{"id":10594,"date":"2016-05-05T00:32:56","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T07:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/?page_id=10594"},"modified":"2023-10-18T20:11:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T03:11:49","slug":"history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/","title":{"rendered":"History of the Modern Day Recumbent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Because <strong>Charles Mochet\u2019s<\/strong> recumbent bicycle, piloted by second rate racer, <strong>Francis Faure,<\/strong> was <strong>far<\/strong> outpacing the competition, \u00a0rewriting the bicycle racing books, in 1934, the Union of Cyclists Internationale (UCI) banned them.\u00a0 Their\u00a0decision turned a very conformist, top-down driven world into believing that a recumbent was not a real bicycle and as a result, recumbents disappeared from the mass consciousness for 35 years. Or in other words almost two full generations of people thought they knew what the bicycle under their Christmas tree was supposed to look like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l_tXuvsfuEU\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10595\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-1-50-55-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?fit=993%2C543&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"993,543\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 1.50.55 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?fit=993%2C543&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10595\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?resize=800%2C437\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?resize=600%2C328 600w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?resize=768%2C420 768w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-1.50.55-PM.png?w=993 993w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 1.50.55 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"404\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"13026\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2017-12-11-at-9-37-58-am\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?fit=1102%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1102,800\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2017-12-11 at 9.37.58 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?fit=1024%2C743&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13026\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?resize=1100%2C799\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2017-12-11 at 9.37.58 AM\" width=\"1100\" height=\"799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?w=1102&amp;ssl=1 1102w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?resize=600%2C436&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?resize=768%2C558&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-11-at-9.37.58-AM.png?resize=1024%2C743&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">From time to time we hear stories of recumbent bicycle sightings in the 1940s and 50s such as the one <strong>Dale Clark<\/strong>, owner of longtime recumbent shop, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/anglelakecycle.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Angle Lake Cyclery<\/a><\/strong>, had heard about a recumbent rental bike concession at Green Lake in nearby Seattle. He was told of a fleet of armchair bikes that were in use around the lake during that time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And yet there again, like everything bicycle, recumbents were around before the turn of the last century..<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div id=\"attachment_14357\" style=\"width: 287px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14357\" data-attachment-id=\"14357\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/12814141_1101444446544060_3241937325561508260_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/12814141_1101444446544060_3241937325561508260_n.jpg?fit=525%2C402&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"525,402\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"12814141_1101444446544060_3241937325561508260_n\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;1896 Charland&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/12814141_1101444446544060_3241937325561508260_n.jpg?fit=525%2C402&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-14357\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/12814141_1101444446544060_3241937325561508260_n.jpg?resize=277%2C211\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"211\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-14357\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">1896 <strong>Challand<\/strong> in Belgium &#8211; the first? Never became popular because it much outweighed its rider&#8230;.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14861\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2019-07-24-at-8-21-42-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-8.21.42-PM.png?fit=697%2C461&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"697,461\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2019-07-24 at 8.21.42 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-8.21.42-PM.png?fit=697%2C461&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14861 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-8.21.42-PM.png?resize=697%2C461\" alt=\"\" width=\"697\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-8.21.42-PM.png?w=697&amp;ssl=1 697w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-8.21.42-PM.png?resize=600%2C397&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\" \/><strong><span class=\"s1\">Rocking Chair Bike<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cTHE LATEST IN CYCLES\u201d<br \/>\n(text from 1905) <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><br \/>\n\u201cA novel bicycle has been built in London which has been pronounced \u201cas comfortable as a rocking chair\u201d and which shows remarkable mechanical ingenuity. This new machine is fitted with an anti-vibrating easy chair-like saddle which affords wonderful relief to a tired back and which proves a luxury when coasting down long hills. The ladies\u2019 machines are meeting with particular favor. They are of exactly the same construction as are the machines built for the men. The illustration gives some idea of the comfort found in these new bicycles. Besides the chair like saddle, the machine has another improvement. Note the position of the handlebars. They are almost directly under the saddle. It is this arrangement that enables the woman to ride the diamond frame with ease. The steering gear is under perfect controle and it will be seen that a smaller circle can be described on this machine than on any other. The first machine of this make was built by P.W. Bartlett, of Richmond, England, for a Java resident. He was so pleased that he has now placed an order for twelve more of the same construction. The weight is somewhat greater than that of the light-weight racing machines, but as these bicycles are built for comfort and not alone for speed this is no detriment. The cost is the same as of any other high grade bicycle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14865\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2019-07-24-at-9-18-43-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-9.18.43-PM.png?fit=550%2C483&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"550,483\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2019-07-24 at 9.18.43 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-9.18.43-PM.png?fit=550%2C483&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14865 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Screen-Shot-2019-07-24-at-9.18.43-PM.png?resize=550%2C483\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"483\" \/><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p><em>The <strong>Easy-Chair Bicycle<\/strong> is obviously built<br \/>\nfor comfort and not for speed\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div align=\"left\">\n<p><em>\u201cIt has remained for a French mechanic to design a bicycle which is really comfortable. Indeed, while the conventional bicycle has been made in much the same manner for years, motorcycle manufacturers did not take long to provide their cars with special backs for the seats, so as to reduce fatigue and increase comfort. Now there comes this bicycle which reminds one of an easy chair. The easy chair bicycle is provided with a steering wheel and horn, following French automobile practice. Judging from the reclining posture of the rider this bicycle is designed for comfort rather than speed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Photo and text courtesy <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bicycleman.com\/history-recumbent-bike\/\">Bicycle Man<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14935\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/69360022_730920784039538_2999054914086240256_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/69360022_730920784039538_2999054914086240256_n.jpg?fit=556%2C498&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"556,498\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"69360022_730920784039538_2999054914086240256_n\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/69360022_730920784039538_2999054914086240256_n.jpg?fit=556%2C498&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14935 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/69360022_730920784039538_2999054914086240256_n.jpg?resize=556%2C498\" alt=\"\" width=\"556\" height=\"498\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">From 1934-36 on, recumbents remained hidden from all but a few Americans. The window to a different possibility was reopened in <strong>1969<\/strong> when <strong><i>Popular Mechanics<\/i><\/strong> published photos and a story about the recumbent called a\u00a0<strong>Groundhugger<\/strong> that hang gliding expert, <strong>Robert Q. Riley<\/strong>, had been shopping around in Southern California.