41st Michigan HPV Rally - report coming soon

 

Mike Eliasohn's report on the 41st annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally, held June 20-21, 2026, will appear here soon.  Meanwhile, you can see lots of photos on the Human Powered Race America Facebook page and the results, thanks to Dennis Grelk and Mike Mowett, by clicking on

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EUnh4n18xkQ6JdfVC_r5XbJGJPRV83WqHX5fvRTp09c/edit?usp=drivesdk

Pedal Prix trikes to be at Michigan HPV Rally

The start of a Pedal Prix race in Australla.  Notice the large number of trikes / riders participating.  (Trisled photo)

MICHIGAN HPV RALLY INFORMATION IS THE FOURTH ENTRY DOWN.

By Ray Mickevicius

Mike Eliasohn asked me to share a bit of history and information about Pedal Prix racing and the efforts we're making to get a series started in Ontario, Canada.

When I first stumbled across the Australian Pedal Prix races about seven years ago, I was immediately hooked.

It's a series that dates its first race to 1985, in a parking lot at the University of Australia with approximately a dozen participants. 

It has since grown to include races with hundreds of teams participating on closed circuit courses across Australia. The format is a bit different from our own North American HPV races. It is a team relay event, where multiple riders take shifts in adjustable fully faired trikes (and an occasional quad) over a number of hours, capping out at 24 hours for the annual Murray Bridge race. 

While Pedal Prix racing took some time to gain traction in Australia, participation has grown significantly over the past 10 years, including an impressive bounce back following the COVID break.

The series now draws participants from a broad age demographic, including elementary schools, high schools, universities and community teams. 

Parents support school teams with fund-raising to buy trikes and they've reached the enviable point where, rather than facing challenges recruiting riders, organizers and participants debate whether it's time to split races into different age groups to reflect the range of speeds and number of riders on a course.

It's a true success story in the HPV world. They've managed to achieve an amazing blend of sport and community and it's contagious to watch. We wanted to be a part of that experience, but we live on the other side of the globe...

An interior view.  The seat-to-pedals distance is easily adjustable to accommodate different-sized riders.

So obviously we needed to bring Pedal Prix trikes and racing to North America. We also decided that we would take a slightly different approach to introducing a series in Canada, 

By funding a core fleet of trikes for use by the Canadian Pedal Prix Club, we aimed to address what we considered two of the main barriers to participation – the up-front cost of securing a ride, and having enough trikes available in the early days to make it fun out there on the track.

Working together with a few amazing individuals from Down Under, including Jason Nottle (Trump Trikes) and Ben Goodall and Rebecca Lardner (Trisled) we've now accumulated six Pedal Prix trikes just north of Toronto, with two more currently on a freighter somewhere on the Pacific. 

Half our current trikes have composite fairings, and the others sport the rotomoulded Skyhawk fairing developed by Trisled last year. All are quick.  

The bottom bracket position on each of our trikes can be adjusted with the simple pull of a lever, so that a significant range of rider heights can be accommodated by a single trike without adjusting chain length.

 We also have moulds to produce additional composite fairings as needed because, well, sometimes stuff happens out there when you’re pushing the limits.

Our goal is to have 10 trikes available for club use by the summer of 2027 and, with an established base of riders, encourage other teams to add additional trikes from there. 

Lining up the starting grid for a race at Waterford Hills.  Ray's Pedal Prix trike is at left.

With the numbers we need for some club racing, (4-6 members per trike team), we are now experimenting with different race formats and venues. 

I was very fortunate to join the amazing Michigan HPV crowd at Waterford Hills last year. It’s a fantastic race venue and top notch event. 

Greg and I will be bringing four trikes with us this year and inviting participants to join in some friendly relay racing on the shorter course Saturday evening. 

We're looking forward to mixing our trikes with your HPV racing experience, and perhaps convince someone that a US-based Pedal Prix club would be the logical next step :)

Looking forward to seeing you all in Waterford Hills in June! 

Monroe bicycle swap meet and show – April 26, 2026

By Mike Eliasohn (mikethebike2325@comcast.net)

It was the 44th annual Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction, on Sunday, April 26, and like the first 43, there's always interesting bikes (and other things) to look at.

