Before heading to Prague for our cycling trip, Honza took Granden and me on a detour through a corner of Czechia that completely blew my mind.
Hidden in the small border village of Vratěnín is Camp Velo — a cyclist-focused campground, guesthouse, and restaurant built directly on top of former Iron Curtain military barracks. What was once a Cold War installation has been transformed into a welcoming hub for travelers, riders, and dreamers.
But that’s only half the story.
On the same property lives Katanga, an innovation workshop pushing personal mobility far beyond traditional cycling. Led by the soft-spoken but visionary Stéphane Boving, Katanga is building futuristic velomobiles, electric pods, and the Velion Microcar — vehicles that sit somewhere between bike and car… and feel like the future.
We were invited behind the scenes for a rare skunkworks-style look at brand-new prototypes, manufacturing in progress, and then — the best part — test rides in machines that aren’t even public yet.
This visit perfectly captures why I love Czechia: history, creativity, cycling culture, and bold ideas colliding in the most unexpected places.
🔗 LINKS & CREDITS
🚴 Ride by AZUB
👉 https://azub.eu
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🏕 Camp Velo (Vratěnín, Czechia)
👉 https://www.campvelo.cz/en/
🚗 Katanga – Future Mobility Lab
👉 https://www.katanga.eu/
📍 Filmed in Czechia
Cycling culture, history, and innovation in one unforgettable stop.
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10 Comments
Camp Velo sounds like a great idea for the base of the next Recumbent Rally 2027 in Czechia. 🤔
The dogs are a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, a dog breed made in the 50's. If I remember right they crossed German Shepherds with grey wolves thinking they might get a dog with less genetic problems and good for police, border patrol etc. They were successfull only on the first part, because these dogs bond so strongly to their human that switching owners in the police service is impossible.
I found it funny how the room for building velomobiles looks exactly like the one they did it in when they were in Brno. Same relative placement of door and windows, same shelves, same tables etc. For a few seconds I thought you cut to a footage filmed in Brno.
Nice trip! Velomobiles are interesting. I could see this for daily commuting in town.I would think a trike design would be lighter.
Velomobiles are Bicycles, not Cars!
I really like the side opening on a Velo mobile because I don’t know if I could get in and out from the top opening that many have. It would solve the issue of riding in rain and cold weather.
They mentioned being right on the Velo 13 route so I think that would be a good camping spot
Cool velomobiles.
Cylinder head? Nope – not close. It's a piston/rod assembly.
Waw c’est de l’avance en technologie :
Pour le Vhelion avec peu de consommation électrique pour 80-87 kg environ 7 watts/km .
Soit 0,35kw/h au cent et le coffre, génial.
Le WoW : génial avec plein d’avantages.
Sportif sans moteur
Ou une bombe avec un moteur roue arrière type RH
Et sécurité en montagne avec frein regeneratif.
Le Pony : l’utilitaire léger avec les cheveux à l’air
Et le tout en alu Alleweder : un passe partout très attractif et avec un moteur vous régalera tous les jours.
Merci la team KATANGA
Et vivement l’homologation dans 1-2 années .
I love my WAW. A very well designed velomobile, easy to work on due to its modular construction. The Velion looks interesting with its easy entry/exit and powerful electric motor (no motor on my WAW). I was surprised to learn that David of Passion Velomobile is Stephane's son-in-law. Could be why David is rather fond of the WAW…
How to change the way people drive?? Make a vehicle that's more cost like a new Dacia, with less practically. And then wonder why it's sooo niche and sell not well and don't change the way people drive on regular days. Internet is so full of this awesome and same time so niche. Everytime i see stuff like that it hurts, because great idea but to expensive and for one. It looks awesome and that was the only splash it make. A little note in bike history.