Michigan HPV Rally - June 11-12, 2011

The 27th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will be June 11-12, 2011, at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track on the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club grounds in Clarkston, near Pontiac.
The oldest such event in North America is open to riders of all human powered vehicles -- recumbents, regular bicycles and tandems. There are classes for streamlined, unstreamlined cycles, tandems, women, youth and tricycles. The rally is conducted using Human Powered Race - America rules (www.recumbents.com/hpra/rulesand.htm). Note: HPRA rules require all vehicles to have mirror/mirrors enabling rear vision to both sides.
The track is 1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill.

ENTRY FEES: One day only, $30; both days, $40 (includes $10 MHPVA membership. $1 of each entry fee goes to support the work of the League of Michigan Bicyclists). Test ride pass, $5. Spectators free.
Even if you have no interest in racing, come and see some unusual and some very fast bicycles and tricycles. Some members of the Great Lakes chapter of the FreakBike Militia are expected to bring their creative bikes on Saturday to show, not to race, which will mean even more unusual bikes to see.
Prize money will be awarded to top finishers in each class.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday, June 11

8 a.m. - Registration and technical inspection.
9 a.m. - One-hour time trial - Streamlined and superstreet classes.
10:30 a.m. - One-hour time trial - Stock and other classes.
Lunch (bring your own food or eat at a nearby restaurant).
1:30 p.m. - Hill climb/coast-down.
1:30 p.m. - Urban transportation contest. Hill climb/coast-down is part of the UTC. There also will be an obstacle course and scoring by judge for each bike's "practical" features (lights, fenders, cargo carrying capacity, etc.). Entry fee is $30, even if only competing in the UTC.
3 p.m. - 1-kilometer standing start sprints.
6 p.m. - Dinner at nearby Big Boy.

Sunday

8:30 a.m. - Top speed sprints.
10 a.m. - Tricycle race (infield course).
10:30 am - Road race (faster vehicles).
11 a.m. - Road race (slower vehicles).
Note: Course for Sunday road races does NOT include hill.
Awards ceremony hopefully no later than 1 p.m.

The event address is 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston MI 48346. For map of the track, visit http://www.waterfordhills.com/info/facilitymap07.pdf

For additional information, contact: Mike Mowett, 586-863-3902 or mowett@aol.com, or Mike Eliasohn, 269-982-4058 or mikethebike@acd.net.

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.

PLACES TO STAY:

MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford Hills track)

Clarkston - Clarkston Motor Inn, 6853 Dixie Hwy. (US-10), 248-625-1522, 12 rooms, 2 miles northeast.

Hartland - Best Western of Hartland, 10087 M-59 at US-23, 810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west.

Waterford – Comfort Inn, 7076 Highland Road (M-59), 248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest.

Waterford – Waterford Motel, 2201 Dixie Hwy. at Telegraph Road, 248-338-4061, 50 rooms. About 6 miles southeast.

Waterford – Holiday Inn Express, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road, 248-674-3434, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest..

Whitmore Lake - Best Western of Whitmore Lake, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-449-2058, 61 rooms. About 33 miles southwest.

CAMPING

Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday at the Waterford Hills Sportsman Club, site of the HPV rally, starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers available and possibly electrical hookups.

STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails)

Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland,

Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly, 248-634-8811. Five miles east of Holly.

Ortonville Recreation Area, 5779 Hadley Road, Ortonville, 810-797-4439. Four miles northeast of Ortonville.

Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, 248-666-1020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west.

PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michcampgrounds.com)

MHPVA annual meeting - March 12, 2011

By Paul Pancella, secretary. Editing and photos by Mike Eliasohn (unless otherwise mentioned)

The 2011 annual meeting of the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association took place March 12 in the community room of the REI store in Ann Arbor. About 25 people attended, including some non-members, possibly attracted by the meeting location and notices in area bike shops prepared and distributed by Bob Krzewinski.
Bob, who also arranged use of the meeting room, started by introducing the WolverBents organization, explaining its goals, structure, and activities. He said some bike shops that previously sold recumbents no longer do so (or went out of business), but Midwest Bike and Tandem in Ann Arbor has started selling recumbents.
Bob then talked about the pros and cons of recumbent cycles, with some useful tips for newcomers interested in buying their first one.


