Laidback Bike Report
Sports
About
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
Episodes
- The Coolest Stuff We Saw at Spezi 2026-Honza, Gary and Tray Lay it Out!
Our annual live webcast where Honza, Gary, Jimm and Tray describe the most interesting products seen at the world's largest recumbent show. This year's Spezi event in Freiburg, Germany provides much to discuss. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:30 What…
- The Secret Is Out: The 19kg Theta Velomobile Shatters World Records!
In this episode of the Laidback Bike Report, we go behind the scenes of one of the most exciting and secretive recent developments in the recumbent world: The Theta Velomobile. For months, a small team of 4 scientists and engineers in Germ…
- Aerocoupe-Advanced Trike Design from the 1980's w Jeff Wills
Step back in time to the "virtual free-for-all" of the early 1980s American recumbent revolution! In this episode we sit down with industry veteran Jeff Wills to uncover the forgotten history of the Aerocoupe—a pioneering human-powered tri…
- Young Upright Ultra Racer Now Breaking Records on Cruzbike!
What happens when a young upright bike racer makes the switch to recumbents? In this episode of the Laidback Bike Report, we’re joined by Matthew Lefthand. For Matthew, the transition wasn't just about finding a more comfortable seat—it wa…
- Harpia Velomobile: Speed, Style, and Engineering with Brazilian Designer Paulo!
What does it take to design a world-class velomobile from the ground up? From Brazil, we talk to the designer himself, Paulo, to discuss the engineering, aerodynamics, and passion behind the Harpia. We go from the initial sketches to the o…
- 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.…
- 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…
- 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 bein…
- 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 Nether…
- 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…
- Now That's Interesting! Highlights from Spezi 2025 with our Panel
We're recently back from the world's largest recumbent bike and trike show. We'll go booth by booth and talk about all the products that intrigued us at this year's Spezi event with our panel. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:25 What’s on Today’s Show…
- 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…
- 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 visi…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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 laidb…
- Velonaut Arrested/Velo Confiscated in Greece!
Armin Ziegler has toured in many places around the world with his recumbent bikes, trikes and velomobiles. This Swiss adventurer has a well regarded collection of travel blogs that have entertained bent riders for many years. As with many…
- Steintrikes Go Solar Across the US then Help Vet Climb Mt. Washington!
We have two incredibly inspiring stories that share a connection involving a Steintrike Wild One trike. First up we talk to John Gunterman. John is a US veteran who was injured in the middle east. He talks about his journey of recovery, ho…
- 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,…
- 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…
- 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 W…
- 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 aeronaut…
- Spezi 2024 Highlights and Walkthrough
Join Recumbent News' Honza Galla, Swedish bent shop owner Alve Henricson, our own Tray Bourgoyne, Peter Stull and me as we stroll down the virtual aisles of Spezi 2024. We'll talk about everything that we found interesting, unique or shock…
- 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 dealersh…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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 purcha…
- 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…
- Electrom-2 Wheeled Bent Replaces Your Car!
Tig Cross has been working on the Electrom for almost 8 years. Now in limited production he hopes to one day make his dream of a 2 wheeled light electric recumbent come true. He believes this bike has advantages that will make it a true "c…
- Stunning E-Velo from UK Classic Car Designer
Graham Browne's long career in digital design has included work with Jaguar, Dyson and Bentley. In the last few years his thoughts and efforts have turned to more low cost zero emission projects. By 2020 he had formed Northern Light Motors…
- Cycle-Con 2023-Highlights!
Join Honza Galla, Larry Varney, Tray Bourgoyne and me for a booth by booth discussion of our highlights from the Cycle-Con 2023 event. You can find our individual booth interview videos in our Cycle-Con 2023 Playlist right here: https://yo…
- Online with Bentrider's New Owner-Kurt Reynolds!
Bentrider (formerly known as Bentrider Online) is now new and improved thanks to new owner Kurt Reynolds. Having previous experience on nuclear submarines and now working for Microsoft he just might have what it takes to take this well lov…
- AZUB Tour-Michigan Races-Cycle-Con News-Young German Racer
We are treated to a personal tour of the AZUB Bikes facility in the Czech Republic by Honza Galla followed by an amazing trike tour in the country. Next we have on the scene coverage of the recent human powered vehicle racing event at Wate…
- How Bents are Built in Czechia and Slovakia!
