100mph Bicycle
Discussion
http://gearjunkie.com/mammoth-chainring-bicycle
100mph on the flat just because the chainring is big enough? I'm not convinced, do we even have the required power?
100mph on the flat just because the chainring is big enough? I'm not convinced, do we even have the required power?
The records I've seen for cycling have involved the cyclist being towed by a vehicle to a stupidly high speed, then the cyclist having to keep to a record breaking speed for a set distance or time.
The reason I can't remember for sure is that it was on Record Breakers with Roy Castle!
The reason I can't remember for sure is that it was on Record Breakers with Roy Castle!
M400 NBL said:
The records I've seen for cycling have involved the cyclist being towed by a vehicle to a stupidly high speed, then the cyclist having to keep to a record breaking speed for a set distance or time.
The reason I can't remember for sure is that it was on Record Breakers with Roy Castle!
I seem to remember something like this on TV in the dim and distant past. A Rover SD1 with a 'wind deflecting fairing' built onto the rear. The cyclist would then ride 'within' this clean air behind the Rover while the speed was built, then the speed would be recorded over two carefully measured timing lines. Then again the 30+ years between then and now may have somewhat 'corrupted' my memory. The reason I can't remember for sure is that it was on Record Breakers with Roy Castle!
BaronVonVaderham said:
http://gearjunkie.com/mammoth-chainring-bicycle
100mph on the flat just because the chainring is big enough? I'm not convinced, do we even have the required power?
In the slipstream- yes easy, in fact the record is 160-something IIRC.100mph on the flat just because the chainring is big enough? I'm not convinced, do we even have the required power?
On your own- no way.
The outright human powered speed record is (AFAIK) Sam Whittingham, who did just under 83mph in a recumbent streamliner in 2009.
See- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlUPjlLFzm0
There is a race on to reach 100mph, there is debate whether its possible. Graeme Obrea (of Flying Scotsman fame) is having a crack in a very unconventional bike- http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jun/25/flying...
100 mph seems quite a modest speed for a paced speed attempt in this day and age and with all the modern technology available.
The first of the 100mph club was Alfred Letourneur way back in 1941 with a speed of 108.92 mph.
The biggest problem was to find a suitable pacing vehicle. Motor bikes did not provide sufficient shelter, saloon cars of the day just weren’t fast enough but a midget racer with a suitable fairing fitted at the rear was found to be adequate.
Letourneur’s machine was broadly that of one that could be used for motor pace racing…… reversed front forks and small wheel. The wheels were wood rimmed and shod with tubular tyres which would have had as an extra precaution tape stuck to the rim and sidewall of the tyre to prevent the tyre coming off the rim in the event of a puncture. The spokes were tied and soldered for extra stiffness. No brakes, all up weight 20lbs
The gear used to attain the speed was 252” or put another way 7x65 inch pitch (14x130)
At speed Letourneur found the bike a bit unstable, to overcome this, he found that by sliding backwards or forwards on the saddle, that was all that was required to keep control, in fact he had his saddle French polished to assist in moving about. Staying central to the wind shield at speed was quite strait forward as the slip stream was sufficient to keep him in place.
As Letourneur smashed the previous best by such a large amount and that he used a stretch of freeway which was not officially closed to normal traffic only one run was made.
Google Images of Alfred Letourneur to view a very basic and low tech approach to speed in the 1940’s.
The first of the 100mph club was Alfred Letourneur way back in 1941 with a speed of 108.92 mph.
The biggest problem was to find a suitable pacing vehicle. Motor bikes did not provide sufficient shelter, saloon cars of the day just weren’t fast enough but a midget racer with a suitable fairing fitted at the rear was found to be adequate.
Letourneur’s machine was broadly that of one that could be used for motor pace racing…… reversed front forks and small wheel. The wheels were wood rimmed and shod with tubular tyres which would have had as an extra precaution tape stuck to the rim and sidewall of the tyre to prevent the tyre coming off the rim in the event of a puncture. The spokes were tied and soldered for extra stiffness. No brakes, all up weight 20lbs
The gear used to attain the speed was 252” or put another way 7x65 inch pitch (14x130)
At speed Letourneur found the bike a bit unstable, to overcome this, he found that by sliding backwards or forwards on the saddle, that was all that was required to keep control, in fact he had his saddle French polished to assist in moving about. Staying central to the wind shield at speed was quite strait forward as the slip stream was sufficient to keep him in place.
