OzHPV News

  • Challenge Schedule

    The OzHPV Challenge is a 2 day open-design multi-race cycling event with races designed to determine the best overall vehicles and rider.

    Scoring method and Prizes (Human Power only)

    There will be Men’s, Women’s, Junior (under 15) and Senior (over 50) Divisions of the Challenge. In each race, riders score 1 point for 1st place, 2 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd etc. Riders with lowest overall points will be division winners, and Women’s, Junior and Senior’s scores will be separated from other scores for results calculations. If riders miss a race they will score one point more than the person placing last in the race. Riders’ highest race scores will be eliminated, so with  8 races overall, the best 7 results count. As a guide, Pedal prix cars could run faired on the Saturday, unfaired on the Sunday.

    Certificates to be awarded to the first 3 places in each event winners and there is a trophy to keep for overall senior / open / junior and women’s winners.

    Electric Bikes

    A trophy will be awarded for “Best Electric Bike” but this may not be based on performances in races. Electric assist vehicles (some human power input required) with up to 250W of additional power are welcome to compete in races but will be ineligible for race scoring, race certificates and other trophies.

    Silvester Football Oval / Budget Accommodation

    Coleraine’s Silvester Oval will be used for Sunday races and budget accommodation for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Some cooking facilities are available.

    Raffles and Giveaways

    Due to generous donations of goods and time, we are offering raffle tickets for major prizes of restored bicycles and recumbents. Anyone who enters (electric or human powered ) or books accommodation is automatically entered in the draw. Free, new bicycle parts (derailleurs, cassettes, pedals etc.) will also be available for paying challenge participants.

    Saturday Courses

    Coleraine Street Course Map – Approx 1 km with full road closures

    Hill Climb Map: Approx 500m with part or full road closures

    Proposed Full Event Schedule

    October 30: Arrival

    5pm Silvester oval open for arrivals and overnight accommodation

    October 31: Track Day starting at Coleraine Information Centre, Pilleau Street

    9:30- 10 am Registration, receive numbers and transponders.

    Race 1: 10:30 am Time trial, timed full lap of street course

    Race 2: 11:30am 1 hour road race on street course

    Race 3: 12:40pm Timed Go to Whoa, Standing start from Mcconnochie/ Roberts, U turn at  Mcconnochie / Read, come to a complete stop within a 3m box at Mcconnochie / Young St

    Race 4: 1:40pm Hill Climb: Timed climb of Golf Course Road  

    2:40pm Presentation of first day certificates and Raffle prizes, Silvester Oval 

    3:30pm Social ride starting Winter St bridge near Silvester oval: A ride of approximately 2 hours starting on Coleraine Cavendish Road. Left turn at Douglas Road. Follow Douglas Road to Coleraine / Balmoral Road and turn left. Continue until the Glenelg Highway. Turn left and return to Coleraine. Note: Douglas Road has a short steep section, you may need to walk your bike.

    7pm Pub gathering with optional dinner.

    November 1: Racing at Silvester St Oval

    Race 5: 10am Shopping Race: Collect and drop off luggage and shopping around a defined course

    Race 6: 10:40am Roll down: Start near the stadium and roll down without pedalling. Results are based on who rolls furthest

    Race 7: 11:20am Dual slalom: 2 riders negotiate a series of cones on separate tracks with times determining position

    Race 8: 12:20 pm 30 minute Off road circuit race. Full Anticlockwise laps of the Silvester St Oval.

    1:30pm Presentations, Silvester Oval. End of Challenge Competition

    3:00 pm Social ride starting Winter St bridge near Silvester oval to Zig Zag road with details to be confirmed

    November 2: 9am checkout from football oval. Cavendish or Merino Social Ride with details to be confirmed

  • Challenge 2026 Trophies

    Trophy labels and completed a set of trophies for the OzHPV Challenge to be held in Coleraine in October / November.

    These trophies will be ready months in advance of the Challenge!
    The labels were ordered and received on the same day!

    Thanks to excellent service from Southern Cross Trophies.

    Looking forward to these being handed out in November.

    Regards Steve Nurse.

  • New 24-Hour Velomobile World Record

    On March 28–29, 2026, at the VinFast Vehicle Proving Ground in Lang Lang, Victoria, Australia, Aidan Lampe covered an astonishing 1,512.775 km / 939.995 miles in 24 hours, establishing a series of new WUCA (Ultra Cycling Association) and Guinness World Records (both officialy confirmed) in the Solo, Male, 18–49, Velomobile category.

    The ride was completed in a faired recumbent tricycle and pushed the boundaries of human-powered endurance to a level that seems almost impossible.

