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Europe
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ConferenceBike Tours
Dresden and Munich, Germany
ABOVE: A ConferenceBike tour visits Munich's
Marienplatz. INSET BELOW: A septacycle in Dresden.
By Durant Imboden
 The
ConferenceBike, or "CoBi," is both a mode of transportation and a
conversation piece: As you ride around on a seven-person, pedal-powered vehicle
that looks like a group-therapy session on wheels, you'll enjoy the sights
and become a sightseeing object yourself. (If you cringe at having strangers
point their cameras at you, stick with a walking tour or the Gray Line bus.)
On a recent trip to Germany, I tried ConferenceBike tours in two
cities: Dresden and Munich. Both experiences were fun--even for someone who
normally prefers walking to bicycling--and it was easy to see how why
ConferenceBikes are popular for sightseeing tours, bachelor and birthday
parties, and even corporate team-building exercises.
How the ConferenceBike works
Velo.Saliko, the German manufacturer of the ConferenceBike,
describes the tour experience as "seven people sitting in a circle around a
table and riding a bike."
The vehicle (which costs as much as a small car) has a
welded steel frame, four automotive-style wheels, and seven comfortable bicycle
seats arranged around a circular handlebar.
The driver sits in the back, facing
forward and operating the steering wheel and brake lever, while the six
passengers (who face the center from different directions) have nothing to worry
about except pedaling.
The ConferenceBike has only one gear and no coaster brakes, so a
passenger who gets tired of pedaling can simply freewheel or take his feet off
the pedals. (As Velo.Saliko puts it, the ConferenceBike is "not meant for racing
but for fun moments in community," so don't feel guilty if you take it easy on
downhill stretches.)
How to book a tour
 ConferenceBike
tours are geared to small groups, so the easiest way to arrange a tour is to get
several people together (up to a maximum of six, or seven if you're doing the
driving).
If you're traveling alone, it won't hurt to contact the local tour
operator when you're in Munich or Dresden, just in case other solo travelers are
also looking for a tour.
General ConferenceBike links
Eric Staller's
Conference Bike
The American inventor of the CoBi offers technical information, a movie, and
more.
ConferenceBike tour operators
ConferenceBikes Dresden
Hire a bike and guide in half-, one-, or two-hour increments. (I'd suggest a
60-minute tour, unless your group consists of ThighMaster veterans.)
Pedalhelden (Munich)
Rent and operate your own ConferenceBike from "Pedal Heroes," or--better yet--let an experienced
guide do the steering while you and your friends enjoy the sights.
Back to: Dresden Index or Munich Index
About the author:
 Durant Imboden
is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European
cities and transportation.
After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and
Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (now including Germany for
Visitors) in
2001. The
site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The
Washington Post.
For more information, see
About
Europe for Visitors,
press clippings, and
reader
testimonials.
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"Best
of the Web" - Washington Post
