Hi Jim!

Although many Indian Trishaws are made using Hercules frames (see my Hercules in an earlier entry), this particular trishaw is "deluxe", having been made from a Neelam frame with double top & down-tubes, India's heaviest-duty bicycle (at about 28 kilograms!). This photo was taken in Varanasi, but trishaws nearly identical to this can be purchased in many large Indian cities, which are home to businesses who manufacture all sorts of workbikes to suit the occupations of their clients.

One good example would be the Jandewhelan Cycle Market in Old Delhi, north of the Chandni Chowk Cycle Bazaar & the Red Fort. This large building contains dozens of small bicycle retailers, as well as the businesses in question, where you can order your custom trishaw for about $250USD - $300USD (if you bargain hard!). If you want to bring it home, you could have it crated up as well, although organizing transport from a city that's not a seaport would be a hassle. In '86 I met a French guy who was purchasing one as I happened along; he was going to ride it all the way from Delhi to Pondicherry to visit a friend living in Auroville, and then ship it home from Madras - never heard or saw of him again so I can't vouch for his success, but if anyone spots one of these on a French street it'll probably be Edouard's; ask him if indeed he rode all the way and pass on my email address please.

Paul Woloshansky
Calgary, Alberta

bikwalla@telus.net