    More than 1,500 km / 932 miles in a single day is simply insane.

    Congratulations to Aidan and his support crew on a truly historic achievement.

    Read Aidan Lampe’s complete ride report and behind-the-scenes story here.

  • New World Records

    WHPVA have received a report sent in by Tim Corbett claiming Aidan Lampe and Adam Hari have achieved these new world records at the Vinfast test facility near Lang Lang, Victoria, Australia, on March 28th/29th, 2026:

    • 6hr 411.578 km
    • 12hr 800.548 km
    • 1000km 15hr 9m 10secs
    • 24hr 1512.775 km
    • 4000m 3m 22.145s

    Supporting material sent in can be accessed following this link:
    https://www.spins-live.de/Lang-Lang2026.pdf

    WHPVA has checked the report and found it to comply with their minimum requirements.
    The WHPVA record committee will report whether they propose to ACCEPT or REJECT the attempt within 15 working days from 15th May 2026.

  • Bikes on Vline Trains

    Steve says:

    Bikes are always allowed on Victoria’s Vline trains, and it’s not just a trial. There are special places onboard for bikes. Mine splits in 2, and fits into those areas well when split. The  staff can get a bit upset if bikes poke out of the designated areas and into corridors! 

    It looks like the few v-line bus lines that do carry bikes are the ones who have good rail trails nearby and have worked out that cyclists are good responsible tourists who have money! Here is the description from

    Details here

    On scheduled coaches

    Bicycles can be carried for free on the following V/Line scheduled coach services, if there is space available.  They will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis only.

    • Beechworth – Wangaratta
    • Bright – Wangaratta
    • Corowa/Rutherglen – Wangaratta
    • Mulwala/Yarrawonga – Benalla
    • Wangaratta – Bendigo

    Bicycles are not permitted on any other timetabled V/Line coach services, with the exception of folding bicycles.

    Customers must load and unload their bicycles onto the coach. Bicycles are carried at the owner’s risk. 

  • Challenge Prizes

    return to Challenge Home page

    • M5 Speedliner
    • Peugeot Mixte
    • Cruzbike Sigma LWB
    • Roulandt recumbent LWB
    • TW Bents SWB
    • Optima Stinger Lowracer

    M5 Speedliner
    – Value approx. $600

    By Damien Harkin from Huff July-August 2002

    We bought this bike from De Ligfiets in Gent, Belgium in 1999.

    Although it’s a classic M5 model, the frame was built by Speedliner.
    I think this was an outsourcing experiment that M5 later abandoned, and this bike was more or less a ‘runout special’.

    Its an elegant cruiser, with steel frame, 20/26 inch wheels, above seat steering, rear suspension. The front wheel has radial spokes.

    Some pretty curves are formed by the typical M5 banana swingarm and the chromed carry rack.

    Front and rear derailleurs are worked by GripShifters and give a range of 29-113 gear inches.

    It weighs 17kg. It has very narrow chromed steel rims, and tasty red V-brakes.

    This bike has a pogo problem. Climbing hills was really laughable because the suspension is soft and the chain-pull was really lifting the rear suspension at each stroke. I removed the idler wheel under the seat to bring the chainline closer to the swingarm pivot but then the chain started banging against the brake pivot on the swingarm.

    I’ve now put the chain into a plastic irrigation tube that runs from right near the rear cluster all the way to the front chain rings. This tube still touches the brake pivot but the chain runs quietly inside. Maybe the chain will wear through this tube in time but plastic tube is very cheap.

    The bike is extremely comfortable, and very stable at low speeds. I don’t like the feel of it at higher speeds. Mainly the rear suspension is too soft – hitting big bumps at speed can really upset the bike. But Sarah loves it as it is so I have no intention of ‘improving’ it.

    Restorer’s notes by Stephen Nurse May 2026

    By 2026, this bike had fallen into disrepair, and it was kindly donated by the Harkin family to benefit OzHPV.

    The seat was loose, the gearshift cracked, the tyres cracked and she generally needed maintenance.

    The rims Damien mentioned are by Delfi and the V-brakes are by Saccon.

    Gear and brake actuators are now Shimano and she has new handlebar grips.

    The seat has been remounted with padding from inner tubes and the bike is cleaned up and ready to go.

    Included with the bike is a spare front wheel.
    It was hard to fit tyres to the Delfi rims and the rear wheel is  standard 26” MTB size.

    Peugeot Mixte Bike – Geelong Red
    – Approximate Value $350

    This bike was purchased in Geelong as part of a bulk lot and super large jigsaw puzzle of Peugeot bikes and parts.

