ÿWPCM ðG_(x“´3ƒ¼Òò —N)þ¤¢¶_UÕˆ|N|9íŸýT&#Í?‚P?Ê7KÍÇ8{i'St˜o›¬ýAçkëx@E{ëÒxñ î|zV®_f@PhlVÍîºú¼£ƒvŸ†~ËyÙZã€CãÍ m_±ªZ‘&»¢™ÕþbI²™ÙÅî“l¾ãB³å…¡î¥Ù¹SÚ\J…ÑíÚ7n¤Œ¦WPu±Moû÷:X±ö°ˆ mFÁÉ’dÍØ‹ž?rÒ[I¢vÿœ>1×F®KËéÃЫ·ZRÉGP£Ä®éðÚï«·{´”[òLÄ!ñ±vŒ·~ÇUð‹Ëyb^åý‚ÌË…†{µígchMÀŠ31ß°þ74á¿PEêÛvr)ÿËšÈ –&Øieô~D 8ŽöÌoW™~ñü#ÝÜ·äéØëößï¢dCÚóÙG"6ðö©b¥æ:@ˆ¡óÔ´#™’gºü²”€ŒA²ÑåÙH>Ç`ˆΆԞC~vpi ©õ‡Ú5š^°z#ú";ÂÊ•Í}Duñü-jZÜløUúGúw‹ŸSÉg5?ŠÓÉŒŠ¶CýJ"Í[bÖêxxäkùR==ý¯ #ɨUNq %¿ 0:Å^ ÿw 4#2 m4NK˜Samsung ML-1710 SeriesÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô.\6î qŽn5"3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òRECUMBENT€RACINGó ó€(A€European€perspective)Ð ° ÐPat€Ô_ÔKinchÔ_Ô€talks€to€Richard€Ô_ÔGrigsbyÔ_ÔÐ  ð ÐÌò òÔ_ÔRecumbentsÔ_Ô€are€the€fastest€bikes€around€„€period.€Riding€one€is€fun;€racing€one€isÐ xÈ Ðexhilarating.€Pat€Ô_ÔKinchÔ_Ô€gives€you€the€low€down€on€getting€ahead.Ð d´ Ðó óÌWhen€you€see€cycling€club€also„Ô_ÔransÔ_Ô€lapping€Cat€1€riders€at€over€40mph€in€bikes€that€look€likeÐ < Œ Ðglazed€bath€tubs,€you€begin€to€understand€that€racing€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€are€fast.€What€also€becomesÐ ( x Ðapparent€is€that€the€right€bike€makes€a€real€difference.€Itððs€still€the€combination€of€a€good€riderÐ  d Ðand€a€fast€bike€that€wins,€but€a€very€fast€bike€and€a€mediocre€rider€can€do€surprisingly€well.Ð  P  ÐÌEvents€in€the€United€Kingdom€are€organized€by€the€British€Human€Power€Club€(Ô_ÔBHPCÔ_Ô).€TheÐ Ø(  Ð300„strong€Ô_ÔBHPCÔ_Ô€exists€to€ð ðstimulate€innovation€in€design€and€development€in€all€spheres€ofÐ Ä  ÐÔ_ÔHPVsÔ_Ôðð€and€is€supported€by€an€informative€and€often€hilarious€newsletter.€The€club€has€interestsÐ °  Ðin€air,€land,€and€water€based€Ô_ÔHPVsÔ_Ô€(for€competitive,€recreational,€and€utility€activities),€but€theÐ œì  Ðmeets€are€racing€oriented.Ð ˆØ  ÐÌThe€European€scene€is€more€buoyant,€with€larger€numbers€coming€from€Holland€and€Germany.Ð `° ÐGood€news€for€us€is€that€the€European€Championships€will€be€held€in€Leicester€this€year€(1996).Ð Lœ ÐSeveral€hundred€machines€will€take€part€in€a€wide€mixture€of€events€including€sprints,€time€trialsÐ 8ˆ Ðand€points€races.€Ð $t ÐÌHistorically,€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€were€banned€by€the€Ô_ÔUCIÔ_Ô€in€1934€after€Cat€3€Francois€Ô_ÔFaureÔ_Ô€broke€theÐ üL Ðworld€hour€record.€Although€the€majority€of€the€ratifying€board€were€in€favor€of€legalizingÐ è8 ÐÔ_ÔFaureÔ_Ôððs€45.055km€record,€some€thought€that€he€was€unworthy€of€the€title€because€he€was€only€aÐ Ô$ Ðsprinter!Ð À ÐÌÔ_ÔFaureÔ_Ôððs€record€stood€for€just€two€months.€On€April€1òòstóó€(no,€really)€1934,€the€Ô_ÔUCIÔ_Ô€published€rulesÐ ˜è Ðoutlining€what€they€thought€constituted€a€bicycle.€Ô_ÔRecumbentsÔ_Ô€were€outlawed€because€the€bottomÐ „Ô Ðbracket€was€not€ð ðbelow€the€saddleðð.Ð pÀ ÐÌBoth€the€British€Cycling€Federation€and€the€Ô_ÔRTTCÔ_Ô€(Royal€Time€Trial€Championships)€haveÐ H!