JOHN MORCIGLIO of Waterford shows Arrowhead, which he created for racing in time trials. Seat height is 16 inches; wheels are 650c front and 700c rear; and weight is just under 21 pounds. He completed building it late last fall. "This bike I could sell, but probably won't," he said. But, if he were to sell it, it probably would be about $3,600 for the frame or $5,500 for the complete bike.


JOHN MORCIGLIO shows his Thunderbolt low racer, which weighs 23.75 pounds. The frame sells for $4,750. John built his first carbon fiber recumbent in February 2008 and now builds them for a living. As of the meeting, he had built 20 recumbents and three upright bikes and was building an 11-foot long recumbent tandem, with the riders back-to-back, for a customer in Texas. He can be contacted at 248-499-9915 or go to www.thundervoltman.com.

Then MHPVA President Mike Mowett briefly described the history and purpose of the organization.
Bill Frey started show-and-tell by showing his 1984 Tour Easy, which he bought new and recently had refinished. "I'm still riding it," he said. "I'm not planning to sell it." He also owns a newer Fold Rush.
Photos and captions describe the other bikes shown at the meeting.
During the business portion of the meeting, last year’s minutes and this year’s treasurer’s report were quickly approved. Treasurer Bill Frey indicated that the board’s plan to increase the available fund balance (after the 2009 Michigan Human Powered Speed Challenge at the Ford Motor Co. proving grounds) has begun to succeed, in that a net increase of about $300 was realized. Another year or two employing the same strategy will bring us to the desired fund balance level, barring unforeseen circumstances.


JOHN FOLTZ (left) of Haslett showed his M5 Carbon High Racer (made in the Netherlands), which he purchased in 2009. Both wheels are 700c and it weighs about 24 pounds. He described it as "amazingly fast." He can cruise 25-26 mph and it's also a good hill-climber. Helping hold the bike is Bill Frey. John also showed his Optima Baron low racer.

Next we discussed the 27th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally weekend, scheduled June 11-12, again at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track. With minimal discussion, we agreed to follow the usual schedule and program, including camping availability and steak fry Saturday evening.
Paul Pancella informed the group (with regret) that he will not be able to attend the rally this year, so won't be able to run the urban transportation contest in parallel with the hill-climb/coastdown. The request was made for volunteers to take Paul’s place. So far, no one has volunteered, but anyone interested in running the UTC should contact Paul at paul.pancella@wmich.edu.
Bill Frey mentioned he has developed an Excel spreadsheet that functions to simulate power demands for the Waterford course, including the hills, with various vehicle and speed parameters as inputs. It also can be adapted for predicting power required for maintaining speed on any grade. He offered to make it available to anyone for the asking.
All officers and board members were reelected: President, Mike Mowett, St. Clair Shores; vice president, Mike Eliasohn, St. Joseph; secretary, Paul Pancella, Kalamazoo; treasurer, Bill Frey, Grosse Pointe Farms; and at large, Terry Gerweck, Monroe, and Don Smith, Chesterfield.


MIKE MOWETT (left) shows his Challenge Fujin, which he has owned for a few years and has some improvements made by Don Smith (right). Don made the Zotefoam ribbed foam seat padding, which he can make in different colors, patterns and thicknesses, and modified the Rotor System cranks to reduce internal rotating drag. The Rotor system eliminates the "dead spots" when pedaling. For these and other specialty work for HPVs, contact Don at bbmracing@yahoo.com.

Jim “Chainsaw” Johnson, president of the Great Lakes chapter of the FreakBike Militia was introduced. He expressed a growing appreciation for important traits that the HPV community has in common with the FreakBike movement, and let us know that the Militia will again be represented at our rally in June.
President Mowett made a brief report on developments at the Human Powered Race America race director’s meeting. He said changes to rules and classes for this year were minimal this year. Anyone interested should go to the HPRA website, www.recumbents.com/hpra.)
Mike then highlighted some other events recumbent riders are looking forward to this year, including the 100-mile Black Bear Bicycle Tour July 31 from Grayling to Oscoda and Calvin’s Challenge on April 30, a 12-hour event starting in Springfield, Ohio. He also has explored developing a new century ride for the east side of the state, incorporating Belle Isle and some of the Metro parks.
The meeting started at 12:30 p.m. adjourned at 3:20.