    She has been thoroughly cleaned, serviced and the brake levers, drivetrain, wheels and tyres updated and replaced.

    She now has 700c aluminium wheels and gravel bike tyres.

    The single front ring gear range is  34 to 107” compared to the original 2 ring transmission with 39 to 99”.  So the gearing is now wider range and with only one shifter, also easier to use.

    Weight with the load carrying milk crate is about 15kg, the milk crate can be removed in about a minute, and all of the front load carrying is bolt-on, bolt off, and the crate and cushion can be used as a picnic chair.

    There are 2 blog posts related to this bike and its load carrying:

    return to Challenge Home page

  • Short Course Record Attempts

    Sydney

    Following the Gosford event last year those who participated were keen to explore using a different velodrome in the Sydney area with better surface conditions to support higher short course speeds. 

    The Sydney event has not yet been confirmed for 2026, but there appeared to be ample support and leadership to run an event in the final quarter of 2026. 

    Stay tuned for more info during the year!

  • 2026 Annual Challenge

     – Coleraine – 31st Oct – 1st Nov 2026
    (Melbourne cup long weekend) (TBC ASAP)

    The OzHPV Challenge is a 2 day open-design multi-event cycling designed to determine the best overall vehicles and riders.
    Steve Nurse got the idea of holding a Challenge in Coleraine came after visiting his Aunt’s old home there in November 2025. It was very quiet on that Melbourne Cup long weekend and it seemed like it could be livened up. The local football club at Silvester Oval looked like a great venue for budget accommodation and some races.

    Coleraine has hosted the annual Pedal Car Championships for many years, so the idea of human powered vehicles is not new to the town.

    Steve has put together a great summary of work done so far on his blogspot:

    Modular Bikes: Coleraine Recce Trip

    Prize Giveaways!

    To attract riders to the Challenge we are offering a pool of prizes available to anyone who enters the event as a competitor.

    Major prizes will be drawn on the Saturday afternoon of the event with a limit of one major prize per person.

    Prizes come from sponsors, and OzHPV members and their network.

    Bikes and recumbents have been donated, then worked on, serviced and restored, all as part of our effort to promote the Challenge.

  • 2026 Annual Rally

    Chiltern, Sep 18-21st Sept (Fri-Mon)

    Dome has been busy and has prepared an itinerary of rides over the 3-4 day event that cater to a range of capabilities.

    He has also scoped out a variety of local accommodation options, with a plan to arrange a central accommodation point at massively subsidized cost for members. 

    This looks to be a great weekend to catch up with OzHPV members and enjoy rides in the historic gold rush era town and buildings, with amazing local rides, scenery and company. 

    Put it in your calendar now!

  • Speedbike Record Attempts

    March 28-29, Lang-Lang

    We are excited to announce that we will again be returning to the Vinfast test facility at Lang-Lang over the weekend of 28 and 29th of March, 2026. 

    Member Tim Corbett has again taken on the financial risk for the event to sponsor these attempts:

    • 2x athletes to attempt endurance HPV records (12hr, 1000km, 24hr), and
    • 3 athletes to attempt shorter duration record attempts (4000m, 1hr (x2) and 100mile.
    •  ~4 other members have also confirmed for shorter records on the Sunday. 

    Vinfast have allowed for a sightly expanded attendance list this year, so there are still opportunities available at the event for motivated members. 

    In addition to 1hr/12hr/1000km/24hr distances, we will be surveying a 4000m course to set marks over this prestigious distance.

     Time permitting, F200 runs may also be a possibility.  WHPVA/IHPVA sanctioning of F200 and 4000m TBC.

    There are opportunities to attend the event as follows:

    • to act as an OzHPV official for the various attempts, (~2 openings)
    • as support crew for the Phantom Team or other entrants (#’s TBC), or,
    • make your own record attempt/s.

    Places will be confirmed during application on first come, first served basis that optimizes for overall headcount and event compatibility.

    Due to the limited number of people allowed on site, there are no opportunities to attend as a spectator, with all attendees expected to make a positive contribution to the event.

    Critical support crew and OzHPV officials need only be regular members of OzHPV.

    POA for record attempts. 

    Due to the significant cost (and opportunity!) of hiring the venue, attempt costs are non-trivial, and start at ~$1000 for short duration attempts. 

    50% deposit required to confirm your place.

    Please get in contact with me (Tim) if you would like to attend. 

    Notice of the event will go out to the broader community via the OzHPV FB group in 2 weeks on ~Feb 14th to allow OzHPV members first opportunity to attend, compete, officiate or act in supporting roles.