˜ Ðinherited€the€Ô_ÔUCIÔ_Ôððs€intolerance€of€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€„€so€donððt€get€any€ideas€about€doing€a€16„minuteÐ 4"„  Ðð ð10"€on€your€local€drag€strip€or€of€demolishing€the€field€in€the€prologue€section€of€a€road€race...Ð  #p! ÐÌHowever,€òòò òCycling€Plus€ó óóó(British€cycling€magazine)€did€open€one€chink€in€the€Ô_ÔRTTCÔ_Ôððs€Ô_ÔarmourÔ_ÔÐ ø$H # Ðwhen€our€recumbent€specialist€Richard€Ô_ÔGrigsbyÔ_Ô€took€part€in€a€24„mile€hilly€time€trial.€It€was€partÐ ä%4!$ Ðof€the€Ô_ÔMineheadÔ_Ô€National€Cycling€Festival;€the€governing€bodies€were€persuaded€to€slackenÐ Ð& "% Ðexisting€rules€for€the€success€of€the€venture.€Itððs€a€start...Ð ¼' #& ÐÌò òBASIC€SKILLSó óÐ ”)ä$( ÐÌJust€riding€your€recumbent€will€acclimatize€you€with€the€most€basic€skills.€You€need€to€be€able€toÐ l+¼&* Ðpoint€your€recumbent€in€the€right€direction,€sit€on,€engage€one€foot€in€the€pedal€and€start€withoutÐ X,¨'+ Ðany€bother.€This€takes€practice.€Some€can€do€it€first€time;€others€fall€off€for€half€an€hour€beforeÐ D-”(, Ðgetting€the€hang€of€it.€Find€a€large,€gently€sloping€empty€road€or€car€park€and€just€scoot€down€itÐ ° Ðwith€your€feet€skimming€above€the€ground.€When€your€confidence€builds,€try€gently€clippingÐ œì Ðyour€feet€in€and€Ô_ÔpedallingÔ_Ô€smoothly€away.€Keep€Ô_ÔpedallingÔ_Ô€around€corners€and€unclip€early€soÐ ˆØ Ðboth€feet€are€ready€for€balancing€the€recumbent€before€you€stop.€Practice€racing€starts€by€clippingÐ tÄ Ðone€foot€in€and€pushing€off€hard.€Clip€the€other€foot€in€as€soon€as€the€empty€pedal€comes€aroundÐ `° Ðso€you€can€make€a€sprint„start.€Rev„out€in€your€starting€gear€before€changing€up.€Ð L œ ÐÌò òWARMING€UPó óÐ $ t ÐÌA€warm€up€is€essential.€Firstly,€recumbent€racing€is€pretty€brutal€on€the€body€as€itððs€very€specificÐ ü L  Ðand€uses€different€muscle€groups€than€ð ðnormalðð€cycling.€A€10„minute€warm€up€will€lull€your€legsÐ è 8  Ðinto€a€false€sense€of€security€and€let€you€get€the€hang€of€the€best€lines€through€the€corners.€IfÐ Ô$  Ðaccess€to€the€circuit€is€limited,€you€could€use€a€turbo,€but€in€the€informal,€not„so„serious€world€ofÐ À  Ðrecumbent€racing,€best€do€it€out€of€sight€„€otherwise€you€will€be€ragged€about€it€for€the€next€threeÐ ¬ü  Ðyears...Ð ˜è  ÐÌò òTHE€PROLOGUEó óÐ pÀ ÐÌMost€race€meets€have€a€short€time€trial€or€ð ðprologueðð€to€seed€the€field€into€fast€or€slow€races.€IfÐ H˜ Ðyou€want€to€clean€up€in€the€slow€races,€then€put€in€an€appalling€time€in€the€prologue€and€showÐ 4„ Ðyour€true€Ô_ÔcoloursÔ_Ô€in€the€mass„start€points€races!€This€wolf„in„sheepððs€clothing€strategy€is€knownÐ  p Ðas€doing€a€€ð ðWeaverðð,€after€the€man€who€perfected€the€act€in€the€1994€European€SpeedÐ  \ ÐChampionships.Ð øH ÐÌò òTHE€HARDWAREó óÐ Ð  ÐÌShort€wheelbase€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€are€the€only€machines€worth€racing€on.€Low€racers€have€becomeÐ ¨ø Ðpopular€because€the€rider€hides€the€rear€wheel€with€his€or€her€body€and€avoids€the€worst€of€theÐ ”ä Ðwind€higher€up.