WORDS AND PICTURES DAVE MORRISON
taketwo
Outstanding ways to stand out from A couple of riders who choose to ride “unconventional” vehicles are the focus of this issue’s interview. Ian Perry, 56, whose wheels of choice is the velomobile, and Jim Newmark, 66, who usually takes to the roads in a recumbent bike. Peter Davis asks the questions: Where do you live, and how long have you been cycling? Ian Perry: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, but originally from Heckmondwike in West Yorkshire. I’ve been cycling for 32 years. Jim Newmark: Lutterworth, near Rugby. We’ve recently moved after 40 years in Yorkshire. I’ve been cycling regularly for around 25 years. How many bikes do you own? And which is your regular bike? Ian Perry: Four – but only my old mountain bike has two wheels… and both are flat! My regular machine is my DF Velomobile. Jim Newmark: “Bikes” have two wheels… hence the “bi” bit. I’ve got four Diamond Frames – one low-racer recumbent
Arrivéesummer/autumn2019
Jim Newmark on his Trice
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bike and one trike. I really don’t have a regular one. The single speed is used for trips to the shops; I use the road bike most mornings; the Dawes Galaxy will be for touring; the low-racer Fujin is for edgy fun; and the Trice is for the regular 35 mile round trip to work twice weekly in Leicester. The one (DF) I use less often nowadays is the Thorne expedition bike. It is really heavy with massive tyres and waiting for the winter. Why do you choose to ride these bikes rather than something more conventional? Ian Perry: My Velomobile is comfortable and fast, with a large carrying capacity. It’s also versatile and can be used for shopping, commuting, Audaxing and racing. I originally “went over to the dark side” after suffering a neck injury, crashing down a Scottish mountainside. Jim Newmark: The spark was lit during the 800k Thorne-EdinburghThorne years ago when all the DFs were struggling into a headwind. I remember the recumbents effortlessly coming alongside, chatting for a while, then taking off when we were all dead in the saddle. Not being an extrovert, I really didn’t like the idea of standing out, and the cost put me off, too. Then came a fractured hip coming off a DF. I persuaded the orthopaedic consultant to say in front of my wife that “one of those lying down bikes would be a good idea”. Eventually I bought a second-hand Trice, which I basically wore out. Not only is riding it hugely enjoyable, it also feels safer, with better visibility, a different silhouette so other road vehicles seem to see it easier and generally give it a wider berth, and,
not as far to fall. The riding comfort is unmatchable. I cycled the towpath along the 126 miles of the LiverpoolLeeds canal last year in 18 hours with no problems at all. My reservations as to the reactions of others remained for a while as it is impossible not to be noticed, but these pretty much disappeared after I was chased down by four quad bikes in inner-city Bradford. They drew alongside and I feared the worst. But it was just “cool bike”, and they roared off. Being so obvious I am very careful to obey the rules and in my experience 99 per cent of comments are positive. I bought a Fujin low-racer about four years ago. It has a very different feel. I actually put an L-plate on the back for a month or so as initially I was all over the road. When cycling downhill, for both recumbents, and especially the Fujin, it is difficult to avoid overtaking the very best of club cyclists – acceleration to around 50mph is common. OK, they catch you very quickly when the climbing starts! The comfort of the Fujin means that it‘s a long-distance machine and has all the gadgets – GPS, lights, and Ipod, all charged with the Son dynamo. I really don’t understand why there are not more of us about. Do you maintain the bikes yourself? Ian Perry: Yes. Everything, including the specialist velomobile parts, such as suspension. Jim Newmark: Yes. I do pretty much all of that myself, but am aware that when I take them to the people that know, they always to do a better job. Tell us something about riding this type of machine that we might not know. Ian Perry: The key to riding a velomobile is momentum – steep or long hills are difficult due to the weight. Mine, in its current set up, weighs 32kg; and only being able to utilise muscles from the hips down. Building up speed before an incline and keeping the power on is the best way to keep up a good average speed. The speed range is also wider than an ordinary bike, with maximum speeds for a downhill being typically 50 per cent higher than a rider in a tucked
