Laidback Bike Report

The Laidback Bike Report is about people. Bent riders ride interesting bikes, go to interesting places and have interesting stories. That's the basis of this monthly podcast which is the audio version of our YouTube webcasts found here: https://goo.gl/CHOOgX. Sure, we'll talk about products and have tips and tricks for you but each month our show is built around an interview. We'll continue to get the personal side from folks adventure riding around the world. We will delve into the minds of industry leaders, shop owners, and event organizers who are hoping to attract your attention with their wares. We'll get them to turn their cameras around and show us their surroundings, facilities, or latest prototype.This is how we hope to make our show worthy of your precious time.We do this broadcast live so that you can have your comments made and questions answered on the spot. This is an interactive endeavor and is not complete without audience participation. Please join us every month as we bring you our very best attempt at the Laidback Bike Report

Duo Quest Tandem Velomobile

After catching up on this week's news we have Jon Hodkin on to play his tuba and share his plans for his next American Tour. Next up is Denez Bodennec who joins us from France with his new build of a side by side tandem velomobile called the Duo Quest. Then we greet Patrick Selwood from ICE Trikes who talks to us about the Cornwall based company's current status while participating in our AMA (ask me anything) session. Finally, Larry Varney reviews the Lumos helmet for those looking for the l...

04-21
01:18:02

AZUB Recumbents-Founders Tell the Story!

This year is the 25th Anniversary of one of the most highly respected recumbent manufacturers in the world. This past autumn AZUB Recumbents held a successful celebration event in the Czech Republic right in their home city, Uhersky Brod. Since the excitement has by now calmed down we thought it was a perfect time to sit down with the founders. CEO Aleš Zemánek shares some great stories of the origin of the company, its guiding philosophy, the challenges they experienced over the years and wh...

12-15
01:30:02

Tilt4orce Velocar-The All Weather Trike!

Wally Swarchuk took 16 years to design and build his dream . This retired geography teacher from Canada began with no skills or experience in building bikes. He taught himself to weld and experimented with many prototypes before coming up with his current Tilt4orce Velocar. We hear his incredible story and then have our old friend Dr. Craig Cornelius evaluate this project using his many years of experience building his own tilting trikes. Finally, our own bent triathlete Larry Seidman ...

11-03
01:37:21

Recumbent Trikes Unchained-The CIXI E-Assist System Changes Everything!

Nothing short of a revolution in electric assisted trikes is on the way before the end of 2025! We've talked about the French CIXI system in the past (most recently in our interview with their engineers at Spezi 2025) but now they are being implemented on trikes from ICE, HASE and maybe more. These trikes will have no chain, chainrings, chain tubes, idler wheels, derailleurs, cassettes, shifters or shifter cables. Let that sink in... On this webcast we interview Pierre Francis from CIXI. He ...

08-18
01:45:32

The Best Gear Hub for your Trike!

We get a serious evaluation of the top two internal gear hubs for your trike. Mel from RecumbentPDX breaks it all down comparing the Rohloff and the new 3 X 3. Then our German correspondent Jascha Buettler takes us to Dronten in the Netherlands for the 25th anniversary celebration of Velomobiel.nl. Our pal Marshall Randall and wife Kelle are the new owners of Recumbent Cycle-Con. They are with us to share the exciting details of next year's event. Finally, Larry Varney returns with a...

07-14
01:36:43

Performer Cycles and Bacchetta Bikes-George Chen and Dana Lieberman!

Many of the frames for our bents are manufactured in Taiwan. Around the world many recumbent brands have trusted George Chen and Performer Cycles to provide this metal or carbon fiber skeleton for their products for over 25 years. He also sells his own brand of bikes and trikes to markets globally. We sat down with George to learn more about the history and philosophy of his company, his designs and video of production from inside his factory. We also speak to our pal Dana Lieberman owner of...

06-23
01:30:29

Veemo-Budget minded E-Velomobile!

From Vancouver, British Columbia we take a close look at the Veemo. This reasonably priced light electric vehicle is now backed by the large mobility company Envo who promise to bring this rider and climate friendly transportation to North America and the world. They are in it for the long haul. Spezi 2025 is almost here so we sit down with the promoters to see what to expect this year at the world's largest recumbent event. Our Swiss pal David Brandenberger is getting ready to continue his...

04-07
01:56:23

Adaptive Adventures Tour and New Trike Motor from the UK!

Adaptive Adventures is an organization that provides freedom through mobility. They travel around the USA and beyond to serve thousands of disabled adults and children with challenge events in water sports, snow events and cycling. We visited them at their Colorado headquarters in January to learn more about how their recumbent cycling programs benefit people of all ages. Next we meet Alex Pargeter the founder of Gride Solutions. They are a UK startup providing a new complete motor system fo...

03-10
01:34:57

Buying and Maintaining a Safe E-Assist for your Trike!

We take the show on the road to Colorado to visit Electric Bike Outfitters in Denver. CEO Jason Livingston gives a tour of his facility then begins a detailed tear down of a hub and a mid-drive motor. We get to see what's inside each type of e-assist and Jason shows us how to properly lubricate and maintain each for long term use. With e-assist safety high on everyone's mind right now he shows us how EBO's batteries and motors are triple checked and gives us advice on how to make sure your bu...