€I€ride€a€Wasp€made€by€Ô_ÔKingcycleÔ_Ô€specifically€for€racing.€It€has€front€wheel€drive,Ð €Ð Ðwhich€avoids€passing€the€chain€under€the€seat€and€can€prevent€loss€of€lock.€Correctly€placedÐ l¼ Ðchain€pulleys€ensure€the€steering€is€unaffected€by€pedal€action.€The€Wasp€uses€a€16„speed€SachsÐ X ¨ ÐErgo€Twist€Ô_ÔdrivetrainÔ_Ô.€The€twin€26€inch€Ô_ÔCampagnoloÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔShamalÔ_Ô€wheels€are€unique€to€this€bike;Ð D!” Ðproduction€Wasps€use€24€inch€front€wheels€with€a€26€inch€rear.€The€rear€luggage€carrier€is€fullyÐ 0"€  Ðfunctional€to€comply€with€Ô_ÔBHPCÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔregsÔ_Ô.€It€also€provides€a€reasonable€tail€ð ðfairingðð€to€smoothÐ #l! Ðairflow€over€the€bike.€Ð $X" ÐÌò òRIDING€POSITIONó óÐ à%0!$ ÐÌGetting€the€right€position€is€crucial€for€racing.€You€need€to€be€able€to€produce€full€power€andÐ ¸'#& Ðhave€plenty€of€comfort€combined€with€the€best€aerodynamics.€I€find€a€more€upright€position€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbest,€with€my€neck€upright€rather€than€half„reclined€as€some€might€prefer.€The€feet€should€beÐ )à$( Ðð ðhiddenðð€within€the€bodyððs€profile,€so€the€toes€donððt€rise€above€the€shoulders€and€the€heels€donððtÐ |*Ì%) Ðdip€below€the€hips€when€viewed€from€the€front€or€rear.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÌò òTHE€PROLOGUEó óÐ @-(, ÐMost€race€meets€have€a€short€time€trial€or€ð ðprologueðð€to€seed€the€field€into€fast€or€slow€races.€IfÐ ° Ðyou€want€to€clean€up€in€the€slow€races€then€put€in€an€appalling€time€in€the€prologue€and€showÐ œì Ðyour€true€Ô_ÔcoloursÔ_Ô€in€the€mass€start€points€races!€This€wolf€in€sheepððs„clothing€strategy€is€knownÐ ˆØ Ðas€ð ðdoing€a€Weaverðð,€after€the€man€who€perfected€the€act€in€the€1994€European€Championships.Ð tÄ ÐÌò òSTARTINGó óÐ L œ ÐÌGetting€a€good€start€in€the€points€race€is€very€important.€There€arenððt€many€who€have€the€speedÐ $ t Ðand€ability€to€carve€their€way€back€through€the€field€once€everyoneððs€started.€A€typical€race€couldÐ  ` Ðcontain€up€to€25€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€of€all€shapes€and€sizes.€I€time€my€warm€up€laps€so€that€I€arrive€onÐ ü L  Ðthe€front€of€the€grid.€On€a€banked€Ô_ÔvelodromeÔ_Ô€there€are€two€techniques,€depending€on€what€sort€ofÐ è 8  Ðrecumbent€you€ride.€With€a€ð ðlow€racerðð€you€can€do€a€hand€start:€put€your€upper€hand€down€on€theÐ Ô$  Ðbanking€and€clip€both€feet€in€ready€for€the€start.€If€you€donððt€have€a€low€racer€(and€donððt€haveÐ À  Ðape„like€arms)€then€your€best€bet€is€to€hang€onto€the€barrier€at€the€top€of€the€banking.€As€soon€asÐ ¬ü  Ðeveryone€starts,€push€off€using€gravity€to€get€you€into€the€lead.€Use€the€height€of€the€banking€andÐ ˜è  Ðsmoothly€sprint€down€to€the€inner€line€so€you€race€over€the€shortest€distance€possible.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌò òDRAFTING€€ó óÐ \¬ ÐÌOr€wheel„sucking.€Drafting€another€recumbent€is€permitted€in€all€races.