Veerle's Sidenotes A collection of thoughts on subjects of my interest.
Illegal Bird Trapping
You would think that in this day and age, birds could live their lives peacefully. I was quite shocked when I recently saw these figures from Bird Protection Flanders about illegal bird trapping. Several cases have even made it to court.
Starling
Facts and Figures
Here are some notable facts and figures about the lawsuits: These cases often involve persistent behavior by perpetrators who have been engaging in this activity for generations and show no awareness of guilt. In one case involving the trade of frozen starlings, the defendant was found to have captured and traded a total of 65,399 starlings between 2001 and 2023. During inspections by the Nature Inspectorate, the following were discovered in various cases:
- 427 live birds: including finches, goldfinches, bruisers, redpolls, siskins, starlings, greenfinches, crossbills and 'black' pheasants (bred pheasants for illegal restocking)
- 8,384 dead birds (found when caught red-handed by the Nature Inspectorate or traded in the past as shown by the accounting records found)
- at least 344 traps.
- large sums of cash: € 103,035 in cash was found in 1 case. The man is said to have traded 10,000 starlings, 400 snipes, 400 hares and 20 deer in 2022.
- in several cases also poison, live decoys and/or weapons
The penalties vary from case to case. Effective prison sentences of 6 months were demanded on several occasions and requested fines amounted to €8,000.
Vinkenzetting
I’m not sure if this tradition exists in other countries, but in Flanders, Belgium, there’s a practice called “Vinkenzetting,” or “Finch sitting.” This tradition dates back to Flemish merchants in 1596 and is considered part of traditional Flemish culture. Participants gather on a closed-off street, each with a numbered box containing a male finch. It is a competitive sport where the male common chaffinches compete to make the highest number of bird calls in an hour. The proximity of the cages increases the number of calls, as the birds sing for mates and to establish territory.
Vinkenzetting Deinze. The long black rod is used for counting.
There has to be silence in that street. When I’m on my bicycle, I always ignore those closed-off streets and ride through, enjoying all the angry looks. No one has said anything so far, but if they did, my only response would be, “Stick yourself in a box and sing for an hour, and see how much you like it.”
Various studies show that the starling population has been declining since the late 1970s. At the European level, the population of the species decreased by 52% between 1980 and 2011. In Flanders, the evolution of the starling population is also described as problematic by the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO). Between 2007 and 2018, a 36% decline was recorded in Flanders. These illegal traps aren't exactly helping.
Photo Finch sitting By Donarreiskoffer - Own work, CC BY 3.0.
Photo Starling by ArWeltAtty Attila.
Lemmo One
When searching for an aesthetically pleasing electric bicycle, there are numerous options to consider. For example, the Belgian Cowboy and the Amsterdam-based VanMoof. VanMoof, which filed for bankruptcy on July 17, 2023, is now owned by e-scooter brand Lavoie. They have relaunched the brand, retaining its original name. Another noteworthy option is from Light Electric Micro Mobility (LEMMO), a company I recently discovered after their bike won a Red Dot Award in the "Best of the Best" category.
Lemmo OneMk2
The bicycle, called the Lemmo One, is described as an "All Urban Terrain E+Bike." A few clever features immediately caught my eye in its design. The first noteworthy feature is that the front light is removable, allowing it to double as a pocket lamp. The front light also charges when in bike mode. That's not all;
Smartpac
The Lemmo One is a lightweight bicycle, weighing just 15kg without the battery pack. The battery pack, known as the “Smartpac” weighs 3kg and boasts 531Wh. It offers 65W USB A&C output charging and takes 3.5 hours to fully charge. The Smartpac integrates the battery, IoT motor controller, and can also function as a power bank for your devices. With built-in GPS, 4G, Bluetooth, and support for "Apple Find My”, it enhances connectivity. LEMMO also implies that the Smartpac has “upgradable smart tech” so this means over-the-air updates are possible. According to LEMMO, the detachable Smartpac is environmentally beneficial, as the bike itself can last 10 to 15 years while the technology evolves every 5 years. However, this consideration only partly applies to the Smartpac, as the rear wheel's Dual Mode Hub is still integral to the bike. There’s also a ‘Smartpac E-lock’ so that it can’t be stolen. The removable protective cloth cover that holds it can be colour customized to suit your style.