MIKE ELIASOHN shows his work-in-progress recumbent, intended for around-town use and for easy transporting in the back of his Ford Focus station wagon. Welding and some fabrication has been done by Precision Welding & Repair of Berrien Springs; the rest by Mike. The "holder" is Bill Frey. (Mike Mowett photo)


PAUL PANCELLA of Kalamazoo showed one of the two ICE B1 folding bikes he and his wife, Anne, bought to take with them when traveling. Unfortunately, ICE, a British company, has since stopped making B1's in order to focus on making its line of recumbent tricycles.

Dragonwood slays at Detroit Autorama

The Detroit Autorama at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit is one of the most prestigious custom car and hot rod shows in the country, but it also includes a competition for custom and customized bicycles, sponsored by Al Petri & Sons Bicycles in Lincoln Park and Woodhaven.
At this year's show, Feb. 25-27, MHPVA member Dave Moeller's Dragonwood won the first place trophy for "most creative" and second place in the "long and low" category.
Dave, who lives in Linden, estimates about 70 pedal-powered creations were entered at this year's show, This year's Autorama was the 59th annual.
For more about Dragonwood, scroll down on this blog to the article posted May 2, 2010.
I (Mike Eliasohn) couldn't find anything on the web about this year's cycle show at Autorama, but you can see lots of photos from the 2010 show at www.bikerodnkustom.com.

MHPVA annual meeting - March 12, 2011

Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association
Annual meeting – Ann Arbor, MI - Saturday, March 12, 2011

The 2011 MHPVA annual meeting will be Saturday, March 12, in the Ann Arbor REI store community room, 970 W. Eisenhower Parkway, just off the Ann Arbor-Saline Road exit off I-94. See map and directions on next page.

For those who want to eat prior to the meeting, there is a Potbelly sandwich shop directly across from REI store and an Old Country Buffet restaurant in the same shopping center. The meeting room opens at noon for socializing. At 12:30 p.m., Bob
Krzewinski of the Wolver-Bents will give a talk about “How to buy your first recumbent.”

At 1 p.m., members will have a chance to talk to the group about their vehicles or latest projects. Those bringing vehicles for display are encouraged to write on a sheet of paper sheet basic information about the vehicle, such as name and manufacturer or builder; owner’s name; year built; used for racing, commuting or recreational riding; fastest speeds, construction materials, weight, etc.

The MHPVA business meeting will follow. A key part will be deciding on events and other details for the 27th Michigan HPV Rally, to be held June 11-12, 2011 at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston. Details will be posted on
www.mhpva.org and htpp://mhpva.blogspot.com.

Tentative meeting schedule:

• Meeting room opens at 12 noon
• 12:30 p.m. - “How to buy your first recumbent,” Bob Krzewinski
• 1 p.m. - “Show and tell” of human powered vehicles brought by owners.
Followed by:
• Call to order and review of agenda
• Secretary’s report - approval of 2010 annual meeting minutes.
• Treasurer’s Report – Members who would like a copy of the treasurer's report and/or membership list should contact Bill Frey at the meeting or at wfrey402@comcast.net.
• Report on 2010 speed championships at Battle Mountain, Nev. – Mike Mowett.
• Discussion of Michigan HPV Rally at Waterford - June 11-12, 2011.
1. President Mike Mowett will report on decisions made at fall Human Powered Race - America meeting.
2. Selection of events to be held at Waterford.
3. Discussion of publicity, prizes and fees.
• Report on MHPVA website
• Election of officers and directors.
• Other 2011 recumbent/HPV events
• Adjournment

Directions: From eastbound or westbound I-94, take Exit 175 (Ann-Arbor Saline Rd.)
and head northeast along Ann Arbor-Saline Road toward Ann Arbor. Cross Eisenhower
Parkway, go past the gas station and notice the shopping center on your right. Turn right into
the shopping center entrance, which is behind the stores. Then drive to the front of the
shopping center, which faces I-94, and you will soon arrive at the REI store.

Big Mo trikes again

THE KRAIT, built by Dave "Big Mo" Moeller has front wheel drive, with power from pedals and the electric hub motor. (Photos by Dave Moeller)

Here's the latest from Dave Moeller of Linden. Several of his previous projects can be seen on this blog.
The Krait has front wheel drive, powered by pedals and an electric hub motor. The toolbox holds four gel acid batteries providing 48 volts.
The frame comes apart behind the steering post and is held in place by two front wheel skewers running through a sleeve joint. The only connection between the halves is the battery cable. This allows for easier transport but is intended to allow modifications without having to do a total rebuild Possible conversions could be into a two wheeler or with different front ends.


