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 Germany worked in total silence, even hiding their Strava data to keep their project a secret from the "nosy folks" on the German Velomobile Forum. They decided to move beyond modifying existing designs like the DFXL to start with a completely clean slate. The result is a 19kg racing machine that didn't just meet expectations—it dominated. In its public debut at Aldenhoven, the Theta shattered the long-standing 4,000m world record and went on to set a new 24-hour relay record with an average speed of 64 km/h. In this interview, one of the designers-Julian Kraft-discusses:

-Lightweight Engineering: How the team achieved a race-ready weight of just 19kg.
-The "Secret" Strategy: Why they kept the project hidden until the very last moment.
-World-Class Testing: The transition from digital CFD simulations to real-world track testing and world record attempts.
-Daily Utility vs. Racing: Why the Theta was designed not just for the track, but for day-to-day commuting and travel.

Whether you are interested in high-end aerodynamics, lightweight carbon fiber construction, or the thrill of world-record HPV racing, you won't want to miss this deep dive into the Theta Project.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:30 What’s on Today’s Show
00:01:13 Panel Introduction
00:02:15 Sponsor Introduction
00:07:20 Honza Galla with Recumbent News Segment
00:13:45 Julian Kraft Interview on the Theta Velomobile
01:17:35 Julian responds to questions and comments on the Theta
01:34:00 Larry Seidman with the Recumbent Sports Report
01:42:20 Sponsor Thanks
01:47:25 Announcements
01:49:20 Goodbye to panel and crew

Please subscribe to us on YouTube (https://goo.gl/CHOOgX) and Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/laidbackbikereport/) if you haven't already done so.

Lot's more info and you can also buy a hat on our website: https://www.laidbackbikereport.com/.

We would love to have you as a Patreon Patron where you can support all we do for as little as $1/month. Check out how it works and the benefits you can reap here: https://www.patreon.com/laidbackbikereport

*Thanks to these wonderful sponsors for making the LBR webcast possible*
TerraCycle https://t-cycle.com/ 800-371-5871
TerraTrike/Greenspeed https://wizwheelz.com/ 800-945-9910
Laidback Cycles https://laidbackcycles.com/ 916-668-8766
Bicycle Man https://bicycleman.com/ 607-587-8835
AZUB https://azub.eu/
RecumbentPDX https://recumbentpdx.com/ 503-231-1000
Steintrikes https://stein-trikes-us.com/ 931-237-0889
Utah Trikes http://utahTrikes.com 866-446-2065
Catrike http://catrike.com 407-999-0200
Bacchetta Bikes http://bacchettabikes.com 818-358-2740
Angletech cycledifferent.com 719-687-7475
HP Velotechnik https://www.hpvelotechnik.com/
Grin Technologies https://ebikes.ca/ (604)-569-0902

*Guest Links*
Spezi 2026 https://en.spezialradmesse.de/
Julian Kraft https://www.facebook.com/julian.kraft.142
German Velomobile Forum https://www.velomobilforum.de/forum/

Larry’s Sports Report
Michigan HPV Rally https://mhpva.blogspot.com/

**Viewer Submissions or Questions**
Send to laidbackbikereport@gmail.com

Support the show

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 trike born out of the Southern California HPV racing scene. Jeff shares incredible stories from the 1980 Speed Championships at Ontario Motor Speedway, where garage-built "missiles" and "streamliners" first challenged the traditional bicycle establishment. In this interview, you’ll discover:

The "No Rules" Era: How the IHPVA rose as a reaction to strict conventional racing associations.

Engineering the Aerocoupe: How Jeff and designer Mark Murphy used moped hubs, awning fabric, and sailplane-inspired chrome tubing to build a trike from scratch.

Lessons in "Dangerous" Design: Jeff gets candid about the "exciting" frame flex and "tank steering" that defined early prototypes.

The Legacy: A look at how these early experiments provided the DNA for the high-performance trikes we ride today.

In our second segment we interview the Spezi 2026 team. This year the world's largest recumbent bicycling event takes place in Freiburg, Germany. We'll find out all the details and highlights of this exciting event which we'll be attending in April.

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:30 What’s on Today’s Show
00:01:35 Panel Introduction
00:03:00 Sponsor Introduction
00:07:35 Honza Galla with Recumbent News Segment
00:11:06 Spezi 2026 Preview with Producers
01:32:30 Jeff Wills and the 80s Aerocoupe Recumbent Trike Build and Racing
01:14:15 Sponsor Thanks
01:18:50 Announcements
01:20:15 Goodbye to panel and crew

Please subscribe to us on YouTube (https://goo.gl/CHOOgX) and Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/laidbackbikereport/) if you haven't already done so.

