John Schlitter, solo Tejas 500, 36-hour start, bike Bacchetta Carbon Aero: This was my tenth UMCA event for 2007. The Sebring 24 hour race seemed like a long time ago. Riding a traditional bicycle I'm good for about a fast 80 mile ride, riding the Bacchetta allows me to ride a lot further. My goal was to have a good solid ride and not to let Larry Ide beat me. Larry and I have ridden a few races together this year and have been pushing each other. Even though we are in different categories, it helps push each other to higher levels.

Having ridden the 24-hour TTTT event last year, I had a pretty good idea what it would take to do the 500-mile 36-hour start. I kept thinking, okay I did 400 miles in 23:05 so all I have to do is another hundred miles in 6:54 to go under 30 hours. Once again I started off fairly fast averaging an hour per lap for the first six laps, but by then the heat of the afternoon came into play and I came very close to blowing the race by not hydrating enough. My support crew showed up just in time and helped me get into a rhythm that worked out for the rest of the race.

The TTTT course works pretty well for the Bacchetta high racer style recumbent. There is a good amount of climbing, but there are also enough flats and down hills that help average out any time lost on the climbs. Yes recumbents can climb and can even climb better when I'm not running a solid ten pounds above ideal race weight. Another goal was to have a good solid last race of the season. With that accomplished now the decision is to decide if there is a solo RAAM for me in 2008. I would like to thank Dan Driscoll for putting on the TTTT and the UMCA for allowing recumbents into the world of ultra racing.

Cole Train, a mix of recumbent and upright bikes, leading the pace line.

Bud Baker, Tejas 500 four-man recumbent team, "Flying Recliners", bike Bacchetta Corsa: Although I hadn't done any ride longer than 80 miles on my bike until this year, it seems to me that 'bents and ultra marathon riding have always been a good match. In an event like TTTT, where drafting isn't allowed, and where comfort during a long hard ride is paramount, I can't think of any bike I'd rather be on than my Corsa.

In spite of our complete lack of experience at anything like this, Greg Gross, Paul Brown, Steve Petty and I decided to become the first four-man recumbent team to ride in TTTT. We each added more miles to our training to get ready and we did test laps around the course a couple of times before the event to familiarize ourselves with the course. The seven miles of steady incline near the beginning of the course seemed the toughest to me. Once I reached the rolling hill part of the course, I knew I just needed to build enough speed on the down hills to be able to carry good speed over the top of the next hill. That seems to be a better way to handle hills on a recumbent, rather than just trying to power up hills.

I kept passing other riders just before the start/finish line and people around the start/finish kept saying how all of the recumbents just seemed to be flying by. I just smiled and never said anything about the huge down hill at the end being why we were all so fast at the finish.

I thought we did well, considering our experience level. We ended up completing the 500 miles in 25 hours and 30 minutes. That's the second fastest time in which a four-man relay team has completed the race and set the recumbent record. I didn't feel my 'bent added any challenges not faced by every rider on any bike in this event. In fact, I think the comfort and great aerodynamics of my Corsa did an excellent job for me.

Peggy Petty racing in the 100-mile time trial.

Steve Petty, Tejas 500 four man recumbent team, "Reclining Flyers", bike Bacchetta Strada: My foray into this event as part of a four-man recumbent team was, without doubt, one of the most rewarding individual experiences I've been associated with. What can I say; I love this course (lots of climbing)! Oh wait, recumbents aren't supposed to be able to climb, right? That's why stereotypes are just that. I rode six scheduled laps — 20 miles each (some at night/some during the day). During the ride, I heard several other riders (uprights) say, "I've never seen a recumbent climb like that before!" During my six laps (hey, it's a start, OK) I was passed by a grand total of two riders (I'm sure they were all fresh riders from the many other distances offered by this event, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it).

Riding at night is a thrill, regardless of the bike. Prior to this event, I had never ridden any real distances at night. During one of my night laps I came upon a group of uprights and passed them on the back section of the course. One of the riders jokingly said "Oh, it's one of you guys", meaning he could tell due to the relatively low angle of my light that it was a recumbent. After my first night lap, I came across the start/finish line with the biggest smile I've had in quite some time. Is it possible that riding a bike (regardless of the configuration) can be this much fun? I'm still picking bugs out of my teeth from those three separate night rides. Note to self: while riding at night, keep the mouth shut!

Other than self inflicted dehydration issues (it's called stupidity) leading to some leg cramps (did I mention I was a relative "newbie" to cycling) and stomach upset (too much candy and Spike energy drink) — I'm still wired from that can of stuff. No wonder 7-11 yanked it from their shelves. Again, not a smart move on my part, but I was wide awake at 3:00 a.m. and for the entire next week also). On the plus side, I had no health issues during the ride (no sore neck, back, knee, foot, or rear-end pain). Bonus!

John Schlitter

Ray Torrey, Tejas 500 four-man upright and recumbent team, "Cole Train." In early 2006 as a result of a series of injuries, or maybe just the effects of aging, a friend suggested I try a recumbent. Yeah, yeah, I know that word... recumbent... it conjures up images of a 40-pound, long wheel base funny-looking bike, if you can even call those contraptions "bikes". After test riding multiple types, I jumped in head first and purchased a Bacchetta Aero. With dual 650c wheels, titanium frame and components you find on racing bikes, I was ready to race. In the 2006 TTTT, I entered the 12 hour, two-man recumbent division. The course is a tough 20-mile loop, with approximately 1,000 feet of climbing per lap. Everyone knows that recumbents can't climb, right??? Wrong... With the right training and technique, recumbents can climb. We finished the race in roughly 11 hours, a 1st place trophy and a course record for recumbents at the 200-mile distance. In 2007 we entered the four-man, 5009mile TTTT race. I had the wild idea to objectively compare my diamond frame (custom Seven titanium) and recumbent (Bacchetta Aero titanium). Being the first person to ride both types of bikes on this race course, I offer my personal comparative observations as well as downloaded data from my Garmin GPS:

• Both bikes require utilization of different muscles. On a solo race, changing bikes every other lap would allow muscular recovery not attainable riding a single bicycle type.
• Both bikes (titanium) felt equally smooth on the rougher "chip seal" portions of the race course.
• Night riding is a trade off. Due to the "laid back" riding position on a recumbent, the light must be pointed further down the road, thus a brighter light is required. However, the laid back position allows the rider to see everything around him.
• Diamond frame bikes climb better where you can use your whole body weight to exert pedal power.
• Recumbents are more aerodynamic, thus faster on the flats and descents.
• My average lap times were 1.4 mph faster on my Bacchetta recumbent.
• My max speed was 11mph faster on the recumbent.
• My average heart rate was within two beats on both bikes.

I'd like to encourage everyone, on any type of bike (diamond frame, recumbent, tandem, single speed, trike, hand bike, etc.) to come experience TTTT.

More information at: http://www.tt24tt.com.