This was the fifth event at the Monroe County fairgrounds, just west of Monroe. 

Before then, the event, under different operators, was held at the Washtenaw County fairgrounds between Ann Arbor and Saline.

Most bicycles sold at the show are in the collectible category, though no doubt there were some great bargains there for people looking simply for something to ride. 

I only saw two recumbents.  One was Jody Peterson's Ground Hugger, reported about on this blog on Aug. 25, 2025.  It finally has a new owner, because of the "free to a good home," sign on it.  Neither Jody or I know who took it, so if the new owner or anyhow reading this knows the new owner, please let me.(Mike E.) know. Hopefully the new owner will restore it, which would be worthy of an article.

The other recumbent I saw was a later model BikeE compact long wheelbase.  The buyer wheeled it past me. It was missing the back rest support, which I mentioned. Until then, he didn't know BikeE's had back rests.  Hopefully he can find one.

These nine Schwinn Krate bikes ranged in price from $750 for a slightly tarnished 1968 to $6,500 ! for a mint 1971 Gray Ghost.

Unfortunately, I neglected to write any information about these vintage Schwinn banana seat bikes. But I think the prices were lower than for the Krate bikes.

 This was the third year that I got free space to try to sell my bicycle books and magazines and stuff, thanks to Brian Pikielek, owner of BikeTech bicycle shop in Detroit (biketechdetroit.com), who had indoor and outdoor vendor spaces and lots of bikes and parts to sell. So I stayed outside, and if anyone was interested in any of Brian's bikes, I found Brian.

Unfortunately, unlike like last year, this was not a good year for getting rid of stuff. My total proceeds were $12, for a bicycle U-lock, a T-shirt and a $1 donation for some of the small bicycle odds and ends I was giving away. All my bicycle bicycle and car books and magazines went unsold.

In contrast, last year I sold $57 worth of stuff.

This creation won the "Best Custom" award at the bike show part of the event. The frame is a 1969 AMF.  I had a brief moment to ask the builder / winner, Mark Stephens, if he had machined the wheels from aluminum plate. "Yes," was his answer.

This beautiful Mongoose tandem was judged "Best BMX."  It was created by joining two solo Mongoose frames together.  If I recall my conversation with the owner, Brandon Pratt, correctly, someone else created the bike and he (Brandon) restored it.

Inside the fairgrounds Expo Building, this Sterling tandem frame from the 1890s was priced at $450.  Sterling Cycle Works / Sterling Bicycle Co. / Sterling Cycle Co. manufactured bikes in Chicago from 1894-98, was in Milwaukee in 1899, then went out of business.

Not everything for sale was pedal-powered or motorized. (There also was a mini-bike show and sale.)  I'm guessing these metal toys were from the 1930s-1950s.

And then there was this one, neither pedal-powered or motorized.  It's a cart used by dog sled racers to train their dogs when there's no snow. In other words, dogs pull the cart and the musher stands on the cart. From my quick research, a team can be as much as 12-16 dogs.  I strongly suspect whomever brought it took it home.

This interesting tricycle was built from a Shelby Flying Cloud front frame and rear triangles from two other frames.  Three drive chains are used. No doubt a very heavy tricycle.  The Shelby Cycle Co. manufactured bicycles in Shelby, Ohio, from 1925-1953, for sale under its own name and for retail store chains under their name.

In contrast to the heavy homebuilt Shelby tricycle above was this  very lightweight Joachim 12-speed tricycle, being sold by Mike Self (in photo).  As I recall our conversation, it was built for time trials, not for touring.  Rear wheels are 700c; front is 25-520 / 24x1/4. It's a small frame, perfect for shorter riders. The rear axle is typical of a British tricycle, but I could not find online where Joachim bicycles / tricycles are or were made. Asking price was $450.  Mike took it home unsold to Waynesville, Ohio. As of May 3, I still found it listed online for sale at a lower price. (Do a search for "Joachim 12-speed road tricycle.) If interested and you can't find the online listing, contact Mike E.  I have Wayne's contact information.

