Well done Francesco and Demajn!

After the Dekra-Event 2010 Damjan Zabovnik and me joined together to build a streamliner and brake the One-Hour-World-Record. The result is a team who is very experienced in building and riding speedbikes. Exactly one year after our decision to go this way together I set the World Record.

The Eiviestretto (Eivie + Ristretto) is based on Damjan Zabovnik’s Eivie III. So the rider goes backwards, head first and lying on his back, he uses a mirror for navigation. The shape is slightly modified, as I am taller and have longer legs than Damjan. We improved steering mechanism in cooperation with Leon Plestenjak (company 3D konstrukcije), to make more space for the helmet and head. I am very tight inside the vehicle, but I still can steer, breath and pedal normally. Tolerances are within milimeters. The transmission was also redesigned, using different configuration of bearings and better materials, so it provides more efficient power transfer to the rear – driving wheel. Front wheel – steering wheel has a shape of a plate and is not symmetrical, inside the front wheel are steering bearings, instead of the head tube above the wheel as by ordinary bikes. Eiviestretto also has no steering cables, but it has a push-rod instead.

Students at Delft Technical University have developed a recumbent bicycle with which they hope to break the current bike speed record. The bicycle has an oval, aerodynamic chassis to reduce air resistance. The record attempt will take place in the desert in the US state of Nevada in September.

The current world record is held by Canadian Sam Whittingham, who reached speeds of 133 km per hour in 2009 in his Varna Tempest.

The students hope the aerodynamic chassis will help them break the record. The chassis has been remoulded 30 times to reduce air resistance by 20 to 30 percent. The actual bike is larger than the record holder’s bicycle so that it can accomodate a larger and stronger cyclist.

The bike is being tested on a disused runway in Soesterberg today. It will be raced in Germany at the end of July.

source: www.rnw.nl

Kápolnás Gergely is a young hungarian designer who introduced this project not long time ago. It is pretty futuristic and it looks like it has a monocoque carbon frame and the pedaling is directly combined with driving the front wheel. All at all it looks pretty nice. We look forward to more designs like that which make the recumbent world much nicer.

We have found pretty interesting picture of a recumbent tandem with two front wheels. It is offered by Turner recumbents from Tuscon, Arizona, USA. Here is the explanation from their web site:

“With two riders providing twice the power as an ordinary bike, much higher speeds on a tandem are possible. Safety becomes paramount, especially when a front-tire blowout, or slipping on a sharp turn, can turn a good day into a disaster.  But with the T-4-2, the extra front, in-line wheel provides a critical safety backup.  A flat will just slow you, not throw you.

The second front wheel provides this safety without compromising speed or agility.  That is because both front wheels are connected by the steering bar, so that even the tightest turns at speed are “locked-in the track” for maximum traction and control, similar to a rollerblade skate.  Both front wheels have their own brakes, controlled by a single caliper, thereby increasing front braking power by 100%.  All told, there are four sets of brakes, with the driver controlling all three wheels, and the stoker rider also controlling the rear for the ultimate in braking safety.

The frame design follows the Turner philosophy of “strength through triangulation,” not the flimsy, flexy designs often found in the other tandem bikes on the market.  Whether used for romantic rides in the sunset or power-pedalling across the flats, this bike is built for dependability, durability, and efficiency.  As with all other Turner bikes, the tandem follows the tradition of providing maximum comfort to the riders.  The T-4-2 has firm padding on an ergonomically designed composite seat to provide maximum logitudinal power to the pedals along with a luxurious ride.  The T-4-2 is sold by custom order only.”

“We have prepared a special edition of AZUB ECO for one of the best german recumbent dealers – Traumvelo. Andreas Seilinger likes the stable ride and look of the bike but wanted to have better specification and some kind of exclusivity. So what you can see is AZUB ECO Traumvelo +line with red color, Sram Dual Drive 24 speeds and some accessories in standard: mudguards (look at the front one which is longer so the water doesn´t spray your feet), stand and ECO bag. Also special stickers makes the bike different. The price is 1400 EUR, so if you like the bike, you can order it via Traumvelo near München.”

The other bike which belongs to Traumvelo +line  is a superlight version of HP Speedmachine with polished aluminum frame, and many lightweight components incl. carbon seat. The weight is 12,3 kg.

The first interesting bike is acarbon recumbent with pretty special design. Unfortunately I do not have more infor about this bike. The only think I know is that the name is Nimbus.