(air whooshing)
- If you're anything like me,
you've spent a lot of time training.
You may have invested a lot of money
into making yourself go faster.
Maybe investing in some aerodynamic wheels
or goin' whole hog and investing
in an aerodynamic frame.
But what if you chuck the rule book out the window
and you, or went for something not quite so conventional.
(upbeat music)
(calming music)
Today we are heading up north to a motor racing circuit
which is normally home to British motorsport
and motorcycle racing.
Today, however, engines are being replaced
with human power.
Welcome to Darley Moor.
This is home of an event
that the British Human Powered Club are running.
I'm hopefully going to get the chance
to get in a bike
that's made for speed.
Yeah, in a bike.
(relaxing music)
So what will I be riding in today?
This is a recumbent bicycle.
It is a bicycle where the rider lays back
in a reclining position.
This allows the rider
to distribute their weight across a large area,
which in turn makes it more aerodynamic.
This is a non-fed Rapto recumbent.
One that you may be familiar with.
Up front, there is a 20 inch wheel
and an 70 tooth chainring.
And at the rear we've got a 26 inch wheel
with a standard mountain bike gearing.
Then you move to this.
This is the Formula One
of recumbents, surrounded by a carbon fiber shell
which allows the rider to travel at over 50 kilometers
per hour at just 200 watts.
This is exciting and something
that I've never, ever, done before.
(intense music)
Before I get going on a recumbent,
I think it's best
that I learn from one of the professionals.
So I'm going to need Barnie who is part
of the British Human Powered Club Association
or club member and you're going
to talk me through, hopefully.
- Good morning.
- How to get me through riding a recumbent and then
to potentially racing one.
- Yep, we are going to set you off immediately.
We will get you going. - Okay
- Tricycle.
Guaranteed easy, guaranteed smile.
It just goes where you want it to go, simple controls.
- [James] Yes, it doesn't look
like I can fall off that one.
- At real high speed you lift the wheel even
idiots might be able to roll them.
But I'm sure you'll manage today.
- Okay and then once I've done that, if I can.
- We're going to introduce you to my load racer.
- Right.
- So this is a little bit different.
It requires balance but you're the cyclist,
we know with a big smile you'll be happy, you'll get away.
It's all sorts of different stuff
that you've not experienced before.
It's got a tiller for steering.
It's got front wheel drive.
It's got a 70 tooth chainring.
All of that seems foreign to a normal cyclist.
- Yes.
- But this is that easy and will get you going
and we will have you smiling
and riding by the end of the day.
(techno music)
- Alright Barnie, helmet is going on.
I'm ready to go, I'm all yours.
- Dead easy, so this machine, sit in the seat.
- Yep.
- Handle bars which will steer both front wheels.
You've got a steering rod to each wheel.
Conventional bicycle brakes,
braking hoop in each wheel.
That's the left hand brake, right hand brake.
- Perfect.
- You have thumb and bar end shifters
so that's your front neck up here currently sat
in middle ring which will be great to set off
and a rear mech here.
Just a conventional mount of thumb shifters.
All we do, we will point
it down this little side road here.
One foot each side at the front,
sit back into the bike, apply some brakes,
look at where you want to go and it's away.
You'll be able to ride off down here
and spin around through the cones,
dead easy. - Alright, first go.
- Easy way back.
- Sort of feels like you're in an arm chair.
- Should be ready just to roll away.
- Brakes applied. - Brakes and off.
- Off we go, first go on a recumbent.
- [Barnie] Now give it some stick and you'll be able
to get right through those cones.
- Alright, I'm up to speed now.
It's a bit weird being so far to the floor.
(upbeat music)
Kind of feels like I'm riding a go kart, just pedaling it.
The other one that's terrifying is
it's the balance I'm slightly worried about
but let's do it.
I'm ready, just nervous.
(upbeat music)
Now, this looks like a fair bit harder to do.
- So, this, it'll take a little bit
of learning but we will get you in, it's no problem.
The secret is to smile.
- Okay.
- So long as you're enjoying it
and smiling, you'll manage this.
- Okay, I'm a big smiler.
- What we'll need to do is we'll need
to lend you a pair of these elbow pads.
- Right, I'm going to need these.
- You're going to need these.
In the event you do fall off this,
the first thing that's likely
to hit ground is your elbows.
- Yeah.
- Not a lot of any protection on there so generally,
most of us race in the club with a bit of body armor on.
