The cyclist with the red light is Joachim with his selfbuilt East Frisian agricultural machinery ;-D I also cycle with light during the day, because couch cyclists are often ignored by other road users :-|
What happens when climbing a mountain? Legs are already so don't press on the pedal. Than the effort of feet is compensated? I hope you're still not tired of my questions.
I am glad about your questions, dear Olga. With the couch I can not put my own weight strength on the pedal. Big strength I can produce by pressing the body against the seat shell. The front-sided femoral muscles are thereby stronger used than with the road bike. After the 200 km brevet I had strong muscle soreness in the upper thighs :-) To climb mountains with the couch as fast as with my road bike, I will need some extra muscles. I will train to get the additional muscles! :-))) Better than with strength, it is to climb mountains with a higher step frequency. To be able to turn the crank faster, you need a lower translation than with the road bike. Therefore, the gearshift should have a bigger spread of translation.
Thanks dear Lara! I have not shot the photo while cycling. I have stopped on the couch recumbently :-) The mirrors of the couch are convex to show a big view area. Portraits look because of the fish-eye effect like comic figures. Nose and head become too big, the rest of the body is too small. In the mirror my simple camera and me are visible. In reality, of course, I look a lot, much, much more nicely ;-D
Bicycle races and marathons up to a little more than 200 kms are organized by cycling associations. The associations belong via national unions (BDR in Germany) to the world federation cyclists UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). The UCI has regulated very strongly, how bicycles must be built up. Only diamond frames are allowed. Thus, e.g., recumbent bikes are not permitted! So you don’t see recumbent bikes at events, that are organized by associations :-| Marathons with distances from 200 to 1400 kms are in Germany organized bei Audax Randonneurs Allemagne (ARA). The randonneurs don’t belong to the world federation UCI. The world federation of the randonneurs is Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM). For the RM apply the rules of Audax Club Parisien (ACP). By this rules are all vehicles allowed, that are powered by human muscles. That is the reason, why you see recumbent bikes only at events that are organized by randonneurs. For Russian long distance marathons apply the rules of ACP too! :-)))
Dies war eine Kontrollfrage. Mit der Beantwortung sollte ich den Nachweis erbringen, dass ich an dem Denkmal vorbei geradelt bin. Zur Beantwortung der Frage standen 3 Alternativen zur Verfügung. Die Alternativen und meine durch Kreuz gekennzeichnete Antwort findest auf meiner Brevet-Kontrollkarte:
Yes, you have a good look! The mountain is man-made. This is the stockpile of an underground mining! Since the 15-th century copper was mined here in the eastern part of the Harz.
:-D Oh no, dear Gypsy! :-D In the first hilly part of the course, in southern Harz, I was slower than most riders of road bikes. In the flat area of Magdeburg boerde I was faster than the riders of road bikes. But I was only able to overtake a few. In 2006 I cycled the same route with a road bike. This year with the couch I was 20 minutes faster. For the last flat 84 kms I needed less than 2 hours. I am sure, that with more practice I will become faster on hilly routes :-)
Thanks for your comment, dear Gypsy. With my road bike I can ride 84 kms in 2 hours only in a team with mutual slipstream. Riding alone on a road bike, I am unable to be so fast!
Dear Gypsy, this was not the Vätternrundan ;-)) At the 300 km route around the lake Vättern are thousands of onlookers. They camp at the route or have a barbecue. When cyclists passing by, they jump to the road, clap hands and cheer on the cyclists by shouting 'Heya, heya, heya!'. At the 300 km route around the Harz, nobody takes a notice. There was not even a small notice in the local press. For the german press only football games are worth to report about :o)) But I don't cycle for onlookers, but for myself :-)