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10598\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-2-04-36-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?fit=984%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"984,392\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 2.04.36 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?fit=984%2C392&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10598\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?resize=800%2C319\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?resize=600%2C239 600w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?resize=768%2C306 768w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.04.36-PM.png?w=984 984w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 2.04.36 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"294\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This video of Robert Q. Riley\u2019s recumbent was shot with 8mm film in <strong>1965<\/strong> in Griffith Park Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FJmby2oaQVc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;start=17&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Now back in the day, <i>Popular Mechanics<\/i> was the leading tech magazine when, before the Internet, that was how people got their information about the latest and greatest. Owned since 1958 by the William Randolph Hearst empire, their readership still stands at over one million.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10599\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-2-11-48-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?fit=945%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"945,731\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 2.11.48 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?fit=945%2C731&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10599\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?resize=800%2C619\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?resize=600%2C464 600w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?resize=768%2C594 768w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-2.11.48-PM.png?w=945 945w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 2.11.48 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"572\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10600\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-3-13-13-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.13.13-PM.png?fit=333%2C339&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"333,339\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.13.13 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.13.13-PM.png?fit=333%2C339&amp;ssl=1\" class=\" wp-image-10600 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.13.13-PM.png?resize=452%2C461\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.13.13 PM\" width=\"452\" height=\"461\" \/>Several years before Riley (right) hit the jackpot with Popular Mechanics, it\u2019s a little-known fact that the Ground Hugger was introduced at a dealer show run by Howie Cohen, the man who brought Nishiki and other Japanese bicycles to America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Called West Coast Cycle &amp; Supply, at a private showing, dealers placed orders for about 50\u201360 of them, but Riley and his partner ran out of money and couldn\u2019t deliver. If it were not for that, they would have introduced a production recumbent in 1967.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As it turned out, Riley\u2019s bike ended up only being available if you built it yourself from the plans the PM credential helped him sell thousands of sets of. As a result of this visionary success, he has gone on to become a prolific creator of plans for electric automobiles as well as his other cutting edge innovations in the recreation, fitness, and medical industries. He keeps his original Groundhugger plans current and is also now having success with the carbon fiber recumbent plans he now also sells. You can buy his plans at our site.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">You can also hear the podcast he and I did together if you do tune in you will learn Robert Riley is beyond legendary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/bikeroute.com\/Podcasts\/RRiley.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/>Your browser does not support the audio element.<\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"undefined well container-fluid playa\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u00a0The seed for a different way to pedal a bike had been re-planted. By <strong>1973 Chet Kyle,<\/strong> a California college professor with his faired upright<strong> Teledyne Titan<\/strong> and <strong>Jack Lambie<\/strong> were riding what they think were the two only known streamlined bikes on the planet.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"undefined well container-fluid playa\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"undefined well container-fluid playa\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10601\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-3-25-24-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?fit=1052%2C373&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1052,373\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.25.24 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?fit=1024%2C363&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10601\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?resize=800%2C284\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1052px) 100vw, 1052px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?resize=600%2C213 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?resize=768%2C272 768w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?resize=1024%2C363 1024w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.25.24-PM.png?w=1052 1052w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.25.24 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"262\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"undefined well container-fluid playa\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also in 1973, in the middle of the USA, in Kansas, <strong>Randy Schlitter<\/strong> had begun making sail trikes that took advantage of the recumbent seating position. For the next ten years, his company, <strong>Rans<\/strong>, would end up selling 1,600 of these wind surfer bikes for $800-$1,200 apiece.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here is the <strong>Rans Sail Trike<\/strong> in action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10602\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-3-36-48-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?fit=995%2C630&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"995,630\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.36.48 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?fit=995%2C630&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10602\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?resize=800%2C507\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?resize=600%2C380 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?resize=768%2C486 768w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-3.36.48-PM.png?w=995 995w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 3.36.48 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"468\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Then in 1975 he spent a couple of hours replacing the two back wheels on the sail trike with one wheel so that he could go out for bike rides on it. When his brother <strong>John Schlitter<\/strong>, who was racing competitively, couldn\u2019t drop him on his Colnago, he started working for Randy to build the recumbent bicycles that were the result. This well before John helped to start Bacchetta. And as such, making Rans America\u2019s oldest recumbent bicycle producer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10603\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-24-08-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?fit=901%2C507&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"901,507\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.24.08 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?fit=901%2C507&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10603\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?resize=800%2C450\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 901px) 100vw, 901px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?resize=600%2C338 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?resize=768%2C432 768w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.24.08-PM.png?w=901 901w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.24.08 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"416\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Short-lived <strong>Rans Response<\/strong> of 1996 built to replicate Sail Trike Power Plant<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you want to hear Randy talk about a lot of the above and how he also got into the airplane business, here is the podcast we did:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/nbg.bikeroute.com\/Podcasts\/Rans.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/>Your browser does not support the audio element.<\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10604\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-27-49-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.27.49-PM.png?fit=330%2C314&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"330,314\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.27.49 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.27.49-PM.png?fit=330%2C314&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10604 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.27.49-PM.png?resize=330%2C314\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.27.49 PM\" width=\"330\" height=\"314\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And here up close and personal, is the also amazing man, <strong>Jerrell Nichols<\/strong>, to whom Randy, early in 2015, entrusted the bike part of his business, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ransbikes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rans Bikes<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10605\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-29-14-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?fit=786%2C779&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"786,779\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.29.14 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?fit=786%2C779&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10605\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?resize=786%2C779\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?resize=600%2C595 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?resize=768%2C761 768w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.29.14-PM.png?w=786 786w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.29.14 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"733\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/16\/items\/RansJarrel\/RansJarrel.