Human Powered Vehicle World Champs 2024 - 3hr race. All 112 riders together-full Betteshanger track

[@DClarke1954]

A great race, shame about the chain issues, that must have been very galling. Thanks so much for letting us all ride with you again. You realise of course that we are living "a racing life" vicariously through your efforts. Keep going! ;-)

[@xtlm]

I clicked on this video because I didn't know what I was looking at lol Neat race! Never seen this kind of thing before. No idea why this was in my recs but it was interesting!

[@ArjenMeurs]

I am the rider in the yellow DF XL with white race-hood and Italian tailpiece that got ditched around 41 minutes. Thanks for pointing out the crash to officials, I was fine, and the bike too except for chain that got severely stuck, so I had to give up and walk back. What's your impression of the mishap? Admittedly, I was operating at high speeds on the edge...

[@russellbridge]

Hi Arjen. I remember it happening in slow motion in front of me! I think that the two unfaired riders were a bit too far over to the left, but they were holding a steady line with a gap big enough to go through, so I think you were perfectly entitled to go for the gap. I think you JUST dipped your left wheel onto the grass which snapped the steering left and shot you off into the greenery. Hope you and the velomobile are all OK now. Russ And clearly I don't know my left from my right!

[@k10e3r5]

Must have been scary. Hope everything is all rigth now.

[@ArjenMeurs]

@@russellbridge Thanks, what I remember is that I watched James as I passed him in the gap you mentioned. He studied and swiped his Garmin, and moved left a tad. I moved left a bit as well, and being so close the edge, went off into the bushes. As you say, there seemed to be space enough still for me to continue and overtake him. What I learned: just like you: shout in case you feel you need to be noticed when passing. On your left or right, whatever, as long as the person becomes aware. I was fine, thank you, and did not tip over. The bike hit no tree or stone pole. The chain however got severely jammed and the derailleur was bent as a result. The Dutch team with lots of black hands helped me to get the bike shifting and riding again. The day after I rode the 360 km from Betteshanger Park back to Utrecht, The Netherlands. Also I learned this: when in doubt just slow down and wait with the overtaking; I had another two hours ahead of me.... Hope to see you a next time. Great footage!

[@toshirox23]

​ @ArjenMeurs This looks like You were concentrated on him to keep the distance and the curve got You in the middle of maneuver. You were Lucky to stay on 3 wheels. A lot of raiders on the track.

[@ArjenMeurs]

@@toshirox23 I think your observation is entirely correct; thanks. I remember I was at that moment a bit relaxed after a very tight squeeze through the challenging previous corner, getting around a number of cyclists there. Then I misjudged the space I did not have on my left and the slight curve I was in to the right.

[@gedeonbauer3885]

GREAT!!! Greetings from Belgium!!!

[@deezynar]

Thanks for another great video.

[@cha1rtech]

great race footage! just wondering if there's a noticeable benefit to drafting the faster velomobiles or streamliners at higher speeds

[@russellbridge]

I can't detect any aero advantage at all behind Notso or Beano. I can't remember ever sitting behind a velomobile so I can't answer than one sorry...

[@halcyonzenith4411]

I’d like a human powered vehicle where I drive it normal like a car, but in the back there’s children working a treadmill. A true family vehicle.

[@allatom8403]

what kind of equipment is that?

[@simonbrooke4065]

You'll have seen this yourself, but the top run of your chain bounces alarmingly when you're freewheeling, and especially when you stop pedalling suddenly; I think that's what happens in the lap 21 chain drop [1:20:12]. Are you using a clutched derailleur and, if not, would that help? Would just the cage of a front derailleur, guiding the chain onto the chainring, help? I'm thinking that at that chain speed, just the mass of the chain itself adds up to considerable inertia, and that's causing the chain to pile up behind the chain ring. There's poor surface both before and after the 180 degree left hander, and I'm guessing that didn't help with the first chain drop. These two plus a puncture in one race seems to me remarkably bad luck! Still, your duel with the little brown job (#501) on laps 19-21 [1:11:04 ... 1:20:12] was really exciting to watch, and finishing 10th in that field is no shame. I feel sorry for the poor chap on the Brompton whom you seemed to pass at least once on every lap!

[@andreashertting8545]

Hello, did you experience some aerodynamic effect driving behind another driver? So, one can see, that in the traffic jam at the beginning of the race, the pedalling was offen interrupred.

[@hakureicirno6059]

It’s a bike but giving motorsport vibes.

[@solokalnesaltam3015]

Oh don't mind me, I'm just casually passing you by at 35mph (56kph)

[@slotzuylen6697]

At 20:38 you just nearly pass James on his left, about 20 minutes later same position, a Dutchman in yellow Df XL is more impressed here by James than you and swerves off the track...