About Us

Hello and welcome, my name is Andrew Walters. Before I begin to tell you a little bit about myself, I would just like to summarise my motivations for developing this bike:

Firstly – There is my passion for the ENVIRONMENT: - I wanted to manufacture a product that would actually help to reduce CO2 emissions

Secondly - My passion to reduce the physical, practical and social BARRIERS TO CYCLING.. So as to encourage and enable more people to ride.

And finally:
Because, I see the MonVal as a genuinely viable, real time, real world and immediately effective solution to achieving the above two concerns.

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How it came about:

In 2005, after many years of cycling, as much as I enjoyed it, I could no longer tolerate the pains and discomfort I was getting with the riding position of the conventionally styled bicycle. To add to this, I was also getting rather frustrated with the lack of carrying capacity, which forced me to NOT use a bicycle as often as I wanted for everyday chores. 

I desperately wanted to keep cycling but it became obvious that to do this, an alternative to the conventional 'diamond frame' style of bicycle would have to be found!

I was very aware of the alternative bike scene that was around at that time and was amazed at how many different styles and variations within styles there were. As the search began, there appeared to be something for everybody, so naturally I assumed that it wouldn’t be too long before I found what I wanted: - a bike with a comfortable riding position and larger carrying capacity.
I was wrong – I found bikes that had a comfortable riding position, bikes that had larger carrying capacities but, bikes that had both – No chance!
There was no other option: - I had to design one that did!!

'NECESSITY - REALLY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION’…… as the saying goes.

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The Epiphany:

Now, at the same time that I was developing the 'MonVal' bicycle, I was and still am, somewhat concerned about our carbon footprint effect on the environment and wanted to see if, in my own small way, I could do something about it.

The solution seemed quite simple – Encourage more businesses and organisations, as well as individuals, to use bicycles as car alternatives for short journeys - This way, we’d be able to reduce CO2 emissions from motorised traffic as well as helping to relieve the congestion in central urban areas –

A simple solution – but a difficult challenge!

Research into why more people, businesses and organisations, were NOT taking up this initiative, lead to the discovery of the reason so many people weren’t cycling in the first place, or had given it up - lack of comfort and lack of practicality for their everyday needs - the same reasons that were affecting me!! 

The other main reason, is the fact that for many people, travelling around in their work clothes is mandatory and because of this, they simply cannot afford to arrive at their destinations - such as customers premises, hot, sweaty and deshevelled. This condition, being as a result of having to pedal hard to keep up a decent pace of travel, or to overcome the hills and/or head winds that they may encounter along their journies. 

The 'good old British weather,' was expected to rate quite highly as a reason for not cycling but, despite all the research, this barely got a mention. Maybe, because we are so used to it, we don't even notice it as an obstacle anymore, which I personally see as very encouraging for bicycle usage. 

From the research that was done, (primary and secondary), many people, businesses and organisations, indicated that they would cycle more regularly or use bicycles more often, if there were more specifically designed machines for commercial commuting use, than that currently on offer - NONE!!!.  
 
So to me, the conclusion was simple, if I were to put an 'electric-assist' system on the MonVal bicycle, it would make pedalling a lot easier, thereby reducing fatigue and persperation. This, coupled to its' other significant attributes, would also address the above concerns and thus, enable me to achieve my two main objectives - a bike that MOST people would be able to ride and more importantly, a viable bicycle design that MOST businesses and organisations would be able to utilise.