tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2029111456498948871.post1488959481514553113..comments2023-04-03T05:32:11.326-04:00Comments on MHPVA News Blog: MHPVA annual meeting – changes & the futureEthical Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02645911381874413329noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2029111456498948871.post-31998292904263605312015-03-28T13:33:28.593-04:002015-03-28T13:33:28.593-04:00Hello,
I would like to thank everyone for ...Hello, <br /> I would like to thank everyone for considering my suggestion of adding a 'Sport' class to the Waterford Rally. This would be subgroup of the unfaired class, but would require an eye height a certain minimum distance above the ground. <br /> The origional intent of the unfaired class was to encourage the development of fast yet practical vehicles for everyday use. The end result so far has been the development of the lowracers, whose amazing speeds are the result of wheels and rider drafting each other, and the rider taking a very aerodynamic position. These changes require the rider's head to be knee-high to an SUV, and many riders are leery about riding one on real roads.<br /> This is not the practical vehicle we had hoped would result. Though we are loath to add rules, this sub-class would encourage the development of a more roadworthy vehicle, as in the origional intent. <br /> I, personally, ride an unfaired recumbent for most of my getting around. Being allergic to bumpers, my bike is built higher up so I can see and be seen in traffic. In other words, my bike is like all the other recumbents you actually see being ridden on real roads. Yet, what do you have at Waterford for us? Well, not much. We would get an opportunity to lambasted by the lowracers, and come in maybe 15th in class- unless, of course, you're rich enough to buy a bike just for a few races a year. You just don't have a race for the rest of us, we have no chance of doing well.<br /> Mike E. laments that we do not have enough new members volunteering to take over the MHPVA leadership. Well, pigeonholing HPV racing into an even more niche sport that has little to do with the rest of us, even recreational/commuting cyclists, is not helping.<br /> An essential point in this class is setting the eye height above ground. 42" corresponds to the eye height of a mid-racer, who most think is safe to use on the streets, and seems to be about the safe minimum in my own subjective testing. At least as safe as you can get on a bike- remember they can't see you on an upright either. This also corresponds to the eye height of the British 'Sport' class, first proposed by Mike Burrows some years ago. <br /> Adding a class where everyday riders can finally have a decent race would give the Waterford Rally, the MHPVA, and even recumbents themselves quite a boost.<br /> Thank you, Charles BrownAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04035157792295565618noreply@blogger.com