As Letourneur smashed the previous best by such a large amount and that he used a stretch of freeway which was not officially closed to normal traffic only one run was made.
Google Images of Alfred Letourneur to view a very basic and low tech approach to speed in the 1940’s.
DB531 said:
Google Images of Alfred Letourneur to view a very basic and low tech approach to speed in the 1940’s.
Very cool, thanks for posting.While doing just as you reccomended I saw this- http://classic-auto.fr/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/...
VERY PistonHeads bit of cycling history!
The Letourneur record would I am sure pass BBV’s scrutiny as it was the pacing car that had to be towed to 25mph to get it started. I don’t doubt the rider got a hefty shove! The record was set using a 9 mile stretch of major dual-carriageway. Please remember this was a flying start record.
The timed mile was at the mid point. Apparently there was a 2% gradient against the rider.
For the purists amongst you the previously stated gearing should be 6x57 inch pitch and a 28” rear wheel. I did the sums on a 27” wheel.
Fastest speed on a velodrome? This will undoubtedly be recorded by the motor paced riders (Stayers) during an attack when speeds of close to 60 mph will be attained for brief periods.
Over the years the ruling cycling body’s have changed the rules (for the big bikes) regarding the distance that the rider is from the pacer to actually keep the speed down.
The big bikes are more at home on the 333mts tracks, not so many g forces and you don’t get giddy.
In 1928 the Belgian stayer Leon Vanerstuyft riding on the Montlhery Track covered 76.29 miles (122.77km) from a standing start in the hour. As I recall Montlhery would not be classed as a velodrome it does have bankings, I know. But it is big. This world record was set with the rider as close to the pacing bike as possible. I believe after this record was set, restrictions were introduced to standardise the minimum distance between the pacing motor and the pacing cycle, a larger air gap between the rider and pacer. To be fair their had been some fatalities during races.
The effects of these changes can bee seen when the Briton Harry Grant who it should be said was no slouch, set new world record (restricted)figures for the hour standing start in 1932 at the 333mtr Park des Prince velodrome in Paris of 56.527 miles (90.971km) Incidentally Grant was paced by Vanerstuyft.
The current British standing start hour record is held by Rik Notley at 43.81 miles (70.506km) this record was set on Leicester Velodrome 1976.
The timed mile was at the mid point. Apparently there was a 2% gradient against the rider.
For the purists amongst you the previously stated gearing should be 6x57 inch pitch and a 28” rear wheel. I did the sums on a 27” wheel.
Fastest speed on a velodrome? This will undoubtedly be recorded by the motor paced riders (Stayers) during an attack when speeds of close to 60 mph will be attained for brief periods.
Over the years the ruling cycling body’s have changed the rules (for the big bikes) regarding the distance that the rider is from the pacer to actually keep the speed down.
The big bikes are more at home on the 333mts tracks, not so many g forces and you don’t get giddy.
In 1928 the Belgian stayer Leon Vanerstuyft riding on the Montlhery Track covered 76.29 miles (122.77km) from a standing start in the hour. As I recall Montlhery would not be classed as a velodrome it does have bankings, I know. But it is big. This world record was set with the rider as close to the pacing bike as possible. I believe after this record was set, restrictions were introduced to standardise the minimum distance between the pacing motor and the pacing cycle, a larger air gap between the rider and pacer. To be fair their had been some fatalities during races.
The effects of these changes can bee seen when the Briton Harry Grant who it should be said was no slouch, set new world record (restricted)figures for the hour standing start in 1932 at the 333mtr Park des Prince velodrome in Paris of 56.527 miles (90.971km) Incidentally Grant was paced by Vanerstuyft.
The current British standing start hour record is held by Rik Notley at 43.81 miles (70.506km) this record was set on Leicester Velodrome 1976.
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