TRIKE - HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs 26 Enduro

Living in a dirt and mountain bike paradise I decided to get one of the best 3-wheeled recumbent bikes (trike) made, the HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs 26 Enduro.  I have no intention of riding the trike on the open road.  Given the mountainous and rough off-road / dirt / gravel terrain I opted for the deep knobby tires.  The `Scorp' has incredible suspension.  Combine the suspension with the knobby tires and there isn't much that this machine can't cover.  

Some pics and description of how I have the `Scorp' set up.

Bike full setup

Note the inverted bullhorn on the right handlebar.  Battery operated.  Very loud `siren' function deters dogs and critters.  Looks dorky until you find yourself being chased by one or more farm dogs.  Better than any device I've ever used.  

Rather than install a metal frame over the rear wheel to carry gear I use two Fastback Norback Flash frame backs under the bike frame.  One pack (rear) for tubes and other pack (front) for tools, etc.  

I mounted a bright white flashing strobe light on the left dropout (Planet Bike).

I mounted a Dinotte Quad Red taillight behind the carbon fiber hard shell seat.

In front I attached a Bacchetta One Armed Bandit light mount.  To the OAB I attached another Planet Bike strobe light. I also attached a KOM Elemnt Bolt mount.  

Functional and more than adequate

No judgments made regarding life in a motorhome or RV. 

My wife and I are fortunate to live in relative comfort and opportunity in a world beset with poverty, violence and misery. One modest home in a sparsely populated location in central Arizona is literal luxury.

Cycling has never been a form of recreation for me. Instead it has served as a method to maintain physical and emotional health while providing me with a continuing performance challenge. I don't `ride'. I `train'. 

I've realized over the many years of running (marathons) and cycling that I simply don't enjoy doing either for `pleasure.' They aren't motivators for that. I like doing cycling events as a personal challenge, rather than as a comparative competition. 

I'm fortunate to have a resting heart rate of 43, perfect blood pressure, two fake knees, multiple dental implants, cataract surgery that returned me to almost 20/20 vision and 75 years of not uneventful living behind me. That being said I also realize that without the physical aspect of challenging cycling ... I lack the ability to just sit, watch or be a spectator. I'm not that good `from the neck up'. 

I purchased a Ford Transit Connect van in 2017. I use it for daily transportation and as an enclosed camper when I travel to train. 

Eschewing the grim hours in my shed on the trainer during cold and/or inclement weather I recently purchased a trike. I can't fit the trike and a 2 wheel bent in my van and still have room enough to sleep when camping. (I won't put the bikes on an external rack when traveling due to past experience with theft). 

I recently bought a humble 4' x 6' enclosed trailer. Now, when I travel to train I can put the bike(s) and gear in the trailer and `live/sleep' in the van. 

Best of both worlds while accommodating my values.

Weight Loss and fat v. fat free mass measurement

In the weight loss process I have to be careful to not just `lose' weight. Most, if not all, of the riding I'll be doing on the race in June should be done at an aerobic pace, i.e., with HR no greater than 110 unless short steep inclines. 860 miles with 4.5 hours of sleep over 65 hours ... I couldn't (and I don't know of anyone who could) do this at a racing / anaerobic pace.

Aerobic work uses mostly fat, some carbs and shouldn't use glycogen. If I got myself down to a `lowest' goal (prob 165) I'd have fewer than 7% fat weight. That'd be great on the steep inclines but I'd have a very touch and go nutrition and hydration process while riding. Might could also just do me in. Not sure.

I'm scheduled to get a Bodpod assessment this Friday.

http://www.lifemeasurement.com/applications/athleticsAppBodpod

The assessment will tell me my fat vs fat-free mass numbers. That will then help me target a particular weight loss goal that won't be too lean nor too fat. Part of the process of careful preparation.

The whole thing costs $65 and takes less than 20 minutes. Should be interesting.

Bacchetta Pelso-Brevet: My Setup - Sept 2021

 

Cycliq Front Camera and Planet Bike 650 flashing light

Ventisit seat pad

Under the seat knife - desert critters

FastBack Pack zip tied to Kent Polk Carbon Fiber Hard Shell Seat 

Dinotte Quad RED Taillight and Cycliq Rear Camera

Planet Bike Strobe Light

PVC pipe and Zefal mirror

AeroPod Opposing Force Power Meter Wahoo Elemnt Bolt computer SRAM TT levers

Hockey Arm Pad (while torn rotator cuff heals ... not really much protection, frankly)

Bacchetta CA-2 - Standard Set Up

Three months ago I had rotator cuff surgery.  I'm cleared to do outdoor training at this point.  Most of my other bents have a tiller, mini bullhorn bars, levers and a Kent Polk Rail Gun seat.  The steeply reclined (4%) Rail Gun seat is ideal for most riding.  And I much prefer it over the Standard set up.  

In the meantime I am getting my bike handling skills back up to speed on mostly flat(ish) terrain with very minimal vehicular traffic.  The less steep recline (12-17%) adds stability at low speeds.  If I become unbalanced for some reason I can just throw a leg out to stay upright.  

I `re-converted' my CA-2 back to the standard set up, with a few minor bells and whistles for convenience.  Below find many pics.

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UPDATE: (Sep 12) I just swapped out the standard Bacchetta Carbon Fiber Hardshell Seat for the Kent Polk Rail Gun seat.  The Bacchetta CFHS seat has an upcurve at the bottom that a) irritates the gluteus maximus muscle, the iliotibial tract and the biceps femoris muscle, b) contributes to what I remember as `recumbutt'.  

With the Rail Gun seat I kept the angle of recline the same as with the Bacchetta CFHS seat, i.e., 18%. 

A much more comfortable ride.  And this continues to allow me the stability of `throwing a leg out' if there is some instability.