In contrast to the short-frame Joachim tricycle was this 1974 Schwinn Paramount, priced at $1,250.  (For the unknowing, Paramounts were the TOP of the Schwinn line.) It's a 26-inch frame.  The seller, Tim Schmidt, lives in Maryland. I don't know if he sold it. If anyone is interested, I have Tim's contact information.

Challenge Hurricane recumbent for sale

Tim Potter, sustainable transportation manager at Michigan State University and manager of the on-campus bicycle shop, has this made-in-the-Netherlands carbon fiber Challenge Hurricane for sale.

Tim got it from HPV builder / creator Rick Wianecki of Okemos, with hopes by both of creating an MSU HPV racing team, which might race it at the Michigan HPV Rally and go on to create their own HPVs.

"I offered it to the MSU Cycling Club and Tri club and mountain bike club to encourage them to try HPVs,  but did not get a single response," Tim wrote. Then he thought he might keep it to ride, but, "After going through it and test riding it and not liking the ride, I've decided to put the Challenge Hurricane up for sale."

All the details and price are at:   https://www.facebook.com/share/1KZMBEwsCs/

Update: Tim has reduced the price to $475 from the previous $525.  He will have the Hurricane at the Michigan HPV Rally Saturday, June 20, to meet a potential buyer, coming from Ohio. But if the person declines, it will be available to anyone else interested. 

Updated update:  Sold to the person from Ohio !

Preview: 41st Michigan HPV Rally - June 20-21, 2026

Action at the 2025 Michigan HPV Rally

The 41st annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be June 20-21, 2026 (Father's Day weekend) at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston, the location since 1986.

 

The rally is conducted using Human Powered Race America rules. Go to www.recumbents.com, then under "recumbent racing," click on "Human Powered Race America," then on "racing rules," which includes definition of classes – stock, streamliners, streetliner, tricycle, multi rider, women, junior.  Conventional upright cycles compete in the stock class.

Note: HPRA rule require all vehicles to have a mirror or mirrors enabling rear vision to both sides.

The track, on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club, is 1.4 miles / 2.25 km around, with nine turns and one hill. Sunday races use a shorter course without the hill.

Free camping is available at track Friday night after 5 p.m. and Saturday nights.The OCSC clubhouse kitchen open for meals Friday until 8:45 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon - 6 p.m.

Not a racer? Come see some unusual – and fast – 2- and 3-wheeled cycles. Spectators admitted free. The 40th annual rally in 2025 attracted about 40 participants – the best turnout in years – coming from as far as Quebec, Canada (about 621 miles / 1,000 km), Iowa, Florida and Pennsylvania.

We may add or subtract an event or two, but overall, the rally will be similar to past years. The rally will run morning and afternoon on Saturday, then on Sunday, we try to be done no later than 1 p.m.

In the meantime, if you have questions or suggestions, contact rally organizers Mike Eliasohn at mikethebike2325@comcast.net and / or Mike Mowett at mowett@aol.com.

Entry fees depend on the track rental fee and cost of insurance and will be the same as in 2025:  $30 for one day, $45 for two days.  High school & college teams, $40 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional vehicle or rider.

To register in advance, which saves time on Saturday or Sunday morning, click here:

https://forms.gle/xnNot6vRXV74i1TMA

Registration can be made at rally. Payment still made when checking in, even if registering in advance. 

NOTE: We are not equipped to accept payment by credit or debit card, so please pay with cash or check.  Checks will have to be made out to individual or individuals who paid in advance for track rental, insurance, etc., so please don't make out check prior to arrival. 

EVENT SCHEDULE:

SATURDAY, JUNE 20:  Registration starts at 8. ONE-HOUR TIME TRIALS: Separate races for faster & slower vehicles, starting at 9:30 for streamliners, street liners, other fast vehicles; race for all other classes starts at 11. (Riders racing two vehicles can compete in both races.)

Trackside concession stand will be open from 11:30-1.  (Hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, chips, cookies, candy bars, coffee, tea, water and Gatorade. Soft drinks available from machine. 

After lunch:  HILL CLIMB – COAST DOWN. Riders start at bottom of hill & race up it one at a time. At the top, stop pedaling and coast as far as you can.

Followed by STANDING START KILOMETER.

