Bram has been a part of the recumbent scene for decades now. During this time, his firm created a heap of innovative recumbent bikes and parts. His dedication to building fast recumbents was rewarded with a lot of records. BentBlog had the opportunity to interview him.Every here and then, I was thinking what the meaning of the brand-name “M5″ could be. I must have been on their website hundreds of times, looking for technical specs, new models, whatever. Obviously, I never really looked at the header of the website, where you can read close to the M5 logo: “Meer Meters Met Minder Moeite” or “Makes Many More Marvellous Miles“, depending of whether you are on the Dutch website or not. It was a little embarassing for me to learn this lesson during our interview, hence I deleted this question from the interview. But as it is useless to let others make the same mistakes, I felt like having to tell you though. Makes a good headline in the end…
BentBlog: First of all: congratulations Bram, recently six world records were ridden with M5-recumbents in Apeldoorn. Did you expect this in forefront of the event?
Bram: Some yes, but we had the help of a 13 year old boy adding two sprintrecords as well…! And the riders came up in the right following up scheme.
BentBlog: So Bas van der Kooij will be your new M5-team driver?
Bram: Yes, he’s our youngest member of the team and very promising indeed…
BentBlog: What makes your recumbents so fast?
Bram: I guess experience (26 years fulltime ) has to do something with it…. Further on: Always being critical to others and myself……sorry…
BentBlog: Do your non-racing bikes, like the more commuting oriented City Cruiser or the more travelling oriented Shock Proof, benefit from your knowledge in racing bikes as well?
Bram: Yes, the light weight parts developped for the Carbon High- and Low Racers can also be mounted on the commuting bikes.
BentBlog: Can we expect a new M5-model within the next year?
Bram: Perhaps yes, allthough I also believe we take out some of the existing older types.
BentBlog: I suppose, the new bike will be the Nadir medium racer which Niels van de Wal rode in Apeldoorn, which models will disappear?
Bram: I will not use the name Nadir myself, but we will consider these months what we will do and when. Older models are there until they are sold out.
BentBlog: Will M5 ever build a trike?
Bram: We started with that in 1983…. But, no I leave that to others. Personally I don’t have the bike feeling with trikes. One exception I made for handicapped people with the M5 Handbike: They can only use three wheels because of their handicap.
BentBlog: You have been building recumbents for more than 25 years now and M5 became known for a heap of innovative products. What kept you motivated in that time?
Bram: Always curious to improve and look for more logical and/or ergonomic / weightsaving/ aerodynamic etc. better ways. In fact it is all enclosed in the brandname…..: “Makes many more marvellous miles”, allthough the original Dutch alliteration is more to the point.
BentBlog: Did you ever feel to be looked at as a nerd / weirdo by your environment in that time?
Bram: Yes, I am aware of that but I don’t care at all. If all people should act too shy, there would be no improvement as well.
BentBlog: Looking at the recumbent scene: is there anything which has remarkably changed during the last 25 years?
Bram: Materials, efficiency of the bikes, finishing touch, diversity of models worldwide!!
BentBlog: What do you think are the three most innovative technical developments in these years?
Bram: The penetration of carbon in all kinds of parts and frames. Recumbents in general.
Bentblog: What will be the most important developments within the nearer future?
Bram: Perhaps electrical shifting will be getting more the standard. Further: The wish for recumbents into UCI competion schemes in order to get more penetrated and accepted into the public.
BentBlog: Which of the M5-models is your most favourite recumbent and why?
Bram: Carbon: Carbon High Racer because of it’s extreme employability and efficiency. Low Racer versions because of thier unbeaten roadbehaviour. Loooow point of gravity….. Cr-Mo: M5 City Racer, sleek and compact
BentBlog: And if we leave your own brand apart and look around on the recumbent market: Which non-M5 recumbent fascinates you (and why)?
Bram: Flevobike Greenmachine because of their unique and technically worked out concept, Leitra, allthough it’s too upright for my back, George Georgiev’s fairings!!!
BentBlog: The Leitra? I am surprised. The Leitra is not known as the fastest velomobile. In your case I would have expected to hear Quest or Milan when talking about velomobiles. What makes the Leitra such an interesting bike?
Bram: If you take a close look you’ll see that there are very elegant details in this bike and especially the fairing.
BentBlog: Thank you for the interview!
Recent Comments