Title: Unofficial report on The Lancaster Cyclefest [Scroll  Down for Pics]
Author : Graham Bentley
Date : 22/08/02

For those who haven't heard of the above event check here (deadlink in original article) In short, lots of crazy cyclists get together in Lancaster (based at St Martins college) go riding, racing and generally getting enthusiastic about alternative cycles. Apart from actually riding bikes there are lectures, live music, racing, social events and a good breakfast !!!

I set off on the morning of Friday 2nd of August at around 6:30 hoping to beat most of the commuter traffic by the time I was out of Preston. The organiser John called Friday `The Aquafest' and he wasn't too far wrong. I cycled the majority of the 45 miles to Lancaster absolutely soaked through. Breathable waterproofs stay that way for about 35 minuets in continual rain - as I found out. Once you are soaked you cant get any wetter and keeping on cycling keeps you warm. I arrived at main reception and parked. People seemed more interested in the bike than in the fact I had travelled 45 miles in the pouring rain. Anyway I got booked in, found my room and got a hot shower which was very welcome. I then got changed into some dry clothes and set off for the gallery - exhibits of frames and bikes. I was there 5 minutes when Mike Burrows turned up with his famous `Aero Bike' - a design adopted by Lotus and had helped take Chris Boardman to Olympic Gold. This was going to be an interesting weekend !!

I soon discovered that cycling enthusiasts, particularly alternative cycling enthusiasts will talk to anyone at the drop of a hat. There are no pretences, just down to earth folk who will discuss just about anything (including bikes at great length) with just about anyone. There where visitors from Germany and China as well as Lancaster and Southport of course. The afternoon quickly dissolved into the evening lecture and then a social in the bar.

The next day was an absolute cracker and I couldn't have asked for better weather. The breakfast put on by St Martins was excellent. Not long after 10:30 a.m. myself and lots of other cyclists set off for a day of recumbent and HPV racing at Salt Ayre cycling race track (in-between Lancaster and Morecambe) It was a brilliant day, my first experience of recumbent racing (I got eliminated at about halfway down the field in the open race) and also watching fully faired HPV's flying round a track at over 40 mph - quite amazing. After the racing we all headed of back to to St Martins college, slightly sunburnt, to watch or participate in the Uphill Sprints. After a short break for an evening meal it was back to the lecture theatre for a talk with Mike Burrows (designer of the Windcheetah) and Peter Elland (author of Velovision Magazine)

Sunday's ride was to Morecambe promenade (using the excellent cycle path) where many cyclists participated in the 100 Metre sprints although talking and testing bikes seemed to be quite high on most peoples agenda. This was followed by a ride down to the cafe at the end of the promenade and a lazy late afternoon tea. That evenings entertainment brought some live music into the social bar which rounded off the Sunday quite nicely.

I left shortly after breakfast on the Monday for my 45 mile return trip to Southport (accompanied by Liz on her Windcheetah) It seemed kind of sad to see alot of people leave that morning - just three days, great fun, gone in the blink of an eye. I had met some very interesting and friendly people. Two years seemed a long way off and I wondered how many of those crazy bent folk I would see again ?

I asked myself "Will you be back?" The answer was a positive "Damn right I will !"

Pictures - Click to enlarge !

Mike Burrows Time Trial Bike	Man on Trike	A Ratcatcher and a Low Racer	Two Nice Trikes	Faired up Trike
Very Nice Micro Trike!	A Trike, a Brompton & a Moulton	Start of Peter Ellands Lecture	Fully faired HPV's	www.hpv-heaven.com
2 Vision R40 SWB's	A low racer & a King Cycle	A speeding HPV	Preparing for a race	Another speeding HPV
Under starters orders	Go Ladies	Speeding down the Straight	Unbeatable Low Racer	Tandem Trike
Baron Low Racer	Another Low Racer	The Plastic Maggot	Start of Mens Race	3 Trikes
One Man & his Dog	1930's Handcrank HPV	Prom Takeover	John sprints his Peer Gynt	A speeding low racer
		A very nice Pedason	Fully waterproof Trike?
Mike Burrows vs Hans Shulz	Contemplating Bike Life			The Millenium Brige, Lancaster
				THE END
Enjoying the Sunshine	Putting the Boot In !	25 mph & Holding . . .	Me on Liz's Windcheetah

Special thanks goes to Liz and Nick for the photos of me in action. If you see yourself here or can identify any of the vehicles please do contact me with corrections / omissions.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me for this event. Over £300 was rasied for MacMillan Cancer Relief / Greenpeace. The total distance covered was 135 miles [Southport to Lancaster approx 45 return trip and over 35 miles on rides and racing]

Here are some links to HPV and Recumbent Resources :-

Mike Burrows at Bikefix [Check Bikefix, Very Cool Site]:- http://www.bikefix.co.uk/masters.html

Go One :- http://www.go-one.de/

International HPV Site :- http://www.ihpva.org

British Engineering at its Best : - www.windcheetah.co.uk

At 18mph, 80% of the rider's energy is wasted due to air resistance [on a conventional bike!]
Check this amazing site :- http://www.speed101.com/photos.htm

A cyclist on a typical road bike has to develop 1.0 Horsepower continuously to hold a speed of 30 Miles Per Hour. A "first class athlete" can sustain this level of effort for some 30 seconds whereas a "healthy human" can only sustain this level of effort for about 12 seconds. At 30 MPH, 12 seconds is just enough time to travel 200 meters. Producing just 0.1 Horsepower, which a "healthy human" can do for 8 hours continuously, a bicyclist on the moon would be cruising at 237mph. That is just 1/10th of the horsepower an earthbound cyclist needs to produce in order to be moving along at a crummy 30 mph.

http://www.canosoarus.com/12MMMissile/MMM01.htm

22/08/02 - G Bentley