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/>https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/RansJarrel<\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also in 1975 Kyle and Lambie, the two streamliners, formed the IHPVA. The officers and board of directors of the IHPVA included such notables as<strong> Tullio Campagnolo<\/strong>, owner and president of Campagnolo \u2014 then the largest racing-component manufacturer in the world, <strong>Sir Hubert Opperman<\/strong>, O.B.E. Australian Member of Parliament and renowned holder of numerous long-distance cycling records, <strong>Eddy Merckx<\/strong> of Belgium, many time winner of the Tour de France, and famous authors <strong>Frank Whitt<\/strong> and <strong>David Gordon Wilson<\/strong>, creators of the best-selling cycling book,<i>Bicycling Science.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Soon on both coasts small time tinkerers began to crop up. Some such as <strong>Dr. Alan Abbott<\/strong>, who in 1973 set a world record when he went 138.8 mph behind a race car, were interested in how they could change the look of a bike so they could go faster.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In 1975 Abbott went 38.8 mph on this bike.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10606\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10606\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-32-13-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?fit=773%2C478&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"773,478\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.32.13 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?fit=773%2C478&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-10606 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?resize=773%2C478\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?resize=600%2C371 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?resize=768%2C475 768w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.32.13-PM.png?w=773 773w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.32.13 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"457\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Owner: Alan Abbott \u2022 Rider: Alan Abbott \u2022 Speed: 38.87 mph (1975)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10607\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-34-53-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.34.53-PM.png?fit=453%2C639&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"453,639\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.34.53 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.34.53-PM.png?fit=453%2C639&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10607 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.34.53-PM.png?resize=453%2C639\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 453px) 100vw, 453px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.34.53-PM.png?resize=425%2C600 425w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.34.53-PM.png?w=453 453w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.34.53 PM\" width=\"453\" height=\"639\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also in <strong>1975<\/strong>, <strong>Gardner Martin<\/strong>, who with his wife Sandra was on the cover of the famous 1969 Woodstock album (she still has the quilt!), was busy making custom parts such as gas tanks and fairings for motorcycles of which he owned in his own words in an interview he did with Kelvin Clark the \u201cbest and fastest ever built\u201d when he saw a magazine cover that would change his life. By Chet Kyle, it read\u00a0<strong>\u201cAre Streamline Bikes in Your Future?\u201d<\/strong>In the article, the challenge, \u201cLet\u2019s have an anything-goes speed contest race in the spring of 1975,\u201d excited him. Gardner got busy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10608\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-38-13-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.38.13-PM.png?fit=554%2C458&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"554,458\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.38.13 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.38.13-PM.png?fit=554%2C458&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10608 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.38.13-PM.png?resize=554%2C458\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.38.13 PM\" width=\"554\" height=\"458\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Soon, 13 bikes showed up at at a drag strip in Irwindale CA. where Garden went through 3 different riders and got a top speed of 34 mph. The winning speed that year was 44.69 mph by <strong>Ron Skarin<\/strong> on Kyle\u2019s upright Teledyne Titan. Two years later, in 1977, at the <strong>Ontario Motor Speedway<\/strong>, <strong>Norm Gall<\/strong> a well known Santa Cruz, CA racer went \u00a042.6 mph on this, the Belly Bike.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-020.jpg?resize=789%2C426&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Belly Bike\" width=\"739\" height=\"399\" \/><\/span><figcaption><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Owner: Gardner Martin \u2022 Rider: Norman Gall \u2022 Speed: 42.65 mph (1977)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-6\">\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-020-a.jpg?resize=300%2C215&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Belly Bike\" width=\"300\" height=\"215\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-020-b.jpg?resize=300%2C202&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Belly Bike\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It would form the nucleus of <strong>Easy Racers<\/strong>, the second oldest recumbent bicycle company in America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The same year. In <strong>1977<\/strong>, the two-person While Lightning trike, conceived as a Northrop College class project went 48 mph.<strong> Tim Brummer<\/strong> was the chief engineer.\u00a0When in 1978 White Lightning hit 50 mph, it was featured in Sports Illustrated per the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10647\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/si\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SI.png?fit=208%2C61&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"208,61\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SI\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SI.png?fit=208%2C61&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10647 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/SI.png?resize=208%2C61\" alt=\"SI\" width=\"208\" height=\"61\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.bikeroute.com\\\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\\\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:58030937}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 1100px; height: 730px;\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-original-height=\"730\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 534px; height: 730px;\" data-original-width=\"534\" data-original-height=\"730\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/2\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"530\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"726\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10646\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png\" data-orig-size=\"1495,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?fit=438%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?fit=748%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?w=530&#038;h=726&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?w=1495&amp;ssl=1 1495w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?resize=438%2C600&amp;ssl=1 438w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?resize=768%2C1052&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2.png?resize=748%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 748w\" width=\"530\" height=\"726\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"530\" data-original-height=\"726\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"2\" alt=\"2\" style=\"width: 530px; height: 726px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 566px; height: 730px;\" data-original-width=\"566\" data-original-height=\"730\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/1\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"562\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"726\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10645\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png\" data-orig-size=\"1347,1740\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?fit=464%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?fit=793%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?w=562&#038;h=726&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?w=1347&amp;ssl=1 1347w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?resize=464%2C600&amp;ssl=1 464w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?resize=768%2C992&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1.png?resize=793%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 793w\" width=\"562\" height=\"726\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"562\" data-original-height=\"726\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"1\" alt=\"1\" style=\"width: 562px; height: 726px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"800\" data-carousel-extra=\"{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/bikeroute.com\\\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\\\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent-2\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:58030937}\">\n<div class=\"gallery-row\" data-original-width=\"800\" data-original-height=\"531\">\n<div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" data-original-width=\"388\" data-original-height=\"531\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" data-original-width=\"412\" data-original-height=\"531\">\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\">\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.bikeroute.com\\\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\\\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:58030937}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 