Phone Holder
The second clever part is integrated so well that you wouldn't notice if you don’t know that it is there. The universal phone holder is neatly and seamlessly integrated into the stem. There is no special phone case required and it is compatible with most phones.
Dual Mode Hub
Maybe the most clever aspect of this bicycle is the fact that you can make it a regular bicycle with just a pull and turn of the Patented dual-clutch structure. If you do that you get resistance free pedalling. The motor itself is 250W and is apparently very silent with 40Nm of peak torque. There’s also intuitive power boost thanks to the torque sensor. Apparently there's now also an upgraded version of the motor that delivers 56Nm of peak torque. To prevent theft the rear hub motor comes with a hub E-lock that blocks the wheel from turning.
Turbo Trekker
The upgraded motor is featured in a robust version of the Lemmo, known as the "Turbo Trekker." This motor can be adjusted to the US speed standard of 32 km/h. In addition to the upgraded motor, the Turbo Trekker is equipped with a gravel fork suspension from SRAM, the "RockShox XPLR," which offers 40mm of travel, a full range of adjustments, and a solid lockout. It also includes a reinforced rear rack designed for bike packing, capable of carrying 2x 12kg loads. This bike features a stealth suspension seat system, contributing to its increased weight. Without the Smartpack, it weighs 18.5kg, and with the battery, it comes at 21.5kg—still relatively lightweight. The tires are 45mm Continental Terra Trail.
Custom Gravel Lemmo One
The regular version of the LEMMO One has a range of approximately ±100 km. I would expect the range to be a bit less with the heavier Turbo Trekker, though I haven't tested it.
Drive Train
Both versions of the LEMMO One have two options for the drive train. When opt to ride on diverse terrain you go for the Shimano Deore 10-speed derailleur (11-42T) with single front crankset (38T). When you only need a single gear you opt for the Gates’ Top series ‘CDX’ carbon fiber belt drive.
Hydraulic Disc brakes
Both versions have a hydraulic braking powerful 4-piston hydraulic front and rear brake with 160 mm brake discs guarantee maximum safety both in all types of riding. Didn’t find a brand for this.
Display and App
Like any modern bicycle, the LEMMO comes with a companion app. This app provides riders with bike information, function adjustments, GPS tracking, customer service, and online shopping. Screenshots show a 'Map Navigation' feature, but it's unclear whether you can map out a route or import routes from RidewithGPS or Strava to follow on the display.
The bicycle is reportedly available in Belgium, and I find the gravel-oriented Turbo Trekker particularly appealing. I can't comment on how it feels to ride since I haven't tested it yet. To give a proper review and decide whether to recommend it, I would need to take it on some of my gravel routes.
It's also worth noting that this isn't a 'Speed Pedelec' but is limited to the European standard speed of 25 km/h. Additionally, I couldn't find any information on whether the wheels are tubeless or tubeless-ready.
The Classics 2024
Every year, I eagerly anticipate the (Belgian) classics, yet they seem to pass by in the blink of an eye. Here are a few images I've chosen from E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, De Ronde van Vlaanderen, and Paris-Roubaix, captured by the exceptional visual storytellers Jered and Ashley Gruber.
Tour of Flanders
Shirin's game face!
Well, yesterday didn’t really go as we would have liked personally, but despite everything that didn’t go to plan, I enjoyed myself.
Mathieu van der Poel attacked on the Koppenberg in the rain to avoid the mayhem that followed. What happened next was like a scene from the wayback machine with riders on foot trying to get to the top. In the women's edition I'm so glad that Katarzyna Niewiadoma had a second place. That girl's fighting spirit will reward her with a first place in the future, I'm sure!
These photos are filled with stories, capturing the emotions and hardships experienced within them. However, this year will be remembered for some personal misfortune, as Jered torched his ACL and MCL, requiring surgery and a recovery journey similar to those of the athletes he captures so masterfully. I'm confident he will emerge stronger, just like those professionals!
E3 Saxo Classic
Gent-Wevelgem
Paris-Roubaix
That devastating final sprint is pure gold!
The thrilling final of the women's edition of Paris-Roubaix will stay with me for a long time. Everything felt like it was game-over but Lotte Kopecky appeared from what looked like a lost position and worked her way to the front with that devastating final sprint.
Photos by Jered and Ashley Gruber