We are on the road in Brno, Czech Republic and Prievaly, Slovakia where we tour the Katanga facility and Composite Products in one day. At Katanga we get a look at the CAD designs of their upcoming light electric vehicle called the VM45, b…
- 3D Virtual Expert Walkthrough-Spezi 2023
We use the new 3D virtual walk through technology of Matterport to take a booth by booth "Best of..." tour with our expert panel of attendees of the real life Spezi 2023. Joining us today are our own Tray Bourgoyne, Recumbent.news' Honza G…
- The G4 Racer: A New Era of Human-Powered Racing
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:60 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:35 Panel Introduction 00:05:30 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:00 LBR News Report-with New Director Honza Galla 00:22:50 Ron Thompson-The G4 for racing, riding and production 01:25:50 Jon Hod…
- Tadhole Trike-Improbable Vehicle of a Veteran's Dream
South African Border War veteran Stan Potgieter suffered severe injuries both physical and psychological in the 1980s. He has struggled ever since to regain the promise of a healthy and settled life. Stan talks to us about his continuing a…
- Velomobile Update 2023
Our annual look at the latest and hottest news in the world of velomobiles. We have interviews and submissions by: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:47 What’s on Today’s Show 00:03:55 Panel Introduction 00:06:15 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:43 Oleksii Ha…
- E-Assist Riding-What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:45 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:35 Panel Introduction 00:04:25 Sponsor Introduction 00:06:50 Recumbent News with Honza Galla 00:11:00 Zach Kaplan Cycles Profile-Interview with Zach 00:46:00 Doug Davis-E-Assist Battery…
- Radical Design Bags and Winter Bent Riding Secrets!
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:18 Panel Introduction 00:05:13 Sponsor Introduction 00:07:45 Recumbent News with Honza Galla 00:13:45 Radical Design Interview 01:03:00 Winter Bent Riding Secrets with Scott Christophers…
- Uprights vs Bents-Engineer Speed Tests 10 Bikes!
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:60 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:25 Panel Introduction 00:05:05 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:10 Parbike Side-by-Side Tandem with Jared 00:07:55 Uprights vs Bents-Engineer Ron Thompson Speed Tests 10 Bikes 01:28:14 Nina Pa…
- Cycle-Con 2022-Highlights and Impressions!
We're recently back from a surprisingly successful and well attended Cycle-Con in Dayton, Ohio. Our illustrious panel of bent experts share what they saw and liked as we go through the exhibitors one by one. Joining us today are Tray Bourg…
- Mississippi River Tour 2023 on Trike with Tuba Trailer
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:48 Panel Introduction 00:04:30 Sponsor Introduction 00:07:00 Recumbent News with Honza Galla 00:11:25 Al and Alice Krause Co-Directors of World Human Powered Speed Challenge IHPVA Event…
- Design-Build-Race the Fastest Human Powered Vehicle in the World!
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 What’s on Today’s Show 00:02:45 Panel Introduction 00:05:30 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:00 Recumbent News with Honza Galla 00:14:15 George from Orlando-Building Coroplast Fairings for your Bent 00:34:20 Russell Bridg…
- The Future of Recumbent Cycle-Con with New Owner WizWheelz
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 What’s on Today’s Show 00:03:12 Panel Introduction 00:05:40 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:18 Recumbent News with Honza Galla 00:16:08 RCC Bought by WizWheelz-Marshall Randall Marketing Director 00:34:00 Richard Myers-L…
- West Point Veteran Caleb Cline Trikes to 10 World Records!
Caleb Cline was hurt leading his Army unit in a training exercise. We feel privileged to sit down with him to talk about his long road back to mental and physical health. That road included riding his trike to 10 new world records last Apr…
- New North American Velomobile Manufacturer-Velomtek!
1) With the factory established and production team hired Francois Garneau shares the story of Velomtek. Production of this reasonably priced velomobile is underway in Quebec and plans are to expand sales to the USA and, eventually, Europe…
- Velomobile Update 2022
Table of Contents for this month’s video 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:45 What’s on Today’s Show 00:04:00 Panel Introduction 00:06:00 Sponsor Introduction 00:08:15 Recumbent News in 5 with Honza Galla 00:13:05 Saukki presents the Pros and Cons of b…
- Adding Low Cost E-Assist to Your Trike!
If you want to add an electric motor to your existing trike David Hall offers some compelling and inexpensive solutions. David is the founder of Eco Cycles in Nashville and shows us how you can install their motors, batteries and displays…
- Laidback Landsailers
We explore the exciting world of wind powered land racers with bent rider Mark Harris. He has raced his land boats for over 30 years and witnessed competitive speeds over 120 mph. Next we're joined by recumbent seat craftsman BJ Strass. He…