1100px; height: 752px;\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-original-height=\"752\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 551px; height: 752px;\" data-original-width=\"551\" data-original-height=\"752\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/3\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"547\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"748\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10644\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png\" data-orig-size=\"1497,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?fit=439%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?fit=749%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?w=547&#038;h=748&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?w=1497&amp;ssl=1 1497w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?resize=439%2C600&amp;ssl=1 439w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?resize=768%2C1051&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3.png?resize=749%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 749w\" width=\"547\" height=\"748\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"547\" data-original-height=\"748\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"3\" alt=\"3\" style=\"width: 547px; height: 748px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 549px; height: 752px;\" data-original-width=\"549\" data-original-height=\"752\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/4\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"545\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"748\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10643\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png\" data-orig-size=\"1494,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?fit=438%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?fit=747%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?w=545&#038;h=748&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?w=1494&amp;ssl=1 1494w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?resize=438%2C600&amp;ssl=1 438w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?resize=768%2C1053&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4.png?resize=747%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 747w\" width=\"545\" height=\"748\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"545\" data-original-height=\"748\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"4\" alt=\"4\" style=\"width: 545px; height: 748px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">By 1979 the White Lightning tandem trike had become the first to hit <strong>55 mph<\/strong>. And in 1980 it hit <strong>60 mph<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10609\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-42-31-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.42.31-PM.png?fit=222%2C453&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"222,453\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.42.31 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.42.31-PM.png?fit=222%2C453&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10609 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.42.31-PM.png?resize=222%2C453\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.42.31 PM\" width=\"222\" height=\"453\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Tim Brummer, went on to make his mark as a leader in the aerospace industry but felt called to start making bicycles full time in 1991 when the Space Shuttle mission drew to a close. However, instead of three wheels, with the experience he had gained, which included access to wind tunnels for testing, as well as his knowing how and where to source the aerospace materials he needed, he switched to two wheels and soon his <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/lightningbikes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lightning Cycles<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0became the bikes to beat in the <strong>IHPVA<\/strong> racing circles.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here is the interview we did:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/www.radio4all.net\/files\/NBG@bikeroute.com\/1680-1-LightningTim.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Rewinding back to <strong>1978<\/strong> the <strong>Vector<\/strong> built by the Versatron Corporation a parts manufacturer for war missiles in Sonoma, CA, was going neck and neck with Lightning to raise the bar to an even higher level. It was then that the Vector went 56 mph on their single while their tandem trike went 62 at Ontario Motor Speedway in S Cal, the 2\u00bd mile track that would get torn down the next year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10610\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-46-23-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.46.23-PM.png?fit=596%2C386&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"596,386\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.46.23 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.46.23-PM.png?fit=596%2C386&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10610\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.46.23-PM.png?resize=596%2C386\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.46.23 PM\" width=\"596\" height=\"386\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also in CA, <strong>Jack Baker, Smitty Smith<\/strong>, and <strong>Milt Turner<\/strong> were busy entertaining people on the southern California boardwalks with the first ever SWB called the <strong>Hypercycle<\/strong>. It did nosies and on some of the bikes they sold, they put a skateboard wheel in front of the chairing so it could be ridden for a short way with the back wheel off the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10611\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-47-36-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?fit=972%2C263&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"972,263\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.47.36 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?fit=972%2C263&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10611 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?resize=800%2C216\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 972px) 100vw, 972px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?resize=600%2C162 600w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?resize=768%2C208 768w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.47.36-PM.png?w=972 972w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.47.36 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"200\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here is the podcast Jack Baker and I did before he died in 2011 (RIP):<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/www.radio4all.net\/files\/NBG@bikeroute.com\/1680-1-s-bjack3-07.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Sometime in the early 1980\u2019s, Smitty and Jack teamed up to form<strong> S&amp;B Recumbents<\/strong>. Under that name, they brought the Hypercycle SWB platform to a much higher spec and much enhanced performance. They even made a line of trikes as far back as the mid 90\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10612\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-03-at-6-51-35-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?fit=964%2C484&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"964,484\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.51.35 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?fit=964%2C484&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10612\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?resize=800%2C402\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 964px) 100vw, 964px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?resize=600%2C301 600w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?resize=768%2C386 768w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-03-at-6.51.35-PM.png?w=964 964w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 6.51.35 PM\" width=\"739\" height=\"371\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">On the East Coast, in the Boston area in the mid 70s, the MIT professor and IHPVA board member, David Gordon Wilson, talked about earlier, had commissioned his students at MIT to build a more aero-dynamic version of the bike he had helped design for\u00a0 <strong>Fred Willkie\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0in Berkeley, CA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14841\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/fredwilkie-green-plane-special-1975\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/FredWilkie-Green-Plane-Special-1975.png?fit=720%2C960&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"720,960\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"FredWilkie Green Plane Special 1975\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/FredWilkie-Green-Plane-Special-1975.png?fit=720%2C960&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14841\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/FredWilkie-Green-Plane-Special-1975.png?resize=500%2C666\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/FredWilkie-Green-Plane-Special-1975.png?w=720&amp;ssl=1 720w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/FredWilkie-Green-Plane-Special-1975.png?resize=450%2C600&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-026.jpg?resize=716%2C951&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"David Gordon Wilson\" width=\"716\" height=\"951\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Soon, he also convinced Bike shop owner <strong>Dick Forrestal<\/strong> and his partner <strong>Harold Maciejewski<\/strong> to build the LWB recumbent bicycle that he called the <strong>Wilson-Wilkie<\/strong> that he had been riding to and from his college, often in a suit, since 1975. Soon the team would take on engineer, <strong>Dick Ryan<\/strong>, who would later keep the Avatar tradition alive with the Ryan Recumbent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Avatar<\/strong> began building bikes in 1977. \u00a0Their first bike came to market in 1980. Each of them was numbered and when they started out, they sold for the unheard of price of $1,699 for a bicycle or $5,896 in 2015 dollars.