The bikes
The understanding in putting together the team was that it would be a recumbent team to compete against Team Bacchetta. Some debate ensued between Tim and Glenn as to which bikes to race. Tim had raced Bacchetta in 2005 and Volae in 2006 with success and Glenn had raced Velokraft in 2005. Glenn finally prevailed and the choice to ride Velokraft machines was made.
Velokraft is a relatively new carbon fibre recumbent bike manufacturer based in Krakow in Poland and using the technologies and materials of the aerospace industry in Eastern Europe. The Velokraft range of recumbents are clearly special and are now among the leaders in lightweight high performance recumbent design - the bikes are a tough aerospace carbon fibre low profile frame with carbon fibre fork, stem and handlebar.
The team will use Velokraft NoCom and VK2 machines - VK2 for uphill and NoCom for flying duties.
NoCom
No Compromise has been made in the design of the NoCom with the prime objective being speed. It has an extremely rigid carbon fibre monocoque frame with the seat moulded into the frame to optimise aero efficiency. At 24 pounds (11 kgs) the NoCom is considerably lighter than similar bikes making the uphill disadvantages of recumbent design less of an issue. The rider sits a little over 6 inches (17 cm) above the ground with head height just above the top of the 700C rear wheel. Wheelbase is long by recumbent bike standards making slow turn manouvreability quite a challenge.
Glenn's view - "the fastest bike on the planet". True only with the right rider and the right conditions. Tim's view - "it demands that you ride fast and it just wants to go".
For a detailed review, refer to this Recumbents Online review article
VK2
The VK2 is a quasi low recumbent with above seat steering - choose between a tiller or a U-boom. It is based also on a carbon fibre monocoque frame and has a rock rigid boom. Ride position at 22 degrees is similar to the NoCom but at 13 inches (33 cm) not as low. And the bike comes in at a remarkable 21 pounds (less than 10 kgs). The VK2 was voted 2003 European recumbent of the year and has proven to be a race winning design.
For a detailed early review, refer to this Bentrider Online review article and for a most interesting customisation article behind this paint job on a VK2 click on the picture below.
These bikes are available in the USA from the team sponsor Bent Up Cycles and in Australia from Flying Furniture