The dual disc rear brakes are activated by a lever alongside the right side of the seat.
The fenders were purchased at Tractor Supply Co., sold as replacements for their trailers, and the seat is a motorcycle mechanic stool bought at Harbor Freight Tools. The rear wheels are from Schwinn Stingrays.



Dave started building the trike after the Ann Arbor Classic Bicycle Show April 25 and finished it in time for its public debut at a bicycle show in Owosso in August, where he rode it 10 miles on a trail ride.
"I decided to do something more sedentary for the winter, so I bought a couple of airbrushes and all the stuff," Dave wrote in an e-mail. "I haven't touched an airbrush in 30 years plus. My first project was the toolbox and fenders for thr Krait."
He's also been painting on muslin, with the intent of doing some painted quilts. (Dave and his wife are quilters, she does the
piecing and he does the quilting.) An example of his air brushing is shown below.


DAVE'S ARTWORK is shown on the rear box, which holds four gel acid batteries.

Morticia, from Terry Gerweck's "dark side"

TERRY GERWECK and Morticia at the Oct. 30, 2010, Tombstone Derby in Elmore, Ohio. (All photos by Terry, except for this one, obviously.)


The finished Morticia. Notice the background.


By TERRY GERWECK - Monroe, Mich.

2010 has been a very active building year for me. I finished my city 'bent early in the year; a successful build in
that it meets all the goals I intended. (See "Terry Gerweck's new recumbent" article below from June 24, 2010)
After the Waterford HPV rally in June, where I was re-introduced to my "dark side" roots, I set out to build an idea that
had fermented in my brain for far too long. Beyond my need for human powered speed, there is always the desire for human powered fun and Morticia is the incarnation of my adolescent wish to own a hearse.
Morticia's beginnings were quite humble. An old adult trike, cut in half and stretched. Two Orange County Choppers bicycles for the rear rims, tires, fenders and a few miscellaneous parts. (The 16-inch rims were laced to the original trike hubs, with some help at Jack's Bicycles in Monroe.) Some muffler tubing and conduit, bits and pieces from a child hauling bike trailer, a futon, and what ever else was lurking in my garage that seemed to fit. Fire up the welder, grind judiciously, shake a couple cans of paint at it and you've got a bike. (The two curved tubes running to the head tube originally formed the canopy supports on the bike trailer; tubing from the futon furnished the "truck bed.")



I found a couple pictures of horse-drawn hearses and scaled them down to trike size. The hearse coach body was made from quarter-inch plywood and wood moldings. Added details like lanterns came from the garden department, trim pieces from auto and motorcycle sources, a purple funeral flag (from an undisclosed source,) the biggest ape hanger handlebars from the local bike shop and miscellaneous skulls and other semi-scary stuff from the dollar store.
I guess my favorite piece of fabrication is the brake disc. It would be an OK piece if I had used a lathe (I don't have one), but for making it in a vise and a drill press with a hack saw and a couple of files, I'm really proud of it. I'd be even prouder if it worked worth a damn.




The brake disc hub came from a piece of aluminum bar and a chunk of aluminum plate was used for the disc itself. The axle is a single full width bar. The drive wheel bolts to one end and the other wheel freewheels on a set of bearings. The whole axle slides out of the frame and the brake disc, drive cog (and eventually, maybe a pulley for an electric drive) slide on to it in the middle of the axle frame work.
But the caliper brakes with stock bicycle brake pads don't develop a great deal of braking power. The 3,500 mm (137.8 inches) brake cable probably doesn't help much either. The brake cable was a stock item, also from Jack's, and is the longest stock cable I've ever found.
Morticia's public debut came Oct. 30 at the Tombstone Derby in Elmore, Ohio, southeast of Toledo. The mayor of Elmore welcomed Morticia and me, thanked me for coming out and sort of suggested he wouldn't be opposed to a human powered addition to his festival, so there could be a freak bike event as part of next year's Tombstone Derby.
Elmore is on the west end of the North Coast Inland Trail System (at least a 69-mile chunk of it, which is prime for a ride. The Tombstone Derby includes casket races and a parade. There's plenty of room and semi-demented spectators, perfect for a
pseudo bike show all contained within a loosely organized festival.
Opportunity abounds to do it right.
Morticia isn't done yet, there are so many details that can be added. I guess she'll be finished when I move on to the next build.


Almost ready for painting. The two curved tubes running to the head tube originally formed the canopy supports on a bicycle trailer for transporting children.


