The easy riders

RIDING a bike is not quite the same for everyone.
Most people who have ever trundled about on human-powered two wheels are used to sitting almost upright and pushing down on the pedals.
But a select group of locals take their bike riding lying down – almost.
Kim Tolhurst and Sig Engleitner swear by the car-like posture they adopt on their alternative machines, called recumbent bikes, in either two or three-wheel versions.
With a saddle resembling the dicky seat on a Harley Davidson, the pair are afforded as close to an armchair ride as possible – without the arms.
“It removes the strain points from traditional cycles,” Kim pointed out.
“You don’t suffer from the neck, back or shoulder pain you get from conventional cycling positions.”
Sig said he had ridden thousands of kilometres on his recumbent cycle, including a ride from Canberra to Darwin to mark his 40th birthday.
“It doesn’t leave you stiff and sore after a long ride and, most importantly, no sore bum,” he laughed.
Kim’s preferred mode of cycle is the Cruzbike, a custom-designed recumbent cycle that holds the world 24-hour endurance record.
“It’s all about comfort and ergonomics,” he said.
“Anything you can do on a traditional bike you can do better on a recumbent. It has a front wheel drive system, so it’s safer, it generates more aerodynamic power and the greater back support offers stronger leverage when pedalling.
“It’s also a more social way to ride because it’s easier to communicate with fellow riders.”
The pair are part of a loose group a recumbent enthusiasts, affiliated with Oz Human Powered Vehicle association.
The group hosts regular events in Geelong, often using Belmont Common criterium track.
The group operated keenly fought human-powered vehicle races at the track in November, with competitors using a wide variety of machines.
Several Victorian manufacturers of recumbent cycles are based in Geelong and Phantom HPVs boats a thriving 24-hour pedal prix racing scene in the area.
Kim acknowledges that the concept might be foreign to many people but said riders quickly adapted once they understood the advantages of the recumbent cycle.
“We need to change perceptions and the best way to do that is for the Cruzbike to demonstrate its superiority over traditional forms,” Kim said.
“It only takes 15 to 20 minutes to get the hang of it. In a sense, you go back to your childhood when you rode your front-wheel-drive-and-steer trike.
“There are even conversion kits for a traditional mountain bike and there’s an experienced group of people to ride with locally.”
Kim said anyone interested in checking our recumbent and human-powered vehicles could visit ozhpv.org.au or phone him on 0411 295 738.