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Seattle born Evelo takes to the streets in the best electric upright delta trike that I have ever ridden. After reviewing about a dozen electric trikes, the compass stands out as the picture perfect example of an electric trike, without having a strange segment it’s trying to catch. Truly, when you think of an electric trike, your first though is the Evelo Compass.

Electric trikes seem to bring something special out of a bike designer. Perhaps it’s the wealth of cargo options, or the option for shifting rider weight that’s so appealing. Looking for an electric trike can bring up a wild panoply of options that sometimes gets overwhelming.

But have no fear! The Evelo Compass is a solid built, easy to use, comfortable, “high-speed” electric trike that gives riders exactly what they’re looking for: balance. A brief note on terminology: The Evelo Compass is an electric, upright delta trike. It’s upright because the rider is sitting upright, instead of recumbent or reclined. Having 2 wheels in the back makes it a Delta trike, instead of 2 wheels in front for a tadpole trike. Strangely, Evelo makes an electric bicycle called the Delta, but that’s not relevant here. Moving on…

Evelo Compass Specs:

  • Motor: 500w Mid-Drive
  • Motor Engagement: Cadence Pedal Assist, Throttle
  • Battery: 48v 10.5Ah (fully ready for 2nd add -on battery)
  • Range: 40 Miles Max
  • Top Speed: 20mph
  • Gearing: 3 Speed Internal Hub
  • Brakes: 180mm Mechanical Disc Brakes (2x)
  • Extras: Rear Basket with Wood Deck, Full 3 Fenders, Front+Rear Automatic Lights, Brake Lights, Reflective Tires, 2-wheel Drive, Full Chain Guard, Parking Brake, Ergonomic Grips, Comfort Saddle, Dual Battery Ready
Evelo Compass Motor

After reviewing about a dozen electric trikes by now, the first thing I noticed driving the Compass is the solid design. The frame is made of thick aluminum tubing, with smooth, uniform welds and supportive work around all the parts that matter. The rear batteries are protected by additional framing that also supports the rear basket and axle. Sure enough, when riding the Compass it didn’t feel like a wacky amusement ride, but it felt like a bicycle.

Evelo Compass Basket

Electric Compass

Powering the Compass is a 500w mid-drive motor, with both a cadence based pedal assist and throttle operation as standard equipment. The motor casing looks a lot like the Bafang BBS02, and if that’s the case, Evelo has chose a great motor for ease of use, and durability. This classic performer of a motor has been customized by hot-rodders for years, but I doubt the average trike customers is going for that angle. Alongside the motor is a 3 speed internal hub, which is another perfect choice for this application.

Evelo Compass Gearing

Too Fast, Too Furious

Driving on a straightaway, the Compass can reach speeds of 20mph. I’ve been on many trikes that limit the speed to 15, 13, or even 11mph (yeah, they were all odd numbers for some reason). These speed limitations are actually welcomed, in my eyes, since many trikes are downright scary past 15. I could easily take turns on the Compass at 13mph, and going straight felt rock solid.

Evelo Compass Tires

Stable Steed

The Compass is easily made to be a daily driver, if that was your intent. With 3 full fenders, a stout wooden basket, brake lights and front and rear lights that automatically engage, this trike is no slouch on practicality. The 180mm disc brakes seemed a bit wimpy when I first took a look at the Compass, but they did pretty good. I forgot about the inherent resistance of a 3 wheeled machine, and I also skipped the idea that trikes are generally slower than bicycles.

Evelo Compass Market

Normally, people are looking for trikes of this style because three wheels offers better balance in low speed and easy access scenarios. There’s no shame in it. Literally all of us will someday be confronted with the choice of a trike or the couch. With a current MSRP of $4,299, the Compass is certainly not in the cheap category, and at the same time not in the high-speed rocket-ship division either. The Evelo Compass is right in the center of the bulls-eye for what an electric trike should be.


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Bob Vylan on ‘death, death to the IDF’ chant: ‘I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays’

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Bob Vylan on 'death, death to the IDF' chant: 'I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays'

Bob Vylan’s frontman has said he does not regret chanting “death, death to the IDF” at Glastonbury – and would do it again.

The outspoken punk duo sparked controversy with their performance at the festival in June, with the broadcast also leading to fierce criticism of the BBC.

But speaking on The Louis Theroux podcast, Bobby Vylan said he stood by the chant, adding: “I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays.”

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BBC bosses grilled over Masterchef, Bob Vylan and Gaza documentary

The US condemned the act’s “hateful tirade” and revoked their visas, with several festivals cancelling their upcoming appearances.

Vylan claimed this backlash is “minimal” compared with what the people of Palestine are going through – with many losing members of their family or forced to flee their homes.

He said: “If I have their support, they’re the people that I’m doing it for, they’re the people that I’m being vocal for, then what is there to regret. Oh, because I’ve upset some right-wing politician or some right-wing media?”

The musician revealed he was taken aback by the uproar caused by the chant, which was described by the prime minister as “appalling hate speech”.

Vylan added: “It wasn’t like we came off stage, and everybody was like (gasps). It’s just normal. We come off stage. It’s normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like: ‘That was fantastic! We loved that!'”

A spokesperson at Mindhouse Productions – which was founded by Theroux and produces The Louis Theroux podcast – told Sky News: “Louis is a journalist with a long history of speaking to controversial figures who may divide opinion. We would suggest people watch or listen to the interview in its entirety to get the full context of the conversation.”