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-027.jpg?resize=800%2C467&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Avatar recumbents\" width=\"739\" height=\"432\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also in 1977, using Wilson\u2019s power plant, on June 12, the <strong>Gossamer Albatross<\/strong> became the first fully human-powered aircraft to cross the 22 mile English Channel. Based on aeronautical engineer <strong>Dr. Paul B. MacCready\u2019s<\/strong> design, it was pedal piloted by <strong>Bryan Allen<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-028.jpg?resize=800%2C642&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Gossamer Albatross\" width=\"739\" height=\"593\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">By 1982 the Avatar 2000, though slower than the Lightning or Easy Racer, still had gone 52 mph at IHPVA speed championships.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-029.jpg?resize=800%2C352&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Avatar 2000\" width=\"739\" height=\"325\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In 1983 the Avatar even made one of the most widely read pre-internet publications of its day, <i>People<\/i> magazine. At the time of this article, 145 people had become elite Avatar owners.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-030.jpg?resize=598%2C838&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Avatar 2000\" width=\"598\" height=\"838\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-031.jpg?resize=365%2C429&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ryan Recumbent\" width=\"365\" height=\"429\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Avatar lasted until 1989. It was then that Dick Ryan took them over and simplified the design as the <strong>Ryan Recumbent.<\/strong> From 1989\u20131999 his company sold 1200 LWB Vanguards and 250 tandems before he sold to Greg Peak of Longbikes who could not make a go of the bike and has since pretty much returned his energies to the wheelchair business he long had run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Dick talks about all this <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ryanownersclub.com\/history\/ryanhistoryrcn.htm\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ryan also made a beautiful delta trike that the Center for Appropriate Transport people in Eugene, OR, have been selling since Ryan left recumbents in 1999.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-032.jpg?resize=800%2C344&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ryan delta trike\" width=\"739\" height=\"318\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In 2001, I wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Too much FUN. A grown man should not feel compelled to smile so almost uncontrollably so much. Nor should the very act of turning on to a different street be so very much looked forward to. No not at all. If you feel guilty having this kind of fun, you don\u2019t belong on the machine responsible for all this, an adult trike (see \u201cWhy Trike\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Nor are they worthy of your interest if you still feel like riding a bike in comfort should be an outlawed activity. But if trike riding sounds interesting to you; when you finally decide that the joyous experience of three-wheeled performance is something you are worthy of, the Penninger trike may likely have your name on it \u2026<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-033.jpg?resize=800%2C312&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Why trike?\" width=\"739\" height=\"288\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also pretty much when Ryan started up, he convinced <strong>Bob Bryant<\/strong> to begin publishing <i>Recumbent Cyclist News <\/i>(Here is the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/recumbentcyclistnews.ca\/?fbclid=IwAR3cw7_2nHg55nzBGpDs5uCF7TY5qmuXPIG3dRnccVzjwWlnb2Irap8nd5A\">RCN Archive<\/a><\/strong>)<i>.\u00a0<\/i>Important to the fledgling new industry, RCN was a professional publication, RCN not only reviewed recumbents and trikes, but it offered classified ads, letters to the editor, a calendar of recumbent events, a home-builders corner and guest articles. RCN also helped to establish a nomenclature for all the different designs that were starting to come out such as SWB, Short Wheel Base, LWB, Long Wheel Base, USS, Under the Seat Steering, etc. It did this with a new media that had begun to emerge, the internet, pre-web bicycle newsgroups such as <a href=\"https:\/\/groups.google.com\/forum\/#!forum\/rec.bicycles.misc\">rec.bicycles.misc<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/groups.google.com\/forum\/#!forum\/rec.bicycles.rides\">rec.bicycles.rides<\/a> and ba.bicycles, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-6\">\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-034a.jpg?resize=740%2C663&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Recumbent Cycle News -- RCN\" width=\"739\" height=\"662\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-6\">\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-034b.jpg?resize=498%2C653&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Recumbent Cycle News -- RCN\" width=\"498\" height=\"653\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">While recumbents never had their own newsgroup, Martin Krieg did begin,<strong> alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent<\/strong>. It was there that <strong>Bryan Ball<\/strong> and <strong>Jose Hernandez<\/strong>\u00a0posted\u00a0 extensively. So much so, in fact, it gave them the impetus to begin\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bentrideronline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bent Rider OnLine<\/a>, <\/strong>now an important, much referenced recumbent publication. Because\u00a0alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent was an alt newsgroup, however, many ISP\u2019s did not offer it as an option to their new clients, those who paid to engage in on line discussions on what was called the Usenet. It was on the Usenet that customers could enjoy the ad-free and graphics free exchanges that had begun to flood the air waves \u00a0about every topic under the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sheldonbrown.com\/recbikes.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-035.jpg?resize=800%2C744&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Sheldon 'Netiquette' Brown\" width=\"739\" height=\"687\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">While the Avatar was soon busy w\/raising the profile of bicycle from a toy to a serious transportation option Easy Racer and Lightning were still battling it out for top speed honors. Both of them had their sights set on winning the 18,000 dollar DuPont prize for being the first HPV to break 65 mph.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10639\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-05-at-10-46-26-pm\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-10.46.26-PM.png?fit=734%2C508&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"734,508\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 10.46.26 PM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-10.46.26-PM.png?fit=734%2C508&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10639\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-10.46.26-PM.png?resize=734%2C508\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-10.46.26-PM.png?resize=600%2C415 600w, http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-10.46.26-PM.png?w=734 734w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 10.46.26 PM\" width=\"734\" height=\"508\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As they chased, from 1983 to 1991 <strong>Steven Roberts<\/strong> was busy touring the nation on one of three different heavily modified Avatars (<strong>Winnebiko<\/strong> \u2014 1983\u20131985, Winnebiko II \u2014 1986\u20131988 and then the <strong>BEHEMOTH<\/strong>) that were loaded down with electronic research gear.\u00a0He wrote a book called <strong>\u201cComputing Across America, the Adventures of a High Tech Nomad\u201d<\/strong>, that the nation\u2019s press widely celebrated thus raising the recumbent possibility for even more people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It was also during this time, in Berkeley, CA, in 1983, that <strong>Eli Rubin<\/strong> introduced Martin Krieg to the LWB that former Bicycling Magazine tech editor <strong>Jim Langley<\/strong> had built on the other coast in New Hampshire.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Krieg, who had come back from a major head injury to ride an upright bicycle across America in 1979, was overcome with joy. He had thought his days riding quality bikes were finished. Unwilling to torture himself anymore on bikes with down turned handlebars, he had become a short distance 3-speed rider. He didn\u2019t know there were any options to the road and touring bikes that appeared in the stores and bike magazines of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10628\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 428px;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10628\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/screen-shot-2016-05-05-at-11-36-44-am\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-11.36.44-AM.png?fit=650%2C473&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"650,473\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 11.36.44 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-11.36.44-AM.png?fit=650%2C473&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-10628 \" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-11.36.44-AM.png?resize=650%2C473\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-11.36.44-AM.png?resize=600%2C437 600w, http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-05-at-11.36.44-AM.png?w=650 650w\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 11.36.44 AM\" width=\"418\" height=\"304\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ski poles supported the seat, a reconverted back pack, that you see on the bike here.