One use for an old futon

Michigan Recumbent Rally - West, Sept. 11, 2010

JOHN MATHIESON (standing at rear) of Breakaway Bicycles and Fitness brought a Sun EZ-1 and T3-AX trike and a Bacchetta Giro 20.

Words and photos by Mike Eliasohn

Rain during a cycle event usually means either cancellation or being miserable.
But rain all day during the Michigan Recumbent Rally - West Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Western Michigan University Parkview Campus wasn't a problem.
The usual location is the parking lot in front of the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences building. The building and parking lot are adjacent to a large parking garage, which is almost empty on a Saturday, so the lower level provided a nice, dry location for test rides and talking.
Unfortunately, the rain likely kept some people away who were unaware of the "indoor" location.
Among those attending were representatives of two west Michigan bicycle shops who brought several recumbents for people to test ride and hopefully buy.
John Mathieson of Breakaway Bicycles and Fitness brought a Sun EZ-1 compact long wheelbase, a Sun T3-AX two-wheels-in-front tricycle and a Bacchetta Giro 20 short wheelbase with 20-inch front wheel. Breakaway has stores in Portage, where John is based (269-324-5555), Muskegon and Grand Haven.


NATE SCHMOEKEL, of Village Bike & Fitness, a Rans dealer, shown here adjusting the seat on a Stratus XP for a test rider, also brought a Zenetik, V3 and F5.

Nate Schmoekel of Village Bike & Fitness, whose business card says "recumbent consultant," brought a Rans Zenetik crank forward, Stratus XP long wheelbase with 26-inch wheels and low bottom bracket, V3 long wheelbase with 26-inch wheels and high bottom bracket and an F5 short wheelbase with 26-inch wheels. Village Bike has stores in Jenison, where Nate is based ((616-457-1670; bent@villagebikeshop.com), Cascade, and two in Grand Rapids.
Other bikes at the rally (going by memory) were a Rans Wave, BikeE with rear suspension), Haluzak short wheelbase, Rans Rocket and an ICE tricycle.
Thanks to Paul Pancella of Kalamazoo for organizing the rally for the umteenth year, with assistance from Paul Bruneau of Portage.


DAVE MIDDLETON (left) of Kalamazoo and Joe McCormick of Troy discuss Joe's ICE trike, which has fold-under rear suspension. It's Joe's third trike and as of Sept. 11 he had ridden it about 8,700 miles in the four years he has owned it.

Black Bear Bicycle Tour - July 25, 2010

DAVE JOHNSON of Olivet in "Great White" (the old paint scheme included shark teeth) finished first in the Avita Water Black Bear Bicycle Tour, finishing the 100 miles in a time of 3 hours, 42 minutes (26.9 mph). (Photos by Jane Rheaume)

At least 13 recumbent riders were among the 325 cyclists competing in the Avita Water Black Bear Bicycle Tour July 25, 2010, with laid-back racers finishing first and third overall.
The 100-mile ride runs from Grayling to Oscoda, in conjunction with the Weyerhaeuser Au Sable Canoe Marathon. The pedalers started 11 hours after the paddlers, with the goal of getting to Oscoda before the first canoe arrives, which didn't happen this year.
Dave Johnson, 53, of Olivet, in his Rick Wianecki-built Great White streamliner, finished first in a time of 3 hours, 42 minutes and 41 seconds, for an average speed of 26.9 mph. This was the fourth time Dave has ridden in the Black Bear and he's finished first all four times. The first time, which he recalls was in 2004, he arrived in Oscoda ahead of the canoes.
Second was Alex Vanais, 31, of LeRoy on an upright road bike in 3:54.11, an average of 25.6 mph. Third was Bill Hannon, 67, of Springfield, Ohio, in/on his Lightning F-40 recumbent with full fairing (solid nose and stretch fabric sides) at 3:56, an average of 25.4 mph.


BILL HANNON of Springfield, Ohio, in his Lightning F-40 (red bike) waits for the start of the Black Bear. He finished third overall in a time of 3 hours and 56 minutes (25.4 mph).

Of the 325 riders who started, 274 finished. Here's the results for the other recumbent riders who started at 8:18 a.m. and completed the 100 mile. (At least one recumbent rider started at a different time, according to Mike Mowett.)

