Battle of the Brands - Bike Sebring 2020

[Maria Parker]

While chatting with Mark Swanson of Bacchetta at the Recumbent Cycle Convention this year we were trash talking about which of our brands had a more enthusiastic and larger following. Of course I know it's Cruzbike but Mark has his own ideas. We decided to put it to a test at this year's Sebring 12/24 race in Florida. Hence the Battle of the Brands was born.

I hope you all will help me win this thing! I need as many Cruzbikers as possible to show up and do either the 100 or 12 hour (24 hour race miles won't count). You don't have to go fast, just come on out and participate. The brand with the most miles wins.

Details and sign up here!

or here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xrylfBReol4z7hjg3grzxiMSQs-76BwJiNsK8lx_lV4/edit?usp=sharing

 

[RojoRacing]

Curious but why won’t the 24 hour race count?

 

[Maria Parker]

• Great Question! We want to have a party and announce the winner on Saturday evening. Most people who participate in the 100-mile won't be able to stay until Sunday when the 24 hour is over. We want to encourage everyone to participate and enjoy the festivities afterward (pizza and beer).

 

[CruzLike]

I've been thinking about cranking up the training for a 12hr blast. I expect to be there. You had me at beer.

 

[DavidCH]

pizza and beer).

Emmm.... I am on a carrot after 6pm diet so pizza and beer is a great idea

 

[super slim]

Could you ALSO have 6 person team from each Recumbent builder, that work together in a long pace 18 bike line, at a STEADY agreed speed, that is enough to drop DF riders, and then at the start of the last lap, its every man/woman for himself to see who is the fastest Recumbent rider + bike!!!!!

And video / photo / DRONE Video, the long recumbent paceline, with different builders in the front at every photo, and also 3 wide, as this would be a GREAT sight to see!!!

AND great Advertising for each company, as long as every company gets photos of them in the front!

 

[ed72]

work together in a long pace 18 bike line, at a STEADY agreed speed, that is enough to drop DF rider

Wouldn't that be something. Would be fun to see for sure.

In 2019, the lead pack of 12 hour riders came by me just before getting back to the racetrack (maybe mile 98 of 102 or something); anyway, there was only one recumbent in the mix that I saw.....it was Maria. Although the course is overall very flat, there are just enough little hills and intersections to make an 18 rider finish sort of impossible. Also, the top 24 hour undrafting riders do the 102 mile Century in around 4:10 or almost 25 mph average, which is around the recumbent record, so, pretty tough to beat but I am sure there are enough Cruz racers to do it. A realistic goal would be to have all 18 finish the Century ahead of all DF riders then every rider for themselves on the 11 mile short course. In any case, it will be fun to see. Great idea.

 

[Maria Parker]

One year we had a mix of recumbent riders that formed a paceline and pulled away from the pack toward the end of the 100. Jim Parker did a video you can watch here:

The video was actually taken by Jim Verhuel who was on a Bachetta. We hope to just get a lot of recumbent riders out there.

 

[Don1]

I hope youse make more videos like this. I find myself watching them regularly... Do another technical tour walk around too.

 

[jond]

Maria if it’s close in participation go ahead and do a count back. Pelso Bacchetta cannot possibly count

 

[ed72]

I enjoyed the video. If I may point out, towards the end of the video, the paceline of recumbents did something quite correct and worth pointing out for efficiency standpoint. When the wind is coming from say the left side into your left shoulder, the lead rider has to be basically in the middle of the road with the other riders offset to the right and slightly behind the riders wheel in front, the key point done correctly in the video, the lead rider pulls off the front on the windward side. If the wind is coming off the right shoulder, as it did for the first 50 miles in 2019, the lead rider of the paceline should be on the ride edge of the road. If there are 18 riders, the lead rider just needs to gently pull thru and rotate off.

https://www.bicycling.com/training/a20013794/how-to-conquer-a-crosswind/

 

[Maria Parker]

Currently, we have 7 signups with only 3 Cruzbikes (and one of them is me). If you are going to win this thing, we need you to sign up and start training!

 

[benphyr]

FYI: Bike Sebring bikesebring.org runs Feb 8-9, 2020 at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

 

[paco1961]

I will be in Sarasota then. Trying to work out the logistics of getting a bike down there from ky unless I can find one in the neighborhood. Doubt I would be in much shape by that time of the winter but I can always limp through a century at an embarrassingly slow pace

 

[jond]

One time I wish I was American. For a week. Ok five days

you know I love youseall.

from your spiritual home downunda

 

[jond]

Currently, we have 7 signups with only 3 Cruzbikes (and one of them is me). If you are going to win this thing, we need you to sign up and start training!

come on America already don’t want Maria being fitted for a bachetta jersey. !!

 

[bladderhead]

Should be easy for Cruzbike for most of the way.

A Vendetta can draft behind a Bacchetta.

Because Bacchetta SUCKS!

 

[3bs]

timing is bad, and training would be mostly imaginary, but perhaps i could shoot down and do the 100 at a pathetically slow pace. actually it would be fun to create a pace line for the CB CRAP
(cruz bike casual riders actually participating.) then we just try and roll in under 5:00

 

[DARYLHANGER945]

Currently, we have 7 signups with only 3 Cruzbikes (and one of them is me). If you are going to win this thing, we need you to sign up and start training!

Have not signed up yet because I am trying to decide if I want to ride for Cruzbike or buy a Bacchetta and ride for them. Just kidding I have no desire to ride one mile on a Bacchetta. Quick question though, do all the miles need to be done on a Cruzbike to count towards Cruzbike? I was thinking about bringing my Nocom as a backup in case I have a mechanical on the Vendetta or if I just want a change of riding position. Another scenario where I would want to switch to the Nocom would be if I ended up riding all by myself with no draft help. I find I am quicker on the Nocom if there is nobody to draft. Just want all the miles to count toward Cruzbike and earn my pizza.

 

[3bs]

ditto @DARYLHANGER945
can i ride something different so long as its mbb fwd? perhaps one of the skunkwerks creations.

and i was also wondering

1. if anyone was going to go from the great lakes region?
2. if so by car or truck? or plane? from where to where?
3. if flying, how are you getting your bike there?
4. if driving when are you leaving and coming back?

if i can go and fly, alligent is too expensive for me to take bike along from grand rapids to punta gorda

but maybe i could ship the bike there and back, or if someone is driving and has room toss my bike in back

if i can go and drive, maybe i could take others or get a ride with others, but i would likely leave feb 5 and then head home late 9th or early 10th