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

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*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/

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