion the most suitable type of bike for this trip because it has a very strong and if neccessary repairable CrMo type frame, two 26" wheels and ample bagage capability) are built-up to a specification that suits the intended purpose best."
Following an e-mail exchange, and some telephone conversations, I decided to go and meet Henk and Monique, in their home / atelier, a picturesque setting in Nijeveen, 30 km north of Zwolle (heading towards Groningen from Amsterdam), North Holland. We spent the afternoon discussing travelling, recumbent bicycles, and of course, business. Henk and Monique are both hardened travellers. They express real interest in our various projects for promoting sustainable development, especially in our partnership with Velo Mondial. Over and above that, Henk and Monique understand the business opportunities linked to developing a partnership with 360ways.
Today, we are delighted to introduce Nazca Recumbent Bicycles as our official recumbent bicycle sponsor.
"At Nazca recumbents, enthusiastic cyclists have turned their hobby into their work. They design and manufacture recumbents out of the conviction that there will always remain something to improve. Even if their bikes are considered very good already, they can always be better, more beautiful, faster. For this, the experience and remarks of a large group of everyday users are of great importance to them! Their aim is to build the best bike for a variety of users with varying demands and wishes. All of their models differ in riding behaviour and characteristics, their customers choose the bikes that fits their needs best!
Nazca Recumbents aim at an excellent price / quality rate to get as many people as possible enthusiastic in this unique way of cycling. Riding a recumbent is fun, healthy and remarquable through out!"
Nazca have agreed to build two "Pioneer - Under the Seat Steering" Recumbent Bicycles for 360ways, before the end of March 2004. This will give us ample time to try them out, and tweak them as need be. There are also rumours of a first trial run from Amsterdam to Paris...
Welcome Nazca Recumbent Bicycles! We hope you will enjoy the ride!
Contact Henk and Monique from Nazca Recumbents: