First up is Nicci Walde who will try to attack the hour record. Jan-Marcel is riding along in the chase car as an observer for the IHPVA. Nicci is riding not as fast as was hoped, but is very satisfied with the result*.
Pieter is starting as the second for his hour run. The first round he is doing a nice average of a little more than 59km/h. In the third round he is coming in. He still needs more power than with his former bike. Further investigation will have to show if this is due to worse weather circumstances or that more improvement on his bike is needed.
Then a rider of the French team starts for a 200m attempt. The speed is somewhere between 80 and 90 km/h.
Jan-Marcel will make a second attempt. Getting started is getting easier. Let's just think that practice makes perfect. The rest of the run is going well, but the wind is too strong for a legal run. With a nice speed of 108.5km/h and more valuable data, we leave the track.
We would like to thank everyone who has helped to make this possible.
In the first place the organisation of this wonderful event. Heike, Christoph, Thomas and Gerard thank you very, very much!
In the second place a warm thank you to all our loyal followers.
And last but not least our family and friends. Without them we could not have put as much time in improving man and machine.
* see the website of the organisation for the registered speed.
maandag 10 juli 2017
Dekra Sunday Morning
Jan and Jan-Marcel head out to the track before breakfast. Jan can ride for an hour. He will not set a record, but by riding is collecting important power data. With a wealth of data we go to the pits after riding for an hour.
David and Pieter also arrive with breakfast. After a quick breakfast we get the bike ready again. Jan rides another few rounds with the periscope hatch to be able to compare data. This means we can also look at the results of preceding years. After that we go back to the hotel and get some rest.
David and Pieter also arrive with breakfast. After a quick breakfast we get the bike ready again. Jan rides another few rounds with the periscope hatch to be able to compare data. This means we can also look at the results of preceding years. After that we go back to the hotel and get some rest.
zaterdag 8 juli 2017
Dekra Saturday Evening
Jan is the first to ride on the track and clocks a decent 93.3 km/h. He took it relatively easy and did not sprint in the final stretch. He is saving some energy for later in the weekend. The French team makes a round and then Jan-Marcel takes his first ride in the Cygnus Omega.
Starting is very careful. He clearly has to get used to a new way of starting with an extra wheel. He gets off well and makes a decent first round. In the second round he makes a sprint in the final stretch and passes the time registration with 103.2 km/h. Breaking works out good as well, though he might be overdoing it a bit by using the third wheel more than 500 meter before the catch area with still about 20 km/h on the speedometer.
Pieter still has some small problems that get solved later in the evening. He rides a couple of rounds on a good speed. That is very promissing for tomorrow.
Starting is very careful. He clearly has to get used to a new way of starting with an extra wheel. He gets off well and makes a decent first round. In the second round he makes a sprint in the final stretch and passes the time registration with 103.2 km/h. Breaking works out good as well, though he might be overdoing it a bit by using the third wheel more than 500 meter before the catch area with still about 20 km/h on the speedometer.
Pieter still has some small problems that get solved later in the evening. He rides a couple of rounds on a good speed. That is very promissing for tomorrow.
Dekra - The Hotel
For everybody who is interested in our very luxurious hotel, we've made some pictures.
Dekra Saturday Morning
Last night we had lots of rain. When we get to the track at 6, everything is still soaking wet. We decide not to ride for the time being. The risk of running a flat or slipping on the wet surface of the track are too big.
Jan moves his speedometer, so he can see his speed and power a bit easier. When looking through a periscoop you focus in the distance, so the speedometer should not be too close. When using the cameras and looking at a screen closer by, the speedometer should also be closer to make focussing easier for the eyes. In the mean time Jan-Marcel attaches the wheel plate on the rear wheel again. The rubbing is solved by that.
Pieter is starting his search for the lost speed.
At 8 we leave the track which is slowly drying. Time for another copious breakfast. This afternoon at 4 we can use the track again.
Jan moves his speedometer, so he can see his speed and power a bit easier. When looking through a periscoop you focus in the distance, so the speedometer should not be too close. When using the cameras and looking at a screen closer by, the speedometer should also be closer to make focussing easier for the eyes. In the mean time Jan-Marcel attaches the wheel plate on the rear wheel again. The rubbing is solved by that.
Pieter is starting his search for the lost speed.
At 8 we leave the track which is slowly drying. Time for another copious breakfast. This afternoon at 4 we can use the track again.
Dekra Friday Evening
Well in time we are ready at the filling station for the first meeting. The French team arrives just after we did with a new rider and an "old" bike. The team of Universities of Delft/Leiden appear not long after that. Heike is a bit late. After a short round of introductions we head for the track. We also have to wait a bit there before we can finally set foot on the holy oval around 7. We make our quarters in the pits and prepare for riding.