And it just helps.
Means you're not so nervous of falling off.
- Right, I'll get these on then, mate.
- You get those on and then we'll talk you
through getting the bike going.
Got you padded up. - Yep.
- If you apply the right brake before you drop in.
- [James] Right brake.
- [Barnie] Seat over.
- [James] So step over. - Yep, sit
in the middle of the seat-- - Slide in.
- Slide in. - Slide in, it's comfy.
- Relax, happy.
- I'm relaxed, nervous, but happy
- What we do is we start with, you're right footed?
- [James] Yep.
- [Barnie] With the right pedal freewheel.
What we need you to do is
to pick something up
in the distance. - Okay.
- Telegraph pole or a tree. - Yep.
- We need you to look up at that
and with a good, confident push off with that foot.
Don't worry too much about getting,
get yourself a really good push,
release the brake, go and smile.
- [James] Alright, here it goes Barnie.
- Big smile.
- Be ready to catch me.
(nervous noises)
Okay, it's quite difficult.
It's a lot more difficult than it looks.
You're looking, yeah,
okay one more go Barnie, you ready?
- Yeah, we will do this.
- Second is a charm, isn't it.
- Don't absolutely worry about your pedals.
They're obviously looks just off you go
and away, yes, smile. - I'm smiling.
- [Barnie] Smile, smile.
- [James] I'm smiling but I'm not balancing.
- [Barnie] Look where you want to go, now smile.
Look up, that's it, through you go.
- Crashing, crashing, alright.
- Look up.
- Smiles applied.
- Aim for the camera.
(intense music)
(guitar music)
- [Barnie] There we go, racing start mastered.
- I'm getting settled in now.
- Yep, well, you've got the racing start mastered.
You look like you happy.
- I'm definitely happy. - You're smiling.
This smile isn't coming off my face.
- You're getting the speed up.
I think it's time we put you
in the one lap time trial
and the result of that is,
so long as you complete the one lap time trial,
you'll be ranked as a British Rider
in the Recumbent Racing Championships this year.
- I want to do well.
My competitive nature is in there.
I'm fighting, I'm ready to go.
- Nice big, long stretch, you'll be loving it.
- What speeds you reckon we'll make on those?
- I reckon you'll be lucky
if you make 20 miles an hour because you still a bit wobbly
and a bit nervous. - Yep.
- This bike, usually makes speeds about 25
in a one lap time trial.
- Alright.
- Other guys are going to be doing 40 miles an hour.
- Okay.
- Something to aim for in the future.
- Middle of the pack, middle of the pack.
(relaxed music)
- So Barnie, we are sitting here watching the racing, but,
why, recumbents are the fastest bikes in the world, right?
- Yep.
- So why are they not in the Tour of France?
- They've been banned by the UCI
and it's a ban that goes back
to the 1930s when it was proven
that amateur riders could ride as fast as the pros
if they took aerodynamic advantages
and we just continued
to accept those aerodynamic advantages and have fun.
- So is the triangle,
like the diamond shape traditional bike,
that is the UCI rule isn't it?
- [Barnie] UCI rules very very strict
about the diamond shaped bicycle
and we accept anything.
- Yeah.
- People do come in and race UCI bicycles here
and you may see some today.
But we also accept tricycles, bicycles
and primarily the recumbent position, lying down,
where you cut through the air a lot more easily.
- [James] I know I've just had a little go on it
and they are incredibly quick
for the same amount
of power put out on a traditional bike.
I'm going a lot faster in a recumbent.
But then it goes from the one I've learned on,
which is the non-fed, then we get the fed,
the streamliners and that way is a whole different beast.
- Whole different game and the work that we are doing
with London South Bank University at the minute.
They're looking for speeds of 90 miles an hour.
- 90 miles an hour?
- Off power output of 350 watts.
(techno music)
- [James] The course I am taking
on is a 2.2 kilometer circuit.
It's made up of three tight corners
with a pretty tough uphill head wind section
on that back straight.
So how fast can I go?
Alright, we are going to put all my training
to good use now on a time trial
on three different bikes.
I am going to start off with a trike,
then Barnie is going to set me off.
I'm ready mate.
- Three, two, one, go.
- We're off, we're off, slow start.
- [Barnie] Pedal, pedal.
(upbeat music)
- Alright, next up, is the two wheeled, unfed.
- Three, two, one, go.
- Alright, we are off, up a gear.
(upbeat music)
Right, second lap done
with a time of 3.57.