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Calls for Bob Vylan concert to be cancelled

‘The response was disproportionate’

The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit has since found that the broadcast of Bob Vylan’s set breached editorial standards related to harm and offence.

Theroux asked Vylan what he meant by chanting “death to the IDF” – with the musician replying: “It’s so unimportant, and the response to it was so disproportionate.

“What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate.”

Read more from Sky News:
Maccabi fans will not be able to buy tickets to Villa match

No more investigations into ‘non-hate crime incidents’, Met says
Victim of Manchester synagogue attack speaks out

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

He said he wanted an end to the oppression that the Palestinian people are facing – but argued chanting “end, end the IDF” wouldn’t have caught on because it doesn’t rhyme.

“We are there to entertain, we are there to play music,” Vylan added. “I am a lyricist. ‘Death, death to IDF’ rhymes. Perfect chant.”

He went on to reject claims that their set had contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents that were reported a couple of days later.

“I don’t think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like ‘Bob Vylan made me do this’. I might go, ‘oof, I’ve had a negative impact here’.”

Vylan’s conversation with Theroux was recorded on 1 October – before the Manchester synagogue attack, and prior to the ceasefire in Gaza coming into effect.

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Gavin Plumb: Man jailed for plotting to rape and murder Holly Willoughby loses appeal against life sentence

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Gavin Plumb: Man jailed for plotting to rape and murder Holly Willoughby loses appeal against life sentence

A security guard jailed for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV star Holly Willoughby has lost an appeal against his life sentence.

Gavin Plumb was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years last year after being convicted of soliciting murder and encouraging or assisting others to rape and kidnap.

A trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard that police found bottles of chloroform and an “abduction kit” with cable ties when officers raided the 38-year-old’s flat in Harlow, Essex.

Plumb’s kidnap plan involved attempting to “ambush” Willoughby at her family home, jurors heard.

Plumb argued in his defence that it was just online chat and fantasy.

Police believed Plumb was an 'imminent threat' to Holly Willoughby. Pic: PA
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Police believed Plumb was an ‘imminent threat’ to Holly Willoughby. Pic: PA

He was caught after an undercover police officer in the US infiltrated an online group called Abduct Lovers.

He told the officer, who used the pseudonym David Nelson, that he was “definitely serious” about his plot to kidnap the former This Morning host, leaving him with the impression that there was an “imminent threat” to Willoughby.

Due to the officer’s concern over Plumb’s post, evidence was passed to the FBI, who then contacted police in the UK.

Willoughby, who asked for her victim personal statement to be private, waived her right to anonymity in connection with the charge against Plumb of assisting or encouraging rape.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs files to appeal his conviction and sentence

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs files to appeal his conviction and sentence

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is appealing the conviction handed down to him earlier this year over prostitution charges relating to his former girlfriends and male sex workers.

The music mogul was given a 50-month sentence and a $500,000 fine for flying people around the US and abroad for sexual encounters, including his then-girlfriend and male sex workers, in violation of prostitution laws.

He was cleared of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking that could have put him in jail for life.

The two-page formal notice of appeal, seen by Sky News, was filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday, confirming he will be challenging both his conviction and his sentence.

It lists Combs’s defence council as Alexandra A E Shapiro, and shows a $605 (£450) docketing fee was paid to lodge the formal notice.

More detailed filings are expected to follow.

On the day of sentencing in early October the rapper’s lawyers had signalled they intended to appeal.

More on Sean Combs

Combs, 55, has been in custody since his arrest last year.

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Diddy jailed for more than four years

His seven-week trial earlier this year included four days of testimony from Cassie, now Cassie Ventura Fine, who told the court she was coerced and sometimes blackmailed into sexual encounters with male sex workers, referred to as “freak offs”.

Jurors were also shown video clips of Combs dragging and beating her in a Los Angeles hotel hallway after one of those sessions in 2016.

Ahead of the sentencing, Cassie also submitted a letter to the judge, calling Combs a “manipulator” and saying she would fear for her safety should he be immediately released.

Diddy and Cassie at the premiere for a film she starred in, just days after the 2016 hotel incident. Pic: zz/Galaxy/STAR MAX/IPx/ AP
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Diddy and Cassie at the premiere for a film she starred in, just days after the 2016 hotel incident. Pic: zz/Galaxy/STAR MAX/IPx/ AP

Ahead of his sentencing, Combs told the court he admitted his past behaviour was “disgusting, shameful and sick”, and apologised personally to Cassie Ventura and “Jane”, another former girlfriend who testified anonymously during the trial.

He told the court he’d got “lost in my excess and lost in my ego”, but since his time in prison he has been “humbled and broken to my core,” adding “I hate myself right now… I am truly sorry for it all.”

Judge Arun Subramanian, who had rejected bail for the rapper several times before sentencing, told him that he would get through his time in prison and would still “have a life afterwards,” calling it “a chance for renewal and redemption”.

He was facing a maximum of 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related charges, so the sentence was towards the lower end of the scale.

Prosecutors had argued he should spend at least 11 years behind bars, while Combs’s lawyers had called for him to be freed almost immediately due to time already served since his arrest just over a year ago.

Sky News has contacted Combs’s lawyers for comment.

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