02-03
01:39:54

2 Wheel Bent Comeback with the Italian Designed Slyway!

We've lamented the decline of the 2 wheeled recumbent bike over the last number of years on this webcast. The Cruzbike has been an exception and more recently Dana Lieberman's Bacchetta has reappeared on the scene. Today we talk to Stefano Bonazzoli in Italy where he is now promoting his beautifully designed Slyway Ultra carbon fiber bike. He tells us all about the 3 flexible versions of the bike and its design history. Lastly, Stefano shares his very creative ideas about how to elevate recum...

02-03
01:53:38

From Children's Shows to Trike Videos-Geoff Adams

Though he's now retired, Geoff Adams spent his professional career creating music and video for many children's shows you may remember. Being an avid recumbent rider since the 1990s he also brings those amazing talents to bear on the laidback world he loves. From lowracers to trikes we discuss it all with Geoff and share the laughs and lighthearted stories from 4 of his incredible bent videos. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:55 What’s on Today’s Show 00:01:30 Panel Introduction 00:03:...

12-02
01:03:08

Cycle-Con 2024-Highlights From Each Booth!

Always one of our more popular webcasts! We have our panel of Cycle-Con 2024 attending experts share what they consider to be the highlights from each exhibitor at the event. Joining me will be Tray Bourgoyne, Larry Seidman, Larry Varney, and Kelvin Clark from Angletech. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 What’s on Today’s Show 00:01:15 Panel Introduction 00:03:30 Sponsor Introduction 00:05:40 Cycle-Con 2024 Expert Panel Review of Exhibitors 01:48:30 Viewer Submissio...

09-30
01:56:08

Why Off Road Bent Riding Might be for You!

We have two bent riders who take off roading to a more comfortable place. Hezi Yismach is an Israeli bike designer and builder with a penchant for innovation. Richard Ehrlich rides his custom built off road bents where even mountain bikes are challenged. This Canadian adventure rider is even competitive in many of the racing events he enters. We will learn about these amazing guys and then engage our panel in a discussion of bikes, trikes and the future of recumbent off road riding. The Icar...

08-19
01:50:10

Bents Battle for Sun Trip 2024 Victory-Jack Butler Interview!

A solar panel above and a small electric motor on the wheel of his AZUB Six bike was all the assistance Jack Butler needed to become this year's Sun Trip Champion. The Englishman battled former champ Frances Jean-Marc Dubouloz who rode a WAW velomobile on a fiercely contested route from Lyon, France to the Sahara Desert in Morocco and back. Jack tells us all about his adventure racing history, the two wheeled bent he now loves and the highlights of this year's nip and tuck race to the finish ...

07-08
01:52:19

Tamara Ivancova-Designing Tomorrow's Transportation!

The Elecy is a futuristic replacement for your current car. It uses sustainable materials with a modular design created to get you and a small passenger around town. This is all the brainchild of Tamara Ivancova an ambitious young aeronautical engineer from the UK who shares the details of her project and her plan to take her company called Amara Automotive to the next level. Do you ride your bent alone or with a group? Recumbent YouTuber Sylvia Halpern joins me to talk about some of the not...

06-10
01:59:14

The New Face of European Velomobiles in America-Northland Velo!

Buying a European velomobile in America has been fraught with poor selection/availability, shipping disasters and minimal expert guidance. Ben Parke has worked very hard over the last year to change all that with his new Minnesota dealership called Northland Velo. Ben's close business connection with Romanian based Velomobile World is bringing a wide range of models to his customers at discounted prices. We talk to Ben about the "shipping container load" quantities he is bringing in which he ...

04-14
01:35:40

Catrike Factory Tour Event 2024-Trikes Made in the USA!

Florida in February is not a bad place to visit! When general manager Mark Egeland invited us to tour the factory floor of Catrike in Orlando last fall at Cycle-Con we jumped at the opportunity. Tray and I were given free range to roam the facility and interview anyone we wished. This was during their "Factory Event" so we got to see lots of Catrike owners and hear from Founder Paulo Camasmie as well. We follow the progress a new trike would take right down the production line from welding to...

03-11
01:36:36

Velomobile World Factory Tour/Cruzbike Museum and More!-Larry Oslund

Larry Oslund joins us from his Hilton Head headquarters to talk about his recent trip to Romania and his video tour of the Velomobile World factory. He takes us all around the facility then shows us a close up view as his personal Bülk is being built on the floor. Larry is now a Velomobile World dealer and is offering velos along side Cruzbikes for test rides and sales. Another of Larry's passions is ultra racing. We talk about his personal accomplishments and his new forays into resurr...

02-05
01:34:21

Velomtek Now in USA and Carbontrike Back in Business!

Manufactured in Montreal the VT1 velomobile from Velomtek is in production and is now available to buyers in the USA. CEO Francois Garneau gives us a close up look at this amazing vehicle then shares the details of their process for purchasing via pickup or delivery. Lars Viebke started Carbontrike in Sweden years ago before entering into a collaboration with Bacchetta in 2018. Fast forward past Bacchetta's sale and split up into bike and trike business, covid complications and visa nightmar...

01-08
02:07:16

Rotovelo Across Australia-Mark Doble

Aussie Mark Doble read on BROL that some American velonauts were planning on being the first to cross Australia in a velomobile. This got his competitive and patriotic juices flowing and he thought "Screw you Yanks you'll not be the first to do this in my country!!" So the planning began for an epic crossing of the continent "down under" in the Australian built Rotovelo. Next, our own Tray Bourgoyne and wife Lisa have been working hard on an in depth review of the just released new tri...

12-04
01:52:40

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