57th overall) Doug Jacobs, 58, Springfield, Ohio, NoCom carbon fiber lowracer, 4:22:31, 22.9 mph.
58) Thom Ollinger, 50, West Milton, Ohio, homebuilt Nirvana lowracer, 4:22:33, 22.9 mph.
59) Mike Mowett, 36, St. Clair Shores, Challenge lowracer, 4:22:34, 22.9 mph.
64) George Davis, 61, Westfield, Ind., Bacchetta highracer, 4:28:29, 22.3 mph.
68) Larry Graham, 51, Westerville, Ohio, Bacchetta highracer, 4:30:14, 22.2 mph.
91) Don Smith, 56, Chesterfield, NoCom low racer, 4:40:04, 21.4 mph. r
100) Dan Zolyniak, 20, University of Toronto streamliner, 4:45:14 21.0 mph.
103) Wally Kiehler, 58, Grosse Pointe Woods, Lighting F-40 with full fairing, 4:48:45, 20.8 mph.
162) Robert Palmer, 65, Walled Lake, Volae highracer, 5:14:45, 19.1 mph.
Charlie Ollinger (son of Thom), 19, wasn't on a recumbent, but rode a FIXED GEAR 1970 Peugeot road bike to 87th place in a time of 4:37:57, 21.6 mph. That's 100 miles with one gear and without coasting!
In what's called the McKinley class, Chris Evans, 40, of Flint, rode his NoCom lowracer the 56 miles to McKinley, then John Foltz, 54, of Haslett, rode his M5 carbon fiber highracer the rest of the way, for a combined time of 3:59:09, an average speed of 25.1 mph.
Doug Davis, 60, town unavailable, started at a different time and finished 134th on his Bacchetta with fabric fairing in a time of 5:05:42, 19.6 mph.


THE RECUMBENT RACERS and a few others await their 8:18 a.m. start in Grayling. In the yellow Lightning F-40 is Wally Kiehler, who finished in 4 hours and 48 minutes (20.8 mph.)


RIDING GREAT WHITE

Here's Dave Johnson's account of his ride (slightly edited by Mike Eliasohn):
While hearing my name called for the next wave of riders, I was busy cutting the bottom of the fairing to get more front wheel clearance. I had slid the front wheel back in the fork so handling was better when turning. As old as Great White is, the tires still seem to find a way to rub on the fairing at the worst possible time.
When the gun sounded, I was hardly ready to ride. Water hoses not clipped to the front of my shirt. ear plugs not in, food bag not in place, and shoe strapping not tight. I spent too much time talking to other riders instead of preparing for my ride. The first few miles were slow while I was getting situated, warming up, and just watching the rough road.
I did have my laminated map folded correct and clipped to the handlebar, determined to stay on course for the whole ride. Then at precisely 34 miles and Red Oak Road, I turned south, just what my map shows but not what the corner marshals is insisting, that I go straight. My map showed south on Red Oak! Should I follow the map or take the marshal's advice and go
straight? I think it over and finally coast to a stop, get out, turn the bike around, climb back in, and continue straight on Miller
Road. I now know that routes change frequently due to road conditions. I should have used to map from the ride packet, rather than the one I got from the website.
At this point, I had not caught the pace truck and was just slowly passing other bikes. Finally at the edge of McKinley, I was behind the pace truck but only for a few miles... as I struggled with Heartbreak Hill. The approach was a gradual incline as I pedaled slower and slower -- 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, finally 5 mph.
My lowest gear was getting jumpy, better not break anything, needed to dismount and walk the 66-pound rig up the hill. With the streamliner, I find that the aerodynamic advantage disappears below 20 mph. Normally when going up a hill, at that time you wish you had a lightweight upright bike.
So finally after walking to the top of Heartbreak, at the corner, I get in and try to start. Oops, not happening. I tip over, half in the ditch. Bad timing as several upright riders easily roll by, saying, "Augh, that's too bad". I say to myself, "Nice job," as I rolled in the sand and gravel with sweaty skin. After unclipping and crawling out, I manage to get Great White upright
and pointed in the correct direction. Several guys at the corner helped me get rolling and on my way.
I easily make my way to the pace truck and try to gain some distance on the uprights before "Block and Tackle Hill". The rolling hills were a blast, flying along now, hitting my top speed for the day at 53 mph.
I knew the large hill would soon be here, so I kept my speed up as much as possible. Finally a large downhill began and I cranked it up; it's the AuSable bridge! I remember hitting 44 mph, cranking hard wanting to roll to the top. Still had to gear down, but did not need a block and tackle to reach the top. Along River Road, just before Monument State Park, my speed was easily increasing to about 40 mph because of a gradual downhill. Due to the many trucks, cars, campers, and confusion I had to back off to avoid risking a collision. Now rolling at about 27 mph and 10 miles from the end, I remember to do a goo. As I'm calculate in my head that I'll be just a few minutes off my best time, the goo kicks in and I'm rolling at 30 mph. Darn, should have had the goo before the hills.
The finish arrived quickly and I slowed for the timing strips, so as to not hit the canopy with my helmet. Final time 3:42:41 first place overall.
Thanks to all the volunteers for putting on such a fun race/ride.