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">He so much wanted everyone to know about the recumbent that in the Fall of 1985 he began organizing a ride across the U.S. for the <strong>National Head Injury Foundation<\/strong>. Unaware of Steve Roberts, he was going to do it on Eli\u2019s bent and pull the huge cargo trailer at left. It would be supported by the VW bus you also see here,<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Having already garnered support from the mountaineering industry, he went to the second ever <strong>Interbike<\/strong> in <strong>Long Beach<\/strong> hoping to pick up a few bicycle sponsors. Well as luck would have it, <strong>Linear Recumbent<\/strong> who had exhibited at the first 1984 Interbike held in Reno, was joined by a breathtakingly beautiful recumbent called the <strong>Via<\/strong> made out of Reynolds 531 steel tubing.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure>\n<div id=\"attachment_10629\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10629\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?fit=831%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"831,640\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1462449172&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?fit=831%2C640&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-10629 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?resize=800%2C616\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 831px) 100vw, 831px\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?resize=600%2C462 600w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?resize=768%2C591 768w, http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf.jpg?w=831 831w\" alt=\"d2e36246-df84-4c64-b8cb-cfdecb655fdf\" width=\"739\" height=\"569\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Via Recumbent in 2016 at the UC Davis Arboretum<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The excitement Krieg felt for this bike was felt by its builder, <strong>Mark Hajek<\/strong>. Mark had a background in building race cars and had successfully fabricated a LWB, under-seat-steered recumbent that caught the attention of many of the show\u2019s attendees. The bikes lines and its welds were all impeccable. If that were not enough, in between the show and Krieg\u2019s scheduled start for the following April, he also built a fiberglass cone shaped trailer for Krieg to pull.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-042.jpg?resize=800%2C366&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Martin Krieg\" width=\"739\" height=\"338\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mark Hajek running next to Krieg on the Via in a Houston, TX parking lot.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In the end, Krieg\u2019s ride was a huge media sensation and <strong>reached 40 million people<\/strong>. While Krieg was riding what was arguably the most sophisticated street-legal bicycle on the planet, the <strong>Via Recumbent<\/strong> across the USA in <strong>1986<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular tiled-gallery-unresized\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.bikeroute.com\\\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\\\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\\\/&quot;,&quot;likes_blog_id&quot;:58030937}' itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\" > <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 1100px; height: 745px;\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-original-height=\"745\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 674px; height: 745px;\" data-original-width=\"674\" data-original-height=\"745\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-06-at-12-05-16-am\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"670\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"741\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10654\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.16-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"506,559\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.16 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.16-AM.png?fit=506%2C559&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.16-AM.png?fit=506%2C559&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.16-AM.png?w=670&#038;h=741&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"670\" height=\"741\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"670\" data-original-height=\"741\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.16 AM\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.16 AM\" style=\"width: 670px; height: 741px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 426px; height: 745px;\" data-original-width=\"426\" data-original-height=\"745\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-06-at-12-05-44-am\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"422\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"321\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10655\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"736,560\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.44 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png?fit=600%2C457&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png?fit=736%2C560&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png?w=422&#038;h=321&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png?w=736&amp;ssl=1 736w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.05.44-AM.png?resize=600%2C457&amp;ssl=1 600w\" width=\"422\" height=\"321\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"422\" data-original-height=\"321\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.44 AM\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.05.44 AM\" style=\"width: 422px; height: 321px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-06-at-12-06-35-am\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"422\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"416\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10656\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.06.35-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"563,555\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.06.35 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.06.35-AM.png?fit=563%2C555&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.06.35-AM.png?fit=563%2C555&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.06.35-AM.png?w=422&#038;h=416&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"422\" height=\"416\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"422\" data-original-height=\"416\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.06.35 AM\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.06.35 AM\" style=\"width: 422px; height: 416px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 1100px; height: 562px;\" data-original-width=\"1100\" data-original-height=\"562\" > <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 479px; height: 562px;\" data-original-width=\"479\" data-original-height=\"562\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-06-at-12-07-03-am\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"475\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"558\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10657\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.03-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"404,475\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.03 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.03-AM.png?fit=404%2C475&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.03-AM.png?fit=404%2C475&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.03-AM.png?w=475&#038;h=558&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"475\" height=\"558\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"475\" data-original-height=\"558\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.03 AM\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.03 AM\" style=\"width: 475px; height: 558px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 621px; height: 562px;\" data-original-width=\"621\" data-original-height=\"562\" > <div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\" itemprop=\"associatedMedia\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/screen-shot-2016-05-06-at-12-07-24-am\/\" border=\"0\" itemprop=\"url\"> <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"617\"> <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"558\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"10658\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.24-AM.png\" data-orig-size=\"548,496\" data-comments-opened=\"\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.24 AM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.24-AM.png?fit=548%2C496&#038;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.24-AM.png?fit=548%2C496&#038;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Screen-Shot-2016-05-06-at-12.07.24-AM.png?w=617&#038;h=558&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"617\" height=\"558\" loading=\"lazy\" data-original-width=\"617\" data-original-height=\"558\" itemprop=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/image\" title=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.24 AM\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.07.24 AM\" style=\"width: 617px; height: 558px;\" \/> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <!-- close group --> <\/div> <!-- close row --> <\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">While Krieg was busy crossing the USA, Freddy<strong> Markham<\/strong>, the Olympic cyclist who would go on to set 20 World Records was all the news when on little known Hwy 305 off the Loneliest Hwy in America, in Battle Mountain, NV, he went 65 mph in the Easy Racer Gold Rush. The course he and Gardner Martin chose has gone on to become the home of the World HPV Championships. Set at 4500 feet where the air is slightly easier to push through and with a drop of 2\/3 of 1% or about 30 feet per mile, theirs was a perfect course. So much so that the Gold Rush is now in the Smithsonian.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-048.jpg?resize=800%2C340&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Easy Race Gold Rush\" width=\"739\" height=\"314\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here is the two part podcast Freddy and I did:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/nbg.bikeroute.com\/Podcasts\/Freddy1of2.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/nbg.bikeroute.com\/Podcasts\/FreddyPart2.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Krieg felt that with all the attention recumbents were getting, he could use that energy to help him build a coast to coast bicycle highway as he also got them more known about as well as accepted. Toward that end he played a big part in building an industry to support his vision. He first attempted, from 1987 to 1994, to legitimize recumbents with display advertising in his Cycle America Regional Directories.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-049.jpg?resize=800%2C451&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Cycle America Regional Directories\" width=\"739\" height=\"417\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Then when the web came about Using <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/\">BikeRoute.com<\/a> as a portal, by building web sites, he helped to legitimize the operations of well over a hundred different small recumbent builders as well as businesses that sold them, many of which are still in business today.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-050.jpg?resize=800%2C477&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"International Bike Route Directory\" width=\"739\" height=\"441\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/awake-again-all-way-back-from\/id493218199?mt=11\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-051.jpg?resize=246%2C363&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"246\" height=\"363\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In 1994, Krieg\u2019s story finally got published as a hard back book, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/awake-again-all-way-back-from\/id493218199?mt=11\">\u201cAwake Again, all the way back from head injury.\u201d<\/a><\/strong> After a two year foray into Hollywood where he and his publisher were considering TV movie deals for his story, his publisher, a billionaire named Waymen Spence, a man who was carving a name for himself in the bike industry with the Spenco line of products, disappeared from scene. The company went silent. Krieg\u2019s phone calls and emails went unanswered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What was odd was that they were also planning a coast to coast bicycle author tour. Krieg would only find out why years later the communication had ceased. His publisher had taken his life.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10712\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?fit=960%2C960&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"960,960\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1463501642&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?fit=960%2C960&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-10712 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?resize=404%2C404\" alt=\"12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n\" width=\"404\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?w=960&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/12541114_1659940230960349_7995865588587140441_n.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em><strong>I<\/strong>\u2019ve been familiar with <a class=\"profileLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/awakeagainmartin\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/user.php?id=100008331637368&amp;extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A7932073179%7D\">Martin Krieg<\/a>&#8216;s amazing story for years. I\u2019ve also been aware of \u201c<strong>Awake Again\u201d,<\/strong> the book Martin wrote to share his story and had made a number of mental notes to myself to read it sometime. Then, I guess life happened and I just kept putting it off.\u00a0<\/em>Well, I finally read it and frankly, I\u2019m kicking myself in the rear for not reading it earlier. Soon after reading the last page, I had conflicting emotions. A part of me wanted to encourage others to read this extraordinary story and a big part of me was worried that my words would not do the book justice. But the story in itself helped me find the courage I needed to risk sharing my thoughts.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">You see, this book is not just about Martin\u2019s horrific ordeal and his journey back to physical and mental health. It is not just about a guy who, in spite of incredible obstacles, managed to bike across the USA twice! Sure, all of that is a big part of the story but there so much more. This is about Martin\u2019s journey into himself. It is a story that gives the reader so many insights about the things that are really important in life.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">It is a story about learning about the value of examining our motives, facing our fears, understanding our most inner feelings and discovering so many hidden truths that can set any of us free and also put us on a path to becoming the person that we were intended to be. In this book, Martin candidly reveals his weaknesses and fears. In so doing, we not only come in touch with Martin\u2019s extraordinary strengths but also we get a better understanding of that which is essential for us to be strong in ourselves so that we can help others and add a whole new dimension of meaning to our lives.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Jose Hernandez<br \/>\nWritten Feb 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><em>Co-founder <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bentrideronline.com\/\">Bent \u00a0Rider OnLine<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-052.jpg?resize=690%2C734&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Waymen Spence\" width=\"690\" height=\"734\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Not knowing what had happened to his once very bright future, he decided to use his fleeting fame on the recumbent bicycle industry. In fact it was his review of the BikeE that he built his story into, that helped that bike gain acceptance in regular bike shops. The BikeE people circulated Krieg\u2019s review far and wide.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-053.jpg?resize=800%2C341&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"BikeE\" width=\"739\" height=\"315\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Well it\u2019s almost 30 years since Krieg\u2019s recumbent ride across America and he feels more hopeful than ever. He thinks we are now on what many feel is the precipice that will steer both the recumbent and the NBG into the mainstream.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-054.jpg?resize=800%2C332&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"National Bike Route\" width=\"739\" height=\"307\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Example pioneering businesses some of which continue to support the National Bicycle Greenway vision besides <strong>Lightning<\/strong>, <strong>Linear<\/strong>, <strong>Angle Lake Cyclery<\/strong>, <strong>Bicycle Man<\/strong>, <strong>Bilenky Cycle Works<\/strong>, <strong>Rans<\/strong> and <strong>Recumbent Bike Riders<\/strong> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/kirksbikeshop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kirk\u2019s Bike Shop<\/a><\/strong> in Ramona, CA. In fact, more than just one of the first bike shops in America to stock recumbents, owner Kirk Newell was one of America\u2019s first IHPVA racers. With <strong>The Other Woman<\/strong>, a tadpole trike, covered by a shell that consisted of foam panels and aluminum strapping with fiberglass folded over, he personally pedaled to 40 mph in 1981 at the <strong>Pomona Fairgrounds<\/strong> in the 200 meter pursuit.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-055.jpg?resize=800%2C256&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kirk's Bike Shop, The Other Woman\" width=\"739\" height=\"237\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With a new trike body patterned as much as possible after the Vector that had come to dominate HPV racing, and using the mold for a sailplane canopy, along with other improvements such as chrome moly tubing, he hit 47 mph the following year. Out of the 30 who had entered the competition, he took 6th place.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-056.jpg?resize=800%2C362&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kirk's Bike Shop, The Other Woman\" width=\"739\" height=\"334\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-057.jpg?resize=800%2C559&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kirk's Bike Shop, The Other Woman\" width=\"739\" height=\"517\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Kirk\u2019s machine was so much like a real bike, as it could do more than just go straight ahead, that he was convinced to bring it out of retirement for a criterium race. As such in 1984 at the <strong>La Jolla Criterium<\/strong>, the Cat 1 racer who had never ridden Kirk\u2019s trike before, took a close second behind the feared <strong>Fast Freddy Markham<\/strong>. And this was in a race that included <strong>Greg Johnson<\/strong>, the man who was once ahead of the Vector in a race, only to drop out due to a lost chain. The last photo shows Greg Johnson, on his supine bicycle leading the Vector.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-058.jpg?resize=800%2C341&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Kirk's Bike Shop, The Other Woman\" width=\"739\" height=\"315\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ever since they were re-introduced, as all this activity was taking place, recumbents long have fought to gain acceptance by the upright crowd. One development that stands out as an icebreaker in this regard is the <strong>Bilenky Viewpoint<\/strong>, made by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bilenky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilenky Cycle Works<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-059.jpg?resize=800%2C315&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Bilenky Viewpoint\" width=\"739\" height=\"291\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-060.jpg?resize=316%2C316&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stephen Bilenky\" width=\"316\" height=\"316\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Before highly respected frame builder, <strong>Stephen Bilenky<\/strong>, at left here, took it on in the mid 90s, it was called the Counterpoint Conveyance and <strong>Angle Lake Cyclery<\/strong> in Seattle, WA, one of America\u2019s first bent dealers, had an exclusive on it. It was originally designed by a musician named, <strong>Jim Weaver<\/strong>. By the time Bilenky brought it to market, it had been tweaked and reinforced in many different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What makes Bilenky\u2019s Viewpoint important, is the fact that it had the effect of smoothing out the tension that existed between the two worlds. It showed that off the race track and in the real world that recumbents were serious bikes; that they were genuine machines to be taken seriously. And that biking for performance could be done comfortably.