Dinner: Unlike past years, no catered trackside dinner, but if enough people want to, we can order pizza, soft drinks, etc. to eat in the trackside pavilion, but a couple people will have to go get the food.  Otherwise, eat at nearby restaurants or bring your own food to eat at track. A  small grill is available (unless it disappeared since last year.)  OCSC clubhouse open, but kitchen only takes orders until 5:45.

AFTER DINNER: Pedal Prix tricycle activity.  See articles above and  below.

SUNDAY, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. approximately.  SPRINT (top speed) EVENT – Racers start at top of hill, pedal down it one at a time, then are timed over 200-foot stretch.

Then ROAD RACES on short course, not including hill, usually faired classes in first event, 12 miles, then unpaired classes, 9 miles.  Then, AWARDS CEREMONY.

OCSC clubhouse opens for lunch at noon.

We will need volunteers to help set up and run events, so please be willing to help. 

TO GET TO THE RALLY:  From I-75, get off at exit 91. Take M-15  south to Dixie Hwy. (US-24). Turn left, continuing south about 1 mile and turn left onto Waterford Road, then proceed to track. If coming from  the west, take U.S. 23 north (or south) to M-59 (Highland Road). Go east on M-59 to Airport Road, then left (north) to US-24. Turn left, then  immediately right onto Waterford Road. Go about a half-mile to track. CAMPING Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday in the infield of  the Waterford Hills track, starting at 5 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers and electrical hookups.  Oakland County Sportsmen's Club clubhouse open for dinner Friday until 8:45 p.m. STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigan.gov/dnr, then click on "make a reservation," then camping. Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland. Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grange Road, Holly, 248-634-8811. Five  miles east of Holly. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, Waterford, 248-666 -1020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west. OAKLAND COUNTY:  Groveland Oaks County Park, 14555 Dixie Hwy.,  Road, Holly, northeast of Holly, 248-634-9811. HOTELS / MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford Hills track): Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn of Clarkston, 5835 Dixie Hwy., 248-623 -0300. Across Dixie Highway from Waterford Road leading to track. Closest motel to the track. (NOTE: As of mid-March, fully booked for June 19-20). Hartland - Best Western of Hartland, 10087 Highland Road (M-59) at US-23, 810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west. Waterford – American Inn and Suites, 7076 Highland Road (M-59),  248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest. Waterford – Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road,  248-674-3434, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest. Whitmore Lake - Days Inn, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-550-0105, 60 rooms. About 33 miles southwest. PEDAL PRIX TRIKES ON SATURDAY EVENING Ray Mickevicius' two Pedal Prix trikes at the 2025 Michigan HPV Rally. Riding position is more horizontal than on "conventional" velomobiles. This year he's bringing four of them. At the 2025 rally, Ray Mickevicius of Wasaga Beach, Ontario brought  two of his made-in-Australia Pedal Prix tricycles for people to  examine and test ride. The trikes are fullly faired, but unlike  “conventional” velomobiles, are designed strictly for racing, not for  daily use on roads. This year, Ray plans to bring four of his trikes, for an activity after  dinner Saturday evening.  What that will be is yet to be decided, but he’s thinking of something that will give people a chance to try his  Pedal Prix trikes on the track. He’s what he wrote to Mike Eliasohn (some editing by Mike): “For instance, if we invited people to form relay teams of four, we could have the riders each complete 15 minutes (or X number of  laps) on the short course, then swap to the next rider on their team and continue that for an hour.  “Setting aside a couple hours on Saturday evening could allow for  two sessions and up to 32 people to get a ride in using the four trikes.  “I fully appreciate there would be a wide range of power and speed.  We could consider trying to balance the teams a bit with a handicap based on the Saturday race results, or just not worry about it at all.  I’m frankly more interested in giving people a sense of the team relay approach in Pedal Prix and a chance to try out the trikes,  rather than a formal race. If other velomobile riders want to be on the track with their own vehicle at the same time, that’s OK with me.  “In summary, I wasn’t contemplating a race that would meet official  requirements, as much as an opportunity to give people a bit of team bonding/fun riding the trikes, outside of the usual race event schedule. In 2027, we’ll aim to be back with eight trikes and then it could start  to look a bit more like an actual race!”