Northbrook, Ill., HPV races - July 10, 2010

Brian Stevens of Grand Rapids, shown here on his Lightning M5, was one of three Michiganians competing in the HPV velodrome races July 10 in Northbrook, Ill., and July 11 in Kenosha, Wis. The others were Tedd Wheeler of Reed City and MHPVA President Mike Mowett of St. Clair Shores. (For results and lots of photos and videos, go to www.recumbents.com/wisil/racing2010.)
Brian started riding recumbents four years ago, beginning with a short wheelbase Vision, found about the HPR-A race series on online recumbent forums and competed for the first time in North Manchester, Ind., in August 2009, on his Easy Racers Gold Rush. He then participated in the HPV races in Florida in February and the Michigan HPV Rally in June.
"I saw how competitive the stock class was," he said, so he decided to buy the used M5 for racing, which he first raced in Florida.
Brian still uses his Gold Rush for commuting 18 miles to his job as a lab technician at Amway in Ada. He leaves home at 6 a.m. in order to be at work by 7:30. He commutes on his Gold Rush year-from early spring to late fall.
In the stock class at Northbrook, Brian was fifth in the 200 meter flying start at 32.97 mph and in the 50-lap race, he finished 11th, completing 42 laps at an average speed of 23.82 mph.
"I'm definitely having a lot of fun," he said about his HPV racing.


Steve Jacobson of Evanston, Ill., said he's hoping to turn making folding recumbent bicycles from a hobby into a business. Since building his first one in 1980, he has sold eight. "I'd like to be selling eight a month."
There's a hinge in front of the head tube, so the forward part of the frame folds back after the seat is removed. The rear triangle folds under after the pin is removed that connects it to the rear shock. With the wheels removed, the folded bike can be put inside a large suitcase.
The frame is made of stainless steel because Steve commutes to work at Northwestern University year-round, so doesn't want to worry about it rusting. (His job is teaching freshmen engineering students on how to build prototypes of whatever they design.) The high seating position is partly due to the suspension and partly so the rider easily can be seen in traffic.
Steve made the molds for 11 frame parts, including the hinge, dropouts and head tube, which are manufactured using a process called investment casting.
The wheels are 20-inch (406mm). The bike weighs about 31 pounds, but by re-doing the molds to result in lighter castings, "I think I can take four to five pounds out of it," he said.
Jacobson sold his last bike for $2,500, but a higher price is likely in the future because of the extensive amount of labor involved. For more information, go to his website, www.jacorecumbents.com.




Todd Beary of Naperville, Ill., starting building recumbents in 1987-88, when he was in high school. He built his latest, which he raced at Northbrook, when living in California. He built it on his apartment patio using a MAPP gas torch to do the brazing.
The frame is made of new chromoly tubing and some tubing from old bicycle frames, with a front fork supporting the undriven rear wheel.
The wheels are large-size 20-inch (451mm). A triple crank runs to four sprockets at the top of the front wheel for a total of 12 speeds The gearing will allow a potential 70 mph. Todd didn't know the weight or wheelbase. The wood bulkhead eventually will support a fairing.
Todd said he built the bike "to go as fast as I can." In the stock class at Northbrook, he finished 10th in the 200 meter flying start at 26.31 mph and in the 50-lap race, he finished 12th, completing 39 laps at an average speed of 22.28 mph. "Today is the fastest I have ever ridden it," he said.




MIKE MOWETT on his Cervelo (the upright bike) finished second in the superstreet class in the 100-lap at Northbrook, completing 71 laps at an average speed of 25.19 mph. (The race ends when the fastest vehicle, regardless of class, completes 100 laps.) In the flying start 200 meters, he finished first in class at 34.74 mph. The superstreet class allows added streamlining, but with some restrictions, such as the rider's head must be exposed.