It's a lot faster
and I was just getting a hang of the cornering.
It does put a smile on your face
that I have to say is
really, really good fun.
Right, next it's the streamliner,
the fastest of the lot.
(upbeat music)
This is a fully encapsulated, carbon recumbent trike.
It's a velomobile.
It's got two 20 inch wheels in the front
and it's got one 26 inch on the back.
The drive chain goes under the chair.
It's got a fairly conventional mountain
bike gear system with twist shift.
And then on the top,
you got a race hood to keep it really aerodynamic.
You've got this little, flip up to keep
with the ventilation because trust me,
those things get pretty hot inside.
But to me, it looks like a big yellow missile.
So when we started getting
into the interior of this,
it's got to be one of the most perfect touring machines.
Cause you can fit and store so much kit
and even food in the back there, in the tail.
And then when we look at the front here,
you've got indicators, you've got even a horn
and to the side, you've got your light systems
and your bike computer.
But it's similar to a canoe but on land I guess.
It's amazing.
If I break it, I pay for it, that's my rule.
(laughing)
- [Bystander] You'll be fine, it might be a bit warm.
- So there's-- - Okay.
- Shoulder pads here that you can lean on.
- Lean on, yeah.
- And elbow pads there.
- Boy, it's nice being clipped in.
- [Bystander] With the race cap, you just need
to stick the velcro down.
- Yeah, right, velcro.
- [Bystander] The velcro under there.
Yeah, it just sticks underneath.
- It feels like I'm getting in a World War 2 bomber.
It feels like I am going to be shot out of a submarine.
Roof closed, it's a bit surreal being in such
a small capsule-like machine but it is an amazing feeling.
Alright, let's have our first go, shall we?
(intense music)
- Okay James, ready for this one?
- Yeah, I've seen this in the Tour de France
and I never thought I'd get the chance to get in one.
It is quite surreal being in this little capsule.
- [Barnie] Yep, this is and you saw how fast
it went alongside the Tour de France riders?
- Yes.
- [Barnie] Need to remember
you've got three big corners here.
First one is downhill so as you ease off the pedaling,
there's no air breaking.
This thing will keep flying through the air
at whatever speed you're at.
Just take it easy.
You got the big hairpin.
Go wide on the big hairpin
and when you come into the final corner down here,
you should have the opportunity to really power up, yeah?
- Alright, I'm ready Barnie.
- It's not yours, it's been crashed,
it's been raised, it's been rallied
but we don't want you to do either of them, okay?
- No , I'm ready to go, mate.
- [Barnie] So, are we ready?
- [James] Set me off.
- Three, two, one, go.
- I am off, off the start line, slow to start.
(intense music)
- Picking up some good speed here now.
(intense music)
(spectator yelling)
- Wow, Barnie, that felt a lot quicker.
- [Barnie] Three minutes, 10.
- Is that fast?
- [Barnie] You have 47 seconds quicker than you were
on the two wheel rapto.
- 47 seconds, that is incredible the speed you can make.
- [Barnie] Yeah.
- And its more when you're up on top of the pedals
and you're on top of the speed,
you just keep going.
- [Barnie] Yeah.
- Just incredible. - Just through the air.
- That is amazing.
At the end of the day I got to go
in the fastest recumbent there
and wow, it was fast.
I got it up to 60 kilometers per hour, nearly rolled it.
But let's keep that one quiet.
But with all of the time trials done,
I think we should have a look at the results.
Alright Barnie, thank you so much
for an amazing day.
What are our findings?
- Well, you did well.
Amazed that you managed to learn
and pick it all up today.
But on the un-fed trike, four minutes 29 seconds.
On the un-fed two wheeler which was a real skill
to learn, three minutes 57.
- [James] That's not bad.
[Barnie] Then what you compare the yellow missile
with quatro, three minutes 10.
- [James] Getting better.
- [Barnie] But on the real fast, flatland performance
on the white Milan, two minutes 52.
- So just shows what aerodynamics can do.
- Fantastic performance and on behalf of the club,
I would like to present you
with one British Human Power Club racing jersey.
- Oh, I feel a part of the crew, thank you so much.
Well, if you enjoyed this video as much as I did,
make sure you give it a big thumbs up.
Massive thank you to these guys,
the British Human Power Club.
I hope to be back soon.
But if you want another video,
why don't you click on Barnie?
- Cheers. - Cheers, buddy.