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A lot of bents came and went along the way. Many entered the marketplace and stayed too!<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-062.jpg?resize=190%2C190&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Rob Gentry\" width=\"190\" height=\"190\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here for example, are the bikes <strong>Rob Gentry<\/strong> has sold at <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/rbr.info\/\">Recumbent Bike Riders<\/a><\/strong> in State College, PA:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Radius, Trimuter, Calfee, Cannondale, Reynold\u2019s Weld Labs, Haluzak, Vision, Linear, SideWinder, Optima, Burley, BikeE, Trisled, Sun, Cycle Genius, KMX, Challenge, Longbikes, Lightfoot, Volae, HP Velotechnik, Hase, RANS, Easy Racers, Lightning Cycle, Greenspeed, AZUB, ICE, Catrike, TerraTrike, Performer, MetaBikes, Trident<\/strong> and <strong>Bacchetta<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And here is Rob up close and personal \u2013<\/span><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/embed\/RBRGentryPodcast\" width=\"500\" height=\"140\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Larry Black<\/strong> is also one of the original recumbent dealers in America with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bike123.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mt. Airy Bicycles and College Park Bikes\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>in the Washington, DC, area. When we did his web site for him, he wanted a simple, catchy name back when stuff like that was available. He chose <a href=\"http:\/\/bike123.com\/\">bike123.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Like myself, Larry also rides a HiWheel bike.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-063.jpg?resize=800%2C219&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Larry Black\" width=\"739\" height=\"202\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here is video of the spectacular crash he did on one in the Fall of 2015 at a Hiwheel race in Frederick, MD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KaqASTLbvN0?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;fs=1&amp;autohide=2&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;wmode=transparent\" width=\"800\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<figure><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-thumbnail pull-right alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lightningbikes.com\/riders\/martin-krieg\/recumbent-history\/img\/history-066.jpg?resize=393%2C568&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Peter Stull\" width=\"393\" height=\"568\" \/><\/span><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Peter Stull at the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bicycleman.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bicycle Man<\/a><\/strong>, whose web page we got on line in 1996, has been at it so long that from 2003 on he was the BikeE parts go to guy after they shut down their operation. He also has the only bent shop so huge, it is visible from the moon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">You don\u2019t want to miss the fun podcast he and I did<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">or the Bents at his<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/u\/0\/collection\/AUv1VB\">Recumbent History Museum!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-4by3\">\n<div class=\"undefined well container-fluid playa\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"http:\/\/www.radio4all.net\/files\/NBG@bikeroute.com\/1680-1-BicycleMan2-06-06.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Modern Recumbent History Sponsors<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Lightning Cycle Dynamics<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Kirk\u2019s Bike<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Sportaid<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Linear Recumbent Bicycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Bilenky Cycle Works<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Bicycle Man LLC<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">RBR Recumbent Bike Riders<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Rhoades Car<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Angle Lake Cyclery<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Rans<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Denver Recumbent<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Easy Street Recumbent<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Easy Racer<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Rose City Recumbent<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Bike Friday<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Cruzbike<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Used Bike Shop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">LaBent by LaDue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mt Airy Bicycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">College Park Bicycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Back Country Recumbent Cycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Trident Trikes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Because Charles Mochet\u2019s recumbent bicycle, piloted by second rate racer, Francis Faure, was far outpacing the competition, \u00a0rewriting the bicycle&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/history-of-the-modern-day-recumbent\/\">read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10594","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P3VuuR-2KS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17721,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/recumbent-test\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":0},"title":"recumbent test","author":"awakeagainmartin@gmail.com","date":"November 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8811,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/bent-by-ladue-recumbent-power-in-the-heartland-of-the-usa\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":1},"title":"LaBent by LaDue &#8211; Recumbent Power in the Heartland of the USA","author":"awakeagainmartin@gmail.com","date":"December 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"We went to, of all places, Lincoln, Nebraska, \u00a0to talk with, Denny LaDue, an engineer\/machinist \u00a0who has been building and selling recumbent bicycles for over two decades.\u00a0Among a lot of other exciting things, we learned that he sells plans for a delta trike and for a for a recumbent LWB\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Screen-shot-2015-09-11-at-1.25.03-PM.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1560,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/mayors-ride-bios-tom-ayres-phd\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":2},"title":"Mayors&#8217; Ride Bios: Tom Ayres, PhD","author":"Lori Yung","date":"October 31, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Which Relay link do you want to ride? Berkeley to Oakland How you found us From Martin Krieg Why you want to do this ride Any good-hearted mass cycling promotional action deserves support Tell us about your touring experience- if little or none, indicate many miles have you ridden over\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Tom Ayers*","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/bio-tom-ayers.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7558,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/what-do-recumbents-have-to-do-with-hiwheel-cycling-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":3},"title":"What do Recumbents Have to do with HiWheel Cycling?","author":"awakeagainmartin@gmail.com","date":"December 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 As everyone soon began queuing up to leave, I said to those within earshot, \u201cYeah, here is where it gets interesting. I remember the last time I rode with Steve eleven years ago. All the locals out there in DC were all cheering him on. They weren\u2019t looking at\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5230,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/mayors-ride-bios-joe-richey\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":4},"title":"Mayors&#8217; Ride Bios: Joe Richey","author":"Lori Yung","date":"November 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Which Relay link do you want to ride? LA to SF How you found us I've been there before.. Rode from New Mexico to DC for NBG in 2000. Why you want to do this ride In need for another summer biking adventure Your touring experience Cycle America 2000\u00a0from Shiprock\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Joe Richey * (Cycle America 2000 TransAm vet)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/bio-joe-richey.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7628,"url":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/nbg-accomplishments\/","url_meta":{"origin":10594,"position":5},"title":"NBG Accomplishments","author":"awakeagainmartin@gmail.com","date":"January 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"What we've done to build a consciousness for the\u00a0National Bicycle Greenway. As of 2013, now that we have a map, we are shifting to the level that will get our route known about as well as actualized. 2013 - Complete San Francisco\u00a0to Washington, DC \u00a0National Bicycle Greenway\u00a0map - Build new\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/41864068-Picture_11.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/41864068-Picture_11.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/41864068-Picture_11.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10594"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15191,"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10594\/revisions\/15191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bikeroute.com\/NationalBicycleGreenwayNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}