The 33-year-old Daniel Fenn, born in Bad Kissingen, Germany will try to break the fully faired 24h record in summer 2010. BentBlog talked to the current European champion…
BentBlog: Daniel, before you started your activities in recumbent racing, you used to ride other bikes. What kinds of bikes and what was the reason for the change?
Daniel: Actually, I only rode MTB in my past life. My driving style was rather extreme. In 2004 I have had a severe motorcycle accident. Due to that I am having some significant physical problems. Subsequently, I assembled a very expensive MTB made of titanium. It took me hundreds of hours to tinker on that to get it near 6kg. A dream, actually. Then I assembled a racing bike, of course in titanium.
However, it took me one year to be almost in form as I was prior to the accident. But a huge problem has persisted since then: backage in the lower dorsal region. In the accident, I suffered vertebrae fractures there. The pain was not bearable over the long turn. After approx. 2h of biking, I would not bear them without a break. Hence I changed to a velomobile.
BentBlog: In early 2009, you bought a Go-One 3 and in summer you became the European champion in Leer – in a borrowed Milan, which was not even adjusted to you correctly! Were the competitors so weak or you so strong;-)???
Daniel: No, Ymte Sijbrandij the multiple world champion is very good, in all issues! Indeed there are only few really good riders. The Milan was quite good but I could have achieved more if it had been adjusted better. No, I would not say, I am better. But I do have strong legs which helped me to win the sprint and the hour-race.
BentBlog: Meanwhile, you purchased a Go-One Evolution. Is it standardly equipped?
Daniel: No, except for the white colour. I participated in building and co-constructed. It is significantly lighter and partly reinforced.
BentBlog: Next year you, and some other riders, will attack the 24-hour record. Who else is riding and where and when will it take place?
Daniel: I would like to know that as well! The organisers do not divulge that beforehand. It will take place at the Lausitzring (Dekraoval) around June/July.
BentBlog: What excites you in that record?
Daniel: You have to imagine: 1069km in 24 hours. Never in the history of mankind a human come farther by use of his muscles only. Isn’t this fascinating? I would be happy to come a bit further.
BentBlog: Will you ride your Evo or perhaps a Milan SL?
Daniel: I could be supplied with a very good Milan, but I have concerns regarding my dorsal problems. I try to learn from prior trials and successes. Up to now only approx. 1000km were achieved in a high speed bike. That is amazing if you keep in mind that a good rider can be significantly faster than 100km/h. I want to build my own smaller velomobile on basis of an EVO at the manufacturer’s (Beyss). Due to my dorsal problems, only in such a vehicle I see a chance to ride such a long time. Only in this vehicle concept, I can lean forward sometimes.
BentBlog: Christian Ascheberg set a 24h record last summer. You mentioned it: he rode 1069km. In a single-track bike which – like the Milan – was designed in cooperation with Bülk. Can a trike be faster than this record-bike?
Daniel: The experts say the single track bike is faster. The reason may be that a single track bike has better aerodynamics. That may be right. However, I can see tremendous advantages in using a trike. Being adjusted correctly, it will roll straight ahead alone. Further there is more space in it. You don’t need help when restarting. No foot-flaps or something complicated which might take time. Theoretically, you could do everything you have to within 24 hours in a velomobile.
BentBlog: Does the Trike not have a significantly higher roll-resistance?
Daniel: For sure not significantly higher. I could not determine any disadvantage related to roll-resistance. Rather the opposite if track is set correctly. Having to accelerate an additional wheel is of course a disadvantage. A further disadvantage is that there is more turbulence.
BentBlog: You are discussing your preparations on the record in the German Velomobilforum (among others also with Christian Ascheberg). Why?
Daniel: Very good question. I would not call myself an endurance maniac as Christian is one. Thus I put some pressure on myself by going public. When I announce something, I really want to make it or at least give my best. Apart from that, I want to show what is possible with a handicap as mine. I suffered a pelvis fracture with a broken acetabulum. To reach it, they had to spit my left leg into halves. That’s quite obstructive and reduces power.
BentBlog: Is doping an issue in recumbent racing?
Daniel: Ymte assured me of not taking anything. I go along with this. At least in the hobby sector, one should be proud of one’s own achievements. How should that work with doping? I can only refer to myself. I personally hate to not play with same cards. However, if something is taken in recumbent racing, it is at least considerable less than in other bike sports. I know the MTB-Scene quite well. People are way more dogged and more aggressive. Hence I did never want to participate in upright road racing with all their professional and slip stream affectation. But I do understand that doping is common in professional racing.
BentBlog: Why is doping in the professional sector understandable for you?
Daniel: If you don’t exhaust all you can, you won’t keep up with the others to earn money with it. Additionally, I have met caring physicians who had the same opinion.
BentBlog: What do you want to do after that record? The sportive aims are becoming rare…
Daniel: No, they are not rare, because actually, I am rather a sprinter. I will thus concentrate on the hour-record.
BentBlog: Thank you very much for this interview!!!
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