The most popular autoduel-emulating sport in the Eastern Hemisphere, commonly known as Pedal-Duelling (or Pedal-Fighting), originated in small fanning communities of Great Britain and France, as well as overcrowded Asian cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo, where bicycles have been the main form of transportation for over a century and a half. Due to the relatively low cost of bicycles, and the sport's ability to be as safe or as lethal as the fans can handle, pedal-duelling is now popular world-wide. During the off-season, many pedal-duellists also engage in other physically-demanding "death sports," such as ob-racing (David Searle, ADQ 7/2) and shock-sprinting (coming soon to an arena near you).
Bicycle Construction
No part of a bicycle is considered a vehicular component. Therefore, everything takes normal (full) damage from hand weapons, and double damage from vehicular weapons.
The basic bicycle frame can support a person and all he can wear and carry (and still walk) with no problem. The frame weighs 20 lbs., has 5 DP and costs $100. Standard tires weigh 5 lbs., cost $12 and have 2 DP each. Fireproofing and Steelbelting are the only tire modifications allowed and are calculated normally. (Steelbelting gives a tire 3 DP.)
A bicycle may mount two hands of weapons to the Front. Weapons are limited to hand weapons weighing less than 20 lbs. A single one-shot discharger may be mounted to the rear. There is no room on a frame for anything else.
The only armor available is a front-mounted plate resembling a tripod gunshield, which protects the rider and front weapons on a d6 roll of 1-4. Each point costs $5 and weighs 1 lb. The shield is limited to 10 points (10 lbs.) and takes full damage from hand weapons. One-point wheelguards are available for $4 and weigh 2 lbs. each.
Maneuvering
A bicycle can change its speed by 10 mph per turn, up to a Top Speed of 25 + 5 mph per level of skill. Body Armor slows Top Speed by 5 mph, IBA slows Top Speed by 10 mph, and Impact Armor shows speed by 15 mph.
There is no Handling Class for a bicycle, but the same turning key applies (D1 per 15-degree turn). For every maneuver, the biker must make a control roll on 2 dice. The roll is based on the Difficulty of the maneuver, plus 1 for every 5 mph of speed, minus the rider's skill level. If the roll is above the control rating, the rider has no problem. If the roll fails, roll one die: 1-4, bike skids 4/4 inch in the direction it was originally traveling, 5-6, bike skids as above and falls, rider takes 1d-4 damage, bike takes 1d-5 frame damage; takes 2 seconds to get up and going again.
All obstacles require a control roll, just as maneuvers.
Combat
Needless to say, the front-mounted weapons are limited to a front fire are. A rider's skill can be used as a bonus to-hit. Hand-held weapons may be fired in a 360- degree are of fire, but are limited to one- handed weapons while moving.
When a wheel is destroyed, the rider automatically falls, taking damage as described under Maneuvering.
Vehicle Skill
Everybody who was a kid is assumed to have Bicycling skill at base level. Every +1 of skill adds 5 mph to Top Speed, adds +1 to control rolls, and gives a bonus for mounted weapons in combat.
Optional Rules
It is suggested that since this sport is highly pedestrian-oriented, that players utilize the Optional Pedestrian Rules (found in David Searle's "Ob-Racing" article, ADQ 7/2) to determine hit locations on riders.
Bristol Minidrome
The map illustrates the usual Pedal-Duel layout used in the 150'x195' mini-arena in Bristol, Avon, England. The grandstands start at the top of the 10' high outer walls. The inner walls are each 4' high and effectively indestructible, blocking fire from mounted weapons, but not hand-held weapons.
Many other sports are held during the week, such as basketball and Greco-Roman-style wrestling, but Pedal-Duelling is clearly the most popular of the sports held here, as such events are usually sold-out.
The future of Pedal-Duelling looks promising, due to its variety and low cost to arena owners. While not very popular on its own in the TV ratings yet, it makes a great opening show or Amateur Night special. Even the kids love if as they can get in on the action at their local playground arena using paint ammo and their own bikes.
These rules are the basis for an entirely new sport, and are open to any modification or additions. So, have fun with them, and remember to "Keep your shoulder to the wheel, and your finger on the trigger!"