Guillome from the French university enters the track first. After a number of rounds he decides to test the quality of the lawn next to the track. It proves to be less smooth than expected and he slides over the finish line on his side. With just some scratches on the bike and a somewhat deflated ego, they come off pretty good. He appeared to have had trouble with a fogged up windscreen.
Pieter can test the track after that. After a few rounds he comes back into the pits sweaty and unsattisfied. He needs too much energy. Some tape was rubbing and is removed quickly. After another test round it appears that there is more that needs attentions. That means that we will work on that tomorrow morning.
Eventually Jan can also make some laps. It it the first time for him to drive with cameras and he had to get used to that. After four rounds in total we need to leave the track. Something is rubbing slightly, probably the wheel plat on the back wheel. We will also look at that in the morning.
Guillome from the French university enters the track first. After a number of rounds he decides to test the quality of the lawn next to the track. It proves to be less smooth than expected and he slides over the finish line on his side. With just some scratches on the bike and a somewhat deflated ego, they come off pretty good. He appeared to have had trouble with a fogged up windscreen.
Pieter can test the track after that. After a few rounds he comes back into the pits sweaty and unsattisfied. He needs too much energy. Some tape was rubbing and is removed quickly. After another test round it appears that there is more that needs attentions. That means that we will work on that tomorrow morning.
Eventually Jan can also make some laps. It it the first time for him to drive with cameras and he had to get used to that. After four rounds in total we need to leave the track. Something is rubbing slightly, probably the wheel plat on the back wheel. We will also look at that in the morning.
vrijdag 7 juli 2017
Dekra Friday
The day starts at about 8 with a copious breakfast in the cosy breakfast room. Fresh bread rolls, jam, honey, three kinds of sliced cold meat, five kinds of cheese, coffee, tea, boiled eggs and fresh fruit are consumed by the members of team Cygnus.
After finishing the meal we get some groceries for ourselves and we admire each others bikes. Around noon Pieter is getting a bit agitated and we take him to his fellow-countrymen. While enjoying a meal he settles down again. Afterwards Jan and Pieter are working on tuning the trike. The front service hatch is taped shut and the edges are rounded off with filler. We have a bit of leisure time and then we are off to the track for the meeting. We are ready!
After finishing the meal we get some groceries for ourselves and we admire each others bikes. Around noon Pieter is getting a bit agitated and we take him to his fellow-countrymen. While enjoying a meal he settles down again. Afterwards Jan and Pieter are working on tuning the trike. The front service hatch is taped shut and the edges are rounded off with filler. We have a bit of leisure time and then we are off to the track for the meeting. We are ready!
Dekra Thursday
After we have packed the car, we leave at 20 past 8 in the morning. The drive to Germany goes reasonably well. We can avoid a number of traffic jams by happily using alternatives offered by googlemaps. We arrive around 10 past 5 in the afternoon at our Capotel.
Pieter arrived about an hour and a half earlier and gives us a warm welcome. About 15 minutes later David arrives and team Cygnus is at its full strength. We take our residence in the spacious hotel. David resides in the honeymoon suite. Jan, Pieter and Jan-Marcel put up with an ample double room each. A modern kitchen and luxurious sanitary facilities are at our disposal.
After extensive chatter, we go to an Italian restaurant in the neighbourhood. Pieter can no longer keep his Sicilian roots hidden. In fast Italian all kinds of greetings, gossip, recipes, and the latest Italian news facts are exchanged.
In the evening we chat into the small hours about recumbents, team members, recumbents, trikes, recumbents, family members and of course recumbents.
Pieter arrived about an hour and a half earlier and gives us a warm welcome. About 15 minutes later David arrives and team Cygnus is at its full strength. We take our residence in the spacious hotel. David resides in the honeymoon suite. Jan, Pieter and Jan-Marcel put up with an ample double room each. A modern kitchen and luxurious sanitary facilities are at our disposal.
After extensive chatter, we go to an Italian restaurant in the neighbourhood. Pieter can no longer keep his Sicilian roots hidden. In fast Italian all kinds of greetings, gossip, recipes, and the latest Italian news facts are exchanged.
In the evening we chat into the small hours about recumbents, team members, recumbents, trikes, recumbents, family members and of course recumbents.
DEKRA 2017
Several team members are at the DEKRA testtrack (Lausitzring) during this weekend.
Pieter is ready for action.
Schedule for this weekend.
Pieter is ready for action.
Schedule for this weekend.
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