€I€use€this€technique€eitherÐ 4„ Ðto€escape€from€other€riders€in€my€group€or€to€extend€an€existing€lead.€Jumping€onto€the€back€of€aÐ  p Ðfaired€bike€can€raise€your€average€racing€speed€by€3€or€4€mph,€which€would€be€impossible€toÐ  \ Ðachieve€by€yourself€on€an€Ô_ÔunfairedÔ_Ô€machine.€To€be€successful€you€must€be€aware€of€Ô_ÔwhatsÔ_ÔÐ øH Ðcoming€up€behind€you.€Thereððs€no€point€in€trying€to€jump€on€a€faster€recumbent€if€you€time€theÐ ä4 Ðeffort€too€late€and€immediately€blow€up.€Build€up€your€speed€as€a€faster€recumbent€approachesÐ Ð  Ðand€sprint€onto€its€tail,€getting€as€close€as€possible€to€get€the€maximum€pull.€If€the€race€is€in€aÐ ¼  ÐÔ_ÔvelodromeÔ_Ô€you€could€use€the€banking€for€that€extra€push€to€get€onto€a€faster€bike.€WithÐ ¨ø Ðexperience€you€will€get€to€know€the€other€riders,€not€always€faired,€who€you€can€use€to€up€yourÐ ”ä Ðspeed.€Be€aware€of€the€windððs€direction€and€get€yourself€the€best€position€behind€or€slightlyÐ €Ð Ðalongside.€Donððt€always€assume€that€fully„faired€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€slice€through€the€corners;€the€ridersÐ l¼ Ðmay€be€sailing€their€bikes€the€long€way€around€to€make€the€most€of€the€side€push€of€the€wind€onÐ X ¨ Ðthe€fairing€„€assuming€itððs€in€the€right€direction.Ð D!” ÐÌò òCORNERINGó óÐ #l! ÐÌDo€this€pretty€much€the€same€as€you€would€on€an€upright€bike:€pick€the€shortest€and€smoothestÐ ô$D # Ðpath€through€the€bend.€Take€advantage€of€your€recumbentððs€bottom€bracket€position€and€keepÐ à%0!$ Ðpedaling€through€the€corner.€If€you€are€on€the€limit€of€your€tires,€itððs€best€to€freewheel€as€itððs€lessÐ Ì&"% Ðlikely€to€cause€the€front€wheel€to€wash€out.€Be€prepared€for€faster€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€coming€around€youÐ ¸'#& Ðand,€apparently,€cutting€you€up€„€they€could€be€going€10€mph€or€more€faster!€Properly„designedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðfaired€Ô_ÔHPVsÔ_Ô€can€be€sailed€into€the€wind€and€will€take€a€completely€different€line:€rather€thanÐ )à$( Ðclipping€the€corner€off€they€will€follow€the€curve,€staying€wide€to€make€the€most€of€the€sideÐ |*Ì%) Ðwind.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌò òSPRINTINGÐ @-(, Їó óSprinting€on€a€recumbent€is€more€subtle€than€on€an€upright€bike.€Basically€I€just€up€the€powerÐ ° Ðand€hope€nobody€can€stay€with€me.€You€must€anticipate€well€in€advance€and€keep€an€eye€onÐ œì Ðpowerful€riders€to€make€sure€no€one€gets€too€much€of€a€gap.€Using€other€riders€to€lead€you€out€isÐ ˆØ Ðfine€so€long€as€you€leave€yourself€enough€power€and€space€to€go€round€them€before€the€line.€ToÐ tÄ Ðgive€you€some€idea€of€the€speeds€riders€have€to€spring€from...€Average€speeds€for€the€fastestÐ `° ÐÔ_ÔunfairedÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€will€be€30€mph,€adding€on€5€to€10€mph€for€faired€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô.€Top€EuropeanÐ L œ Ðfaired€riders€will€be€doing€over€50€mph€along€the€flat€and€over€70€mph€downhill€in€Ô_ÔfavourableÔ_ÔÐ 8 ˆ Ðconditions!Ð $ t ÐÌò òTACTICS€ó óÐ ü L  ÐÌ1)€ò òJUMPING€AWAYó ó:€If€you€are€caught€in€a€group€and€you€donððt€fancy€your€chances€in€a€sprintÐ Ô$  Ðthen€you€will€have€to€make€a€break€before€the€final€500€meters€or€so.€You€can€either€go€it€aloneÐ Ä  Ðor€jump€onto€a€passing€rider€who€is€doing€a€few€mph€faster€than€you.€Donððt€try€to€jump€ontoÐ °  Ðsomething€too€fast€or€you€will€blow€up€and€waste€a€load€of€effort€„€only€to€end€up€caught€andÐ œì  Ðdropped€by€those€you€were€trying€to€get€rid€of!Ð ˆØ  ÐÌ2)€ò òBRAKINGó ó:€With€an€upright€road€bike,€braking€is€only€really€necessary€when€hammeringÐ `° Ðdown€hill€because€the€wind€pressure€will€slow€you€down€as€soon€as€you€stop€pedaling.€BecauseÐ P  Ðof€their€superior€aerodynamics,€fast€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€roll€for€ages€so€you€can€stop€pedaling€earlier€andÐ <Œ Ðuse€the€brakes€to€scrub€off€surplus€speed€just€before€a€corner.€As€soon€as€you€are€getting€upright,Ð (x Ðpower€away€to€get€back€up€to€race€speed.€The€usual€road€racing€cornering€etiquette€prevails€soÐ d Ðdonððt€try€to€push€in€front€of€another€rider€who€has€already€entered€into€a€corner.Ð P ÐÌ3)€ò òGETTING€UN„LAPPEDó ó:€In€recumbent€races€the€leader€can€ð ðun„lapðð€the€rest€of€the€field.€IfÐ Ø( Ðyou€get€un„lapped,€you€can€end€up€sprinting€for€the€flag€a€lap€early...€this€is€guaranteed€to€catchÐ È Ðplenty€of€riders€out€and€requires€a€lot€of€concentration€in€the€closing€stages€of€the€race,€just€whenÐ ´ Ðthe€adrenaline€is€really€pumping!€Keep€an€eye€on€the€fastest€faired€recumbent€and€if€it€passes€youÐ  ð Ðon€your€penultimate€lap€then€get€ready€to€out„sprint€your€rivals.Ð ŒÜ ÐÌ4)€ò òDRINKINGó ó:€In€longer€races€I€use€a€Camelback€drinking€system.€This€is€either€strapped€to€theÐ d ´ Ðinside€of€the€fairing€or€worn€on€my€chest.€If€you€have€room€for€a€bottle€and€cage,€then€mount€oneÐ T!¤ Ðor€two€within€reach€of€your€main€tube.€Ð @"  ÐÌ5)€ò òEATINGó ó:€Most€meetings€time€the€races€before€and€after€lunch.€This€means€that€you€are€eitherÐ $h" Ðhungry€or€full€up€before€racing.€Sip€on€a€carbohydrate€drink€to€make€sure€you€are€not€dehydratedÐ %X # Ðbefore€the€race€starts.€Donððt€have€much€to€eat€at€lunch€time€but€snack€regularly€to€keep€someÐ ô%D!$ Ðfood€in€your€stomach.€The€1992€European€Championships€scheduled€a€30€minute€criterium€halfÐ à&0"% Ðan€hour€after€the€start€of€a€typical€cheese„laden€lunch.€Most€visitors€were€caught€napping€andÐ Ì'#& Ðmissed€a€warm„up€and€a€good€position€on€the€grid...Ð ¸($' ÐÌ(ò òPat€Ô_ÔKinchÔ_Ôó ó€has€been€racing€Ô_ÔrecumbentsÔ_Ô€since€the€late€80's€and€remained€the€undisputed€UK€kingÐ *à%) Ðthrough€most€of€the€nineties.€Until€1995€Pat€held€the€faired€hour€record€at€46.96€miles,€riding€theÐ €+Ð&* ÐÔ_ÔKingcycleÔ_Ô€Bean.€This€article€originally€appeared€in€the€June€12,€1996€issue€of€òòCycling€PlusÐ l,¼'+ Ðóómagazine.)Ð X-¨(, Ї