Text and photos by Mike Eliasohn

Terry Gerweck visits the dark side

Photos by Terry Gerweck


THIS BEAUTIFUL wood stretch cruiser uses a hood ornament from a 1950s Chevrolet BelAire as the centerpiece on the handlebars.

Terry Gerweck's interest, or renewed interest, in freak bikes started with Dave Moeller, builder of the Dragonwood and other interesting cycles, inviting Jim "Chainsaw" Johnson of Holly, president of the Great Lakes chapter of the FreakBike Militia, to this year's Michigan HPV Rally.
Jim came Saturday, had such a good time that he returned on Sunday with his wife, Dora "Giggles," and his latest creation, which Paul Pancella rode as the pace bike for one of the Sunday morning road races.
That got the wheels in Terry's head turning -- what he could do with some of the junk bikes in his garage -- so he visited two freak bike gatherings.
Here's Terry's reports:
Made a road trip June 26 to Ionia for the FreakBike Palooza. I've messed with choppers before, so it wasn't any stretch to be interested.
For one reason or another I never seem to get involved with people with "normal" interests. Wonder why that is?



It was hotter than hell and mostly folks just sat around and discussed the finer points of building choppers and other weird and different kinds of bicycles. Other than the typical configuration (if there is a typical configuration), these bikes aren't that far removed from what we run at Waterford. The "freak bikes" may attract a few more younger participants.
These folks are just as serious about their bikes as the HPVers, but the focus is fun, not speed. Pedaling efficiency and aerodynamics don't even register on their priority lists and here there was nothing wrong with a 75-pound bicycle!
All that said, my new 'bent would not have been out of place here. I rode the motorcycle today and didn't want to haul the trailer 300 miles or I would have brought the 'bent along.
And yeah, if he doesn't reclaim it, the Huffy a guy from work gave me is destined to be "converted" into "all it can be."



Mary (Terry's wife) and I celebrated Independence Day on Saturday, July 3, by attending the Fourth of July Freak Out in Fowlerville. Yeah, I know that's two freak bike events in two weeks. Just think of it as research.
In reality, this isn't my first venture into the realm of custom bikes, but it may well be my deepest trip yet. It seems I now have dual citizenship, MHPVA and the "Freak Bike Nation."


DOING THE FREAKBIKE LIMBO at the Fowlerville event. A rider on a low racer from HPV circles could win this event easily, but maybe that would be considered cheating.

The "Freak Out" was a bit more involved than the event in Ionia. Activities included a bike show with more than 45 bikes shown, including my new 'bent and my old chopper that I dug out of the back of the garage and cleaned off two years of accumulated dirt and crud. There was a potluck barbecue, a freak bike ride in the Fowlerville Fourth of July parade and fireworks at dusk.


Dora "Giggles" Johnson built this bike, including the welding. The side away from the camera is painted red, hence the name of her bike, "Split Personality."


Mike Eliasohn looking foolish sits on Jim "Chainsaw" Johnson's freakbike at the Michigan HPV Rally on June 13. Johnson, at right, cut up several bicycle frames, plus other stuff to build his creation . Paul Pancella, who took the photo, used this bike to pace one of the Sunday morning road races.

The bike show, while foreign to me, was run just like the local car shows I've seen. Bikes were displayed and judged, with the owners sitting around BS'ing with each other and spectators. I have little understanding of the judging or the different classes.
I found it interesting that my 'bent got little attention, but the chopper was deemed pretty cool. In a past post, we (Terry and Mike Eliasohn) talked about the use of gears and making these bike easier/more efficient to pedal. That does happen with some of the bikes. Derailleurs and internal-geared hubs are used by some, but aesthetics, simple clean chainlines, and artistic ideas and interpretation are more important on their bikes, which will seldom see everyday use (like the chopper I dug
out of the garage).
Along those lines, my next build/HPV will be more freak bike than efficient recumbent.
Oh yeah, my chopper won a best-in-class award. (No, I don't know what class and I'm not sure what they saw in it!!!)

The website for the FreakBike Militia - Great Lakes is www.fbmgreatlakes.com.


TERRY'S award winning chopper


OUCH! This bike was built for a bicycle build-off competition. The seatpost was made from an ax, a pitchfork became the seat, hedgeclippers became the handlebars and other "sharp pointy things" also were used in its construction.