The Miklink concept consists of a fully patented hitch attached to a bicycle and a range of trailers. Development of the hitch is complete and over £150,000 has been spent to date on R&D and applying for patents. The principal trailer is chassis-supported with stub axles and special wheels, and is capable of taking loads up to 150 kg. Approximately 100 of these have been built to test both the product and the market. Arrangements have been made for the bicycle hitch and these trailer units to be made in China, through a subsidiary of a UK plc, at very competitive prices. There has also been some initial development work done on a slightly smaller version of the main trailer with 125 kg load capacity, a single wheel trailer capable of taking 50 kg loads, and a narrower and lighter two wheel trailer in which the chassis is replaced by a load-carrying box supported by axle forks and standard bicycle wheels and which can take loads of up to 100 kg. Prototypes of all three of these have been built and, with further funding, these could also be brought to the market. It should be noted, however, that companies distributing the hitch or individual users could manufacture trailers to their own designs; the key to the system is the patented hitch and it is from the sale of these that the bulk of future revenue will derive.

The main market for Miklink units is in the third world, where the system's capacity for transporting up to 150 kg loads effectively doubles the amount which can be transported on a bicycle by itself. Moreover, the ability to move the load whilst cycling (rather than walking and pushing a loaded bicycle) means that more journeys can be made each day. Miklink could therefore make a significant contribution to improving the cash flow and prosperity of peasant farmers. Other third world needs include transporting fuel, water and sick people. There is widespread support for the Miklink system from research organisations and aid agencies such as Cranfield University, Natural Resources Institute, Commonwealth Secretariat, UNICEF and the World Bank.

In the developed world, opportunities for using Miklink include for servicing chalets in holiday centres, transporting equipment for use by office cleaning firms, delivering pizzas etc, helping in maintenance of parks or along river and canal banks, transporting explosives and detonators in quarries, enabling elderly and disabled people to go out with their families on cycle rides, and for economic handling of small materials in large warehouses or factory complexes.

The Miklink system has been invented and designed by Harold Poole who has a lifetime's experience in the logistics and economics of off-highway transportion and who developed and subsequently licensed the articulated tractor and dumper system known for many years under the generic name of Shawnee Poole.

The Intellectual Property Rights relating to Miklink are owned by a Poole family trust based in Jersey. Because Mr Poole, at 75 years of age, feels that the business opportunity should be developed by someone younger, the Trustees are now seeking the cooperation of suitable individuals or organisations who can undertake the marketing. Such a partner could be an international trading company which would either market direct through its own network or sell distribution rights for different territories round the world. Alternatively, an entrepreneur could sell on the complete licensing rights for local manufacture and distribution in different territories.

Although the business has not traded, its potential has been valued by a leading firm of chartered accountants at up to £10 million. The Trustees are offering to share the benefits of this potential business in return for an initial capital sum, as an earnest of commitment, and regular payments based on actual sales over a period of years.

Further information is available including an economic analysis showing breakeven usages for Miklink units in a typical third world country, a video, and details of sales enquiries from overseas and of contacts with research organisations and aid agencies.

Prepared 21 March by David McFetrich, 6A Western Avenue, Poole BH13 7AL; Tel/fax 0 1202 701701

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