The pleasant smell of small-engine exhaust mingling with freshly mowed grass doesn't cut it in the pollution-conscious '90s.

And the makers of the Dynamow know it. In their new bicycle-powered lawnmower, free of messy exhaust pipes, this little Colorado company brings us a sort of "Toro Lite.''

A grass-cutter for the millenium, it's really just a tricked-out reel mower (the old kind with spinning blades driven by the turning of its wheels). Instead of using a handle to push it around the yard, you attach it to the chainstay on a mountain bike. Ride around your yard and the unit drags along like a little trailer, throwing a pretty impressive rooster tail of clippings at the right speed.

I found assembly of the Dynamow fairly painless. It only took about fifteen minutes and required no tools. Unfortunately, my Klein test bike had oversized frame tubes that did not accept the Dynamow's clamp. I had to jerry-rig it, forcing the mower into a slightly raised position. It did the job, but I'd recommend using a narrow-tubed bike.

Dynamow cut the test grass competently, though I found maneuvering through corners a hassle because of the poor turning radius. The manufacturer provides an alternate handle for getting at the hard-to-reach spots, but you have to disassemble the whole unit, put on the handle, mow the corners, and then redo the whole process to mow with your bike again. It's best suited to wide, open yards where you can mow long stretches without turning.

Still, it's probably a bit much to ask any zero-emission mower to perform with the ease and gusto of a traditional gas burner. And, environmentally, the Dynamow's as great as they say. One hour mowing with an inefficient small engine blows about as much gunk into the sky as eleven hours driving a new car. Plus, the Dynamow spreads clippings evenly across the lawn, helping it retain moisture and providing a natural thatch.

If you're interested in low-impact lawn care--or even just giving the neighbors something to think about--look into the Dynamow. You may appear a little silly, but you will end the day with something of a workout, a closely groomed lawn, and a clear conscience.

Available from Dynamow, PO Box 2750, Silverthorne, CO 80498. Phone: 800-739-6266. Suggested price $239.