We would love to have you as a Patreon Patron where you can support all we do for as little as $1/month. Check out how it works and the benefits you can reap here: https://www.patreon.com/laidbackbikereport

*Thanks to these wonderful sponsors for making the LBR webcast possible*
TerraCycle https://t-cycle.com/ 800-371-5871
TerraTrike/Greenspeed https://wizwheelz.com/ 800-945-9910
Laidback Cycles https://laidbackcycles.com/ 916-668-8766
Bicycle Man https://bicycleman.com/ 607-587-8835
AZUB https://azub.eu/
RecumbentPDX https://recumbentpdx.com/ 503-231-1000
Steintrikes https://stein-trikes-us.com/ 931-237-0889
Utah Trikes http://utahTrikes.com 866-446-2065
Catrike http://catrike.com 407-999-0200
Bacchetta Bikes http://bacchettabikes.com 818-358-2740
Angletech cycledifferent.com 719-687-7475

*Honza’s News Report Links*
--Recumbent News https://www.recumbent.news/

*Guest Links*
Spezi 2026 https://en.spezialradmesse.de/
Jeff Wills https://www.facebook.com/jeff.wills1

*LBR Review Team Links*

*LBR Crew Links*
-Recumbent News-online news website by Honza Galla https://www.recumbent.news/
-BentRider/Larry Varney http://www.bentrideronline.com/
-Nina Paley’s Links
-Nina’s blog https://blog.ninapaley.com/
-Nina’s bike merchandise http://www.palegraylabs.com/other-stuff-1/protective-bicycle-amulet
-Peter Stull https://bicycleman.com/
-Josef Janning https://www.facebook.com/josef.janning
-Tim Segard https://www.bentrevolution.com/
-Tray Bourgoyne Tray@netdoor.com
**The absolute best archive of early recumbent history is Recumbent Cyclist News**
Find years of publisher Bob Bryant’s hard work here: https://rcnpdf.com/

**Viewer Submissions or Questions**
Send to laidbackbikereport@gmail.com

Support the show

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 was about finding a new way to satisfy his competitive drive and improve his longevity on the circuit.

Matthew takes us through his evolution from overweight couch potato to the world of upright bike ultra racing and now to discovering the speed and efficiency of recumbents. We discuss the learning curve of racing in a new position, the gear that keeps him competitive, and how the recumbent community has embraced his racing spirit.

In this interview, we specifically dive into:

How Matthew's professional background in psychology helps him persevere.

His decision to lose weight and get active again.

Why he started biking and his early experiences in ultra racing.

How he was introduced to Cruzbike and its racing culture.

The technical and physical differences between racing upright vs. laid back.

His advice for other competitive cyclists considering the switch.

If you’ve ever wondered if you can still "go fast" after making the move to a recumbent, Matthew’s journey is the perfect proof that the finish line looks just as good from a recumbent seat.

Stay Connected: 👍 Like this video if you're a racer at heart! 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with the legends of the recumbent world. 💬 Comment below: What was the biggest challenge YOU faced when switching from an upright?

00:00:00 Intro
00:00:30 What’s on Today’s Show
00:01:30 Panel Introduction
00:02:35 Sponsor Introduction
00:06:50 Honza Galla with Recumbent News Segment
00:18:10 Matthew Lefthand World Champion Ultra Racer
01:22:35 Matthew joins us live right after his 600 mile Bike Sebring 24 hour race
01:41:00 Sponsor Thanks
01:47:00 Announcements
01:24:11 Goodbye to panel and crew

Please subscribe to us on YouTube (https://goo.gl/CHOOgX) and Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/laidbackbikereport/) if you haven't already done so.

Lot's more info and you can also buy a hat on our website: https://www.laidbackbikereport.com/.

We would love to have you as a Patreon Patron where you can support all we do for as little as $1/month. Check out how it works and the benefits you can reap here: https://www.patreon.com/laidbackbikereport

*Thanks to these wonderful sponsors for making the LBR webcast possible*
TerraCycle https://t-cycle.com/ 800-371-5871
TerraTrike/Greenspeed https://wizwheelz.com/ 800-945-9910
Laidback Cycles https://laidbackcycles.com/ 916-668-8766
Bicycle Man https://bicycleman.com/ 607-587-8835
AZUB https://azub.eu/
RecumbentPDX https://recumbentpdx.com/ 503-231-1000
Steintrikes https://stein-trikes-us.com/ 931-237-0889
Utah Trikes http://utahTrikes.com 866-446-2065
Catrike http://catrike.com 407-999-0200
Bacchetta Bikes http://bacchettabikes.com 818-358-2740
Angletech cycledifferent.com 719-687-7475


*Honza’s News Report Links*
--Recumbent News https://www.recumbent.news/

Support the show